Monday 16 March 2009

Photo tag



I was tagged by the lovely Rosiero who writes a very brave and interesting blog http://alcoholicdaze.blogspot.com

The tag is to find the fourth photo in the fourth folder and tell the story behind it. Then I'm supposed to nominate four more. As usual, and just to be awkward, I'm going to do it a little differently...Grandma says its because I'm cussid, whilst I like to think I'm creative. Er erm.

Anyway, this is roughly the 4th of the 4th (depending on which way up I hold the computer), and I've waited roughly 4 weeks to do this...so hopefully that gets me out of nominating four more - but if you want to take up the challenge, please do just to get me out of this hole which I've dug for myself.

And here's the photo. As you can see it's been taken on a somewhat damp and overcast day. You may have guessed its Brighton beach. This is our annual gathering of friends and always takes place on the beach come rain or shine...and on this occasion it chose to shower...so the picnic courtesy of Monsieur Marks et Spencer got a little soggy.

On the far left is Adam, and then his daughter and wife. I met Adam through work, and we started a brainstorming group - meeting once a month at a tip top restaurant which also sold fireplaces (yes). Our best idea...and one that has on various occasions nearly come to fruition was to put a restaurant on the top deck of a London Double-Decker...a two hour tour with meal. Earned me a place on Dragons Den, but I ducked out last minute.

Then we have 'Fiercely competitive Dad'...who's very nice when he's not being competitive...and now his eldest daughter is faster than him on the ski slope, perhaps he'll relax a bit. Next to him is his youngest daughter who's anything but competitive. Further along is eldest daughter in the red stripey shirt...previously featured in our holiday photos. Only fifteen but probably devours boys for breakfast.

Sitting down is 'Mr Museum Designer'...yes he really dose that for a living. What a great job - I'd like to do that when I grow up. His wife says he's very grumpy. And he is, but he bares it with good humour. He's also very good at beach rounders - a game we play that drives everyone else off the beach.

The head behind the wall is the boy. You know him. He's probably with the daughters of Man Taking the Picture. I'm not sure they should be left alone together for so long.

And there I am, with now ex girlfriend. I'm 5'9", and she's 6', so she always looked down on me. Really lovely, sweet person. She's moved to Switzerland; I have another ex girlfriend who moved to Alaska. Surely it would be easier just to say they don't want to see me any more?

Next is ex-girlfriend of Man Taking Picture. There seems to be a lot of exes in this picture.

At the end is Wife of Mr Museum Designer (and her youngest), known in her own right as Ms Design PR. She was an angel when I first started up and for ten years we have been the greatest of friends, and always had a joint company Christmas celebration until a couple of years ago when at the very last minute she decided she preferred to go Xmas shopping in New York, causing our usual plans to fall into disarray; we've barely spoken since. Perhaps I should stop sulking.

There's another picture with us all smiling...after all why should a little rain stop a typical english picnic

When the weather improves in July, you're all invited.

Sunday 15 March 2009

Tow the line

I was once asked if I was to go somewhere interesting would I travel by motorway or country road. And when I return which route would I take. Evidently getting there by country road and coming back by motorway means I fall in love slowly, but fall out of love quickly. Be warned.

Completely unrelated, sort of, I spent most of last summer cycling the twelve and a half miles to work. I spent ages checking the maps to see which was the quickest route, and taking my life in my hands (or pedals) I've been following that route ever since. Its not very beautiful but it's quick - I do it in just under an hour. So this year I feel the need to find a different route. And I have. It makes the journey another four miles longer in each direction. But it's beautiful - I can take the path along the canal all the way from the Lea Valley Road to the Rotherhithe tunnel. And then coming back I can follow a slightly different route up the Regents Canal. I cannot believe the peace and tranquility to be found when going through some of the roughest and noisiest parts of smokey London. Simply stunning...here are some the siights to be seen:





Beautiful Bow Bridge



There'll be tears at bedtime



It really is the Olympic Stadium going up




Beauty in destruction



Brilliant grafitti



Another sort of crane




Methinks there used to be more



Duck!



Roadworks everywhere



Rotherhithe Tunnel...you can cycle through if you can hold your breath long enough



Amazing wrought iron stairs halfway through the tunnel



Three Mills



Recycle everything



Another crack in the wall




Some grafitti is stunning



Old Ford lock (I think)



What a character!







They used to make Matchbox toys here



The lock at Lea Valley

So if asked the same question now I would have to say...by slow boat in both directions

Happy Anniversay to me

Yesterday was the first anniversary of me starting blogging.

I spotted it today.

Dang! how I hate missing anniversaries.

Although Grandma in Cyprus will happily point out that hell will feeze over when I remember to send her a birthday card on time.