Snowdrops

Snowdrops are out in the garden to cheer me up.

Down

There is no doubt about it that the Tube Strike leading to me having to change the Private View for my show has been a disaster. Loads of people have contacted me to say they can't come on the new date; makes me wonder if I should have just left it. Quite difficult to see any silver linings at the moment.

The photo is one that should cheer me up - peace, beauty and all. I am showing it for the first time next week. Big ask though.

Tube Strike > Date Change

Due to the Tube Strike, the private view for my show is now on THURSDAY February 9th. Same time and place. 6-9pm at Lumen, 88 Tavistock Place. London WC1H 9RS.

New details below. Many apologies, I do hope you can make it. The show will still be available to see from Tuesday 7th Feb, to 22nd March from 08.00 to 16.30 Monday to Friday.

Bird News

I saw some Waxwings on the Moor last week. Not a great photo but you can see their little crests. A neighbour saw the Kingfisher again as well, the Grey Wagtails are still around and the Merganser has reappeared on the pond; so plenty of bird activity about.

Rowing

Rowan was rowing for Warwick on the Thames yesterday at Hammersmith. They came 4th out of 21 teams. Had a good time.

Dalwhinnie

Dalwhinnie has a place in Palmour mythology. It was here that my father decided to take the family for 2 weeks in a B&B for our annual holiday. The bleakest highest distillery in Scotland, not a lot to do for two young children - I remember moaning a lot and after a few days we cut our losses and moved on. Funnily enough I still love the place, and more recently have discovered that Dalwhinnie is my favourite single malt. Ro & Pete gave us a bottle of the best stuff for Christmas, which we are enjoying a lot.

Brum 3

There was the most subtle of lights on my walk to Woodbrooke from New Street. You'll need to click on the image to see it properly. Not sure if it comes across on film - just about I think.

Canals in Birmingham

I am getting used to walking the canal route from New Street to Woodbrooke in Birmingham. The light at the weekend was beautifully still and deep: good for reflections.

Woodbrooke

I was in Birmingham at Woodbrooke for the occasional meeting up of consultants who work for Alder Advice [my friend Rob's company]. It went well. Woodbrooke is the Quaker study centre that Danielle was a Trustee of until recently. This sculpture of a Quaker Meeting moves me.

1990

My office desk in Islington Social Services. I only had that computer on the desk as a result of demanding persistently; my peers had just a phone and paper to work with. Hard to believe.

1988

Walking through Macedonia [then a part of Yugoslavia] we met this road worker looking after the gravel track as it twisted through the hills. He was kind and exuded great wisdom.

1995

July 1995 Perpignan: Danielle and I had met in April of that year, and were already in the process of selling our houses and buying one together. In this photo we are about to embark on our first holiday together [walking and camping wild in the Pyrenees of course.]

Lounge

Dog asleep, fire simmering, African Cup of Nations on TV. Lounge 2017

Mr&Mrs

Not often photos of the both of us appear. Rowan took this one before the Great Gatsby performance; the dog as usual is trying to get in the photo too.
We were both laid up with person-flu at the weekend and beyond - first time we have been ill together since before Rowan was born I think. On the mend now.

Badminton

Taken whilst awaiting Edward outside the Railway Institute where we play badminton: my big foot and street bike with air horn bottle in the cage. We have been playing for 18 years or so now and are pretty evenly matched (you can probably guess that if I am posting this, I must have won this week). This time next year when we play I'll be in my 60s and Edward will still be in his 40s (that is my excuse if I loose, worked out in advance).

Rowan - 19 Today

Rowan started back at Warwick last week, so we had her unofficial birthday at home before she left. A very pleasant way to start the day with present giving etc.

Ten years ago Rowan looked like this

That's A Relief

I got Rowan a relief map of Britain for her birthday this year. 

Article

I was interviewed by a journalist for an article on my photography and on the house/studio. This will be the third time, all good publicity.
This week I started back running the photography group at the Mount school, and did a talk to the York Photographic Society "Never Mind The Aperture" which particularly fun as I had Danielle as my glamorous assistant.

The photo is of the new footbridge over the Calder at Castleford connecting two parts of the town for the first time. It is an impressive structure hanging over the ferocious weir.

Girl & Dog

Rowan en route to Gatsby, with a long suffering Milo

Family

I drove Rowan back to Warwick (Christmas swag meaning we needed the car) and we called in at Cousin Gill and Roberts for lunch. Gill put on a great meal,  Sarah and Markus and family were there as well as Emma and Adam and Auntie Alison and Uncle Geoff. A great family gathering.

Great Gatsby

Saturday lunch we went to Edward and Fay's for a great lunch, then in the evening to a immersive performance of The Great Gatsby at a theatre space in an old church in York. It was great, totally new way of experiencing theatre and a brilliant cast. We had to dress up for the event which we just about managed [I had a bow tie on].

Danielle's Meal part 2

Delicious Berry and Chocolate cake Rowan made for pudding at the same meal

A photo posted by Simon Palmour (@lenoirlenoir) on Jan 6, 2017 at 2:17pm PST

Danielle's Birthday

Tomato tarte tartin I made for Danielle's birthday meal

A photo posted by Simon Palmour (@lenoirlenoir) on Jan 6, 2017 at 2:14pm PST

Tradition

Lovely to have a walk in the Wolds with Rowan again. We went to Swin Dale then to our usual garden centre for lunch. A joy.

Canal Walk 4 again

Once past Wakefield the landscape flattens out as the coal field of the five towns takes hold. The Calder Navigation is a broad industrial scale waterway, with mainly leisure traffic on it nowadays alas.

Canal Walk 4

Danielle and I walked the fourth part of our canal walk, from Wakefield to Castleford. It was a beautiful day and another great walk. We have now completed the first part of our route from Marsden, where the canal emerges from a tunnel through the Pennines, to Castleford where the River Calder joins the River Aire  before heading East to join the  Ouse at Goole. It has been great fun, really interesting, and easy to fit in with train travel so we can walk A to B.

More industrial archaeological treasures along the way, including this beautiful rail bridge over the Calder Navigation.

Guitar News

After carving the head-stock, the next task on the guitar was to carve out a belly cut. Again Andy lent me the tool for the job [a sanding drum; me neither] and it went really well. Main thing was I stopped before I got too carried away and ended up with a floppy guitar.
There has been lots of Teak Oil and sanding and steel wool, next step soldering. When I was robustly polishing this evening Milo started to scratch his neck in support.

NRM 2

At the NRM there is a old training track that was used by the Lancashire and Yorkshire railway to teach their signalmen and drivers all about the intricacies of signalling back in the heyday. Every so often the track is demonstrated to the public, this involves about 10 earnest volunteers dressed for the part and one explainer to make it all clear. It was way over our heads, so after five minutes or so, I looked at Rowan with that unspoken "Shall we go?" look and we moved on. Great effort though.

Frosty Moor 2

New Years Eve we were at the Dobsons for the traditional party - really good to chat to plenty of interesting people; this year including a vicar and someone about to move up to Glasgow to work at the University. Good drink and food too.

The Rosehips bring a vibrant colour to the frosty landscape of the Moor.

2017

Happy New Year

The Moor has been looking really beautiful in this weeks cold frosty morning light.

NRM 2016

Rowan and I made our traditional visit to the National Railway Museum this week. It is a joy to revisit!

Man & Dog

I only got into the car to look for a pair of glasses; that was enough for Milo to get in too, just in case I went for a drive/walk without him.

Relations 2

Newest member of the family, Sarah and Markus' son Felix

Relations

Rosalind enjoyed having Rowan to play I think.

Still Knaresborough

I went a ride with Dave, stopped at Knaresborough at our usual cafe, and was greeted with a totally still scene, very rare to get such a perfect reflection.

Christmas Day

On Christmas Eve I heard someone on the radio saying that they had deconstructed their Christmas Dinner and had it as follows: Breakfast = Smoked Salmon & Bagels [the Starter], Lunch = Main Course [Nut Loaf and Vege Haggis for us], Tea = Pudding, Supper = Cheese and Biscuits.
   We all liked the idea so much that we decided to implement it for Christmas. It worked a treat, we fitted a walk to the Pond in as well as watching some Thomas The Tank Engine TV for nostalgia purposes. Everyone happy.

The photo is of Markus made rolls from Christmas Eve; apricots in there made them delicious.

Happy Christmas

Happy Christmas to all The Readers

Christmas Eve we went down to Nottingham to see Niece Sarah & Markus, Rosalind and Felix. Ro & Pete were there and Nephew Will, so it was great. We got a short walk in by the impressive River Trent.

Goosander!

Our local pond is usually a place to see the old standards - Mallard, Coot and Moorhen [that is three birds, not a 70s power trio]. But for the last week a female Goosander has decided to spend her winter solstice here. She is a beautiful sight, a powerful diving duck looking a bit out of place in our parochial little pond.

Christmas Biscuits

Rowan iced the home-made Christmas biscuits. I think this is now officially a tradition. I don't think I'll dare to eat one.

Helaugh

I went a short ride with Robert last week. A beautiful afternoon, we stopped at Helaugh Church, where the low sun was catching the gravestones.

Barbican

In London last week I walked through the Barbican complex. I have always liked it, over the years three of four friends have lived there for some time, and it is definitely a building that works. I spotted this juxtaposition of art and trash [you decide] in the bowels of the building.

Guitar Kit

Danielle bought me a guitar kit for my birthday. If all goes to plan I should assemble a Telecaster type guitar. Stage one was to cut a shape for the headstock from the square end that it came with. This was a bit daunting for a skill-less carpenter like myself, but with encouragement from friend Andy who lent me a saw I came up with this. Not lovely but a lot better than I was expecting. Next stage: soldering the wiring for the pickups and controls ...

Best Tracks of 2016 #9 Robin Trower - Where You Are Going To

I saw him last year, and he was OK. Then a new album came out and this track I love.

Photography Show

Here is the flyer for my show in February of next year

Canal Walk part 3

The next leg of our Canal Walk took us from Dewsbury to Wakefield along the River Calder navigation, once more it was a great walk through incredible industrial history. Railways, canals, colliery tramways, a living museum viewed by hardly anyone.

Danielle and Milo ready to start the third leg of our Canal Walk.

Back Home

Danielle and I were at her office party last night [honest], it was quite good. I was next to a forensic accountant which [amazingly] was quite interesting to hear about.
Then today Rowan arrived back from her week-long rowing boot camp at the end of her first term at Warwick. She seems great!

Best Tracks of 2016 #8 Anna Meredith - Nautilus

This is classified as Modern Classical music [mainly because it is written down as far as I can see]. I really like it: a sort of steroided Philip Glass.

More London

Danielle and I met up later in London and had a meal with Rob & Kath, Mark and Lily and James at Masala Zone in Covent Garden. It was a great evening. We stayed with Mark and Mandy in Wimbledon. Next day I was taking some portraits in North London, so a good trip all round.

On my travels I came across this patient dog outside a cafe.

Visit to the Smoke

Saw Victor in Shoreditch, went to Soho House for lunch. Really great to see him, and catch up with a good friend after a quick year.

Best Tracks of 2016 #7 Malted Milk & Toni Green - Just Ain't Working Out

Deep soul, some good telecaster playing, good production. Big in France.

Flag Day

Rowan gave me "Worth Dying For - The Power and Politics of Flags" a new book about international politics by Tim Marshall, the bloke who wrote The Prisoners of Geography, which I really loved. On the inside cover is a map of the world with country shapes filled in by the nation's flags. It is a good idea - which Rowan had 8 years ago when she did a similar map which I got put onto a mug for her. As you can see there is a strong similarity.

Best Tracks of 2016 #6 A-WA - Habib Galbi

Just your regular Yemenite Jewish sisters. A world wide hit.

Book Group

It was our annual Book Group party this week; on my birthday which also happens to be Andy's birthday too. A particularly good bring and share meal and discussion of a depressing book called Drown. The group has been going over 11 years now, not bad and still friends [mostly].

Best Tracks of 2016 #5 Dinosaur - Extinct

We saw this scarily young and talented jazz band in York. The more I hear it the more I like it. Reminds me of Miles. Laura Jurd the leader and trumpet player is brilliant.

Whitby 2

The coast at Whitby is not pretty, but it is dramatic. We had a good walk along it on the Saturday morning.

Best Tracks of 2016 #4 Samm Henshaw - Our Love

Love his voice, love the style, love the song. Nothing more to say.

Whitby

Danielle took me to Whitby for my birthday weekend. Stayed in Ruswarp [pronounced, obviously, Russup] in a good house. Could walk into Whitby itself and along the old railway line over this viaduct which gives a view of the River Esk [still tidal here] and Ruswarp in the sunshine in the middle distance.

Best Tracks of 2016 #3 Revolutionary Army Of The Infant Jesus - Crowd of Stars

So far we have had Soul, Indy and now weird Psych Folk.

I first heard this in the dark walking the lanes in Suffolk - very eerie and just a little unnerving.

Also one of the great band names I think.

Best Tracks of 2016 #2 Fear of Men - Luna

I heard this via an NPR preview of South by South West. Not my usual thing but I really love it. So here it is.

Best Tracks of 2016 #1 The Suffers - Midtown

So here is annual run through of 12 tracks that are new to me and that I really like from this year.

First up is The Suffers, a great US soul band.