news at 10: September 2007
I have decided to change the format of news at 10 so that the news page in future is set up for the month. The most recent news items will be introduced at the top of the page and previous items pushed down the page. I shall implement this procedure more completely in October
rebecca and amelia 26th September
Rebecca has just joined me on facebook and has sent me this photo of Amelia and her recently taken on holiday in Portugal.
equinox: 22nd September
A time of the year which means a renewal for me. The physical reality of twelve hours of night and twelve hours of daylight passing into longer nights than days from now on is the time to review and start my new year. It coincides with and causes my autumn and the start of the academic year(?)
thames festival album 15/16th September ***
Completed the latest photo album for the Thames Festival of last weekend. The photos in the left column give some idea of what's in the thames festival album ***
I have joined facebook as one of my new ventures and am enjoying the quicker communication that I get from those who include me in their circles on facebook. I am able to let them know and easily furnish them with a direct link to the latest updates on this website as well.
But I shall continue with news at 10 on this site. Status update doesn't really do it for me.
Here is a direct link to my profile on facebook
crosskeys netball
Congratulations to Louisa, Ella, Beth, Emma, Jo, Nicky and Jenny for a win (by one!) in the first match of the season in the Hertford league at Stanborough on Sunday morning. And to Paula (Coach) and Karen (Umpire) and the supporters.
thames festival south bank
Went to the south bank (again) for the Thames Festival between Westminster bridge and Tower bridge held on the weekend of 15th/16th with Ella, Leila, Rosie and Rae on the Saturday.
Enjoyed the belly dancing and aerial trapeze in the Jubilee gardens, coffee and blackberry meringue in the Festival hall by the water sculptures, a walk down to Southwark bridge where we spent the rest of the afternoon on the bridge which had been closed to traffic and featured a beach, a grassed area, lots of different styles of seating from straw bales to street party benches and tables to cosy armchairs, a stage, many sideshows and of course the gingerbread house.
The set up reminded me of the street parties after the war.
Ella and Leila spent most of the day in the gingerbread house making gingerbread men, icing fairy cakes, magic cakes and later made pumpkin hats. We joined them as they took part in apple bobbing and having their Tarots read.
The Tarot readings were mainly for young children although the woman with the deliberately smudged lipstick and the flower stuck behind her ear, was not averse to entertaining older `children' (fortunately for ella and leila). I include some of her lines for the younger kids:
After they donned the magic hat she held out a mirror for them and asked,
"Do you know who this is?" and
"Are you sure?"
"Do you have a teacher at school?"
"M'mmm, I thought so."
"Tomorrow will definitely be a new day."
"I see cereals for Breakfast?"
"Today, you will see a (pause) mermaid." (There was one right next to her booth.)
...
If I remember any more of her sayings I'll add them here.
birthday corner 13th september 2007
Happy birthday to
- Nick on his 21st.
- Sam who is 19
- Stanley who is 8
grandad's weekend 1st/2nd september***
The official date for grandparents' day is 9th September. Not recognition enough. So I decided to institute "Grandads' Weekend" for this year as the 1st/2nd September. Celebrated the weekend with a visit to London on the Saturday. I have recorded some of it in a new album grandad's weekend album 2007***
We took the kids on the tube, a double-decker from Euston to Waterloo bridge and saw cirque bijou an out door mini-circus in the square outside the National Theatre on the South Bank by the river. Afterwards we went for a stroll along the river bank, over Hungerford bridge, through Charing Cross Station and into Trafalgar Square for sandwiches with the (few) pigeons and `Liberty' who were holding a festival in the square. When we got back the kids stayed for a sleepover on the Saturday night.
On the Sunday, we went swimming at Ware outdoor pool where Lily refused to have her toes endangered by the great white in the small pool. The weekend was rounded off with a barbecue in the garden.
Thanks to Rae, Bronwen, Sumo, Rebecca, Raymond, Ella, Ruby, Ian, Jake, Jay, Casey, Lily, Rory and grandad for making it a great weekend.
web gallery design
I have been really engrossed in work on the gallery page of the website. So other areas, including the news at 10, have been put on the back burner until now. Thanks to those who helped me in this quest, particularly, Bryn Harries and Stu Nicholls.
The design and implementation of two photo galleries which I am satisfied with is nearly complete. I think this design gives the user more instant access to an album of photographs than for example the slideshows of the commercial photosites. I am also pleased to say that the most recent ones including paulton park and the noddy train works for all browsers even the early versions of internet explorer 6.0 ... The design still needs a bit of tweaking but it now is the basis of a template for future albums. Comments welcome. As indeed notification of any bugs in the album.
I have been invited to join facebook as one of billy fahey's friends. Decided to accept and see what happens. Made me think about who I might ask to join me as a friend in cyberspace.
congratulations ruby
for being appointed deputy head girl, for doing so well in your A/S levels and for becoming a qualified lifeguard.
bath
Went to see Theo in Bath after work last Thursday. We met up with Jake later and had dinner at the Lock Inn.