Mother

Saw Mother today, she was in good form, and was glad to see us all [dog, child, man, woman]. It really is a good home that she is in; staff fantastic.

Mr Fox

I loved having an excuse to read Roald Dahl books out-loud again. Liam was the willing victim, Mr Fox the book.

Flood 2

I won't post too many flood photos, but could not resist this one. In the centre of the photos behind the tree you can just see the marooned Millennium Bridge. The waters peaked at over 5 metres above normal levels.
The family are still here which is hectic and fun. Rowan went off to watch the Arsenal with a friend in London - she'll be back later today.

Taken At The Flood

You might have heard that York is flooded. Thanks to everyone who has enquired if we are OK. We are. In many ways it is worse than the Great Flood of 2000, in that this time the Foss barrier broke and so the area round the Foss has flooded.

Yesterday was a beautiful still sunny Sunday; with the lurking threat of rising waters emerging from the benign ambiance. A strange time, but it seems the tide is just about to turn and the waters recede.

Track 5

We saw this band, Skinny Living, at a house concert in a village near York this year. They are a brilliantly talented and engaging band. It was pretty obvious they were either going to be huge or be contenders for the could-have-been category. Unfortunately it looks like its going to be the latter.

When we saw them they were an acoustic four piece. This track gets the session band treatment; still sounds good.

London Day.

It is lovely having Rowan home for Christmas. Wednesday we went down to London, I saw Victor for a Christmas sherry, Rowan saw a friend, then we met up with Mark, Kath, Lily and Rob at Dishoom, a really great Indian restaurant by Kings Cross St Martins. Great day.

Track 5 tomorrow

Christmas Day 2015

Ben, Kari, Liam and KC are over for Christmas. Quaker meeting last night, presents this morning. Smoked salmon awaits.

Track 3.

Making the pedal steel a funky instrument is a big ask. He makes it. Great groove, great lyric. Get moving.

Track 2

Came across this Swedish/French band last year, they formed in Iowa of all places [Danielle's spiritual home]. I really love this track, especially the whacked-out guitar solo at the end. Unlikely to ever make it big I think but sounds good to me.

Best Music of 2015 - Track 1

That time of year etc. The long awaited Palmour Music of the year list.

Twelve Tracks to Enjoy - Discovered this year

First up is The Jones Family - Down On Me. A gospel track.

Listen to it here on the video. If you're not smiling and moving after 30 seconds then, in the words of Albert King "You got a hole in your soul"

2015

So the last in the series. Up to date. Back from the States, looking at Universities, things are moving on. I went with Rowan to Edinburgh in the summer to have a look at the University there. Pre-visit we had lunch in John Lewis,
Me: "I'll be able to come up and have lunch with you if you come to Edinburgh", said with much joy
Rowan: "....erm..........yes..." said with some concern ...

Book Group Party

Book group Christmas Party last week. Apart from the bring and share food and drink we had a discussion on comfort-reading choices. What books do we go back to for comfort and joy. The choices ranged from the erudite [Anna Karenina] to the childish [Mumintroll] to the surreal [a history of the Settle Carlisle railway]. A good evening.

The photo is of my Birthday present from Auntie Alison, a hand turned wooden pen and stand, from Dorset. Really nice addition to the office furniture.

It was 25 years ago today ...

It is 25 years ago since Evelin, Cassie B, John and I recorded this with Paget in a house /studio in Wood Green. Still sounds great to me.

Christmas Card

Northampton News

Strange sights in the Northampton sky: I took this last night.
Two facts.
1 Northampton is bigger in population [but nothing else] than York
2 Northampton is the largest non-unitary authority in England. Or put it another way, the biggest town. Definitely not a city.

2014

The baby leaves the nest. 16 years old and flying off to High School in the US.

2013

Duke of Edinburgh award time.

2012

2012 will always be remembered for the Olympics in our family. We loved it all. Not sure which branch of Wagamama this is, but by this time it was a firm Rowan favourite place to eat.

Stratton Audley

I combined going down for work in Northampton with seeing the Howson / Harper side of the family for a lovely meal and present exchange.

2011

My niece Sarah's wedding to Markus. Rowan was asked to be a bridesmaid, and seemed to get into it, overnight.

2010

Braces on, braids in. Moving on.

Flying Visit

Rowan has spent the last four days being interviewed in Oxford. Today we saw her for the first time [she flew over and got to Oxford on her own] for one night only [back to the US tomorrow]. Lovely to catch up with her. She'll hear early January whether she has a place or not; main thing was she enjoyed the process.

2009

A day trip to Edinburgh and a visit to the Whisky Museum. An example of what were known as Daddy Days in the family. A trip to unlikely places that Rowan and I would go on together - usually by train. Hartlepool, Castleford, Grimsby, nowhere was too exotic for us travellers.

More From Desmond

Storm Desmond managed to pick up this vegetable cage, fling it over the house and deposit it by the beck [it is the black cage in the picture]. All without me knowing about it. I only realised when I saw it from the Moor. Impressive.

58th Birthday Weekend

Danielle was thinking of taking me to Paris for a surprise for my birthday. In the end she settled for Kikby Stephen Station in the middle of the Pennines. In the middle of Storm Desmond. I loved it. Much better than Paris. The storm was so severe [non-stop for 40 hours] that we could just about get out the door to walk the [very reluctant] dog. But the station was warm and well appointed, and we had a great time.

Here is our self catering accommodation.

2008

Sport became a big part of Rowan's life about this time. Netball, cross country, track running then High Jump. It was Netball that really kicked it all off, and we have Miss Harvey to thank for that. She was a brilliant games teacher at Rowan's primary school who saw the potential, gave her the confidence, and really made the difference.

2007

It is very rare for me to take an actual portrait of the family members [think decorator's never doing their own kitchen, farmer's never doing the garden]. Anyway back in the day Rowan was a good model.

2006

2006 and three Blue Peter Badges have been plundered - very happy recipient.

2005

2005 and athletic ambition is starting to surface on the trampoline.

2004

Rowan always liked to leave home. Sleep-overs, staying at John & Heather's, she was off like a shot. So I guess her wanting to go to boarding school, on another continent, was not that surprising.