A new appointment to encourage sibling informality

I’m very excited about my brother Phil’s impending move back up north in the summer. His recent appointment to the Centre For Sustainable Water Management (CSWM) in Lancaster University means that we’ll be a maximum of an hour apart. Realising this has only just made me discover how much I’ve missed being able to get together with him and his family more spontaneously. Great news for the clan. It’s worth clicking on the link above just to look at the photo of him seemingly about to be sectioned.

Bionic mother-in-law

A few short weeks ago my mother-in-law, Jean, went for a new knee. This type of thing happens with great frequency these days and is nothing amazing, but I was quite taken aback when I saw how well and how mobile she was, when i finally caught up with her yesterday.

The bits of titanium and plastic that make up her new, non-arthritic knee seem to have bedded in terrifically well, and it was great to see her walking up into the village with what seemed to be a better pace than she was managing with the crappy old knee before Christmas.

Well done Jean for getting on with all this without any moaning or grumbling. I hope everyone enjoys the X-Ray feature of my stunning new camera.

Jean Jean Jean Jean Jean

Camera Quest: The Best of Both Worlds

After plenty of umming and loads of ahh-ing, I finally found the ideal all-round compromise camera… I think.

I was constrained by budget (aren’t we all?) and wanted

  • point and shoot (it’s not for me… that’s for a close female relative)
  • under £100
  • 5x Optical (or more) and a trusted lens
  • a decent CCD

Plus… on my ‘really would love’ list was

  • full manual Aperture control
  • Aperture priority control, and Shuuter Speed priority control (I was brought up on a Pentax ME super and will always be a user at heart).

MoiI started out looking at loads of things and almost fell into the trap of getting allured by brand, or by unbelievable price reductions, but in the end I stayed my course and ordered a Kodak C875. It arrived today and seems an absolute joy to use. I never thought I’d have ended up with a Kodak… I must say, but looking at the features and the way it performs on first exploration, I think we’re going to get on really well.

Plus, equally importantly, a certain un-named associate of mine might just enjoy its point and shoot simplicity. I said ‘might’.

Half term day out: Crosby and Knowsley

Sands of TimeTaking advantage of the pretty much unprecedented February clear spell, I took full advantage of a day’s leave booked to spend with Lily. Katie’s half term doesn’t coincide with Lily’s which is a bit crap, but we had such a stonking day together – was really good fun.

We set off bright and early to head over to look at the Anthony Gormley installation on Crosby Sands, between Southport and Liverpool. The vista was so impressive in these clear, crisp conditions; it was inspirational. We returned to the car with one sandy, knackered dog, and had our butties (along with some cheeky scrounging avians, see right)Scrounger, then were due to head to the museum in Manchester for the afternoon, when we passed Knowsley Safari Park. The sun was out, it was relatively quiet, and the opportunity just begged us. Some photos here (a mix of proper camera and phone stuff). Ace times.

Podcast: LAH

It’s a while since I uploaded a tune and even longer since I made one!

Just listening through some old stuff today and this came up… I really like it now, five years on. LAH is an acronym; someone who is currently singing her way through her favourite sound of music tracks whilst I type this… how appropriate.

‘Full of Energy, Full of Vitality, Very Happy in your Life’

Flippin hippy shit. Enjoy.

 

In fairness to the weather

Rossendale Sunshine - a rare thingI thought I’d better say how flipping lovely it’s been here for the last five days. I had a good moan last year when summer really got me (and most people) down, so in the interest of fairness and balance, what a fantastic spell we’re having.

Winter sunshine is one of those treats that really makes you feel you’re winning. When it’s so still like it is outside at the moment, it also makes bloody fantastic cycling weather – and luckily I’m in the type of work that allows me to head out this lunchtime for an hour for a spin!

M-Head




M-Head

Originally uploaded by Dave Haygarth

I was starting to look a bit bedraggled with my slightly longer than regulation hair, and decided it was time for a change on Saturday night. It’s amazing to see that despite the clear shape of a letter M spelling itself out on my very generous forehead, I have had the same balding hairline for 21 years without very much subsequent recede. Still hanging on by a thread.

From a ‘charming looks’ point of view, I sincerely regret the move, as I now look like an urban-four-wheel-drive numb-skull aggressive tit. I’m adding fertilizer to it as I type.


The ups and downs of a 5 year old

Poor old Lily – she went to school this morning for her special Reception Class assembly – parents could attend and the whole year proudly performed their assembly themed on ‘food’. Katie and I came home feeling typically proud, as would be expected.

Later on, she came home having fallen in the playground at lunchtime looking like this. The cheek of it

Gentlemen’s Sojourn: Luckley old us.

Silly SpectaclesFor the first time in ages, I enjoyed a Gentlemen’s weekend away with a group of ten extremely personable and fascinating people. Dippy, an old school friend and an extended network of his friends do this type of thing once or twice per year; it’s a chance to chat, play gentle sport, stroll, eat, watch films, drink, and eat again, in an informal and matey atmosphere. Sort of like a polite stag do for the middle aged.

On top of that, and a lovely innovative touch suggested by mummy of the group, David Bramwell, we all (or most) gave short talks / presentations / led activities, ranging from Chris’s country walk with his guide to identifying native trees, to Pete‘s demonstration of a styptic pencil. Dave B’s Damanhur talk was possibly the one that sticks with me, in that it was a subject I knew absolutely nothing about before.

I also learned at the tender age of 38 to play poker, which now feels like a bit of a life skill and I can’t wait to play again.

I managed to come out of the weekend calorie-neutral by riding to the Manchester train and riding some 62 miles on the Sunday in what clearly felt like spring (even with a mild hangover).

Wally’s cartoon strip of the Saturday meal fallout…
The Gentlemens Sojourn went well

Google Earth file of the walk here from the wonderful Garmin 305 (or see the Google Map below)

Google Earth file of the slightly uninspiring A-Road ride up to Birmingham New Street on Sunday.

Images here (I only had my phone camera – wish I’d taken the proper one as the weather and settings deserved better)


View Larger Map

Bonus family moment: Phil pops in.

PhilMy brother Phil called by today on his way between Lancaster and York on business. His arrival at about 6pm, completely unannounced, six months to the day since I last saw him, filled me with a boyish excitement that I’d almost forgotten existed. Absolutley flipping ace to see you Phil – what a treat.

Lily Takes on John Bonham

Lily got a toy drum kit for Christmas, which is regularly put through its paces. This video makes me smile the most though, when I showed her my John Bonham performing one of those fashionable 70s drum solos on DVD. Those of you lucky to remember me drumming will recognise the tongue sticking out, and the inevitability that new drum skins will be needed shortly.