Ironman

Led astray by Miranda, it's nice when he's there to support some of the more mad activities we get into. It was nice and sunny to be fair, especially on the beach!

The Power of Three

There are times for sure when the abrasive qualities of three diminish the potential for peaceful co-existence. Today we had co-operation and we nearly had the cheerleader shot as well, maybe now they can see the potential we'll get the genuine article next time.

Bonding

My Dad and I somewhere around 1972 captured on transparency film, which has not fared too well. The image though shines through. Thanks to my brother Christian for his dilligence in hunting down and scanning these gems.

Doubly revisited

You'll beforgiven for not knowing that the above was one of our childhood toys "the zoo", in fact I think it's faior to say they were "our toys"

And I mean "all of them"

The military truck was mine, an especial favourite, which came back from Paris I think with my Dad as a gift.

We played endlessly with the plastic animals, and zoo  which naturally was made by my Dad.

Below is a rediscovery of a diorama that Lewis used to spend his time making back in the day -I originally posted this pic in Novemeber 2007.

Paparazzi

Time was I couldn't take a sneaky picture of Lewis without him getting self conscious. Now I get asked if I can supply him with photos for him to post on social media!

Mind the Gap

 Now then I don't think it's quite half a century but the gap is not far off, between these two. The above a dormant negative rediscovered by Christian, and the photograph below which came as a result of my setting Lewis Brown a brief when we were out taking photos together!

We were in the forest somewhere near Denny Wood and I noticed he was not taking many images so I laid down the challenge. I wanted three portraits of myself within thirty minutes. He had to arrange the subject and background, no limitations.

And yes Mum, I am wearing my hat!

Holding back the years

Another golden oldie, taken I think at Alison Cross' wedding to David Michielson. I am wearing my pale blue Daniel Hechter suit, and am shooting 8mm film in a movie camera. Grampy looking fabulously smart. My Mum, Shish and Christian complete the lineup.

Bushman

One of those extraordinary finds, made by my brother Christian at Penyrallt. He's been scanning bundles of old negatives, so that we can make sense of what we have tucked away.

This one shows me at about 8 years old at a guess, montaged with a bush. As Chris noted when he sent this to me, is it any wonder I turned out like I did?

Navigation

One of those images that will only mean anything to my family...

Shopkeeper

Can I help you she shouts out? Yes pleas a cup of tea and a nice slice of cake!

The Old Folk's Home

Photograph of what I still think of as Home. It's a long way away I know but so many mental images for me are based around this visual grouping.

Staring out of the living room window towards the future...?

Higher on up...

A few years apart now, but re-enacted this when we were walking a week or so ago. No surprises the pack is split...

Chip off the Old Block

What's not to like?

A few of my Favourite Things

Bikes and Boats, oh and Popsie too!

Kissing Gate

When we go for a walk in the forest Popsie likes to play her games. Trying to force us to come up with some rude password to get through the kissing gate. This time it was just me and Lewis and she really was determined to get a reaction!

You'll notice the effervescent bows in her hair, they get bigger and more colourific by the week.

She has a big bandage on her leg at the moment due to a big bash on the leg which has given it a lovely bruise!

Holding back the Years

Photograph taken not so long after moving in as it has the organised look! Just look at the radiogram and the Robin Day settee. The Egg Chair by Arne Jakobsen will also date this, as my parents had to scrape to buy it, apparently it cost something like 500 quid back in the sixties! The curtains also absolutely classic too.

Greg's Linocuts

Greg brought his art folder home from school this week. We've been discussing various projects at home but not seen any of it til now. He's been using photography quite a bit, but as reference, but also as an subject, and naturally enough landscape photography is coming through. Here he's used landscape to inspire his lino cuts and they are lovely. He explained that the 'misregistered' colour was something he really liked, so he's made a feature of it now....

Arty Miranda

One of Miranda's art pieces from school which I rather like. Shows her split personality very well to me!

FB goes walkabout

Another Christian photograph of Father Brown, as he goes for a meander at Penyrallt. As I was to learn when I was visiting them recently there are many things to roam in search of. Chris was working in the garden, and I guess he needs checking up on from time to time!!

Silver Surfer

It's fair to say that Gran is almost taking a keen interest in computers. Cake however holds something closer to attraction for her...!

Digger

About 45 years separate these two photos.The younger Julian Brown was lovingly creating a rockery in the garden at Penyrall. I can recall those days well, which is funny as I can't remember much about last week. We had the Mini I think then, which was a D registration car. Large rocks would be dragged up the beach and manhandled into the tiny boot of the car.

The contemporary photo shows the work Chris has been doing at Penyrallt, Dad is obliging for the photoshoot!

So much water passed under the bridge.

Beanie Boy

My day was brightened considerably when I received these two photos in a message earlier from my bro Christian! He's got an eye for social history like no other, and whilst labouring in my parents garden manages to connect the dots on our collective family history.
First image today in the garden at Penyrallt; second image ditto c1968-70?

 Two of my father Julian Brown's watercolour paintings of Parrog. Over the years he's done many paintings of here and the surrounding Dinas Head area, and has held exhibitions in Newport over many summers. These pictures were just a few I could get my hands on, but they describe lazy summer days really well.

It's quite an amazing co-incidence that the parents of Gregory's sailing partner George, have a holiday cottage here. So this year Greg hopes to be doing some lazy summer sailing here!

Greghead

As Lewi reminded me earlier, we promised a few weeks ago to post a photo every day about family life. And I am falling behind already.

However sorting through some stuff in my archive I am throwing up some nearly there gems. This one almost certainly failed first time around due to the unfortunate positioning of his lordship, but it's too good to throw away.

We may have more retro stuff!!

Feeding time at the Zoo

Some banter earlier in the day between myself and my brother led to him sending me this photograph of my parents. They are enjoying some broth after Chris has laboured in the garden, renovating tired structures! The fence should now be good for another forty five years - my god is it that long since we played as children in the garden pretending to help my Dad build stuff.

NJA Young Sailor of the Year 2016 Elliott Kuzyk

Congratulations to Elliott Kuzyk GBR403 29er and current World Topper Champion, who has just won 2016 YJA Young Sailor of the Year award. He also broke UK regional records by winning the Topper southern area championships for an impressive and unprecedented fifth year in a row.

8 Years Old and Rocking!

Miranda, do you think you could do this?

Step up to the Plate

Been out for a walk today, just Lewi and myself. It was rather misty so as we walked we just chatted about stuff and why we did it. The subject of reporting family life and what it meant to to us both came up, and Lewi advised me to get back into my habit of recording something every day.

So here's my today shot, as he leaps across a stream!

Chuff Chuff

My father Julian Brown, holding a brass model of a Peckitt tank engine, a pastime he followed in the seventies. At the time he used to have a model railway in the bedroom, and spent some of his spare time making brass models.

I'd got the trains out so that he could talk to Gregory about them when we were down. Spottong an opportunity to take some hands on photos, I quickly dusted them down with a paintbrush and got him holding them. With usual synchronicity visitors turned up, and my conversation was diverted, although I managed to get some photos. However the camera never lies, and the 'man clean' is exposed for what it is, just as far as I could see!

There's a few photos on the blog of us visiting old steam trains .....here and here

I must try and find a photo of Dad driving a steam train, I know I have one somewhere!

The Old Fella

On previous trips down to Wales, I have taken photos of my Dad doing stuff he's always enjoyed. This time I managed to take some of him with his trains.

I have memories of the late seventies when he used to make model trains from brass. They are beautiful objects, which he showed Gregory.

My photo session was brief as we received visitors just as I got started, but as I now know, you must take your chances when they come!

Twenty Seventeen

 Photo taken today of Miranda and Lewis next to the two old oak trees adjacent to my father's grandfather's house in Brockenhurst. The house originally called Caswell was home to Seymour William Brown, and my Dad used to come here as a boy, traveling by train, and then whilst here climb trees and ride his bike - which is basically what we do too!

Miranda is wearing part of an outfit that Gran gave her for Christmas, which she likes very much.

First post for 2017, I hope to be a bit more active this year with family photos last year has been a poor year for me.

Denny Wood

An old favourite haunt this one! The old oak at Denny Wood looks almost identical after a decade, it's still alive and hollowed out inside.

A few pictures below tell the story from March 2005 and March 2012.

Originally we had two kids and I photographed them inside the tree. By the later date Miranda had arrived and Lewis could not fit inside the tree. Now even Miranda cannot get inside!

On a sadder note the old tree otherwise known as the Dragon has finally collapsed onto the ground, the end of an era.

Seasons Greetings

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas!

Of all the photos I have taken and have yet to take this one always gives me a smile. Taken on a camping trip with the kids, footloose and fancy free...!

Facetime with the old Browns

Capturing those little shards of daily life.  Lewis and I chatting with my Mum and Dad via Facetime; so much fun!

So the image is a bit of a mixture of my desktop chaos of work and life merged - just like reality!

Santa Dash

Greg did the Santa Dash funrun with George and his parents and the dog around Lymington and don't they just look festive.

COINCIDENCE by Robert Carter

Have a listen to this beautiful composition by Robert Carter - Jazz Pianist which is included on his new CD on Flame Records called "Less"

Robert will be performing at Twyford Church in the near future - I will post details later. In the meantime if you'd like to listen to or buy a copy of his CD, it's available here http://www.robertcarterpiano.com/index.php/albums.

Sun Ra Interview (Helsinki, 1971)

Another amusing posting for y Mum mainly. We saw Sun Ra and Arkestra quite a few years ago, sometime in the late 80's. An unforgetable experience which this will bring back.

I was amazed to discover that the remains of Arkestra will be playing on Sunday, 27 Nov 2016 at Belgrave Music Hall in Leeds... just a few days after I randomly pulled this up.

Blaen Bowi

I have to include this lovely photo by my brother Chris, of my parents alongside one of my Dad's paintings. It's a view of the farm where we first really called home, and a time of much happiness in our family life. We lived in a small cottage on the farm and my Dad painted a lot at the time, having successfully landed the job at Carmarthen School of Art that lasted him a lifetime.

Recovering nicely

Having been laid low for ten days or so recoving from an op, it was nice to be chauffered to the Jazz Club to drink some tasty beer from The Red Cat Brewery, thanks to Fordy. Music courtesy of Will Gibson and his 7 piece ensemble which I thought was first class group. http://www.willgibsonmusic.co.uk/

Will Gibson - tenor/soprano sax, bass clarinet
Sam Leak - piano, Roland kb
Leo Appleyard - electric guitars
Kevin Glasgow - electric bass
Chris Nickolls - drums
Paul Jordanous - trumpet
Tom White - trombone

The only weakness for me was trying to follow the notation too closely, a bit more improvisation would have suited me, but clearly they are all hugely taleted guys. Sam Leak I really thought was good and Tom White on trombone too. Kevin Glasgow I saw playing here some months ago with a trio called Preston Glasgow Lowe. Sam played here earlier in the year with Duncan Eagles.

Smiles

A short bike ride in the autumn sunshine, clear blue skies and a gentle breeze blowing the last of the leaves around. All is well in the world, but sadly no photo. Why am I smiling?

Ouch

A little reminder that I am having to take care when moving around! No gardening, no lifting, just light duties!! As if...

Facetime

Had a fun session with my Mum and Dad yesterday via Facetime. We started with the Telephone, jabbering as we do about stuff like Leonard Cohen, so after a while we agreed that she might like to watch some of clips I had found for her "on the internet"

She agreed that she'd try and Facetime me, which translated into me Facetiming her.... and she answered the call!

Before long we had a flow going and she had managed to watch clips on Youtube by Cohen (his last interview) and Sonny Rollins, who at 86 is still firing the trail. All good fun.

The old Yamaha!

It's been so much fun sharing stuff with my Mum that I have progressed to selecting a few bits I know they would love to see. 

When I was young we had a Spanish guitar, but sadly we never got as far as the guitar lessons! Anyhow in due course Lewis learned to play and Gran and Grandad gave us the guitar and now Greg also plays the guitar.

Here he is practicing, and shortly my parents might share the experience and the joys of homegrown music...

Sonny Rollins - Jazz à Vienne 2011 - LIVE HD

Today's posting on Mippy.co.uk is musical inspiration for the Penyrallt Browns. I am trying to teach my Mum to watch stuff on Youtube that I know she will like.

Jazz is just one of the things that I gained from my parents, and we all saw Sonny Rollins play at Brecon Jazz Festival some years ago. (c1989?) This clip is the final 20 mins of a concert in Vienna from 2011, and he's still kicking ass. Sonny Rollins is the Saxophone Collosus, and he's four years older than my Dad. Never stop blowing your horn man!!

So sad to think that Bob Cranshaw who is the bass player on this clip died last week.

LEONARD COHEN - The Last Interview (September 2016)

Leonard's last interview with David Remnick, posted for my Mum and dad

Popsie reading

Well she's just reading me what she has written to Gran, and doesn't she lookgrown up these days! Big and yet small...

This was half an hour before Auntie Miffi came to visit with Uncle Tony.

Sweet Potato and Cavalo Nero Soup

One of my tasty soups that Popsie and I, made with scones for lunch on her inset day.

Teamwork

Putting the boat away after another session on the water

Daughters and Fathers

Self portrait posted by progeny.  Less pleased to discover that sh'e been doing this anonomously, but I am pleased at least that she isn't pouting!

Leonard Cohen - Suzanne

Growing up we were surrounded by many culturally relevant things - art, writing, music and many interesting people with their ideosynchratric behaviours.

One of my Mum's favourite musical influences died this week, Leonard Cohen. This piece is beautiful.