Picasso

Greg admiring the masterpiece that he's created for his friend Patrick's birthday card. The slightly translucent quality of the paper reveals both sides, unfortunately, but this was the moment that he announced that the card was finished!

The Coal Man

When I showed this picture to Gregory this afternoon he said "Oh Daddy you've made me all black, stop it!"

Well at least I got a reaction I suppose!

Tonight we've been down on the beach at Lepe, as it's the end of the week. It was blowing a gale, but the sun was shining and the sand was lovely and clean. Football was something of a challenge with the slightest deflection causing the ball to head for Cowes at a rate of knots.

Distressed Miranda...

I have been experimenting with an aging process to make images look more like old photographs, it's not quite the same as getting your hands dirty in the darkroom but almost as much fun when it goes right!

Bright sparks

Sometimes when you look at the progress kids make, it seems hard to see the evidence. But no sooner than you make a stand on an issue, you get a chance to see your own shortsightedness! Here's Greg in his school surroundings, absorbing some stuff, which he likes to tell me about, just before I kiss him "Goodnight!"

This little Piggy

Little feet ready for beddy - it was something of a struggle walking down to see the chickens and ducks tonight. The boys as ever were ready for fun and games at the park, but we were out of time.

She's magnetic

Miranda likes playing with anything she's not supposed to have - for example ball bearings and small pieces of plastic. She was fascinated by the magnetism, squeaking loudly when we demonstrated the attraction and the repulsion. Necklaces will never hold the same attraction to her it seems....

I ain't redundant yet!

I had a photo job this morning on Regent Street, so it being Sunday, the rest of the clan visited the Science Museum whilst I laboured. This was Gregory's record of the day! He took some quite nice ones yesterday with my manual focus lens, .....nice and blurred!

Every breath you take....

Greg has started showing an interest in guitar playing, and today he asked me "If I practice really hard will I be as good as Lewis, Daddy?"

It just goes to show how important it is to have strong role models, but he seems to have his plan all worked out. The band it seems is going to have two guitars, some cymbals and a rock singer!

Hurricane

"Pistol shots ring out in the barroom night
Enter Patty Valentine from the upper hall.
She sees the bartender in a pool of blood,
Cries out, "My God, they killed them all!"
Here comes the story of the Hurricane,
The man the authorities came to blame
For somethin' that he never done.
Put in a prison cell, but one time he could-a been
The champion of the world."

Well it was certainly blustery tonight at Lepe, the wind was blowin' and we had some showers too! But the sun came out and we played briefly in the playground. Another week bites the dust!

She's on the ball

Miranda is starting to get real ball control skills now. She likes to capture and control the ball, and she's starting to throw it with some precision.

This morning we had a 5.15 start with Mippy, so to mark the Summer Soplstice, can I just say how much we are looking forward to the nights drawing in again.

Two for tea!

A few more faces from the Teatime Terror Club, with Greg (I expect) telling the story of the one that got away, whilst Miranda has the hysterics...

Every picture tells a story

.....but would you guess the story from the picture?

This is immediately after the boys, competing as always to be first to the top of a big rock (see LHS of frame) and Lewis (aged 8.75) has just been pushed off backwards onto the ground, with a very heavy impact to his head. He's distraught and in pain, and seeks solace from Miranda who's very concerned that he's howling like a baby. It's a picture of tenderness.... behind, sheepishly waits Gregory (aged 4.5) hands poised on rocks, to come and help if neccessary - and not a little worried that he's gone too far this time.....

A slice of Life...

Over time, it's details of things like hands and faces, that seem to reflect how much is changing in a child. This detail shot encapsulates for me, the magic of life and the mystery of time and just what exactly we are all doing here.

...and the furious Five!

I now have a picture of the concentration that goes into Lewis' Chess playing, from last night. The end of the day is the only time suitable for Chess in our house, and unfortunately he's getting past his best, both emotionally and in the intellect department. Mine equally is beginning to fade!

Bully for you!

Well the hot news of the day is Gran and Grandan have had broadband installed on their computer so now they can check out the blog whenever they feel like it!

Lewis is sending a special smiler to them both, and waiting for all the comments to start appearing!!! "I didn't think Gran knew how to use a computer Dad..!" " She doesn't Lewis, but just wait and see if you can't teach an old dog new tricks...!!"

Marilyn woz here!

Miranda having a blond moment! We were down at Lepe and the sky was awesome, so I took some photos of her and Greg against the boiling skyscape - the moment passed and Miranda gazed out to sea for a moment....

The wind caught her skirt in true Marilyn style, and it was a devil to know if the shot was better with her plastic pants as part of the composition.

Farewell amigo!

Friday is Lewis' last day with Miss Roberts, who has been gaining teaching experience with his class at Waterside Primary for the last six weeks. He has particularly enjoyed his PE lessons with her, including kick ball rounders - which was the best! Here is Miss Roberts marking his English coursework, which I was lucky enough to observe when I came into school this week....

You consider me the young apprentice

It's all just a game to Miranda - whatever you might want her to do will result in her getting you to do it for her. No matter whether it's feeding time - 'no you have some Daddy'.... or potty training (I won't explain).... Wasn't it the Police that had a track called "wrapped around your finger"

Mephistopheles is not your name
But I know what you're up to just the same
I will listen hard to intuition
And you will see it come to its fruition

Grandmaster Flash

Lewis and I had a game of Chess this evening, which I guess with hindsight I should have taken a few photos of! I did give him a few chances to win but it's hard to demonstrate Check Mate without going in for the kill, and feeling trapped. Needless to say this wasn't the expression on his face!

I've had a nice stroll at sundown on Shore Road tonight to stretch my legs, and there was wildlife everywhere. First of all I saw Foxy, who was his usual assertive and sneaky self as he lolloped his way along the shore, and down the railway line. Then I saw the Tawny Owl and her two offspring in the oak tree by the picnic area. This was the best viewing I've had recently as they came and had a good look at me whilst the mother chastised them. Then finally I popped in to Barry's and he showed me the squirrel who has nested in his Owl Box on the CCTV. It was an amazing image to see the head burrowing in his furry tail covered in Oak leaves...

Check out Barry's cctv footage here

Hang on in there

Gregory in acrobatic mood on the parallel bars at the playground. I told him that I'd met one of the girls from his class there the day before and she had been showing me how good she was at doing things. That was enough for Greg to raise the ante and work up a bit of a sweat! I told him that she'd been asking after him and you could tell he was really flattered...

Round and round the garden, like a teddy bear!

Miranda was very frustrated today, at about teatime. Nohing was going her way so she went to the shed and found her 'walker' which doesnt see much action these days. She started pushing in around the garden table, and soon Gregory took up the challenge and chauffered her around - you'll notice she's smiling!

We had a nice bike ride in the forest today around Denny Wood, a blissfully tranquil picnic (save Mippy howling at one point) and a very warm summer's day. Who could ask fr a sweeter Sunday.

Away on business

She wanders over to the shed looking for a ball or a bike, wrestles with it for a while - and then there's the howling when it gets stuck! I'm not sure whether she knows what it is she's going in for, but there's always the same pattern of activity.

This is the looking stage, now what shall I play with today?

It reminds me of going to my grandfather's garden shed in Underwood Road, which was filled with interesting stuff. A bike, an old lawn mower, some tins of paint. I don't know if I could exactly remember the smell, but it's familiar smell, and yet nothing like our own shed.

Not quite there

It's frustrating when your favourite picture in a sequence is not sharp, but with a little intervention sometimes you can render it acceptably.

The many moods of Mippy

She can go from 0 to 60 in 4.5 seconds, and back again before you've barely had time to take a breath! But with all that exuberance and energetic activity, comes a rollercoaster of emotions....

You've really got me going...

I had a surprise when I arrived in the kitchen lunchtime, as Miranda was already in her chair eating lunch - with her cycle helmet on! She was rearing to go, apparently insisted on wearing it in anticipation of going for a ride after our lunch. Evidently she thinks it's as exciting as I do!

I am a cider drinker!!

Miranda is rather partial to driving her tractor, ....well the boys think it's still theirs really! But during the day she can play with it to her heart's content. She's starting to get the hang of self propulsion, although it's a whole lot more fun when Daddy pushes - come on Dad, why are you taking pictures again???

The camera never lies?

It was only when I scanned the thumbnails, that I realised this was a strange picture - when I took it, it must have seemed ordinary enough. He's devouring the skin of a jacket potato, ...what other way to eat it?

The end of a scorcher!

We've had a very hot weekend, so after cooling off on the beach at Calshot we decided top have a barbeque for supper.

On balance beans on toast may have been the best idea - as we were almost defeated by the experience! Hey that's life...

He's a clown

If a Fortune Teller was to tell me that in 20 years time Gregory would be working in the circus, I guess I wouldn't bat an eyelid. He has that playful expression, those mournful eyes and an amazing presence in front of a camera.

Knock, Knock, who's there?

The end of another week, and it's my 400th posting on the blog! Seems fitting to have a self portrait with camera and hand.

It's been a beautiful day again and Lepe was typically deserted at the close of the day.