End of a good year

Although we'd hatched a plot to go sailing with Terry on the Beaulieu River this afternoon, the rain was stating to set in and the wind was almost non existent. So much to Lewis' disappointment (and Caroline's delight) Terry suggested a cruise over to the Isle of Wight to have our lunch instead. Of course the wind picked up and the sun came out, and we had a jolly nice lunch at Shalfleet Quay in Newtown Harbour. First time I have ever seen the place empty of yachts. Lewis and Greg did all the helming, every last bit even the creek to Shalfleet with the depth gauge reading 1M!

Happy New Year y'all!

Talking heads

Rather grey here this morning so we entertained ourselves indoors with a few books and some general larking around. Lewis and Greg were engrossed in some Sketch Up project, and Mum was still in bed...

By midday Ian was here with his new Gopro camera, and the boys had hatched a plan to go riding in the woods, and maybe create a video of the action. Had some great fun working out some sequences and the rushes look quite good, now all I have to do is start pulling some clips together in Premiere to reduce the 30 mins of footage down to 3 minutes, and add a soundtrack!

Cinderella on Ice

Miranda and I spent a few hours this afternoon making a stage set for Cinderella on Ice. It all started when I found her on the floor near the back door with a tube of Pritt stick and a scissors and a pile of recycling material.

"What are you up to now?" is the popular refrain.

I like this picture over the finished item as it carries a bit more of her naive illustrative charm, dig those pink ice skating boots...

You spin me round

Having been housebound most of the day yesterday, we thought we'd blow the cobwebs away witha  walk from Milford on Sea along the coast path to Barton. The sea was pretty rough and the wind was fairly strong but not too cold. No lunch was thought necessary, but we did have a cream tea before our return leg at the excellent cafe in Barton called the Beachcomber's.

Decided to spend the last of the day at Christchurch where the awful realisation that we'd forgotten to send Christabel a birthday card on her 21st (of all birthdays) so we quickly impromptued a photo shoot on the magic roundabout, to send her a message with the iPhone, to remind her to make sure every day has some fun packed in...

Happy Birthday Christabel. Seems a long time ago since we came to visit you for the first time in Andover all those years ago.

Rarer than hen's teeth

Another of Miranda's delightful drawings which needs no introduction. It's lovely to watch her look at a book of illustrations, and then jump headlong into a drawing of her own. I did ask her to colour it in, as they always stand out much better, but she's added the description under her own initiative. This is one of four or five done this morning whilst waiting for David, Barbara and Jonathan to arrive with us for lunch, which they did bearing a very nice bottle of 1961 Armagnac from Nismes Delclou, as a birthday gift. To think that this has sat in a barrel maturing for all those years whilst I have been getting ready for it....

Boxing Day Shakedown

Lewis is the boat on the left hand side and they approach the shore in fine formation. He said he thought it was the best day of the year for him, and you couldn't disagree. They all had fun and with quite strong winds were able to zoom around on the water. We still had difficulty pulling him in after three quite cold hours on the water.

And just when he thought that his sailing was over for the next few months Terry asked himn if he'd like to help with some Flying Fifteen sailing in January....

Fortified

And since it's Christmas we'd better have one of those Christmas present unwrapping moments. Our neighbour John is gifted in the engineering department, and often helps us with some rather complex challenges. Somehow Caroline managed to persuade him to favour Gregory with a fastasy castle to play knights with, and this is the moment the paper came off! How's that for a Christmas present...?

St Nich

Mince pies had been baked, the sack of potatoes collected from the farm in Longdown, Christmas tree made, decorations and cards up, ginger bread house made.... so we had a few hours on our hands this afternoon and we went to Romsey. Visited the Abbey, and made to feel very welcome by the wardens who told us that this statue of St Nicholas (patron saint of children and pawn brokers) was made from a piece of driftwood found in Hythe!

Must just go and pop our bottle of Barbadillo Manzanilla in the fridge for our 11AM quaff on the beach tomorrow. Merry Christmas peeps....

Va va room

Greg reading my Rallying Yearbook from about 1979 or 1980. It's interesting seeing him getting interested in cars now Lewis has moved on to other things, but when there's a personal dimension and it takes me straight back to when I was a child it's quite fun to reflect on. Reading this book myself last night it only just dawned on me that the Vauxhall Chevette must have taken it's name from General Motors association with Chevrolet back in the day. Those in the know will be aware that I photographed rally cars quite keenly as a teenager, and sold photographs to anyone that would buy them, leading me towards a life in photography. Not that I've taken photos of cars since....

One step beyond

One tries not to make genderist remarks on this blog, but it is nice at least to see one of the progeny getting stuck into a bit of tidying up after the 'fun bits'.

So far she's been getting quite excited about the prospect of getting her step out and rising to the challenge. Anyhow she deserves a medal.

The mince pies have been destroyed at an unprecedented rate this year, we had reports lunchtime that onto two jars of CJ's special mincemeat were left and we're still days to go to Christmas...

Had a nice surprise though earlier, Caroline won the prize draw at Waitrose; a month's free groceries no less! Now that's what I call payback on investment.

Wayfarer

This was Lewis' illustration on the birthday card he gave me. I don't recognise him on the boat, so I guess it must be me and some othere fuddy duddy as it's a Wayfarer. Him and Greg are forever drawing boats these days, and the boats get racier and racier. I'm glad naturally that they don't obsess after Ferraris and Lamborghinis any longer, although it's possible that racing could prove to be an even more expensive pastime!

When the going gets tough...

Bone janglingly cold on the water today but that didn't put the keen teenagers off at Calshot Sailing Club. Lewis is already on the water, Kyle getting ready to jostle for the best position on the start line! This was the last race of the season although they plan to do an event on Boxing Day too. They raced until the sun went down, and with winds of about 17 knots it was pretty damn cold for those of us on the shore waiting to pull the safety boat in! Makes all the difference sailing in these conditions knowing that you'll get a nice hot shower afterwards.

I've not managed to post for a few days due to nights out for various Christmas festivities, and nights in, in front of a roaring log fire - I must be more disciplined.

Choose your weapon

The kids were drawing on Sunday morning whilst Lewis and Caroline were out sailing. I asked Greg what he wanted to draw and he said "YOU!"

So I sat for him, and gave him a few tips on how to observe and draw, and so on... I reckon he's going to give Lucien Freud a run for his money in years to come. Not the most complementary of portraits, but you can't dispute who it is. Nice one Greg...

I'm listening to Hiromi Uehara and Sonicbloom's version of My Favourite Things on Beyond Standard. Ever seen her play?

The Entertainer

Ian drawing a Gingerbread house for the kids, Miranda helping with the colouring and Greg mainly being entertained. The story begins some years ago when Caroline baked the structure of a Gingerbread house, although Ian came around and finished building it, so they will forever think that he made. Come Christmastime of course and he is harangued to begin another one, and the story takes on new life...

Raggy

Once he was the only creature/thing that she would have to take to bed with her, but nowadays there are a few other competitors. So it's been interesting today watching Raggy come back into focus. She's been reading him stories on the settee, and tonight at lights out he was the only one - I guess he must have been nice to her or something.

It was very frosty first thing this morning, but absolutely lovely out in the forest on my bike. It really saps my energy though when it's that cold and after three hours of pushing it, I'm begining to feelmy age...

Lewis has been sailing this morning at Calshot, and is keen to go out again tomorrow. He's just got a new RYA Sailing Book which he's been studying. A lot of the photos are taken at Calshot and Weymouth.

Teenage moment

When we look back with rose tinted spectacles at the things we got right, we will also need to remind ourselves with images like this, that it wasn't all easy.

Finding the energy to the address issues, and keeping everyone on message is one of the biggest challenges we have to deal with. Lewis often rightly feels that as the eldest, we are harder on him than the others, but his assertiveness often leads him into conflict with the management....

I'm listening to Isao Suzuki Quartet playing Aque Marine on Three Blind Mice Label

I noticed earlier that Wales will soon have a complete Coastal Path - what a good reason to visit Wales

Did you dress for dinner (lunch)

Complaints have been made recently that Caroline doesn't get featured on the blog often enough. Well this is from lunchtime today, and it might give you a hint as to why....

Another good reason for posting this is the rather artful self portrait that I managed to squeeze into the frame. If anyone would like me to send them a reindeer stalker's hat pls do let me know, and I'll make the arrangements. Say no more.

And finally a teaser - what do I share in common with Ken (of Barbie and Ken fame), President Obama, the Jaguar E Type and the Berlin Wall. Answers on a postcard please....

I'm listening to Sun Ra - Disco 3000 Space is the Place from 1978 - it's phreaking fantastic...!

A hole lotta fun

Lewis has been working on Sound and Light as his theme in Science lessons at school, and he has been enjoying his homework. Having done a research piece about the Pinhole Camera a week or so ago, we thought it would be fun to make one as he's very fond of craft activities. We have a drafting film focus screen and he's using his school blazer as a blackout, Greg graciously modelling in the bright light, as I'd made the smallest of holes to try and keep the image sharp! We didn't try to expose a paper neg, but may do so yet...

Have just watched the Frozen Planet on iPlayer. Can't say more than watch it whilst it's still available

Ruff

Miranda has a hacking cough that she's obviously brought home from school, and is now trying to distribute to the rest of us. She's a tough cookie though and it's not holding her down - (although she's quite good at playing the part...)

Lunch with Monty

About this time of year the year 5's at Waterside School are invited to Beaulieu to have a taste of Victorian Christmas with the Montagu's. Lewis went some years ago and today it was Greg's turn to try out the silver. They have to dress in part, having done their research and take an authentic meal which they eat there.

Only just read this evening about the passing of Paul Motian - one of my all time fave jazz players. I can still remember buying Psalm on ECM from a record shop in The Quadrant Centre in Swansea circa 1982 just before I left for Art College. My punk/new wave days were over by then and I was looking for something more challenging; and although I'd always had a jazz influence from my parents, took off with modern jazz. He has produced so many great records, and I've seen him live many times in different bands (with Geri Allen and Charlie Haden in Southampton, and with the Electric Bebop Band in Brecon both stand out for me); the lightness of his touch and walls of sounds he was able to spin will always fascinate me.

Check out a few of my fave albums if you get a chance.

'Le Voyage' and 'Dance' both on ECM
'On Broadway Vol 1'
'I have the Room above Her'
'Lost in a Dream' with Chris Potter and Jason Moran from just last year.

and of course the classic Bill Evans Trio recordings with Scott LaFaro and Paul Motian, 'Waltz for Debbie'.

Betwixt and Between

What to do when you have taken several but none are really any good at all.... Time to get creative then. This was from last night, she was showing signs of fatigue so I just let her choose whatever came to hand from the bookshelf. The book is far too easy for her to read nowadays but somehow it brought about a very childish revisit of when she could not read so well. We did the baby talk and I asked her if she could remember not being able to read, told a few stories about different books we use to read together. And then she crashed out.

Practice pieces

Lewis is making steady progress with his Stage 3 guitar in school, and is also doing a band rendition of a Bob Marley's Buffalo Soldier with a few friends as a music assignment. The following music clips are mainly for his study purposes...


Banjo Bill - Gary Ryan


Menuet - Gary Ryan


Bauerntanz

  Buffalo Soldier by Chris Arpad

  Bob Marley - Buffalo Soldier cover (Jonas Kaas moombahton mix) by Joe Goose

  Daniel Mora - Buffalo Soldier by RFSAudio 
Three different covers of Buffalo Soldier above and below the real thing which sadly was only published after he'd died.



And finally my favourite news headline of the day will provide inspiration I hope for any aspiring writer (Greg?) ....

Trophy

Greg has been out at Cubs this evening and he came back with the shield for the 'Best Six' which is awarded for winning most points in thier group activities. Normally it's the Sixer who gets the trophy home, but Greg's friend Cameron is leaving the area so the leader's role is up for grabs. Will Greg get put in charge, stay tuned for future updates...

Self portrait

Lewis and I have been labouring with a work party at the Scouts Hut today, doing general repairs to the fabric. They are very lucky to have a huge building right on the shore with it's own beach and boat pound. But that also means a lot of looking after! Lewis was clearing brambles and other nasty undergrowth that was trying to reclaim several of the boats to nature, whilst I was replacing weather boarding from some slightly rickety mobile towers. I am not going to be taking up a career change any time soon.

Miranda and Greg were drawing when we got back, and couldn't resist a quick snap of them in action.

The Joker

Greg has been reading to me from the Adventure of the Cursed Ruby this evening. We are trying to get more emphasis in his speech and it's quite difficult when he's enjoying his read, and falling over himself with the story to get him focused on the delivery!

He's also been showing off his card tricks, another of his favourite pastimes.

Lewi's been sailing all day in conditions that he described as a bit bloomin windy. I can only concur, as I came back from my bike ride feeling exhausted. The lovely autumn colours are mainly gone and the murky mix of browns is the main feature...

Last Orders

Miranda turned up in the kitchen this morning wearing her costume for the Nativity play in school. She is the Innkeeper, and has been rehearsing her lines, and gestures and songs all week. As soon as I'd taken the photo she wanted me to email the photo to her teacher, ...you'll just have to show her the blog then Miranda!

Away with Miranda's imagination

This image belongs a few days ago and came as a direct response to the pictures I made of the toadstool. Miranda does some absolutely beautiful pencil sketches, when she's got a subject firmly in mind.

Tonight we've been reading Paddington Bear, and predictably hootering and hollering as the story unfolds. We've been reading shorter more straightforward book at bedtime mainly with Miranda so she can practice but every now and again we just have fun...

Inspiration for Lewis - Al di Meola - Mediterranean Sundance and then some lessons on how to play it!

cmyk

Was playing around with some illustration techniques and quite liked this. Has a sort of expressive quality that reminds me of Miranda a lot. As we speak she's hacking away in her sleep, as she's suffering a bit of a cough. I went up to her earlier to take her to the loo, and she had plastic bottles, a large piece of rope, books and dolls all wrapped up in her bed with her.

Close to the edge

Heading towards the sunset on Bournemouth beach yesterday, and the kids were still in possessing of some energy. Makes me smile this as Lewis would normally be chasing them to the ground, but instead he's the old boy watching their exuberance take hold. I always used to think Bournemouth was a bit boring, but there's quite an atmosphere on the prom in winter; factor in the sound of the sea and a sunset as big as the sky... and you might walk all the way to Poole.

Six

Been out for a walk around Wilverley Enclosure this morning, there was a nice mist to start and then the sun broke through. We had a picnic on the Plain overlooking Rhinefield and then headed over to Bournemouth to had an afternoon making Victorian connections for Greg. He was lucky enough to find a timeline connecting the Russell-Coates activities to the Victorian era, as well as plenty of other stuff like the pier. Bournemouth of course is a Victorian town coming of age with the arrival of public transport in the nineteenth century.

The sun was setting as we came out of the Russell-Coates and we walked down to Poole, the the sky glowed red over Swanage.

Dinner at Thai Smiles in Boscombe was first class.... if a little spicy for Miranda.

Flight of fancy

Quite an amazing thing happened today when we were out for a walk in the woods. Miranda heard a voice from the bushes and when we looked for the source we found some fairies dancing underneath a toadstool. Had I not seen it with my own eyes I may not have believed it!

It's been the most perfect of autumnal days here in the New Forest, still and bright, beautiful colours and wildlife everywhere. Miranda spotted about a dozen deer on our walk, who allowed us to come so close they may well have been tame. She told me afterwards that she really likes deer now...

Lewis has been sailing with Terry and Kyle in the Flying Fifteen on the Beaulieu River today. He got himself out of bed made us a cup of tea and was packed and gone by 9AM.

Screeching pixies

Miranda had a few friends around for a birthday tea after school, and her chosen theme for the cake was toadstools and fairies.

The characters were procured at a tabletop sale recently and Mum has been making and icing the cake all day.

By bedtime she was fairly worn out, but still able to read me Good Will Hunting, whilst I nearly nodded off myself!

We had a delivery of logs earlier and I can't blame the exertion of putting them all in the log store for the fatigue as Lewis did most of this for me when he got home from school. Needed to remind him that he did want to go sailing on the weekend, didn't he!

The story of the blues - link for Lewis since we were talking about slide guitar and the bottleneck!

One man and his (someone else's) dog

I was looking for a picture of Lewis, and although I had a few portraits that had not seen the light of day, thought this was one that described him well.

Taking a stroll, highly independent, out in front.

I'm listening to Canonball Adderley Quintet playing Plus on Riverside; with brother Nat on cornet, Sam Jones on bass, Louis Hayes on drums, Victor Feldman on vibes and Wynton Kelly on pian.

The rough and the smooth

George is a very large pot bellied pig with a fearsome grunt, and enormous teeth. I mention this only as a way of introducing Miranda's casual relationship with the animals at Barry's field nowadays. There was a time when she used to scream when the animals even came close.

To be fair she is still nervous of Alice the vicious goat, and with good reason.

Miranda keeps asking if she can go and milk Daisy again, so we must pull our finger out. It would make a great Blog Caption "Miranda the Milk Maid"

I'm listening to George Kawagushi's The Big 4 on the Three Blind Mice Label. Some rare groove Japanese Jazz.

It's fantastic, I'm made out of plastic

It's always good when I've managed to post a picture of the boys, because I can then post (another) one of Miranda without fear of criticism for a lack of balance!

This one taken on the weekend after Lewis had finished his sail training, and we had a walk around Calshot Cats boatpark. Lewis was checking them all out for the most rad trapeze harnessing and platform extensions, but Mip was happy to choose this cat for entirely different reasons.

Greg has been telling me all about his astronomy classes in school earlier so I've been telling him about the project we pitched for ten years ago to design and build the Spaceport visitor centre in Liverpool, and met the man responsible for the National School's Observatory

Seconder

Didn't actually post a picture of the boys on the weekend, although we were all very proud of their contribution to the Remembrance Sunday Parade in Hythe. This was as they set off from home, Lewis representing the Sea Scouts, and Greg the Cubs.

Tonight Greg came back from Cubs to tell us that he's been promoted to Seconder in his 'Six'.The thought of Gregory nearly being in charge is very scary....

On Topper d'world

Lewis has rather fortunately had two days sailing this weekend. Yesterday he was able to race in both sessions at Calshot, where he finished 3rd and tenth. The third place was his best finish yet and he came home with a big smile on his face.

This morning after doing the Remembrance Sunday parade in the village with Gregory, Kyle and the other scouts he was offered another chance to go sailing again by Terry.

So this afternoon they have had some sail training with Andy Sutton, and Lewis has learned some new tricks...

musical link for the day is a cello player / singer called Ayanna Witter-Johnson that I think I've name checked before... check out 'Roxanne' at the very least.

Read more here

Animals bed time on Saturday

Today's post is written by Miranda

This is me with Domino the Donkey. i have been riding him arawnd Barry's field this afternoon with Dad. After I helped put the animals to bed. I rounded up the chickens, and the goats and fed the alpacas. Then I had a go at milking Daisy the goat in the milking shed. Her udders felt really soft, and we got half a buckwet of milk. I stroked George the Pig, who was hiding in his shed.

Bad to the Bone

Well it's the weekend again, so let's go climb a few trees! Let's forget just briefly about all the irritation and distractions that life throws at us, and focus on having a bit of fun. Greg asked for some sympathy this morning after enduring some harassment in a familiar context. What advice do you give, turn the other check, walk away - or deal with it once properly? I know what I've always done, but it's not so easy when you are giving advice...

I'm listening to Erik Friedlander's Badbone - avant garde jewish jazz meets bluegrass, somewhere out on the plain...

Pizza con funghi

Slightly self conscious as she offers me pizza at the parlour in Matley Wood. She's getting to that age when she starts to become aware that we are playing games with each other, rather than just doing it...

A few days ago I gave her a rather short cuddle at bedtime. She asked me why she was getting less than usual, and when I explained I was not very happy she asked me if it was because of what had happened earlier.... Yes I said, it makes me unhappy. "I thought so...." then she gave me a very tight hug, and just when I thought she was going to say sorry said "...you can go now...!"

sk8r boy

Greg and Miranda have been playing lots of making games recently, with both Lego and K'Nex. Didn't have a picture of the K'Nex action however so this with have to be the one.

Mipp very determined with her reading this evening. Very challenging words, and she didn't baulk at one of them. When she's fired up she can make a reasonable job of almost anything. It's quite amazing to watch her sizing up silent letters or letter groups whislt she takes a few seconds to work it out...

Music clip below for Lewis (mainly) but please enjoy! Christian McBride on bass with Sting revisiting a classic from his first solo album "Dream of the Blue Turtles"


Christian McBride with Sting - Consider Me Gone from Mack Avenue on Vimeo.

Day dream believer

When he was younger he only seemed to have one expression; that exuberant, happy, smiley face. Capable of convincing you that there was nothing that it could not overcome.

He uses it less often these days, and like a clown off duty you start to see the the occasional anxieties and disappointments come to the surface.

I was looking at a photo last night as I edited a few a few snaps from a while ago, where Greg was crying after some major disappointment. I used to try quite hard to make the blog have a gritty hard edged reality, but sometimes I don't have the energy for too much truth...

Jazz Link of the Day! If you'd like to listen to any of the concerts at Newport Jazz Festival 2011 - following the links here There's loads of great music including Steve Coleman, Hiromi, Ravi Coltrane, Charles Lloyd etc etc....

Liam and Noel?

Greg has also started guitar lessons now as well in school, and since we've been trying to get them to co-operate more often thought that the Jolly Sailor with accompaniment would be the way to take it forward (a step or two). Quite pleased that there was some progress, if not complete harmony. One day they might be Simon and Garfunkle, or will be more like Gallagher brothers - who knows?

Just listening to Jason Moran 'Modernistic', the track is Gangsterism on a Lunchtable - absolutely brilliant album...

This clip from the Tribes on a clunky old bar room piano is definitely worth a watch / listen

Jason Moran Live at Tribes in NYC
Sunday May 29 2011 5-7pm
15 dollars at the door
Limited seating RSVP

Hand on the Tiller

Nothing ominous at first sight, until you hear that high pitch screeching of Miranda announcing that she's steering the boat (which also means accelerating the boat) with two other children in the boat.

Also in the boat is Gregory and Kyle acting as Safety Boat for Lewis who is elsewhere sailing up the Beaulieu River.

It's been a very pleasant afternoon with very little traffic other than ourselves, so a good chance to experiment with a few things - and fortunately no mishaps to report. Just a very cold wind to remind us that summer sailing is no more...

Christmas is a comin'

Picture of our Christmas cake at the construction stage. For some reason Miranda doesn't seem to be wearing it all over her face, that must have come later.

It's now been cooked and is being fed with various liquid nourishments.

Miranda showed me a picture of a cake that she'd like to have made for her birthday. It's an igloo with penguins dancing around outside. I'm not sure whether there's any cake within the vast acreage of icing, but it's not my idea of a tasty morsel....

The way ahead

Something of the Gregory Crewdson about this image of (our own) Gregory. It's all in the lighting and the ambiguous sense of something about to happen that creates a narrative for me. He might be watching a spacecraft hovering overhead, but knowing Greg, it's probably just a ball!

Greg has been reading the Indiana Jones series of stories, so we've been getting edited episodes from him at mealtimes. Sometimes you can't separate him from his doorstop books, other times like tonight he just wants to fall into bed and have a cuddle before going to sleep!

I'd just like to give a little plug for Treacletart a newly re-established blog dedicated to the more important things in life

Sketch Up

"Guess what I'm drawing a picture of Dad?"

"It looks like you on the beach at Calshot, ...with Bouncer throwing stones in the water. And is that a Buzz and a Topper racing, which one is Lewis in?"

And bold as brass Lewis replies "I'm in the Fireball, and you can't see me because I've already crossed the Finish Line!"

Ever wanted to get a closer look at certain paintings but were too afraid to get arrested by the security guards?

Saw head

Greg and Miranda had an inset day today, so they spent part of the day fetching a punkmin, and when Lewis got home they all helped harvest the content and carve the face. Tonight we've had stuffed figs, pumpkin gnochi followed by apple cake. Yum.

It's not every day I urge you to look at 102 photos but tonight have look at the Masks, Costumes and Halloween Exhibition on Lenscratch.

You take the slide

A damp a murkely sort of day here today, so we've dug in a played with LEGO. Greg wanted to make a skate park, and although I did my best to persuade him that LEGO and curves did not really make out together, that's where we went. When they suggested making a Death Slide my eyes rolled over, but within seconds they had found a way of making one. In one shot I've got a Paramedic's stretcher on the floor, I'm sure I won't need to explain why...

We've managed to get out for a tootle this afternoon, but we didn't get back till after dark (the clocks having gone back)

Did I mention Lewis bringing us a cup of tea at 6.45 this morning?? That went down well, ...not!

I'm listening to Iba Diabate - Mouna