Venus

Dense clouds of carbon dioxide trap heat of sun making (?)

It's diamita is 12,100km. It has no moon.

The planit Venus spins in the opposite direcshun to the others planit in the sola sistum.

Bet you didn't know that! From Greg's Astronomy work book.

Feeding time frenzy

It's a common sight for us at the weekend when we are walking the donkey. People turn up to feed the animals, and like a magnet they all come running! It's lovely he other way round too when you bring some food., and see all the critters running towards you, but I do like this picture which catches the moment of interface.

Museum Piece

Art Museum by dumpr.net

I shall tell Miranda that I took this photo at the Art Gallery last weekend, see if she understands photography in the age of Photoshop...

Tom and Dick

Miranda has been rather poorly the last few days, she's been feverish and completely off her food. Unfortunately she's also passed it on to me, and I've spent the last 24hrs feeling very rough. I even went to bed at 8pm yesterday and managed to oversleep by an hour this morning...!

Comes a time...

Lewis was out when I got home tonight, he's been to a dog training session with Janis (and Rose the sheepdog), so whilst I was eating supper I had a chance to reflect upon the process of growing up and growing away.

They travelled over to Brockenhurst, and I could imagine them sitting in the car jabbering away together about the stars in the sky, as they crossed the forest. Sure enough when they arrived home the first think they did was look for the partial eclipse which Lewis was confident would be occuring tonight.

It's not easy to let go, and I guess there will always a bit of you that wants to take care, but boy is it nice to watch that spirit of independence take root.

I'm just a poor boy nobody loves me...

Greg's study of the sola sistem continues, and this is one of the pages from his astronomy workbook. Today we had a quiz from one of his library books about the planets and outer space and Greg managed to get more answers right than me. He was naturally, rather chuffed.

I'm not used to seeing him gloat, which was fun for a change!

Today we've been into the Art Gallery in Southampton which had a superb exhibition about British art before it became rather popular to be a British artist. The show included mainly figurative painting and black and white photography, and some sculpture too. There were some excellent prints by Tony Ray Jones, Martin Parr, Homer Sykes, Patrick Ward etc .. What an amazing place this is - check it out tomorrow!

Tasty morsels

Lewis displaying his latest creation, a biscuit rolled from shortcrust and chocolatey layers, and quite delicious too.

This morning was beautifully frosted so Lewis and I took our bike ride down to Calshot and Lepe in near perfect conditions. It was wonderfully still and there were thousands of birds shoveling away in the saltgrass. Everywhere we stopped there was interesting stuff to see.

This afternoon we've been out with the donkey, and today it was Greg's turn to have a ride, although sadly he's looking like he's getting a bit old for this sort of activity. Miranda stayed at home as she's been under the weather.

Grungy Miranda

Getting more chopsy by the day, Miranda is getting the hang of conversation. It's great when they work out that they can instigate a line of enquiry, and keep you captivated!

Type 55

I've been thinking about some of the old photographic processes this evening, dreaming about doing some wet colloidion tintypes and revisiting that one off unpredictability.

Need to do something different for a change.

The Sun and my stars

The sky is cloudless tonight so the boys had a good chance to see Venus as it passes through in the early evening.

They have been doing quite a bit in school about the planets and astronomy, and Greg has been reading a book from the library about Galileo.

Bang! Bang!

This one just to show that they are not always loving and charming.... mind you they don't just shoot anything that moves - only each other! We did visit some friends the other day, and their little boy ran around pushing a gun in any and everyone's direction - before despatching us all, several times..

Miranda doesn't look too impressed does she!

The Lycra Brigade

Greg was quick with his request that we go for a bike ride in the forest, and who I am I to spoil his fun? Lewis was keen and so was Miranda, and they all scurried off into the boys bedroom to get ready whilst I had a wash.

When the door opened this is what I saw. Lewis had found the small set of cycling kit which almost fits Miranda now!

And so we set off (with a few extra layers underneath) for our ride across Wilverley Plain and the encloseure leading on to the old railway track to Brockenhurst. We had a picnic en-route and had great fun watching a group of six monocyclists doing crazy stunts. We had a strong headwind against us on the way back, and boy was it cold.

No more monkey business

Miranda admiring herself in the mirror in our bedroom, when she was supposed to be listening to me reading her a story. She worms her way along side you, just to get your attention, then she drifts off into her own world. But the second you stop, she'll say "Daddy read the story..."

I'll get along with a little help...

When I got in this evening I was shown a letter from the Hampshire Library Service saying Miranda had won second prize in a story writing competition about Christmas. Turns out she had dictated it and Lewis had written it down, and the rest is history, as they say.

Master Baker

Lewis getting stuck in to some baking. I think the small ones were mini carrot cake muffins. The big one was not supposed to include cream cheese rather than cottage cheese in the icing, nevertheless tasted fab.

He has a natural self confidence when cooking, and I'd never dream of asking him if he was sure...

Walkin the dog'

There's a charming cockiness in this picture that I like, as Miranda recognises that I'm about to take a picture. A fraction of a second later and she'll play hard to get!

Elated

Just been scanning a few negs that I processed last night, and the magic of the olden days came flooding back. Black and white film is great for capturing mood and atmosphere, and the tonal range is completely unlike anything digital.

Lewis got in this evening from 'dog training' with Janis, and caught me hovering over the lightbox, and all he wanted to talk about was what I was doing.

Look carefully

It's been a while, but I have been processing film this evening! Having shot the three rolls of film within the last eight days with my Ricoh GR1-V I now have to follow though with the back of house stuff...

I've been talking to Lewis this evening about all the technical aspects of photography that we used to take in our stride, and it reminded my of how complicated it all was 'in the olden days'. We really used to have some craft skills, which I guess I'd pretty much forgotten about, .....until I picked up my Darkroom book and started running through alll the detail.

It also gave me the chance to reflect on the immediacy of digital, and how much fun it is to be able to post shards of life instantly, without the inevitable few weeks wait if I was doing this traditionally.

Winter wonderland

Today's picture was taken at the samer time as yesterday's picture. This one was taken by Lewis, as I recall.

Everything has been covered with frost today, and my bike ride over the forest was one of the nicest rides I think I've ever had (for scenery), however what it bone jangly cold. And as I'd discouraged Lewis from coming with me I was for once free to do whatever I pleased.

I shot a whole roll of film through my new camera, which Miffy kindly gave me for Christmas/ Birthday etc so hopefully my darkroom days may soon be given a fresh impetus!

The Hairdresser

Seemed only natural to follow the last picture with one of Caroline, whose looking as though she could do with a slight trim herself. Maybe this weekend we'll make it a family activity and all have a go together....

You wondered why Miranda's hair is always over her face, know you know.

The Hairdresser's Husband

Greg wasn't too keen on having his photo taken as he was getting his hair cut. He wasn't too keen on having his hair cut either for that matter. Any how I had great fun trying to get a decent image, whilst Caroline got twitchier, as Greg became more hostile.

The image reminds me of the magical film by Patrice Leconte from about 18 years ago called The Hairdresser's Husband, about an older man who fulfills his ambition to marry a Hairdresser!

Grateful

This is Greg on the weekend as he worked his way through writing some "Thank You letters", hopefully they have winged their way by now.

This year Caroline and the kids made a block press to print their cards, and the designs were inspired by Egyptian art.

Mrs Flippy Floppy

I have nearly published this picture a few times, but each time looked at the slight lack of focus and decided against it. It really irritates me if there something wrong with a picture, but nevertheless it has also survived the Control+Delete command!

And although she looks a bit of a mess in this picture, it has the essence of the girl, that 'joie de vivre'

I just love this picture...

Evans above

So the festive season comes to an end and tomorrow we're all back to the grind. We spent the day with the Evans clan doing the usual stuff - walking on the beach, eating and drinking, playing games....

Nine Hundred not out

Just noticed that yesterday was my nine hundredth blog posting - that sounds like a lot to me.

This photo is from yesterday when we took a stroll up Hart Hill with various creatures in tow.

Today has been very nice , although incredibly cold. Although we were well togged up it was too cold for Lewis, who's suffering from a cold and cough for a little while. Fordy and I rode out along the Beaulieu river and down to Tanners Lane to some fantastic frosty landscapes but the headwind on the way back sapped our energy. Fortunately our return was rewarded by delicious soup and bread, and we also demolished the Gingerbread house built a week ago.

Toothfairy

Not normally one to miss a trick, Greg having absorbed some of Lewis' interest in the Toothfairy was keen to produce a suitable missive.

I found it sitting on the stairs, and managed to persuade him to let me scan it before popping it under his pillow....

Today we've been for a walk with Domino the donkey and Rose Barry and Janis' new sheepdog. I suspect a photo will have to follow another day!

Little man no more

We kinda forget that Greg's still a little man himself, and today he moved one step closer to0 adulthood by loosing his first 'baby' tooth! He wouldn't pose for me, but you can just see the gap in this one...

Had a nice walk on the beach lunchtime, after eating a big brunch. I think it was about ten by the time we got out of bed! Must give the kids fizz with their supper more often.

Tonight we played Brainbox again, which Lewis is enjoying. Nice to play a game that isn't too taxing, but fun along the way!

Happy New Year!

Well, we managed to stay awake to toast in the new year, although we had to say "night night" to Miranda a little earlier. We watched the fireworks though the window and now its TFB...

Happy New Year everybody!