!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> skimpy diary and piffling poems

Tuesday, June 09, 2009

July2009,England

W1 Fleetwood
Fleetwood with the seep-sea fishing fleet. This one of three lighthouses. One was built out at see for the ships to see first. Then two more light houses, one tall like this one, and one short, were lined up so that the ships/fishing smacks had a good line to sail on, into harbour.

Th2 A585/586
F3 Garstang
Su5Jul09
Su12Jul09
Su19Jul09
Su26Jul09

Friday, May 15, 2009

robertmitchell,SPAMnewsletter,May09,1of24, rainy today for the first time since I left London.

F15May09-10.00bst,Middlewich lby,Dell,Dell,Dell,Dell,?
 
Hello kind reader,
 
Sorry for the slow answers to emails, the lack of comments on flickr, and the lack of photos on flickr, blogger, and SPAMletters. I have had only a few hours each week on the computer. I mean to do all these things sooner or later - later is more likely.
 
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Tu22Apr09-10.40bst,Leighton Buzzard library,?,Belnea,Accuratus,Microsoft,?
 
The weather has been great over the last few days since I left London. Sun,clear skies, wind from the North and East. Now it's from the West which will mean rain sooner or later. I read that, over the Easter weekend when we had drizzle and cloud, not far away in Holland, they had the earliest summer day on record at 27C.
 
I skippered at the top of the cutting at the top of the Chiltern hills. The "summit pound" is between the last lock upwards from the South, Cowroast (Cowrest) lock, and the first lock going down to the North, Marsworth top lock. Overnight it was a bit cooler - 5C - on the Chilterns. The path in the cutting was rather wet and muddy, as it sees less sun. But that is rain water to drink.
 
There are many birds on the canal. Today some common terns. One caught a fish and then dropped it back in the canal. Many grey herons. Some Canada geese flying overhead, fooled me by being white underneath, but that "honk" cannot fool even me!
 
The dawn chorus is loud around five. First seems to be the skylark. Then the usual suspects, robin, blackbird, wren, chaffinch, pheasant and more I do not know.
 
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F24Apr09-09.20bst,Milton Keynes library,Dell,Dell,Dell,Microsoft,?
 
Each county has its own way of giving internet access to not-members. Watford,Hertfordshire give half an hour at £1.25, but it crashed after 20 minutes. Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire gave a free hour and 5 min longer at the end. Bletchley and MK, Bedfordshire, give half an hour for £1.
 
I always get lost in Milton Keynes. So this time I walked in along the new A5, which has a narrow cycle lane!
 
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W29Apr09-09.50bst,Rugby library,Dell,Dell,Dell,Dell,?
 
Today is warm and sunny. I walked into Rugby - famous sons, William Webb-Ellis, Rupert Brook and Frank Whittle - from my skipper on the Oxford canal, under M6.
 
I heard my first cuckoo before the dawn chorus last Sunday. The mother mallard ducks are bringing their ducklings onto the open water now. When I pointed my camera at a family, the ducklings rose on their webbed feet and ran away over the water. In the pool below a lock, I pointed my camera at a preening swan. When it saw my camera it swam fast towards me and was rewarded with a slice of wholemeal bread. It's hard work taking snaps of animals when they can see you. Herons won't let me get within 50 yards.
 
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F1May09-10.50bst,P.A.'s internet caff by the bus station,?,acer,hp,hp,laserjet
 
I walked into Coventry today from a dry skipper under M6, by the Oxford canal. The weather is "changeable", or "English". The Oxford canal, one of the earliest canals, was started by James Brindley,1711-72. A contour following canal, it took nearly 20 years,1769-87, to build. Nowadays it is a country canal, lovely to walk through and now and then, muddy. This morning in the dark I tested some ankle deep mud for depth!
 
A little North of Rugby is the short Newbold tunnel, about 250 yards long. It was dug in the 1830s(?) to shorten the winding contour Oxford canal and win some trade off the railways. It is the only tunnel I have seen to have a towpath beside the water. British Waterways and Rugby Council have put in some lights to shine your way through.
 
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W6May09-10.20bst,Lichfield lby,Compaq,Compaq,Compaq,Compaq,?
 
Today I walked into Tamworth, looked at the parish church and library, then out again and along the Coventry canal. In 1790 at Whittington brook, the Coventry canal met the Birmingham & Fazeley canal and I started walking along another canal. I left the B&F canal where the railway line (many Virgin trains) crosses the canal, went under the A38 and SW into Lichfield. The three steeples of the cathedral can be seen from anywhere in Lichfield. Sam Johnson (and his dictionary), perhaps the best known son of Lichfield, is 300 this year!
 
Near Coventry, in the early light of dawn, one arm of the 'V' wake of a swimming duck shone against the dark shadow of a tree. Suddenly, it had gone, leaving spreading rings instead. "That was no duck," I thought. "Perhaps a moorhen or even a grebe?" I have seen no grebes, however.
 
A little North of Coventry, I had a look at Bedworth, where in 1850, 1 in 3 made ribbons. It's a well cared for, neat town centre, which is a walkway, with parish church and alms houses by Nicholas Chamberlayne's will. I saw a shop called "Mary Ann Evans". "She's got the same name as George Eliot" I thought and carried on.
 
The next day walking through Nuneaton, I read the words of a local historian - "George Eliot  is the only undisputed genius born near Nuneaton" A charming statue of her is in the town centre, seated leaning on one arm. It was put up in 1986 at a cost of £8000. Contributions came from all over the world.
 
"Main line" and "Junction" are both words found on the canals, so it would seem likely that the railways took them over from the canals. Perhaps "Lengthsman" too?
 
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F8May09-09.5bst,Rugeley lby,Compaq,Compaq,Compaq,Compaq,?
 
Yesterday I had a short day and stopped in a quiet wood beside the Trent & Mersey canal. The wood had some big trees, oak, hazel, scots pine, but had many new trees planted, some of which were doing OK but some were struggling for light. Today I walked past the well-known name of Armitage Shanks, in the village of Armitage! The canal and the Trent run near each other here. I crossed to the A513 to stroll into Rugeley, which had coal mines and is still in the power business with a coal-fired power-station, Rugeley-B.
 
I saw the four bright Northern stars together - CAVD, or Capella, Arcturus, Vega, Deneb in the order they rise in the East. Capella is on the North skyline where they are hardest to find. Roughly overhead are Vega and Deneb, with Altair in Patrick Moore's summer triangle.
In the West is Arcturus below the plough.
 
Twice have I met Frank Whittle, the inventor of the jet engine or gas turbine, at Rugby and Coventry. He was born in Coventry and a bronze stands outside the bus station. Air Commodore Sir Frank Whittle OM KBE CB FRS FRAeS is shielding his eyes to watch the Gloster-Whittle E28/39 make the first flight without a propeller in 1941! In Rugby a memorial ring reminds us of his time making his first gas turbine with British Thompson Houston of Rugby.
 
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M11May09-15.20bst,Jumpz internet caff,Stoke-on-Trent,?,gnr,Genius, Mercury,hp laserjet 5P
 
Today I was up fairly early to walk along the Trent&Mersey canal, through Stone and on to Stoke. In Stoke are buried Josiah Wedgewood and the Spode family. Stone claims to be the birth place of the Trent & Mersey canal. I think they mean that the investors gathered here for the first survey in 1755, by James Brindley. The Act of Parliament only passed in 1766 so the canal was not ready till 1777.
 
Stoke City FC was Stoke FC until 1925 when Stoke became a city. It was founded as Stoke Rovers by Mr Armour(?) around 1865, and was one of the 12 founders of the League in 1888, only Notts County being an older club. Two big names are Stanley Matthews (1930-1947 and 1960-1965) and Gordon Banks (forgotten his dates) Banks got 36 of his 73 England caps playing for Stoke. Stanley Matthews went from Blackpool in the First to Stoke in the Second. When he retired at 50 in 1965, Blackpool were in the Second and Stoke were in the First. I do remember that! Who was that guy Alan Hudson? And George Eastham?
 
Stoke are now at the Britannia ground, 28000 crowd and were at the Victoria ground for 118 years a League record.
 
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F15May09-10.00bst,Middlewich lby,Dell,Dell,Dell,Dell,?
 
Yesterday, Thursday 14th, was a long country walk, other than Wheelock and Sandbach.
The farming was mostly pasturre, cows, sheep, horses.
 
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Best wishes to all, Robert
 
diary                  http://sdapp.blogspot.com/
flickr photos       http://flickr.com/photos/the-reindeer 
 
attached shots
6   A rainy morning, showing the Trent & Mersey canal, from the Middlewich junction of the Middlewich arm of the Shropshire Union Canal
1 "The Black Horse" by Elizabeth Frink, Milton Keynes
2   This swan won a slice of bread
3   The lights in Newbold tunnel
4   Samuel Johnson, dictionary writer, in Lichfield market
5   ducklings on the canal
 

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

June2009,England

M1 Ellesmere
Tu2 Llangollen canal,Whitchurch
W3 Wrenbury
A Brindley bridge and sun looking round a cloud on the Llangollen canal

Wrenbury school

Th4 Nantwich
F5 Crewe
Sa6 Nantwich
"Cheshire Hounds" in Nantwich, taken in the rain from the shelter of a way in for cars


Su7June2009ShropshireUnionCanal
M8 ShropshireUnionCanal,Chester
the new Tattenhall marina seen artistically blurred at night

Tu9 Chester
W10 Chester
looking across the stone weir built 1000s, of the river Dee at Chester to the suburb of Handbridge on the Welsh side of the Dee bridge, built 1300s.


Th11 Wirral line of ShropshireUnionCanal
F12 EllesmerePort

Erasmus, In praise of folly
Erasmus, humanist, Renaissance man,
liked Thomas More, good friend - to England ran.
"In praise of Folly" quick flowed from his pen.
The airline found his luggage - lost till then.
Mankind is mocked in kindly chuckling way.
Hans Holbein in his sketches, makes us bray.

a lovely sky through power lines near Ellesmere Port



Sa13 Wirrel line,Chester,HaroldTomlinsCentre
Su14June2009B5445,oldChester-Wrexham road
Jacobean(?) house on the B5445, the old Chester-Wrexham road


M15 Wrexham,StGiles,1500s
St Giles at Wrexham in the early sun from the east


Tu16 B5445,Chester
W17 Chester
Th18 Chester
painting in the sky on the Wrexham Road outside Chester

F19 Wirral line
Sa20 Overpool
Overpool is near Ellesmere Port which was formerly known as Netherpool

Su21June2009Eastham,A41
mile stone/iron near Eastham and the Manchester Ship Canal, with backpack
Cheshire County Council have some good mile stones/irons, like this one not far from Eastham



M22 Birkenhead
Tu23 Seacombe
W24 Leeds & Liverpool canal,Scarisbrick
this gentleman was digging his allotment near Haskayne(?) on the Leeds & Liverpool canal

Th25 Rufford branch

wood by Douglas river and Rufford branch
What do I find around me in this wood?
Wild arum, Lords 'n Ladies, seeds, no hood.
An elder sapling under sycamore.
But rubbish carpets much of earthy floor.
A corner, Douglas river, Preston road.
To read 'n sketch 'n sleep till day has flowed.

Scarisbrick to A59
At Scarisbrick, the ivy ground made bed.
Sir Henry knighted Agincourt, they said.
'Neath clouds, bad seeing - fleeting Jupiter.
Sore foot, I'm walking - hurts a bit, yes sir!
St Mary's, Rufford - big marina too.
Lock Eight is tidal - meeting steam fast, new.

F26 Preston

thoughts from Preston Peace Garden, Lancashire, by the river Ribble
Before I was the fear between deadly foes.
But I have grown wiser.
Now I am the friendship between democracies.
Sa27 Preston NE
The Ship Inn, which I think is a student pub


heavy showers
Beside the Ribble, grassy spot - the sky
Is full of sweet white fluffy clouds piled high.
I shift near road bridge - clouds high could mean rain.
Then darkness - under bridge I shift again.
One clap of thunder, rain comes pouring down.
For one day - summer - drinking water foun'.

Monday 29th June 2009
Got up at two - to search for puddles deep.
And found enough - the wolf from door, to keep.
Right Ribble bank near Preston - many docks.
At Warton, BAe Systems - long fenced box.
At sunrise pinkish clouds across the sky.
Near Lytham hedge 'neath maple tree I lie.

a bite to eat
A Burgen loaf, soya linseed grain.
With marge dried fruit, it makes a breakfast plain.
Tomorrow Lytham puddles may be there.
I need about a litre for my care.
That bot fly on my forearm liked a bite.
The pain, red bruise, its speed, gave me a fright.

friendly Polish tourers
My heavy Polish T-shirt with a hood.
'04, in Norway, Glomma river - good!
The Poles were cruising bikers on a tour.
To see the West of Europe to be sure.
They let me sleep a night inside their tent.
They gave me this big T-shirt when they went.

Preston and me
The Harris libr'y was first port of call.
The need for 'puters quite has me in thrall.
Peace Garden was a joy to look around.
From all in Preston - poems Garden bound.
At North End, Deepdale, glory fifties years.
Tom Finney, snapshot, best among his peers

Cheshire County Council have some good mile stones/irons, like this one not far from Eastham


Sa27 Preston North End
Su28June2009Preston
M29 A483/4, Warton,Lytham
Tu30 Blackpool

May 2009, England

F1 Coventry, Hawkesbury junction,Coventry and Oxford canals
Air Commodore Sir Frank Whittle, OM,CBE,FRS,FRAeS in silhouette outside the bus station, was born in Coventry and built the first gas turbine at British Thompson Houston in Rugby. He is watching the first plane to fly without a propellor, the Gloster.

James Brindley studies his plans at the Coventry canal basin

Sa2 Bedworth,Coventry canal
Su3May2009Ashby canal, Marston junction, Nuneaton
M4 Atherstone, Polesworth
old mill beside the canal in Atherstone


Tu5 Tamworth, Fazeley junction
W6 Lichfield
early morning shot of Tamworth parish church

Th7 Fradley junction,Trent&Mersey canal
F8 Rugeley
Sa9 Stafford
one of the smaller narrow boats

Su10May2009Stafford,Trent&Mersey canal
the full moon in the night. 10sec delay, 15sec exposure, and about 15sec processing, the shot took the camera over 40seconds

M11 Stone,Stoke-on-Trent
Tu12 Newcastle,Hanley
W13 Etruria,Tunstall,Harecastle tunnel
the outlook at Josiah Wedgewood's Etruria

Th14 T&M
small busy wharf near the M6 on the Trent & Mersey canal

F15 Middlewich
Sa16 Jodrell Bank,Middlewich
11000 V electricity supply to Jodrell bank

sun on the back of the still dish against a dark sky at Jodrell bank

the big steerable dish at Jodrell bank showing the steelwork that carries the dish

Su17May2009Wardle canal,Shropshire Union Middlewich branch
M18 Nantwich
Churche's mansion in Nantwich built around 1575, which was not burnt down in the fire of 1583


Tu19 Crewe
W20 "Take a closer look" atNantwich. 'wich' means 'salt'
Thomas Telford's aqueduct of 1825 at Nantwich, when he built the Shropshire Union canal

Th21 Llangollen canal

Dodgy doggerel
A week's library membership
At Midwich Friday - libr'y for a week.
Of Cheshire libr'ys plenty more to seek.
Of Jodrell ank I took much photo - nine.
To Midwich Sat, computer hour - that's fine.
On Sunday rest - so walk down waterway.
On Monday, Nantwich, 'puters upper bay.
On Tuesday, Crewe, saw Alexanda club.
'N ground-floor libr'y - man' a shut-down pub.
Back Nantwich Wedn'sday, money paid - hours two.
Thursday rest - to Hurleston junction stroll
No libr'y here - Llangollen path my goal.

F22 Llangollen canal,Whitchurch
Sa23 Shropshire Union Canal
Su24May2009Ellesmere
misty impressionistic shot of the mere at Ellesmere in the early light of dawn


M25 Llangollen canal,A5
Tu26 Llangollen
W27 Llangollen,Plas Newydd
"Plas Newydd" in Llangollen where the Ladies of Llangollen lived, 1780-1829. They, Elizabeth Butler and Sarah Ponsonby, were darlings of the Regency period

Th28 Horseshoe Pass,Eliseg cross,Valle Crucis Abbey
F29 Castell Dinas Bran
Castell Dinas Bran above Llangollen, burnt down 1277, in low light


Sa30 Chirk,Cadbury's factory
Su31May2009Chirk,A483

Tuesday, March 03, 2009

Apr2009,London

W1 Dave's andSiony,Alan,England againstUkraine atWembley,2-1
These dandelions are so early that they have no "clocks". Taken beside the Hilton Metropole hotel

Th2 nomads,CamdenArtsCentre,Thursday tea-time,JanetHeys,Methodist"Deacons"
F3 WLDC Vista,Stuart,Paul,Sam, WestminsterCollege member
Sa4 CapitalA,Geffrye museum,ASLAN Ray's team
Su5Apr09Rosary church,AllSouls'
M6 art group,Wyn,Kirsty, ASLAN Mark,Hugh
Tu7 WLDC Vista
W8 City ofWestminsterCollege,Dave's
Th9 nomads,CamdenArtsCentre,City ofWestminsterCollege,Dave's
coffee and cakes for Cliff's birthday at the Camden Arts Centre

F10 Dave's
Something for the border
It's getting just a little cool right now.
My feet 'n toes tap coolish, take a bow.
I'm sitting under noisy Westway, here.
I started by St Mary's, weather clear.
'Twas drizzle drops that stopped me reading books.
The dirty sky them got some dirty looks.
Far from my tree, the path was shining wet.
I had to go - the weather won the bet.
Sa11 ASLAN,Elliott's team,
Su12Apr09sunrise communion,11.00 service,Diane's flat
Communion at sunrise, Easter Sunday, Manchester Square
I went to bed too late on Sat'day night.
I woke at four - alarm - before 'twas light.
Manchester Square - dark shapes at quart to six.
But where go through the fence? - I'm in a fix.
Communion, sunrise, planes, damp grassy ground.
Epistle read from verses spread around.
Then egg 'n bacon breakfast in the hall.
The inner man was fed, with lots for all.
M13 Diane,rest
Tu14 Auriol's repairs
W15 Wednesday club
Th16 Dilene,King'sCross for meal,DVD,The Motorcycle Diaries(Che Guevara),pool and table tennis with Dilene,Gavin,Alan
F17 rest
Sa18 Watford
Su19Apr09Hemel Hempstead
going walking
The first step is the hardest step of all.
The cosy weekly round withstands the call.
Made up my mind some weeks ago to walk.
'N set a date to make it more than talk.
I dodged the london surburbs, took the train.
To make the first step lazy, in the main.
From Watford on the GUC* main line,
the walk through park to spring canal, was fine.
*GUC = Grand Union Canal
M20 Berkhamsted
in the top pound over the Chilterns
The weather's cloudless, sunny dry but cool.
It rained last week - drinking from the pool.
I sit by top pound of the GUC*,
O'er Cliltern hills, the cutting long's lock-free.
In neighb'ring field, big RC** model's flown.
Low stalls, spins, loops 'n barrel rolls are shown.
Many freight trains rush down busy line.
Washed - drying in the sun - black T-shirt mine.
*GUC = Grand Union Canal --- **RC = Radio-Controlled
Tu21 fir plantation
W22 Leighton Buzzard
a misty morning on the GUC (Grand Union Canal) near Leighton Buzzard. The two arches of the bridge, are for the two locks built to speed up the traffic on the canal when the railways were being built.


Th23 Bletchely,Fenny Stratford
F24 Milton Keynes
Sa25 Cosgrove,IronTrunkAqueduct
Iron Trunk Aqueduct taking the GUC over the Great Ouse North of Milton Keynes

a flashy sunrise North of Milton Keynes at the Iron Trunk Aqueduct

Su26Apr09StokeBruerne,Blisworth tunnel,Blisworth
M27 Daventry
Tu28 Oxford canal,Braunston
Braunston the "not" canal village, at the end of the Grand Junction Canal, built around 1805, to link the Coventry canal and the Midlands to Brentford on the Thames, west of London.

W29 Rugby
Th30 Oxford canal,FossWay

Mar2009,London

Su1Mar09Diane in Hendon
M2 art atConnection atStMartin's withBen,Kirsten
Council House of Westminster, seen from Durweston Place,mews behind Gloucester Place

Tu3 Gordon's group
W4 Wednesday club,Mary andScrabble
Th5 nomads atNationalGeographic,83-97,RegentSt Gordon talk onNewZealand at Thursday tea-time
Eros and golden divers, at Piccadilly Circus, London

F6 WLDC Vista,CapitalArts
Sa7 ASLAN, "Boy in striped pyjamas"
Su8Mar09Diane
M9 ASLAN, Darwin200, Natural History Museum,
Darwin200 at the Natural History Museum

Tu10 Gordon's group,HughPriceHughes,DrDionForster"Evolution or Revolution"
the full moon (almost) seen through the branches of a tall London plane, on the corner of Bishops Bridge Road and Westbourne Terrace

W11 Wednesday club
Th12 nomads,Kenwood House,Thursday tea-time,Dilene,Povo do Rua,Sao Paulo
daffs in the twilight

primroses between two electrical boxes, across the road from The Spaniards, Hampstead Lane.

F13 WLDC Vista
Sa14 American church,ASLAN
red-nosed Charles Darwin, FRS. University College, London, Biological Sciences,way in, half way along Gower Street, on the East side

Su15Mar09Rosary church,skype toSaoPaulo
M16 art group,Connection,Wyn
a few days ago,on 9th March, a police notice warned cars of a "Collision". Now there are flowers on the railings for Vicky.

Tu17 Gordon's spirituality group
W18 Wednesday club
Sarah Siddons, tragic actress, sits among the daffodils of spring, on Paddington Green

Th19 Thursday tea-time, fish and chips
F20 WLDC Vista
Sa21 ASLAN,Stephen
the willow buds have sprouted, unlike the oak

Su22Mar096.30 service,Hinde Street,Leao and Dilene
M23 art group at Connections
Tu24 Gordon's Spirituality group
The daffodils are starting to go to seed

W25 art exhibition at St Martin's
Joe Strummer exhibition in the subway under the Harrow/Edgware Road flyover

Th26 nomads,CamdenArtsCentre,Thursday tea-time,JohnHicks,the wreck ofThomasWLawson, andStPatrick's,SohoSquare,"The General",BusterKeaton,"DuckSoup"TheMarxBrothers
F27 WLDC Vista
Sa28 American church,PortugeseService
Su29Mar09HindeSt,church lunch,general church meeting
M30 arts group at Connections,Wyn,Kirsty,Pauline,meal with Gordon
Tu31 Gordon's spirituality group, Dave's

Friday, November 14, 2008

Feb2009,London

Su1Feb2009Rosary church, Sister Margaret,AllSouls',downstairs
M2
SNOW IN LONDON!
St Mary's, Paddington Green

canal

Paddington station

Tu3 Gordon's group
W4 Gordon meal
Th5 nomads atCamdenArtsCentre,Thursday tea-time withHowardIsenberg onArturoToscanini,"Millions"atStPatrick's,SohoSquare
F6 WLDC Vista,FridayForum atCrisisSkylight withCapitalArts
the wobbly (Millennium) bridge and Tate Modern, shining from the Thames

Sa7 American church,ASLAN Raymond's team,"InBruges",spagetti bolognese,Philippians 3,1-11
Su8Feb2009HindeSt,concertEben,Bach,Diane
M9 Connections,ArtGroup,Mark,WestEndKitchen
Tu10 Gordon's group,HPH lecture,AbbotJamison ofWorth
W11 Joe,Alpha
Th12 nomads,CAC,Thursday tea-time,Sally andAlanSwindells,Quakers
F13 WLDC Vista
Sa14 American church,ASLAN
from Regent's Park, looking south-west

Su15Feb2009HindeSt,Diane
M16 StMartin's art group
Tu17 Gordon's group,Dave's
W18 Wed club,Greta,Shatna
Th19 nomads,CAC,Th tea-time,Edna andJordan
F20 rest
Sa21 American church,ASLAN Steven's team
Bramah locks,founded 1784 in the industrial revolution, off Marylebone High Street

evening shot behind Great Portland underground station

Su22Feb2009HindeSt,church lunch,group,AllSouls'downstairs
M23 art,StMartin's,WynKirsten,ASLAN Mark,Hugh,WEKitchen
Tu24 Gordon's group,Dave's
W25 Joe,WedClub,AshWed
Th26 nomads,Arcola,Th tea-time,Sue,silence
hot chocolate at Arcola theatre cafe, KingslandHighSt (almost)

F27 WLDC Vista
the moon under and passing, Venus above Paddington Basin

Sa28 Portugese service atHindeSt,Leao,Dilene
sunset seen from Regent's Park, with 3x zoom

distorted reflection in the helmet box on the front of a Vespa scooter

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Jan2009,London

Th1 Dave's flat
F2 WLDC,Dave's
Sa3 ASLAN,Colin
Su4Jan2008rest
Sunday morning and Little Venice is covered with thin ice

M5 Connections,Wyn,Kirsten
M5Jan09 cranes on Paddington Walk from Harrow Road

Tu6 WLDC Vista
W7 Wed club
Th8 nomads,Camden Arts Centre,StMungo's
F9 WLDC, Vista downstairs
Sa10 ASLAN, St Mungo's
three tier fountain in Regent's Park, with icicles

Su11Jan2008Hinde St,Kudratsev organ recital,John Hicks' class
M12 Connection,ASLAN Mark
Tu13 Capital A, Courtaulds,Turner watercolours
W14 Wednesday club
Th15 nomads,Th tea-time
F16 WLDC Vista
Sa17 American church,ASLAN Waldegrave hall
Su18Jan2008Hinde St, Diane,Hendon
M19 rest
Tu20 Gordon's group,Dave's
W21 Wednesday club
Th22 nomads,Th t-t,Thursday tea-time
F23 WLDC,Vista
15 seconds long shutter at night, beside the canal

Sa24 ASLAN,Dark Knight,Philippians
overlooking Paddington station

Su25Jan2008Hinde Street Methodist Church,Soper Sermon by Rev Dr Kenneth Greet on "Peace",West Bank,Israel/Palestine,Diane/Hendon
M26 ASLAN,Mark, Lesley in hospital getting better
Lord Nelson at Trafalgar Square on a clear winter day

Tu27 Gordon's group,Dave's flat
overlooking Lisson Grove Estate

W28 Wednesday club
Th29 nomads,Thursday tea-time,talk on Norwegian fjords,Dave's flat
Bristol 2 litre 406(?), found beside the Wallace Collection, Manchester Square, Marylbone, London

F30 WLDC Vista

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Dec2008,London

M1 ASLAN,Lesley & Mark
Tu2 Spirituality Group,Dave's flat
W3 Mary Hicks and banner,Greta and talk

Fredrik Skavlan and kindergarten/barnehjem
Cartoonist Fredrik Skavlan draws so wise.
His fun cartoon speaks clear beneath our eyes.
In Norway men can nurse small children too.
Here fathers try to share the work 'tween two.
The bus is slow - the boss needs letter done.
She can't get back in time for little one.
She lifts her child but now her feelings sag.
The minder's on the floor in sleeping bag.

Th4 nomads,Thurs tea club
F5 Skylight and Capital A
Sa6 ASLAN

Jacques Piccard - died Sa1Nov2008
On Sat'day first November, Piccard died.
With bathyscape, nowhere on earth to hide.
He searched the depths of Mariana trench.
Down kilometres ten, would make me blench.
Auguste, his father climbed to stratosphere.
Up kilometres sixteen in the air.
Bertrand his son, was first to ring the earth,
to prove his right and earn his Piccard birth.

Su7Dec2008Rosary and Sister Margaret
Su14Dec2008Rosary,HindeSt,Carol
M15 StMartin's art,Lesley and Mark,WestEndKitchen
Tu16 Gordon's group;
W17 Wednesday club
Th18 nomads,BFI
F19 WLDCdownstairs,Christmas buffet
Sa20 ASLAN,Eliott,Nick
Su21Dec2008rest
M22 rest
dark night shot of the cranes working on Paddington Walk, taken from Harrow Road

Tu23 rest
W24 WLDC Christmas dinner,Wesnesday club,Christingle
Th25 Leao,Christmas dinner
F26 Connections
Sa27 Connections,ASLAN,Colin,Christopher
Su28Dec2008morning Connections
Tree of heaven in winter, beside the Grand Union Canal south of Little Venice

M29 rest
Tu30 Dilene,Dave's with Siony
W31 Wednesday club, nightwatch service at Hinde St