Election news

Whilst I was on the train back from London, Rowan and Danielle went to a hustings at the Quaker meeting house. The four candidates for MP for York Central [Labour, Lib-dem, Green and Tory] were all there at an event hosted by Friends of the Earth. They both enjoyed it, Rowan took notes to feed back to me. Considering neither are entitled to vote, this shows great commitment!

The photo was taken in a willow patch down by the Ouse.

Up for Air

I had to travel down to London for an extra day, so missed out on Book Group. They were discussing Coming Up for Air by George Orwell. I did not like it, found it like dated journalism. I was not in the majority apparently.

Birds

I went a ride last week to Fountains Abbey and saw the obligatory Red Kite, but also my first swallow of the year; always a good sign.

This chart shows which garden birds are on the increase and which in decline across the country. It tallies very closely to our garden experience.

BBC

I had uploaded this image onto the BBC history of the world website http://www.bbc.co.uk/ahistoryoftheworld/objects/YDl5K5yiRGCYVijJFF0XXg a few months ago. I got a call from the BBC yesterday to be interviewed about it for a radio 4 programme, Making History. So today I sat in a studio on an ISDN line to London. I'll let you know when I'm on.

More MTB

Another shot from the mountain biking event. This is Annie Last who came 3rd in the under 23 section of the women's elite race. Rowan did start talking about doing some mountain biking herself...

World Cup

Rowan and I went to Dalby Forest on the North York Moors to see the women's race at the Mountain Bike World Cup meeting. It was a great event, with riders from all over the world. The women did 6 laps of the course; I think it fair to say that to complete one lap would do me in for the day.

The photo is of the eventual second place rider, an American called Willow, leading from the eventual Russian winner in third place in this shot.

Veg news

Rowan went to the triathlon training in Leeds today, and enjoyed it, which is always a relief. Danielle was at a Yorkshire Quaker meeting all day. In the afternoon I finally got to planting some of the veg out. Lettuces and spinach made it into the beds today. If all goes well then others will follow tomorrow. The spinach which I left in overwinter is giving a good load of leaves at the moment.

I saw a willow warbler in the garden yesterday, which is the first for a long while. I can't wait to get the garden looking good, but I am going to have to. There is so much to do and not enough time.

Float, float on

I find this hard to believe, but I am a floating voter. My inclination is to vote Labour [I always had up to the last election] but having explained the difference in the parties to Rowan and heard her say "so why don't you vote LibDem" I struggled with an answer. Being against the war, and against the ludicrous Trident replacement, makes them an attractive idea.

Then again the Green party make sense as well. So, I think Labour's days may be numbered. I'll keep you posted.

Danielle and I were both invited to a top-secret [their words] meeting with Cabinet ministers in York today set up by the local Labour MP [who we know]. I could not go as I was in London, but Danielle went and found it a good experience.

The photo is another one that sold at the weekend - Lake Fence. It really benefits from being extra large.

Suspicion

Milo gets through dog toys at an impressive rate [10 minutes for your average "lasts a lifetime" toy]. So Danielle got him this "super-tough" sheep. As you can see he was not quite sure what to make of it. He likes it now and, just as important, he has not torn it to bits yet.

Sign

I saw this sign on the cycle track near Rowntrees. I have no idea what it means. Anyone know? Either I am very stupid or it is a complete waste of money [or both]

Day Three

Sunday went OK, a steady flow of people with a sales spike at the end of the day that cheered us all up!

This shot of the light at Souter lighthouse went well.

Meantime Rowan was running at the Yorkshire Regional Biathlon championships at Escrick. She won, so was very happy with that. She has now qualified for the nationals which are at Liverpool in July, which she seems to want to do.

Day Two

This morning went well, but it was such a beautiful day that the afternoon seemed a bit slow; I guess that people were staying out in the sun. Anyway, we have all sold so things are moving along well enough. I have hopes for tomorrow...

Someone bought a large copy of this Minster shot today.

Day One

First day of the 4Show exhibition and it is going well. Numbers through the door have been good, and this photo is creating interest [and sales]. The other artists are selling too, so we are all pretty pleased.

Thelma called in en route from Luton to Burnley, it was great to see her and I really appreciated her making the effort to get here.

Distractions

Played Badminton with Edward yesterday. The distraction this week came from the British Transport Police practicing how to deal with shouty drunk people. This means that we would be mid-rally when ferocious mass shouts of "Get Back" would emerge from above us. It ranks third in my list of Badminton Distractions. Second was the karate class that took place on the court next to us in Wood Green - the sight of aggressive advancing lines of chanting kids took a bit of getting used to. But in first place was the aerobics class in Tottenham; try concentrating with mega-bass dance music, a badly miked instructor, and 50 women in lycra.

The photo is another from the Wolds.

Wolds

Rowan and I took the dog for a walk in the Wolds yesterday. The lonely grassy valleys were at their best, we had a great walk. Rowan called me up the steep valley side to get this shot, and I am glad she did; it might even make it to the show at the weekend.

I always like to try out watching new sports. This has led me to the Streatham Redskins with Paul [ice hockey; never again] a Pelota match in the Basque country [pretty good], the London Monarchs with Rob [American Football at Wembley] and even watching Ipswich Town [similar to football]. Today another Paul took me to watch Leeds Rhinos in the Rugby League Superleague.http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2010/apr/11/leeds-rhinos-hull-fc-super-league It was a great game and a lot of fun - you can still stand on the terraces with a pint in hand if you want. My one previous Rugby League game had been watching Lancashire against somewhere else at Barrow with my father; my main memory of that game was the hyper-impressive referee.

Shorts

Friday April 9th was First Shorts Day, the first day of the year that it is warm enough for shorts. Previous years have been~

2003 March 26th

2004 March 30th

2006 April 14th

so it is not the coldest it has been.

Preparations for the show are going ahead, with Kate having hung her paintings, and the rest of us busy getting ready. It should be good.

Garden Day

This is what we hoped for when we took Rowan to the Doctor about her dog phobia; that she would be able to enjoy being with dogs on the moor. Here she is with Milo showing that it worked.

This morning all four of us went a 2 mile run on the moor, then we spent the rest of the day in the garden. Danielle and Rowan sorting out the rockery, I planted the potatoes and onions, Milo ran around getting in the way.

Citizen Danny

Danielle successfully took her UK Citizenship test in Leeds yesterday. She is now en route to becoming a UK citizen.

The late-coming of spring this year has led to this Wood Pigeon being rather pathetically exposed on its nest in an Elder tree in the garden. She looks bemused but determined.

Granny-drop

Rowan took this photo of me at Goathland when we were exploring the area around the hotel.

Yesterday we took Mother back to Peterborough Services for a granny-drop with Peter my brother in law. It was a very good visit, we all miss her, including Milo.

Tailwind

Dave and I did a ride on Sunday. Windy, tough but a great section on top of the Wolds, with a tailwind on a smooth road surface - Heaven. After that came the headwind, traffic and feeling a bit knackered.

The photo is of the view from the Ravenscar Hotel, the one we did not choose.

Thames Path

The Thames Path now runs pretty much all the way along both sides of the river through the centre of London. It still throws up strange locations where the untamed water virtually laps your feet. This is just near Blackfriars bridge.

Easter

Easter day was good. We went to meeting, then to the Olive Tree restaurant which is just near the meeting house. Mother then had kindly provided a bottle of champagne for me to break my lent alcohol fast with. It knocked me out for the day. David and Gwen came round for a cup of tea, then I watched the Tour of Flanders on Eurosport. Perfect.

The photo is of Danielle and Rowan at the restaurant.

Pond?

Hob Moor has been so water-logged for the past few months that it is hard to imagine it ever being dry again. This water looks like it might become a pond, which would be great. Come the long hot days of summer [we can dream...] I am sure it will disappear, but you never know. I shall keep you posted. [Dog for scale]

Tipping Point

It is official, Rowan is now taller than Danielle. The pen mark on the kitchen wall does not lie. I have started to get a bit worried myself now, Rowan has me in her sights. The photo shows that it was not always so.