Brown Rice Diet

Long ago, before we were married, Danielle and I went on a Brown Rice diet for a week. It involves eating only brown rice or rice cakes. You can drink water and herbal tea. You are allowed a dash of soy sauce on the rice if you want. The aim is to detox and cleanse. Amazingly I lasted the week that time but have never done it again. Until now. Danielle has gone on it once a year or so for up to a week. I don't know why but I thought I would give it a go this week and I managed six days without any bother. At first you feel terrible as the caffeine withdrawal and everything else takes hold but then it gets better. The strange thing is how easy it is not to eat stuff all the time. Recommended. But boy was I looking forward to some good tasty food again.

The photo is from the Tay at Dundee

BGB

It was the Big Garden Birdwatch this weekend. This involves recording all the birds you see in one hour sometime over the weekend. It is freezing cold here so a lot of the birds, especially the finches, seem to be staying in by the fire. We had 12 species this year which is down on last year [13], but up on 2008 [11]

2010 [12 species]

Blackbird 1

Blue tit 2

Carrion crow 1

Collared dove 2

Dunnock 2

Great tit 2

House Sparrow 3

Long tailed tit 2

Magpie 2

Robin 2

Starling 1

Wood pigeon 1

Play Two

This is another photo from the Quaker play. I think the expressions sum up what two 13 year olds think of being asked to "hold hands for the photo" by the photographer.

Guinness Penknife

The next object is this Guinness penknife. It was given to me by my father over 35 years ago and has remained on my keyring ever since. It was a promotional gift that he got it from his work at Hartley's Brewery in Ulverston. It has a knife and a screwdriver/bottle opener which have been used for a thousand different uses over the years. It has also been on several planes after getting through he security [inadvertently I hasten to add] without being spotted.

Play

Rowan took part in the play done at Quaker meeting by the children. It was a really good play about conscientious objectors in the first world war. She played a mother reading a letter from her imprisoned husband to her sons. If it all sounds a bit dry, it was great fun with plenty of laughs [quite a few due to the low level of rehearsal]

Object #3

My mother bought me this pen when I graduated from Liverpool in 1979. It has my name and date inscribed upon it.

I have lost it at least twice, and both times people have read the name and got it back to me. I still use it now, not bad for 31 years.

Having cycled ever so carefully through the snow and ice without falling off once, I set off on a short ride on Friday on the ice-free roads. The other effect of the cold weather on bikes, is that the chain needs a lot of oil and cleaning; more than I had carried out. Result was that my chain seized, I whacked the bars with my knee and went head first into the road. Amazingly I was OK, apart from a messy knee. Also amazingly people stopped to check I was alright. So it could have been worse, but was still annoying.

Hull

Rowan ran in Hull yesterday, she came second in the cross country and we had a good time. Meantime Jake and Suzanne were visiting us with 5 year old daughter Edie. Always good to see them. They had to leave after tea because Jake is recording the lute music for the new Ridley Scott Robin Hood movie on Monday at Abbey Road studios, and needed to practice.

The photo is of the surprisingly elegant streets of Wakefield

Ligging

I went to a new year party [aka networking opportunity] at the Malmaison in Manchester put on by Odgers Interim who have me on their books. Ran into Tal Michael who used to be a councillor in Islington when I was there, and a few other people who I had connections with. Not my natural environment but it was worthwhile.

The second object is an ivory fish [I think it is a betting token used in cards] that my Granny gave me when I first went travelling in 1975. I have taken it on every trip I have been on since. It fits snug in my money belt.

Life in 42 Objects

Danielle mentioned a programme on the radio where they were looking at "important objects in the history of the world". Which got me thinking. So here is the first in a series of objects important to me. The only qualification is that I must still have them. The rest will follow ...

Object 1 - The Teddy knitted by my Granny

When I had to go into hospital, aged 3, my Granny knitted me this small woolen Teddy. Amazingly I have kept it for the following 49 summers.

Te Araroa

One of my future plans, that might well stay as just a plan, is to walk the length of New Zealand. This was first done by a relative of mine on my maternal grandmother's side - AH Reed. I have always felt some affinity with him, on account of my walk across Europe.

Being the google era I just looked to see if there was now a long distance path along the route, and sure enough there is - the Te Araora. And there on the website http://www.teararoa.org.nz/index.cfm/PageID/99/ViewPage/New+Zealand+Long+Walkers

is my great second-cousin-uncle-whatever beaming from the page.

My Auntie Alison reckons he looks like me - I am not sure how to take that.

So, one day...

12

So here is the 12th birthday shot. Rowan showing her wind-power t shirt, wearing her York City away shirt.

Run results

Here is the evidence in black and white. Rowan finished way ahead of her two parents in the Edinburgh run.

Cake

Here is the cake Danielle made for Rowan's birthday party. No words needed.

12

Yesterday was Rowan's 12th birthday. The parties have got less fraught over the years; this year's was a pleasure. Rowan and 5 friends had a scuba diving party at the sports centre and they provided all the food, organisation etc. All we had to do was turn up with the cake. And pay. Well worth it though. Previous years have included, rock-climbing, train-ride, roller-blading, science party, sleep-over, and trampolining as well as general mayhem-at-home parties.

Topknot

In book group we read The Boy With The Topknot by Sathnam Sanghera

http://www.sikhnet.com/news/boy-topknot . Most of us liked it a lot, David was ambivalent and only Sue really disliked it, which was somewhat ironic as it had been her choice.

The photo is another of a frozen Knavesmire [the York racecourse]. Today the snow has finally gone, to be replaced by horrible freezing rain; perfect weather for Rowan's first hockey match. The team played well and won 4-0.

Calling

One of the tracks from Derby was an instrumental that we named after the first word we saw as we walked the streets to the pub. Fiesta. I played it to a friend of mine, Evelyn who was a rapper. She wrote some lyrics for it, brought a friend along who was a singer, Cassie B, and we re-recorded it in a studio in Tottenham with Pagett at the controls. It took two days but we got a result that we were well pleased with. Pre-internet we sent it out to a few people, got no response and left it at that. It was called "Calling [After You]" and you can hear it http://soundcloud.com/lenoir/

Next Guitar

I started playing with Steve [keyboards] John [acoustic guitar] and Pam [vocals] in the late 80s. We practiced in Steve's flat in Crouch End for a while. I started to pine for a proper electric guitar again. Pam moved on, and we had a couple of other singers [one of whom had been, improbably, Paul McCartney's pa] before Steve and I took over the singing. In 1989 we went to Derby for the weekend to record. I borrowed a Strat off of Derwood and a porta-studio off someone else. We were really pleased with the results. On return to London I knew that the no-electric days had to end, so I gave Derwood his guitar back and bought a new [so not as good] Fender Strat which is the one I still have.

Melt Down

The snow is finally starting to melt; so now it is more traditionally English, wet slushy dirty snow. This picture of our beleaguered frog was taken at the height of the snow.

I am in the process of putting in a bid for a piece of work as part of a consortium - we shall see.

Edinburgh

Edinburgh is a fantastic city to wander about in. Endless snickets and stairways and beautiful streets like this one, coming down from the Royal Mile to the Grassmarket where our hotel was. Danielle also managed to find a trendy clothes shop with a sale on here, so she was very happy.

Winter Run

For Danielle's birthday we all went to Edinburgh for the weekend. Despite the snow and the ice the train was on time and great as usual. On the saturday we were all entered into the Great Winter Run in Edinburgh. 3000 people running 4k in the snow; it sounds mad but it was great fun [even for non-runner me]. Before the run we had all talked of "taking it easy" and "running as a family". 400 metres in, and that was all out the window as Rowan charged off in front and Danielle and I pretended we weren't racing each other. In the end Rowan finished 2minutes 40 ahead of me and another 10 seconds ahead of Danielle. Definitely worth doing.

TSR2

When I was at primary school I remember being in the playground [1965] and looking up to the sky to see the TSR2 jet fighter glinting white in the clear blue sky. The TSR2 had legendary status in Preston where it was built http://www.madeinpreston.co.uk/Aviation/tsr2.html and when it was scrapped by the Wilson government it caused deep consternation in the town. I did not really understand what it was all about [I was seven] but I remember my father calling it "shameful". It made quite an impression on me, proud in the sky, then scrapped for ever. So I listened to a new play on the radio about it with interest. http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00pl1gx/Afternoon_Play_The_Killing_of_the_TSR2/

The photo is of a frozen Knavesmire with a frozen dog.

Fox

The Minster is particularly impressive on these cold sharp days. It is almost impossible to get blase about it. I took this shot earlier in the week.

Just saw a fox run across the garden. Milo leapt into action but it slithered away. This is another first for the garden record, we have heard them before but never seen them. The snow is changing everything. Temperature at the moment? -10C

More Snow

Another photo of Hob Moor in the snow. Bird numbers are right down, during this cold spell, with some species seeming to take a complete break from the garden.

Snow-home

The snow is still here and getting thicker. That is three weeks or more, which is unheard of in this country. Everyone getting a bit weary of it now. I have been keeping off the bike most of the time, but had to ride into town yesterday evening for a meeting - not a lot of fun.

This is how the garden looks.

Third Guitar

The strat followed me around from town to town, flat to flat. On returning from the Walk I had this idea that I would not be in a band again and should get an acoustic electric that I could play unplugged then plug into my amp if I needed to. I think I thought I had grown up, and grown out of electric guitars. So Derwood told me about this bloke in Fulham who would get me a good price for the guitar ... It didn't happen. He sold it, I got not very much money and the Strat was gone forever. I was going to replace it with an Ovation-style round back acoustic 12 string but went for a Fender acoustic electric in the end. I try not to have regrets in life, but selling the Strat is right up there in the "if I had regrets this would be one" section. Derwood and Andy never let me forget it either. I recently made contact with Andy again after 7 years or so and at the bottom of his email was the mantra "you should never have sold the Strat". The photo is of Diane who sang in my band for a while holding the Fender Rio acoustic.

Hair Today

There is now a black hair salon in York. This is great new for Rowan [no more trips deep into the heart of Leeds] and Danielle [no more trips deep into the heart of Archway]. Rowan went today and emerged with lovely new braids.

The photo is another from Preston

Second Guitar

For my 18th birthday I got a Fender Strat in Leeds. It came with a Carlsboro valve amp and a Fuzz Face pedal. It was wood finish with a maple neck. I bought if from a guy in a bedsit who world-wearily told me he had "played it in Branigans" which was the height of cool for a Leeds player. The guitar was US made in about 1964 and with hindsight I should have got it renovated [the tremolo arm was gone and the nut and bridge needed sorting] and kept it for life. I didn't. The photo is of a similar guitar.

I learnt a lot with the guitar and it went with me to my band in Liverpool - The Candidates for Wax. We only had two gigs. The first gig was part of Merseyside Multi Cultural Week that I was helping to organise. It was a lunchtime gig in the student bar - the Sphinx. Each day for the week a different band played. We were on the Friday, on the Thursday was another new band on a very early gig - Echo and the Bunnymen. [We didn't bother checking them out, sure they would be rubbish]. The gig went really well. Great feeling. Me on lead guitar, Andy on rhythm, Pete on bass and vocals and Steve [I think] on drums.

The second was at a university disco for rugby playing types. Loud punk music was not what they had come to hear. In the end we got out alive only with the help of Joanna's boyfriend who excelled himself. I remember as we pushed the amps back down the road to Liverpool 8 and our flat in the snow at 2 in the morning that we all felt pretty good. Considering. It was our last gig.

Holmes

Rowan and I went to see the new Sherlock Holmes movie at the dreaded multiplex. Despite my worse fears [it is directed by Guy Ritchie] I really enjoyed it, and considered it a pretty good interpretation of the books. Rowan was less sure.

New Years Day we went for our traditional lunch at at Patrick and Julia's. There were 11 of us all together; it is a great way to start the year.

Photo is of Danielle at my old house in Tottenham long ago

Happy New Year

We were at Edwards for a New Years Eve meal and games. Great time. Someone had brought some Chinese Lanterns to let off at midnight. They were fantastic and roared across the York sky for what seemed like miles [just short of Orion's belt I reckon]. The photo shows Rowan and Sharon just about to launch Lantern number 1 into near earth orbit