Bare your soul to me

A long time ago I started an occasional series of pictures of the bits and pieces of the kids, that i was fond of. Bits that we share, that one day will be gone from view.

A pair of Gregory's upturned feet sharing the settee with me before Dinner...

Story Time

Diwali Lamp

Miranda has been studying India at school and she told me all about Hindu practices and their religion, in particular the festival of Diwali... On the back in her best handwriting was the instructions for making the lamp.

Miranda is my little lamp, she dispells darkness and lights up my life ....

Dopelganger

One of my pleasures is taking double exposures; that is two photographs one on top of the other, and trying to imagine what they will look like. I took this one on the weekend and the kids were more than happy to oblige my amusement. This one is my favourite, the more I look at it, the more it has personality.

There's a great Miles Davis interview on the Guardian site tonight by Richard Cook, who is also sadly no longer with us. I saw Mikes play one day a few years before he died. Possibly one of the worst concerts I have ever seen (musically) but the guy was a genius, for sure - just watch the 'Time and Again' clip from about this same period.

Standing tall

Taken at Pooh Cone Bridge in the forest after the cones had been thrown and the time had come to move on. The forest does look nice this time of year but the colours are nowhere near as vivid as they were in Cumbria I don't think. Apart from Miranda, that is...

She was telling me tonight about her work in school, she was writing about her hero. A long drawn out sentence building in excitement, which I thought was her purposeful way of reeling me in - but it turned out it was Mum!

Story time was Mr Potter's Pet, which we finished tonight, and had us hooting merrily!

I am listening to Miroslav Vitous  - the CD Universal Syncopations, and track is called Beethoven.

I can see clearly now

Lewis gazing out of the window towards the beach at Morcambe. We had awoken with the sound of rain cascading onto rhe window, an auspicious start to a days travels. Fortunately the rain cleared within minutes and we were soon walking on the fabulous beach.... with an excellent view over to the Lake District.

Popsie

"That's a strange name for a dog" Miranda said to me, as we were walking through the forest today. Her face screwed up in that "I'm a clever cloggs" sort of way.....

"What's that then Miiranda?"

"Popsie!"

Beer o'clock

Just a passing memory from our trip around Cumbria. I have almost stopped drinking beer in the afternoon, it's not that conducive to working thereafter - and kids I guess were the final nail in the coffin.

Well we were relaxing and the Manor Arms in Broughton in Furness looked superb, so we went in for Wensleydale toasties and beer. Sheer bliss it was too! If you are looking for the perfect rural England pub, this is it. Fine beers, simple food, an a roaring open fire at lunchtime... add in friendly locals and a choice like you see below, and you'll get the idea.

Something of a coincidence

Last day of our northern tour today, we visited the Hockney gallery in Salts Mill. Culturally uplifted we headed for the Diner which has some great food on offer.

Looking at the menu we were surprised to discover they were celebrating their twenty fifth anniversary as well. Not entirely surprising as we visited the opening exhibition, with the giant fax artwork back in the day. Still a great place to visit, and a great bloke a listen to.

On the way back we stopped off for a Picnic of Wensleydale Cheese and fruitcake both of which were procured in Hawes yesterday.

Mystery Mice

The front facing camera on my phone is fairly ropey quality but it has the unique ability to create superb tension in a frame, so every now and again I like to just pop one in for fun. Last night it was the Mystery Mice, and tonight we have been reading Winnie the Witch. I shall miss my bedtime story when Popsie is too old to have one read with her.

I'm forever blowing bubbles

In an attempt to inject spontaneity i am posting Miranda blowing bubbles in the bath, live as it happens!.

Guess what tune that was?

Bend it

Link for Lewis' Chemistry classwork here It relates to the passing of Stanford Ovshinsky, the man best known for inventing the nickel-metal hybrid (Ni-MH) battery has passed away on october 17, 2012 at the age of 89.

Fifty shades of Green

Living in the New Forest I never cease to be amazed by the inventiveness of the landscape as it goes through the cycles of life. Summer follows Spring, although it,s my least fav season, then autumn.....

I love the colours now, the way it separates the wood from the trees, so to speak. Took this photo pn Saturday morning cycling through Ivy Wood.

Next in line

Greg has just finished his Introductory Stage Classical Guitar, and keeping up the standard set by Lewis he's got GOLD!

Well done Greg...

Refugee

Greg's been studying the Second World War and the effect it had on people's lives. They went into school dressed for their evacuation to some distant location.

Southampton, and Dibden in particular took the first wartime damage in the conflict - our local church was almost destroyed in the blaze that followed the bombs that landed on it.

I would have made him wear his gas mask, but he was running to catch a lift to his fencing lessons!

Beaulieu River

Heading back after a day on the water, and the knowledge that it's nearly all over for another week. Reminds me of a line from a Kipper book that I read with Miranda in the week.... What is better; Christmas Eve, or Christmas Day? Presents or the thought of presents to come...!

Christmas Eve thought Miranda, and I'd be inclined to agree.

Table turner

A collaboration between Lewis and myself to make a tasty lunch for Caroline (and us all naturally) when she got home from work.

Garden Sketch

The kids had an inset day today, so as Caroline was out at work I had their pleasure. We chose art, starting off with impressionism and applying this sketching and colouring. Miranda has been talking about Van Gogh in school, and knew a fair bit about his paintings, so we had an interesting time. This was Mipp's sketch out of our front window of the garden.

A great sailing trip with Terry on his cruiser from Gins on the Beaulieu River down to Portsmouth in fab sunshine most of the way. The cold of autumn though was our companion and we even had some rain. We had a chance to look around the harbour at the boats including HMS Bristol which Lewis has visited a few times for Sea Scout camp.

On the way back the winds picked up and we had quite an atmospheric ride. Lewis stayed on the helm most of the day, and really loved it.

 

Trying hard enough...

Lewis came home from school rather exiced as he's been selected for the New Forest RFU Rugby Development Squad. It's a game that he likes, and although we've warned him of the dangers of injury affecting his sailing, he remains undaunted. I wish I had the energy to run around a pitch for an hour or two, but in reality it's not a choice I'd be able to make any more.