About Living in the UK
What a clever campaign from Oxfam, you choose the gift for someone who needs it: you can buy tools and equipment, help plant trees or build a house, you can even club together and buy a camel. If you want your friends and family to join in, you can set up a wish list. This a great idea for Christmas, it’ll make a change from socks and cds.
It happened about 43 seconds after we’d just left the table and we were sitting on the sofa for a cup of tea, I heard a creaking sound and looked back to see the ceiling falling down. Now we have a bigger hole. But don’t worry, the man is coming round on Wednesday to fix it and it will all be as good as new. Suggestions so far include knocking through and attaching a fireman’s pole, a piece of shatterproof glass so that you can see up into the spare bedroom, filling it in, but painting the new bit red or blue, etc. Its amazing how creative people get faced with a hole. Its going to be fixed, simple as that.
Found out the Tour is heading to Brittany again, great news – a time trail around Rennes, which isn’t too far away from my folks’ place. You can find the route here, check out the poster, what a great idea.
So there was a big chunk overhanging, and I thought any minute now its going to collapse, so I made a big hole in the ceiling – looks like the builders (if we can find one to come round – that’s a task in itself) has some work inside, as well as outside the house. Anyway, Turner Prize next year, “Hole in the Ceiling”.
Now that we’ve moved I’m really enjoying catching the ferry when I head across to Southsea, there’s something about seeing the city from the water that’s quite dramatic, although I doubt anyone else onboard thinks so, you have to show the same non-appreciative expression you do when sitting on the tube.
Anyway, some photos from the kite festival at flickr. There were so many kites, all shapes and sizes. I had a look in some of the stalls and I see that kite flying isn’t what it use to be, its so technical, with kits costing hundreds. I suppose you could still sort yourself out something more modest in the meantime. BBC Norfolk of all places has a good site about kites, and there are more photos here and here and much better shots than mine here – I think we must have been there the same day, the sky looks just the same.
Just to say to everyone that the photos are up – you’ll have to bug me
for a username and password
Just a quick note to say that we’re back from the honeymoon and still jet lagged – got up at 4.15am bright as anything and had to watch an episode of “Without a Trace” and have a bowl of cornflakes. Now its 9 and I’m sitting at my desk and feeling like its the middle of the night. I have some great photos from California, maybe a few other pics for friends and family and a list of stuff to post about. Just give me the chance to recover and we’ll get started. Elvis was great by the way, no Patelvis, but rockin’ none the less.
Had a great weekend with everyone at Tipiwest for my stag do. Not long now until the big day and no better way to say goodbye to them batchelor days than a few nights around the camp fire having a pow-wow with friends. Some of the guys I haven’t seen for a while, some of the filmies, so old friends from work, mixed in with the regulars. We finally escaped work at 5 on the dot and the heavens opened up with the spill that everyone who went to Glastonbury had just endured. It took a while to get out onto the motorway and then plain sailing all the way to Wales, through the mist on top of the hills and along winding lanes to TipiWest. The Tipi’s looked quite beautiful in the late night mist and after a few drinks we settled in. Each Tipi was snug and warm with a fire in the middle that crackled throughout the night. When we got up it seemed quite magical and after a hearty breakfast we walked to the beach. Only a few of us were foolhardy enough to jump in the sea, and it was cold, but you prickled with heat as you got out, feeling healthy and glowing. The evening was spent in classic stag mode with a ruby and a few drinks, and everyone was keen to return to the Tipi’s and enjoy the night around the open fire. We slept late and woke up slowly, breakfast, then a few at a time, people threw stuff into the cars and left. Got back late evening feeling really good – what a great weekend. Ta guys – ’till next time.
Its just an observation, but stag do’s are getting quite mellow, whilst Hen parties are getting more raucous. My woman is off to Brighton and Southampton in one day. I hear “Crazy Nights…” as I type this.
Guys – if any of you have any photos – let me know and I’ll put them up. I keep meaning to open a Flickr account. I will get it sorted.
I can hear the rain on the skylight and it doesn’t really make me want to leave my desk and explore. I need to be putting in some training hours, but its really not possible at the moment. So I’m sorting out house things and finding bits of files that I have started and don’t really know what to do with. I thought I’d post it up and then it would at least have some sort of a home for the time being. I keep meaning to put a bit of paint on the two canvases that are tucked next to my feet. I know that there are plenty of things to do to the house too, its just finding the time.
I’m searching for Stefan again and also Mr Flynn – if you can both get in touch please. Otherwise, in Stefan’s case I might have to Rent a German…I know, its bizarre.
Oh – there’s a new Stephen Malkmus record out called “Face the Truth”.
And other news is that I’ve gone Tiger and I’m really enjoying all the little widgets. So far I have a magic 8 ball, a plexiglass ruler, a dancing hula girl and an Amazon shortcut. It roars…
I was tipped off by a friend, made a few calls and spoke to some lovely people, they sent me some biscuits and they tasted very good. I will be ordering more. They can do this for you too, simply click the link above and get a little closer to the finest biscuits in space… if you need something nice with your cuppa tea, call joes friends, and they’ll sort you out and send you a little black bag of goodness.
