Big Toe

The photo is of the pond / climbing frame / trampoline / herb spiral circles from the roof

Rowan rang into Big Toe Radio Show on BBC 7 yesterday, answered a question live, and won a T shirt and a badge. Very exciting. [You can hear it all on the Tuesday edition, 1 hour 35 in to the program
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/aod/mainframe.shtml?http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/aod/index.shtml?button ]

Roof

This is probably the last shot of the roof, as it is now finished. We had a meeting with the builders today, and all is going well so far...

The great transfer of records to hard-disk continues [slowly]. I did the Velvet Underground third album last week

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Velvet_Underground_(album)

and had forgotten what a fantastic album it is - just magic.

Extension News

This is a shot of where the stairs will be. There will be a huge wall for hanging photos on - just not sure how we'll ever be able to reach it.

Lent

This year Danielle and I have given up drink for lent. The main challenge will be at social events, or when meeting someone "for a drink". The first test was on Friday night when I met up with MBA friend Jonny for a drink - only to find that he too had given up for lent. So we had a pleasant couple of alocohol free lagers. I have also given up not juggling - which means I try to practice every day. When I travelled to Norway on the ferry once, the customs officials were suspicious of my juggling balls [let's face it they do feel suspicious].
"What are these?"
"Juggling Balls"
"Show us"
I then had to do some juggling to prove they were what I said. Better than being strip searched.

The photo is of Baille hill, one of William the Conqueror's forts built when he used York as his base to subdue the North.

Verbing

This is the Mansion House - where the Lord Mayor lives - built in 1730, in the centre of York.

One of my favorite sayings is "There ain't a noun yet that can't be verbed". Often the best verbers are people who don't know the rules. So a friend's five year old coined the word "desperating" as in "I'm desperating to go to the loo". And a Spanish client apologised for cancelling an appointment by saying "I am sorry but I was sicking all night".

Yorkshire

It is hard to get a shot of the Minster that is not just repeating a thousand others. This isn't it, but it is impossible to ignore such a magnificent presence in the heart of the city, so I keep taking the odd shot.

I was driving to work in West Yorkshire yesterday, and drove through what I consider the holy trinity of Yorkshire place names.

Cleckheaton
Heckmondwike
and Liversedge.
Say them out loud in a strong accent and they are perfect.

Cycling News.

A positive article about cycling is pretty rare in the local press, so here is a link to one

http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/yorknews/display.var.1200780.0.joyce_backs_her_heroes.php

The photo is of Ogleforth, a street in York.

Italy?

The sunshine, the fountains, the beautiful buildings, and the group of cyclists about to go on a morning ride: it must be Italy surely? Well, no York on Sunday morning.

Walking in Sunshine

Whilst Rowan was swimming Sunday morning I took a walk around in the lovely winter sunshine. Got a few good shots. This one is of the Minster and Bootham bar. I was listening to my mp3 player as I walked around, and switched it to Radio 4 for a change: only to be confronted by friend Victor on a Blandford Forum called Broadcasting House. He sounded OK.
Back for lunch with Ro and Pete who had had a good time in the Dales.

Busy Saturday 2

The latest extension shot, waiting for the plasterers to arrive tomorrow. Rowan went to a Chinese New Year dance activity then a Brownie's swimming event yesterday. Will had a look around York and we went out for a meal with Patrick and Julia to Loch Fyne fish restaraunt

http://www.lochfyne.com/pages/content.asp?PageID=834&RestID=88

where we had a good evening out and a good meal. Julia had been on Any Questions on Radio 4 on Friday so it was interesting to hear about that.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/aod/mainframe.shtml?http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/aod/index.shtml?button

Badminton

Played Badminton with Edward [for me] and Toby [for Will] yesterday. Good games all round, with a game of doubles at the end. As you can see Rowan is relishing having Will around.

And your cousin too

Ro and Pete deposited cousin William with us yesterday. Great to see them and catch up. Rowan is delighted to have her big-boy-cousin to stay again. William seems to be surviving. We watched Y Tu Mama Tambien last night http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0245574/ which was good.

I am sorting out the photos for the exhibition, this is of a slate cairn in the Lakes.

Gerald est mort

It is four years since the first of the "Rowan-in-front-of-her-tree-in-Kirtlington-Quarry" photos were taken. Here is the latest, I think it is fair to say that the tree is not growing as fast as her.
Gerald the humble goldfish, finally gave up the ghost whilst we were away. Rowan was very upset. Earlier on she had asked in a post-modern way "Can you buy a new goldfish, then tell me it is Gerald, so I won't be upset?".

In the end, we cycled to the pet=shop to get three nice little fish called, "Bar", "Lee" and "Cup".

All are still alive, thank God.

Flower

At mother's for half term. Here is her plant. Saw Markus and Sarah for lunch yesterday which was good. Rowan spent some of her birthday Borders token from Popa on the CD of the dreaded High School Musical [quite fun actually] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_School_Musical so she is happy with that. Danielle is back from two days in Preston [treat or what?] for a work seminar.

Roof

This is the roof, fitted onto the extension. The room is starting to look smaller now; I hope we will get surprised again and think it is really enormous when it is finished.

Extension News

The roof is on, the ceiling boarded, and the first-fix of the electrics is done. The first fix for the plumbing needs finishing. The plastering will be done next week [maybe], then there is the cedar cladding, the rest of the window frames, the window glass, the floor boards etc etc. It is as usual a mixture of excitement and anxiety.
I was in town arranging a couple of portrait sessions today - going well.
The photo will be part of the exhibition in March. It is polite graffiti in Washington DC. It says "In God We Turst" there are two other efforts at spelling trust crossed out at the bottom of the piece of wood. I find it sad and strangely touching.

Day of Judgement

Today was the day for the presentation of my report that I have been working on for 5 months in London. It is a fundamental review of services for people with learning disability. It went well, and the audience of 3 [a councillor, head of finance and head of policy] called it "a benchmark for other reviews". This is a relief. Whether I get home tonight or not is another matter, the snow and ice may yet have a say in the matter.

The photo is of the Finding A Voice group in action.

Last Voice

I did the final photos for Finding A Voice yesterday evening. It has been a really enjoyable project. The photo is another one from the series. I am preparing for York Open Studios

http://www.yorkopenstudios.co.uk/index.htm

and send one print off for display at the City Screen cinema this week. The builders know we have to have the space ready for the big weekend, so fingers are crossed.

Party

Edward had a party on Sunday. We all went, Danielle taking the throne in her purple cast, and receiving representation from all and sundry. I saw friend Adrian on Friday for a bit of a crying-into- beer session [him not me] and Rowan had friend Frances round before Brownies. Then I had to chair Friends of Hob Moor in our lounge last night. So, its been busy. And the roof is 2/3rds on.

The photo is of An Tealoch in Scotland. Danielle and I walked up it, with Rowan hitching a womb-lift ten years ago.

Convalescence

Danielle is getting on with her leg restrictions. In the picture you can see the snazzy purple cast. Friends JZ and Edward came round to see her today, and bought a box full of gifts to keep her happy. This includes a Magic book and various puzzles and plants. Very very kind. Cheered her up.

Tad

Rowan was busy with a party at Tadcaster baths on Saturday. So I took the mountain bike on the roof rack, and had a two hour spin on the bridleways that abound in the hills around the town. It is a good place to ride and the weather was perfect. Tadcaster is a beer town with two big breweries. One is a modern affair, the other reminds me of Charlie and the Chocolate factory in its Victorian splendour.

Extension Latest

On the one hand the extension is really exciting, and great fun choosing stuff for it etc etc. On other hand is the fear of the cost. The roof is going on on Monday, all being well, and the photo shows the stud walls inside, so things are moving on. The next bill should arrive this week as well...

Molly

Rowan has phobia about dogs, which really restricts her in what she likes to do. She is scared whenever a dog is off the lead. She is getting help through the NHS, and this week she met a specially approved dog - Molly - for the second time. Rowan has got to know her and stroked her, but is still wary of Molly being let off of the lead. Next visit we hope that she will maybe make that step. It is a long process but we all hope it will work

The Cast is Dyed

Today was the day Danielle had her proper cast put on her leg. Things have changed in the world of casts. They are now fibre glass impregnated material which is dyed a number of vivid colors. So the first thing to decide is "What color should I have?" Danielle chose purple today. Here in Yorkshire casts are called "pots" for some reason. So people will say to you with a straight face "I had a pot on my leg until last week" and expect you to know what they are talking about.

The consultant said that the running of the marathon could still be a possibiliity. This comes as a relief to both Danielle [who wants to run it] and to me [who had a dream that I was running it instead of Danielle]