Sunday, 6 December 2009

Starting Christmas




We are early for a change: giving in to Sean's insistence that we should get a tree early, we have begun the countdown to Christmas. Today we went to Whirlow Farm Shop to buy our Nordmann ("no drop" -- less said, soonest vacuumed!) deluxe 7' tree. It was all done/wrapped and paid for with uncharacteristic efficiency...once home Sean set to, managing to array every arayable bough with every conceivable coloured ball and light. Let's just hope that the tree can last for three weeks under that weight/heat...

Saturday, 5 December 2009

Sean grading day




This has been the first day for a while that I have taken new pictures, and we do have something tangible (figuratively) and visual to celebrate: this morning Sean passed his purple belt grading (just three to go to black belt status, I think...). Here are the "before-and-after pictures" from a few hours ago.

Sunday, 22 November 2009

Sunday afternoon







Hi Dad
This is just to check in and say hello: it's one of those miserable November days when it's hard to lift spirits even at the best of times. I feel very powerless to help: so I thought at least I can try to bring some cheer by showing you a few pictures from our holiday in Western France (Vendée) in August when things were sunnier. These are mostly of Sean and Julian and horses, which Sean loved and Julian was rather more fearful of...

Friday, 20 November 2009

Modernism




Hi Dad
I'm glad you got the earlier posts today. I'll try to write more later. Just before I go off to collect Sean, here are some pictures (not of the family) that I've been sharing with others: I thought you might like them. I've come to realise recently that I have a love of Modernist architecture--not being an expert, I didn't know that this was what it was called, but I am crazy about late 50s, early 60s experiments (before it all went boxy and grey). Anyway, when I was in Wellington, New Zealand, I came across this gem of a building, built 1959. I hope you like it...

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2036214&id=1552053749&l=b44d1dfe94

Thursday, 19 November 2009

Recent family pictures





Hi Dad
Last month Eric Kellerman came to visit us: here are a few pictures from his visit: more pictures later.

First Post

Good morning, Dad. I understand from what I've read that getting thoughts in and out is like wading through treacle at the moment, and so I thought it might be good just to sit back and take things in in your own time. If you like this idea, I'll post as often as I can: just let me know by texting "yes". If it's boring or stressful, just text "no more". Is that ok?