peak time

We drove down to Castleton in the Peak District yesterday. Friends Dave & Emma had gathered about 30 of us to share New Years. It has been great fun - Rowan has bonded with Clare sp well that they set up their own room last night in the lounge. We all had a good relaxing wine- fuelled chat over dinner. Then today we climbed Mam Tor in the drizzle. Rowan was first to the top. We are now all drying off in the warm hostel

Scalextic

The snow has kept us local for the last couple of days. We walked across the moor yesterday which looked beautiful in the snow, en route to John and Heathers where John had set up a giant Scalextric set which Rowan loves [I put up with it...]. Today we head off for our New Years Eve stay at a youth hostel in the Peak District that Dave and Emma have organised, should be good, if we can get there through the snow.
The photo is of Rowan and Clara with a smiley face made out of Xmas detruits - they are trying anything to get another Blue Peter badge.

To Hull or not to

Our post-xmas chill out continues. Rowan and I made an Airfix model this morning, then this afternoon Danielle took Rowan and her friend Clara to see The Lion the witch and the wardrobe [or lerwerwer as it is known in our household] whilst I did some town-stuff. Friend Paul rang to see if I wanted to go and watch Ipswich play at Hull. Despite the low quality of the teams I was quite keen, but common sense [snow bound motorways etc] got the better of us in the end. The photo is of Fairfax House in York. The snow has fallen on and off all day, so we have a nice inch or two so far.

Snow?

Three Palmours, Three generations of bakers.

With snow imminent we decided to take mother back a day early and avoid any travel trouble. So I drove her back on Monday evening and came back this afternoon. The drive was Ok, and this morning I got a great walk in to Tackley and back in the crisp thinly snowed Oxfordshire countryside.

Peel

The photo is of mother and I at the restaraunt yesterday - taken by Rowan.
Rowan's absolute favorite present is not one of the pricey delights she got, but a pair of welly-warmer socks, which she wears all the time indoors as slippers... it is good to see. Danielle gave me the John Peel autobiography which I have started and been amazed to find that he stayed in the same house at Rhosneigr http://www.rhosneigr.org.uk/ in Angelsey Wales - the Red House - that we stayed at as a family for 3 or more years when I was a toddler.

Happy Christmas

Happy Christmas everyone. Danielle, Rowan and I went to meeting, which was very pleasant, then collected granny who was treating us to Christmas lunch at The Sidings restaurant. We feared the worse when we arrived to discover it had just changed hands. The whole place at the air of a business being filmed for a "fly on the wall" documentary. But, amazingly, it went really well. We all enjoyed the food, and they were really trying to please us as best they could. Phew...

Busy Day 2

Danielle and Rowan went a bike / run to the video shop to hire some films for xmas, I sorted out the garden. Yesterday Rowan and I ran the train around the rockery using a leaf blower that John has leant us [anyone would think she was going to get a new truck for the railway for xmas...] to clear the track.

Then we all went into town, met up with Jackie, Mike and daughter Helen [old friend of Rowan's from nursery] for a coffee then went to the crib service at the Minster. It gets bigger - about 1000 people there this year. Rowan liked it, even getting into giving one of her toys away to "those less fortunate". Then we had lunch, a quick rest [watching The Incredibles] and now are off to drinks at Paul and Jackie's then the Quaker candle lit carols at 7pm.

The Two Milkmen

It had always struck me as odd. The genial, chatty milkman who I see each fortnight when I pay the bill barely acknowledged me when I passed him in the street. I always assumed he either had his mind on the grim business of getting people to pay up, or else he did not recognise me out of my manor. But seeing as how he has been our milkman for over four years, it didn't quite make sense. Until today, when Danielle mentioned that they are twins.
The photo is of the trampoline in action at our party last weekend. It is a fantastic place to shove all the children.

Books I could read

Danielle gave me a copy of Tony Parsons "Stories we could tell" for my birthday. It is entertaining, and being written about a time that meant a lot to me, the music scene in 1977 and all that, was always going to be good fun. But it seems a bit too much part of the Tony Parsons / Julie Birchill mythology industry to me.

Yesterday mother rested while Rowan and I went to the National Railway Museum. It was nice and quiet. A new exhibit we tried out was a 700mph trip from London to Brighton rail simulator. Rowan loved it, I was a little wary. Good in retrospect though.

Book Group

Wildlife update. The goldfinches http://www.rspb.org.uk/birds/guide/g/goldfinch/index.asp are loving the nyger seed http://www.birdforum.net/archive/index.php/t-28304, we have 3 or 4 around the feeder pretty much all day. Today was book group - "Chronicle of A Death Foretold" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez which was short and brilliant http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/140003471X/102-9836593-9588959?v=glance&n=283155 after that we had a game of Ex Libris http://www.spiritgames.co.uk/gamesin.php?UniqueNo=620 which was great fun, and very close with Heather emerging as the voctor. The photo is the last one from Preston

Social Activity

Last night I went to Joanna's 50th birthday party. We were friends at University [29 years ago]. These numbers take a bit of coming to terms with... It was great to catch up with her and various other people I have known over the years. Today was our Xmas drinks party - mulled wine, mince pies, trampoline [the usual stuff...] Went really well. Then just time to see a client about choice of portraits, before collapsing in front of Scrapheap Challenge with Rowan.
Photo is another from Preston.

Retreat

I spent the afternoon at the Retreat mental health hospital, where I may become a Director, if they want me. I enjoyed the meeting, and feel there is a lot to help them with... The photo is of Preston docks. When we were young' father would take us walking down here on Sunday afternoon, we could see the hooks that the banana bunches would be on as they were conveyered away from the boats to the warehouses. All different now.

Back Home

Had a relaxing day in Kirtlington, then drove Mother back up north. This photo is of the ramp by county offices in Preston, where my mother worked long long ago.

End of the Action Learning

Today was the last day of running the Action Learning Sets, it went very well. I have really enjoyed this bit of work, and hope it will be replicated in the new year. Now I am off to pick up Mother for Xmas. I return with the precious package tomorrow evening. The photo is another from Preston, this one of a Sustrans http://www.sustrans.org.uk/ cycle track signpost in Avenham Park.

Busy Day

Today was the kind of day that is great to look back on. At the time is felt one big rush, but with hindsight its been a good one.
Danielle was in London overnight, so I got Rowan off to school, then prepared for some consultancy work tommorow. Next step was a hard-fought game of badminton with Edward. Then off to Harrogate to photograph a new author that a publisher in London needs a photo of. Just time to get the Christmas tree before picking Rowan up from school [she had been to see Alice in Wonderland in Leeds with school http://www.wyplayhouse.com/events/event_details.asp?event_ID=463 ] . A quick tea for Rowan and I then George the babysitter arrived, then Danielle and we were off to see a lecture by our friend Jenny Zobel on songs of liberation. It was a great talk, and we caught up with a few people I hadn't seen for a while.

The photo is of Preston


http://www.michelebreeze.co.uk/page9.html

Preston weekend

For my birthday weekend we once again went to Preston. We had a great time again, visiting the docks [now a marina and steam railway] http://www.prestondocks.co.uk/ribble_steam.html , the Harris museum [photo] http://www.24hourmuseum.org.uk/museum_gfx_en/NW000085.html and the parks. On the Saturday evening we went to the Olive Press restraunt which is fantastic http://www.restaurant-guide.com/details/default.asp?rID=43120&ID=1780&path=12,16,122,1780&cuiID=32 and located in Winkley Square where my father had is office long ago.

Homeworkers Lunch

A friend, Helen, organised a group of home-workers to meet for a networking lunch last year. It went very well, so we met again today for an early christmas lunch. Around the table at the Slug and Lettuce were an author, two software developers, a couple of trainers, a masseur, a travel consultant and me and Danielle. It was good fun. The big question for all homeworkers is "what time do you put the heating on..."

The photo is of me aged 18.

York Cycling

I found this graph today. It gives a pretty good picture of why we like living here.

I am off to photograph a friend who is a cycling gardener this morning.

Birthday

The joy of a family birthday welcome this morning, tea in bed, presents given with much enthusiasm by Rowan, was interupted by my laptop crashing totally. After the PC crash last week this was not what was needed. I have to send it off to the manufacturers tommorow...

Off to Wakefield today to discuss some work with a client. It went really well, I look forward for tendering for the work.
The photo is of the mini-guitar Danielle and Rowan gave me for my birthday... with one of the donors

Leaf Time

The trees are finally loosing their leaves. The redwood decided to shower us with needles en-masse on Saturday, the willows are now denuded. I have a new way of dealing with them - I am sure it is not the right thing to do, but it seems to work. I let the lawn get covered with leaves then set the mower at a high level, then mow them. The result is some nicely chopped leaves mixed with grass which should be really good for the compost. And the lawn looks better.

The photo is of me and Bracken our yellow labrador, at Lytham.

Advent Calendar

Mother bought Rowan a cloth advent calendar 6 years ago. It is still going strong, Rowan loves it and religiously updates it each morning. A great relief not to have a load of chocolates hanging up on the wall. As well as that Mother also bought her a crib. Several years ago Rowan put her most cherished object in there with the baby Jesus - it was a model train [Rheneas from Thomas the Tank Engine]. Ever since the dear baby has to fight for room with the small red tank engine...

The photo is of my sister Rosemary and I. My first bike was a trike.

Webstar

Danielle was at a swanky do at the Guildhall last week http://www.ifslearning.com/events/financial_innovation_awards/index.cfm, and is on this website http://www.quakersocialaction.com/madeofmoney.htm to do with her work. Meanwhile Rowan went to a rollerblade party and enjoyed it.
The photo is of another Wolds shot from yesterday, this is the beautiful bridge over the swollen River Derwent at Kirkham Priory.

Great Ride

Dave and I went a great bike ride today. We drove to Kirkham Priory http://www.theheritagetrail.co.uk/priories/kirkham%20priory.htm then rode across the wet but delicately atmospheric Wolds to Wharram Percy http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/nav.001002003005002003005 . At Thixendale http://www.driffield.co.uk/wolds_village_thixendale.htm the despair of the closure of the cyclists cafe was replaced by delight at finding the village hall serving tea and cakes. We got back wet and muddy, having had a great ride on tiny back lanes. The photo is of trees above the deep dry Thixendale valleys.

Bird Cake

Rowan and I made this bird cake from vegetarian lard, and lots of types of seeds and nuts. We then put it in an old yougurt pot. Only trouble was, the birds seemed scared off by the bright yogurt pot, so we scooped it out and they ate it off the bird table. Have also got some nyger seed which the goldfinches http://www.rspb.org.uk/birds/guide/g/goldfinch/index.asp enjoying.

Dark Despair of the Blue Screen

This is the winning Caterpillar...

Computers are great when they work. Our hard disk decided to de-partition and as a result we have lost everything, and have to re-load Windows on it etc. Tedious but in some ways it feels like a cleansing experience [wiping off all that unused software etc]. Anyway, it is now nearly sorted.

Blue Peter Badge

After several attempts Rowan has been awarded a Blue Peter Badge. English readers will know the enormity of this event. Suffice to say that it makes the Nobel Peace Prize look like winning the sack race. When Danielle broke the news to Rowan she went running round the playground for five minutes before getting round to opening the envelope. She was awarded the badge for a toy catepillar she made, and sent an e-mail to Blue Peter with a picture of it [coming tomorrow]

Deaf

I am in London today, meeting with a few people, keeping contacts oiled.
One friend, who is more deaf than me, told me she is going to lip-reading classes. This has got me thinking that I should really do the same. I did attend a class about 15 year ago, but it was populated by old people who bid me a "welcome to our social club" - I didn't go back. Anyway Catherine has found that evening classes are better than day-classes, so I shall see what I come up with in York.
The photo is of the Millenium Bridge in London, looking from the Tate Modern to St Pauls

New York

We have only been in York 7 years but things have changed a lot. Since we arrived there is a designer outlet mall, a big new retail park, several new cycletracks [including the one across Hob Moor] the millenium bridge has been opened, you can now get a coffee everywhere [when we moved there was not a single Starbucks type coffee shop]. The City Screen cinema has opened in the city centre. The bin collection now includes seperate recyling bins for glass and plastic and paper. New housing has been built all over the place, some city centre blocks, lots of Barratt-house sytle. It really seems like a constantly changing place, certainly not static.

The photo is another from Fairburn RSPB reserve. This area is a reclaimed mining area, which gives it a strange moonscapesque feel.

After the storm...

The photo is of Fairburn RSPB reserve when we visited last week.

After yesterday today was a quiet one. I had a portrait to take of a client this morning, which went pretty well, then this afternoon Rowan and I tandemed to some friends for a cup of tea in St Pauls Square [the only square in York, and it's an oval at that]. Danielle suffering from a cold.

Glentress

Worst snow in the UK for ages, floods predicted. So what do we do? Drive up to Scotland for a days mountain biking of course. My friend Dave had an excuse for going [a treat for his 12 year old son and his two friends] so I hitched onto that excuse. 6 inches of snow, and pelting rain didn't stop us having a good time. Dave and I shared the driving up to the Glentress mountain bike centre near Peebles in the Scottish borders http://www.thehubintheforest.co.uk/index.html which really is a great place. Good routes, showers, great cafe [ok I admit it, I have listed them in reverse order of importance] Not what I normally do, but a good day out.

Tregelles

I was taking some photos for Rowan's school this afternoon. They need some good ones for marketing / publicity, so I said I would do some for them. It went pretty well. Whilst I was at it I took one of the school itself, so you can picture what it looks like.

Portait of Danielle

This was taken in the office with no flash - we like it.

This evening is a committee meeting for Tuke Housing Association http://www.housingnet.co.uk/housingnet-html/Tuke_Housing_Association_Limited.html which I must admit is not my favorite evening out.

Long long ago...

This is me in 1976 with my self-painted [no really] VW beetle, and our black labrador Sheba. This is the car that cousin Gill, friend Jude and myself travelled around Europe in. I remember my father sensibly suggesting it might be a good idea to check that I could change the wheels in case I had a puncture. Advice that was of course ignored. I did have brake problems though, this involved crossing the Alps with just a handbrake and the gears for braking...

Cliffords Tower

The light has been beautifully crisp for the last week or so. As we cycled across Hob Moor to school today there was a lingering mist hovering just above the moor.

This photo is of Cliffords Tower [York Castle] with two people ignoring the "keep off the grass" sign. Don't know who they are...

Fairburn

Rowan went for a sleepover at her friend Ella's on Saturday night. This meant Danielle and I had a night to ourselves. It was great, we just stayed in, had a meal together. Today we went to Fairburn our local RSPB reservce

http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/f/fairburnings/index.asp in beautiful weather, still some frost and lots of sunshine.

The photo is another from the canal. Quite often canals get virtually suffocated by motorways that tend to follow the same valleys.

The route to the gym

One more photo from the Leeds - Liverpool, this is ancient ridge and furrow alongside the canal.

Danielle was governing at the Mount, so Rowan and I went to the gym for her trampoline class. The route we take on the tandem is great. We cross Hob Moor on the cycle track, pass the site of the gallows on Tadcaster Road, cross the racecourse, then the Millenium Bridgehttp://www.vryork.com/millennium_bridge_qtvr/ pass Fulford Barracks, across Walmgate Stray, through the University and so to the gym. Hardly any road, mainly cycle tracks and a couple of good hills thrown in too.

Edward and I had our weekly badminton session scuppered by the HM Treasury table tennis tournament [sounds like a front for some drug-dealing cartel, but it seemed genuine] so had to make do with lunch instead. Went to the Blakes Head http://www.blakeheadcafe.co.uk/index2.htm which is that near-oxymoron; a good, friendly vegetarian restaurant.
The photo is of a mile post from the Leeds Liverpool canal, as you can tell from the mileage it is not a direct route [70 miles as the crow flies]

Leeds Liverpool Canal

The weather today was perfect. Crisp and cloudless, a beautiful clear light. Rowan was playing at her friend Douglas' after school, so I took the chance to get a bike ride in. I took the train to Burnley then cycled along the Leeds and Liverpool Canal http://www.canaljunction.com/cleedsl.htm to Skipton. It was fantastic, beautiful and a privilege to be there. The canal is like a giant sculpture draped across the north of England, the bridges and tunnels are beautifully in tune with the surrounding countryside.

Last time I cycled here was 27 years ago when I set off from Liverpool with my girlfriend's fathers bike [ancient and unmaintained] and a sleeping bag. I had no tool kit [so I had to find a garage in Parbold to fix the chain] no tent [so I slept in a field above Blackburn] no map [I know...] and no puncture repair kit [so I had to ring girlfriend's mother when I was past Skipton]. The towpath then was far less inviting to cyclists [I had to scale a seven foot fence in Burnley], but despite all that I had a great ride, which inspired me to further travelling.

Retreating

I went to a very interesting talk by a friend, Chris, who is a psychiatrist at The Retreat http://www.retreat-hospital.org/pages/history.htm the Quaker mental hosptial in York. Then today I had a good day at work with a very vibrant Action Learning Set.
The photo is abother from Albania.

Albania

I will be posting a number of photos from slides over the next several months. This one is from Tirane in Albania. I visited Albania in 1989 when it was still Hoxha'd and communist. Several things struck me. It was incredibly peaceful in Tirane, the capital city, because there were no private cars. I saw several pairs of soldiers holding hands, which was strangely reassuring. When told by our guide that "no-one can earn more than twice anyone else" it had a certain appeal. Stalin was not disgraced. A visit now, fifteen years after the end of communism would be interesting and not necessarily uplifting.

Re Cycling

The Council have now started to collect glass and plastic bottles, as well as paper. This means that pretty much the only trash we have to put out is plastic stuff, and cardboard. So we have started to burn the cardboard and then put the ash on the vegetable garden - well that is the plan. The photo is of my assistant.

The reading book that Rowan bought back from school is "Drop Dead Danielle".

Groups

At Meeting today Danielle was taking a group of 5 year olds and under - getting them to make poppies from card. I was in charge of the Link Group - the group for 11 upwards - which today meant just me and Oscar. We were doing photography and had a good time learning the basics.

Favorite Rhyme Time.
This comes from a soul song by Laura Lee
"There's gonna be an avalanche
When I tell my cousin Blanche"

The photo is of me and my cuddly toy of choice - a bus.

York City Nil

Roland and I went to watch York City http://www.yorkcityfc.com/ play Burton Albion. It was my annual pilgrimage to see the lcoal side. They lost. They did not play well, although Andy Bishop their "star" striker still looked classy to me. Burton are player/managed by Nigel Clough, so there was the prospect of a former England player on the Kit Kat Stadium pitch, which would have been bizarre. Alas, he stayed on the bench.
The picture is of Rowan and Rhianna heading off for trick or treat.

Open University

As an Open University MBA allumni I get invited to talks and so on. Last night I managed to get to one - it was at some stockbrokers in Leeds http://www.redmayne.co.uk/main_code/index.htm explaining how it all worked, and the history of stock broking in Leeds which was a lot more interesting than it sounds. A good evening, with a bit of networking thrown in as well.

I have a cold and as usual am pretending it is not there in the hope that it will go away. It's not co-operating yet.

Rough Science

Rowan and I settled down to watch our favorite TV program last night - Rough Science http://www.open2.net/roughscience/ It is really good, a very positive program, and inspiring. So inspiring that we had to make some CO2 out of baking soda and vinegar before Rowan went to bed. Our small contribution to global warming.

Bike Ride

Dave, Eddy and I went on a bike group bike-ride on sunday. It rained. A lot. But we still enjoyed it. I looked around at one stage, seeing the water bouncing off the tarmac thinking how it must look terrible from the warmth of a car; but for us, generating body heat from the exertion, it was OK. But it was good when it stopped. We had a break at Bolton Piercy where the locals, including the vicar, were very friendly - and a little bemused.
The photo is of Rowan and her friend Clara who came for a successful sleep-over at the weekend.

New Flowers on the Red Sage

Autumn is taking a long time to really happen. The Lazy Ash has lost all its leaves but the redwood remains fully clothed. Looking out at the Herb Spiral at the weekend I noticed that the apple sage was flowering. This seemed a little strange for November, but it looks lovely.

I have got a meeting set up for another potential work-stream in the new year which sounds very interesting.

Murder in the Sardines

The bonfire on friday went really well. Soup, wine, feeble fireworks, good company, lots of kids charging about. Rowan was very taken with playing Murder in the Dark and Sardines when we got back to John and Katie's house after the bonfire.
The fireworks at Rowan's school were definitely not feeble, but less fun.

Hebden Cord"

Photo. Spot the Rowan.

I saw an ad in Cycle Touring magazine, saying that Hebden Cord were having a closing down sale. This firm make the best and longest lasting cycling trousers and shorts you can imagine. They cost, but they are worth it. So I looked up on their website to see what bargains I could get... except they don't have a website. Pahh I thought, no wonder they are going out of business. Anyway, I decided to ring and order a pair. An old lady answered the phone,
me "Do you have any 35" waist shorts?"
her "Oh, I'll run you up a pair"
me [imagining a mill in Hebden Bridge about to put countless workers onto the dole] "Thanks. Why are you closing down?"
her "I'm retiring!"
It then dawned on me that this was not even a "mom and pop" operation. It was just grandma. A real shame that she is giving it up, and the passing of a unique product.

The Minster Lit

We cycled down to the Minster on the tandem en route to the bonfire last night to check out the Minster Lights http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/north_yorkshire/4386990.stm which are on for a week. The effect is of the minster being painted with different color lighting. It was good fun to see it and Rowan enjoyed "hiding" in the light. Overall though I think it fitted into the PBG [phenomenal but ghastly] category.

Cyber Palmours

Out of the blue I got contacted by a Mark Palmour from the US, via G mail. It is hard to get across the shock of seeing Palmour written down when not referring to me. Sounds interesting, his daughter may come and visit us next year when she is a student in Prague for the year.

This evening will be the third Brierly bonfire on their allotment, hopefully the rain will relent [unlikely] and we can have a good time.

The scan is of one of Rowan's paintings

Book Group #4

Book group was made great by champagne from John [left over from the wedding and in celebration of his birthday] and cake from Gwen. We had a great discussion about The Line of Beauty http://books.guardian.co.uk/reviews/generalfiction/0,6121,1189089,00.html with some of us really liking it [David and I as usual] and others hating it. This is what you want in a book group. Our next book is Gabriel Garcia Marquez - Chronicle of a death foretold http://www.enotes.com/chronicle-death/ and we are going to have a game of Ex-Libris http://www.spiritgames.com/gamesin.php?UniqueNo=620 as well.

Tree Trimming

We had several huge willow branches trimmed today from our willow trees. The two blokes just nipped up the trees [with ropes] as though it was an everyday thing to do - looked incredibly scary to me. We are doing it so that the garden and lawn get more light in the summer when the trees are in leaf.

The photo is another from Kirtlington Quarry.

Halloween Too

Halloween is the time of year when things change. The cows will be leaving the moor today, and the compost heap will be covered up for the winter. I have been in the garden clearing up the last of the summer debris, including the courgettes plants that have finally given up the ghost. It is a beautiful day to be pottering around in.

Rowan and Rhianna had a successful trick or treat foray yesterday evening

The Old Gentleman

The Railway Children event at the NRM had a real-life Old Gentleman to talk you through the old railway coach. This was a big hit with Rowan as you can see. Time has moved on. When I got her to pose with a real-life Fat Controller [from Thomas the Tank engine] five years ago she burst into tears... not anymore.

Danielle's friend Teresa stayed last night, they both went off to see the North Star steel band from Huddersfield http://www.northstars.org.uk/ and had a great time.