June 30th 2010

Reflection

Lunchtime by the river, almost all so I could get peace and quiet on a sultry day to take phone calls – the joys of garages and solicitors today. The year is half way through, and so is this blog. As the swan would concur – time for reflection.

After the first quarter of the year I was looking ahead to all the things that might happen. And they pretty much all did, you haven’t missed anything in this blog!

I sat my exam, I got my degree, I saw the two amazing concerts in London and Birmingham, and ran the Marathon in Edinburgh. I have almost sold the house, and I am very happily moving on with my personal life. And yes – I went for some cute animal and bird photos too.

Here’s to an eventful third quarter. If you have been, thanks for following!

June 29th 2010

Galileo, Galileo

When every ball is down, it’s a minimum of 23 degrees. They’ve all been down for some days now as the heat continues. And clearly the temperature the other side of the mirror is just as warm …

June 28th 2010

Magog Muffins

A gift arrived today as congratulations for passing my degree the other day – a box of ten totally gorgeous Magog Muffins. I say they’re gorgeous, not out of courtesy for the gift, but because I know they are, having had them before.

Ethically produced, home baked from locally sourced ingredients and, importantly to me, palm oil free, we see them here in an attacking 4-3-3 formation. And I guess if we’re to labour the football connection further, the two in red and white (cranberry and white chocolate) should be the first to go …

I won’t be as blatant as to advertise a website, but if you’re tempted, and you should be, well you’ve got google!

June 27th 2010

Looking

On my way home today I bumped into this gentleman in St. Pancras station. Nice chap – he seemed to be looking for something

• The England defence? Was he looking in the gaping gap where they should have been for Germany’s numerous attacks? An optician for the linesman?
• Looking to the future? Wanting to move on peacefully and fairly with his life, wondering if there will one day come a time when others want that too?
• Looking for inspiration? An abacus? Is his rail commute potentially cheaper and greener, and if not what greener cars are out there that can help him? Now or in the future?
• Just somewhere cool? The way out? Kings Cross and the Underground seems miles away in this heat today
• Maybe he’s had a long, tiring day and is looking for his bed.

Today, I know how he feels on every level. Goodnight!

June 26th 2010

John and John

So here is why I was in London – my favourite group of the last twenty years bar none: They Might Be Giants, live at the Royal Festival Hall. I’m still on a high – the gig was an amazing experience, and today’s photo has the legendary Johns: Linnell and Flansburgh. As if the cracking songs from the last twenty years weren’t enough, the show featured a live puppet show, huge blasts from a confetti cannon, and giant inflatable helium dolphins and jellyfish.

A huge thank you to Claire for spending the whole weekend with me and allowing me to inflict this nerdy rock experience on her. It’s been unforgettable, thank you!

This isn’t a gig review site – most of you who stumble upon this probably either have no idea who they are, or if you do they may not be your cup of tea. But if you know their stuff and get even a sniff of a chance to see them, you won’t be disappointed. And if you need celebrity approval for your choice of concert – in front of us within touching distance were music aficionados and comedy legends Phill Jupitus and Tim Minchin.

June 25th 2010

Paddington

Today I travelled to London for the weekend – the picture is of Paddington Station en route to central London.

June 24th 2010

Poppies

I’m enjoying my Cotswold commutes, the scenery if not the length, and it’s becoming an occasional habit to break up the journey home for some scenery photos. Today I took a slightly different route where I came across a field of red poppies in the long grass. I approached for a photo or two but came across these striking flowers on the verge between the stone wall and road which drew my attention even more.

I only recognise the solitary red poppy – I don’t know what the purple flowers are, although asking online reveals they may well also be a different type of poppy. Can anyone confirm?

June 23rd 2010

Meeting

Nothing unusual happened today. At 3pm just a run-of-the-mill, er, meeting . Only several dozen attendees watched a presentation in one of the meeting rooms on the videoconference screen. Something to do with the company sales figures in Slovenia I think …

For a while it wasn’t clear whether we’d even have another meeting next week. But I think the company is hoping to expand into Germany (though not ruling out Serbia or Ghana), although predictions of expansion into Argentina, Spain and finally even Brazil seem increasingly optimistic given current company performance …

June 22nd 2010

Honeybourne Bridge

OK – so it’s not exactly Golden Gate, or even Clifton. But at a couple of minutes shy of ten o’clock, on the longest day of the year bar one, this pedestrian bridge in Cheltenham looked pretty impressive.

It’s the same bridge as this one and it’s true to say I run over it much more often than I photograph it. And it has made me think that that’s exactly what I should be doing more often, now the post-Edinburgh excuse has well and truly outlived its acceptable timespan …

June 21st 2010

B.A.

Finally I have confirmation that I’ve passed my last course and therefore my whole degree. It’s official – after 7 years of part time study I now have a degree from the Open University. A Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), no less!

In this online world, I don’t have a piece of parchment that confirms it – just a computer screen with a short sentence of confirmation. But I don’t care.