Mom's birthday Amazon certificate went to buy a fantastic bread Book - Tartine. And we've had great success baking it in my pottery kiln.  But its agony now as I'm trying to limit carbs to keep control of my eating... How I miss bread!

End of the Road Festival

Aptly named this year as it will be the last time we go.  While the bands, setting and comedy was great, there are just too many people now. Add to that the disco music after the live music ended at midnight to 3am was just unbearable in the campervan. By Sunday the sleep deprivation was caught me sleeping on the grass at midday!

But, it was a great way to spend the weekend with Nick and Ali - meeting up at random times; Ali and me for massages at the Healing Retreat, and Nick's guiding us through the sea of tents to tour his huge teepee. We could enjoy Nick's friends, then wander off to see something else and meet up again. Texting though the days to rendez-vous at favorite band's performances and relaxing in the sunshine saving a good place before the next show.   I missed a few bands I'd planned to see because I couldn't drag myself away from the comedy.  Some real surprises - I liked "Midlake", and disappointments - "She Keeps Bees" were loud and we ran away when they started.

When the rain came in as Ali left on Sunday, we braved it out for a while and felt blessed that it had held off as long as it had. Nat and Abbey looked miserable in their flip flops and windbreakers while I sat cosy in my down parka.


So next year we're going to try a different music festival - maybe WOMAD?

My amazing brother transcribed old 8mm videotapes and sent them to me - Here's one clip-

How hard can a family photo for Grandpa on Father's day be???? This must be the most unphotogenic family ever...  OK, with bits in our teeth after Nick's slow roasted ribs, we were challenged.

Somehow I don' think these will be portraits they will treasure...

The Swift Half 2011

Here we are standing in the toilet queue.. I think Petra was cold not desparate.  My worst time yet on a half marathon, but it was a lovely day out and great to see old friends (Nigel, Steve, Petra and Gary) and new (Brad and Simon).

Strange that a few hours of exercise can make one feel positively virtuous about eating hot dogs, beer, ice cream, then fish and chips for dinner.  I'll do it again just for the excuse to eat anything I want!

Finally the empty nest is within view... Nick's offer on a flat was accepted today! A vicarious thrill to go through the process with him. Probably not the most shrewd investment - we should have put Billy to work on a fixer-upper, but this place was bright and well-cared-for with its own nice little garden. It just seemed to fit Nick just right.  And the current owner is immigrating to Australia, so Nick might even get a good deal on some of the furniture. Happy day!

Ali and I watched the Royal Wedding at Millennium Square in Bristol. It was a great day out with our naff commemorative flags giving commentary to Japanese tourists.  And then we watched the police remove squatters after the anti-Tesco riot near her house.  What a different world!

At the VW fair

Surely they lost a letter?

 Easter Anglesey Campervan Trip

Lunch break!

The coastal path

We started the holiday week at at VW fair - way too many stickers and tatoos on sale, but pretty cool to look at the old VWs.  We need to get some beads to hang from the rear view mirror!
The weather held for 6 perfect days walking around the coast of Anglesey.  Despite the half term week and   my fear of crowds we rarely saw anyone and found a couple of wild campsites.

Wild camp at RSPB site

Dinner preparations

Both of us struggled with rotten colds, so we only walked 3 hrs a day, then read in the garden in glorious sun at country pubs, or in grassy meadows. Rain arrived before our last planned section by Beaumaris, but I'm glad we'll have a chance to go back again

Work work work...

My running has been dismal. Arriving at the office by 7:30 and dark evenings, its only just the last month that I've been running again.  And without a base, my achilles is slowing me down (as is the extra weight).

But with both kids signed up for the Swift Half in May, I want to run too!

A-Z Things about me: (idea copied from Petra, but it is fun)

A~Age: 54, whew not possible. I was sure that by this time I'd have had the makeup and high heel things sorted. 

B~ Bed Size: Tiny to fit antique 4 poster... that squeaks ...TMI?? :-)  

C~Chore you hate: Hoovering - dealing with the tangled cord, dog hair that is impossible to pick up, and so noisy I can't listen to my ipod.

D~Dogs: Nelly, sweetheart GSD

E~Essential Start your Day Item: Cafe Latte - worth getting up 10 min early to fuss with the machine. 

F~Favorite Color: That's so hard to answer - the green of newly leafed-out beech trees, the turquoise of  tropical seas, frosty greys and blues of the mountains.... depends! 

G~Gold or Silver: Gold, but can't afford to replace the gold earring I lost, so I wear silver.

H~Height: 5'2" - and I refuse to measure myself because my Mom says she has shrunk... horrors, NO!

I~Instruments you play: cello once, expertise long forgotten. Some days I wonder at all the stuff I once knew...

J~Job Title: Sr Geoscientist, little do they know. Should be "enthusiastic amateur". 

K~Kids: Ali is 24 and Nick is 26, again not possible, how could this happen so fast!

L~Live: Commuter faux village outside London, but the train ride to Westminster is not too bad.

M~Mom’s name: Eleanor, but I don't blame her for going by Ellie

N~Nemesis: Glazing. I can throw beautiful pots but continually destroy them with incredibly ugly glazes and cracks from smoking naked raku.

O~Outlook: optimist, definitely.
P~Pet Peeve: Television noise, particularly when there's no even anyone watching it!

Q~Quote from a Movie: Dune - Litany against fear
      "I must not fear.

Fear is the mind-killer.

Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.

I will face my fear.

I will permit it to pass over me and through me.

And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.

Where the fear has gone there will be nothing......Only I will remain." 

R~Right or Left Handed: Right, boring I know.
S~Siblings: Three, all younger and wiser, Linnie, Missi and Miller
T~Time you wake up: 5:20 and rush for 6:10 train.
U~Underwear:Daydream about vampy sexy stuff, but alway reach for comfy.

V~Vegetable you Dislike: beets, and the way they can contaminate a whole plate of food!
W~What Makes You Late: looking for stuff, keys, ipod, wallet, blackberry, train pass...
X~Xenophobia : fear of confident people with perfect hair, polished nails and expensive suits.
Y~Yummy Food you Make: can't claim any but cinnamon toast.
Z~Zoo Animal Favorite: Always the big cats.