London

The gap in between Christmas and New Year usually presents us with the time to visit the museums and bright lights of London. This year's action packed day started with the Science Museum, but not before we'd had breakfast at Comptoir Libanais. Tasty flatbread with grilled haloumi and spices and nut pasties being the favourites.

I am always amazed by the fact that no matter how many times I visit the same space, it's always possible to discover new facts, seemingly for the first time! There was a great exhibition of photographs by Nick Hedges  about homelessness, proper documentary photographs. We spent the whole day at the Science Museum before heading across Hyde Park for a tour of the lights along Oxford Street, Regent Street and Covent Garden.

Late afternoon we paid a visit to Spuntino to give cousin Frank a surprise in Soho, which the kids thought was great fun. Popcorn and beer...

All followed by supper when we got back to South Kensington at Franco Manca, which was first class....

Gingerbread House

Just managed a Facetime call with Chris and the clan at Penyrallt so we've seen Gran and Grandan eating their supper!

Meanwhile this is what we ate last night after our cheese course. Made and served by yours truly.

Barbadillo at Lepe

It wouldn't be Christmas without a climb on top of the bollards at Lepe. This year I wasn't agile enough, or at least there wasn't enough space on top for me to get up in time before the shutter went off. So we had to improvise, and use Lewis instead as the camera activator!

Sherry drunk, mince pies eaten... merry christmas everyone...!

On the beach at Chale with me homies! The Isle of Wight pilgrimage 2014 in search of Julia Margaret Cameron, deserted beaches and life in general. The sun shone , the wind blew and the shutters clickered and whirred. Ropes were climbed, and the blood was felt coursing through veins, bring it on 2015!

Roping Alan down the cliff face! #lifebeginswhenyouare60

Lance you were wrong...

Reading this at the moment, a tale of a Welshman exploring a subject close to his heart; and touring a few factories where this specialist kit is made across the world. as a

All manner of interesting facts like the chain was invented for the bike, not any other purpose but the bike. It's still made by the original company in Manchester who invented it.... called Renold.

Anyone who knows me will probably recognise the colour of the object of his ultimate happiness - how similar a paint job to my Freddie Grubb Galibier that my Dad bought for me way back?

And Lance you f•kin idiot, yes you did get it wrong. It's all about the bike. Never forget it.

What sort of gift is suitable for a Mother to give her son?

The joke when one squeezes the packet, normally is do you think it's socks or a hat - no I can't feel a bobble so I must be safe!

Not just one bloody hat but two this year, so I am sharing one with Miranda!! And we are wearing it indoors so I definitely won't feel the benefit when I go out....

Christmas Review at Noadswood

Christmas Tomfoolery!

Military Precision

Found this picture on the wall, of Greg in Sea Scout mode on a recent trip to visit a warship!

Little Red

One of those coming off the water shots that caught my eye, almost wants a speech bubble and prize for thew wittiest response, although I suspect all I got was a look and a soggy hug.

Lewi had one of these looks this morning after telling me he'd made a bit of a lash up of his English Literature paper yesterday, tomorrow he has a Physics paper, and Thursday a Chemistry paper. Just keep doing your best Tiger...

Thinking of You

Just a few selected at random to remind me...

Did you get any good photos?

 It's the perenial question, and one to which there is no answer. What I think is a decent photo is often very different to what others look for in an image. Lewis for example wants to see perfect sail form or hydrodynamics visualised, his coach wanted pictures that shows what efficient sail form looked like when rigged well (obviously if I knew anything more than a flappy sail is not a happy sail, I'd be a  good sailor myself)

Me, I just like an arty juxtaposition... #thisiswhatwedo #teamtiger

Talk to me

I had a call from Gran earlier, which reminded me that I had a photo on my desktop waiting for an opportunity, so here it is.

Miranda in fact talking to Gran, whilst I capture the mood...

Just made myself some delicious pancakes and listened to the Stranglers playing Ugly, damn that puts me in a good mood.

Race Training at Weymouth the 29er Class Association

A few more action shots from the weekend at Weymouth.  
Start line...   

.....and off!

Weymouth

The boys are having a weekend training session at Weymouth WPNSA with some great coaches, and I was out with one of the coaches in the rib, so I could take some photos. A very productive session if you listen to the enthusiasm of the guys, even I learned quite a bit! Today they concentrated on different sailing modes to achieve tactical advantage. The coaches break the boats into smaller groups and then work on short race type sequences.

How cool is it to be learning from Kate Macgregor and Dave Evans both of whom will be representing UK at Rio in 2016? #olympicsquad

A lovely sunny day too to observe the chalk hills around Weymouth

Advice provided

Lewis has been telling me about his controlled assessment for Business Studies, preparing market research and consultancy for an IT services business. Tells me he's written a 6000 word essay to go with this which I am looking forward to seeing...

PB

Hey Popsie, look who I bumped into in London....!

Storm Clouds

Lewis working hard for his mocks next week, this is partly because he's going sailing this weekend at Weymouth, so has to cover his options early.

Spatters

Greg competed in the New Forest District Cross Country Championship last week, this just a quick reminder of his enthusiam for running!

They have been sailing today at Lymington, putting in over 6 hours of practice.

Greg's words, not Lewis' "That was the best day's sailing ever!"

Up early myself for a day in London tomorrow, ho hum... off to bed then I figure..! 

I am listening to Uri Caine's The Goldberg Variations Disk 2.

Noadswood v Hounsdown Under 16's Rugby

Lewis' match from a few weeks ago, but came across a post match photo so I am posting it now!

Big smiles at Lymington today as they were able to do some training with some of the best 29er's in the country.

Jabbering

Miranda talking to Gran on the phone on her birthday. She was just about to go to Brownie's but Gran sneaked in there.

Today we've had a nice time doing some art stuff together, some photography, and then down the Barry's to put the animals away.

This morning's activity was getting the main halyard replaced on the boat. Lewis did this almost entirely himself with the aid of a tool he borrowed. He did all the splicing himself, and it looked very professional.

Do you want to build a Snowman?

 It's that time of year again, to have friends around for tea, and do silly things like make a snowman in November. Apparently it's snowing in New York, but only in buckets over here.

For those not in the know Miranda goes around singing "Do you want to build a Snowman?" at the top of her voice. Today was her chance...!

A few days ago she wound me up by convincing me that it was her tenth birthday, and I fell for it. Until that is she gave me her date of birth, and I put her right.

Warm Embrace

Greg sensibly wrapped up in fleece and waterproof coat, Miranda randomly layered with bare arms and gloves, but an ever so warm smile!

Greg came home from school today have run in the cross country at school, and I've just remembered the photo I took of his mud spattered shirt, maybe that will appear here tomorrow. He won again , but then you'd expect that I know.

Lewi has been to mock interviews at school, and came back very pleased that the person who conducted his, is also the father of the Vice Principal of Peter Simmonds College... Strings, he's now believing can be pulled!!

Nature Watch

... as seen in next door's garden, young Tawny Owl looking for his breakfast.

Indian Affairs

A delicious dinner cooked between Lewis and myself of courgette and fetta fritter with roasted potatoes, tomato sauce and salad.

Now he's gone to bed, and I'm listening to Bennie Wallace playing Monroe County Moon from Big Jim's Tango

Hoodie

It's been sitting on my desktop waiting to be used, today's the day.

We've been re-reading the Famous Five books, and tonight was a good expression evening, proving that when she wants to, she really can.

Greg has been running today at school, winning the cross country race in rather unpleasant conditions. Lewis has been playing rugby, both came home rather muddy...

Hide and Seek

We've been out in the forest this afternoon and Greg has been taking photos too. This is his photo of Mipp and she acts up for him! She has developed Lewis' habit of charging around on her imaginary horse, whipping herself!!

I especially like the insight into how others react as seen through the lens, even though I was there and vaguely witnessed this.

No 1

 

The boys were sailing at Lymington today, and I've been making the most of the great weather on my bike. Lovely colour all around and rather windy, so I stopped to admire myself.

 Lewis commented on the downwind leg earlier from Hurst Castle to Tanners Lane marks on the Solent with the tide flooding, eight minutes of rip roaring fun. As you hold onto the sheets surfing along, not knowing if you are going to pitchpole can be both exhilarating and a bit nerve wracking. A bit like the black run at Brechfa on a mountain bike...

MIpp

A look to sink your willpower, she is known to get her way too often.

A cruise liner came into view directly above Miranda's head as we were taking this photo, so it's a good job the first frame was bang on the money. Try not to identify the Fred Olson logo...!

Rugged

Lewi came home from school bristling with pride today, having had an inter county rugby tournament which they won, aided by three tries that he contributed. I regret not taking a photo of the stylish mud he was wearing, as the combination of his attire and swagger was impressive! It's great when people are on a roll, and enjoying life - don't you think...

I had to pick Mipp up from school today, so we jabbered all the way home together about school, and boy friends and stuff.

And this evening Greg spent half an hour showing me his art projects in his school book, colour theory, impressionism, and sketching techniques.... So tonight I am left feeling smug and satisfied, and wondering why on many occasions it all seems like hard work!

Mr Starling

This cheeky little chappie came to join me on the weekend as I took a breather at Barton on Sea, he just kept walking up to me and raising his head enquiringly at me. I am growing quite fond of starlings!

Sixer

The past few nights we have been visiting various sixth form colleges with Lewis, tonight it was the turn of Brockenhurst. Not sure what my great grandfather would have made of it all. It's an enormous campus with close to 2000 sixth form students studying all manner of subjects. Seymour William Brown was the Schoolmaster of Brockenhurst School about seventy years ago, and education had a different meaning for most people then. He lived on Balmer Lawn, and my father used to visit him on school holidays cycling occasionally across to Shore Road, Hythe to view the Cruise Liners...

Greg has been at Scouts, hence the title.

Flopsy Mopsie

Sometimes she comes downstairs in the morning with her hair looking like she's been dragged through a bush... but it only takes a good blow to restore order. I was teasing her about how much I was going to charge for my hairdressing services after washing it on Sunday night, and she gave me one of those eyelash fluttering looks...

Took this one during the Friday night relaxation session on the beach, I have quite a few other shots from this session which may go up.

Music and Lights

I was looking for inspiration as I selected this photo which I took yesterday of Greg playing his guitar - then the music from my iTunes collection took it's natural course. I guess I must have been dancing to Music and Lights in the early eighties at the Rugby Club in Carmarthen, way back...

Mean and Moody

It's always fun trying to get Lewi to reciprocate when a camera's involved! He does trust me but doesn't llike the idea of being seen playing ball. Fortunately Miranda was being very co-operative so he had a soft route in.

I hope I've managed to get the look just right for him...

Hurray it's nearly the weekend...

Greg's account of the 2014 29er Harken Grand Prix at Hayling Island Sailing Club                                                 
Event photos by Harry Bowerman

The Harken 29er grand prix was held on the 27th to the 28th of September 

Registration opened at 9:00 and everyone was down nice and early the, competitors took there boats of the trailers and started to undo straps  and winches. All the boats were wheeled into the compound and people started to rig up. As it got closer to10:00 everyone went into the changing rooms to get changed when everyone had come back out he wind had died and no one could go out as there were more knots of tide than there was wind, everyone was forced to wait sweltering in There sailing gear for 3 hours before the tide changed.

Once the tide changed everyone hoisted there sails and got out onto the race course ( just inland of the bay.)It was quite light winds so no one was trapezeing as everyone got to the course the wind picked up and we could Sail nicely along but as the wind was low lots of people fell prone to capsizing. As all the boats neared the committee boat the orange I com flag went up and the first fleet flags were put up, blue and yellow the two fleets lined up on the start line to let the race begin. 

Beeeeep went the horn, five minutes all boats racing were lined up on the start line, hovering Beeeeeeeep, three minutes some boats bailed and bore off, one minute to go,beeeeeeeeeep. And of they go the boats leapt over the start line powering up to the mark the fleets split into to two groups each taking a different tack , the boats that took the port tack managed to overcome the waves and gained a slight advantage getting round the top mark before the other boats, they hoisted there spinnakers and most  boats went on the port tack whereas a few went on starboard tack. The low wind meant that the boats weren't moving that fast but when they had to gybe it was apparent who was the better sailers. The best people roll gybed and got ahead by quite a lot the pump out of the gybe giving them more speed. The fight for the bottom mark was ferocious and some very close calls. The wind dropped even more as the second lap started and the best sailers were found out they pulled ahead and the fleets were separated. Some boats straggled behind whereas there was a small group of very experienced people at the front. The  finish line was very close and some boats nearly capsized on top of each other.

On the second day the wind was being predicted as 6~7 knots and the flags were dropped as soon as possible and they managed to get out on the course by 9:30 everyone was  whizzing around. The first start was blue and green and the second red and yellow fleets the first start raced of fast along the upwind but the waves were slowing them down quite allot, as the second start went of the waves had died down and they cut through the water allot quicker as the first start got round the top mark the second start had caught up a considerable amount. The first spinnaker leg widened the gap between the two fleets the wind was picking up lots over the half an hour race, and by the end the boats were flying along.

For the second race the starts were yellow and green, and red and blue.the flag went up for the race and the boats powered away, the boats were keeping in the same groups as they had in the first race  and most boats made it to the mark in groups and there were a few regulars at the front. This race was a lot windier and more boats were capsizing than normal the capsizes slowed down the boats lots, and some groups of boats  were forming at the back as they capsized.

On the second lap boats were getting caught up by the second start the finish line was ferocious and the boats ripped up the water.

As the third race started the wind died down and trapezing wasn't possible the top mark was dangerous as the tide was very strong the mark was hit many times and lots of people had to do penalty turns.the Finnish was pretty relaxed as people came in in drips and drabs.
The fourth race was exactly the same with not much wind but people were getting tiered and there race times were slowing the tide was starting to reach its strongest point and people were drifting crazy amounts and there weren't many tacks needed.
As the evening drew in the final race was held and the wind had dropped to very low conditions and the boats were going very slow as the boats got to the top mark the second time they were wearing down getting slower and slower as the boats finished the wind picked up and the second start got a faster time.

Walking a Thin Line

One of those grab shots that I could see two steps ahead of my position. I was walking on the shingle, they were skipping along the wall, I managed this shot and was just level with them and one of them jumped off.    #369 in a quest to get a decent photo with all three in!

Footie Frenzy

Anyone needing to know the answer to playing happily together should not begin with the question three. However I have resorted to subterfuge to get my way #threetogether

Pigtails

Miranda with Calshot as the backdrop, this is where we spend a lot of our spare time!

Friday Night