Category: Pic of the week

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O.M.D

Pic of the week 10/11/19

On Friday, Becky and I went to see the magnificent Orchestral Manoeuvers in the Dark, OMD, at the Bath Pavilion.

They were brilliant.

Up there with the best bands I’ve seen. Andy McCluskey is a real showman (and I hope to be as fit and mobile at 60 as he is), the light-show was great, the audience “up for it” but it was the music that stole the show.

One forgets how many hits they’ve had, and they belted them all out.

If I have to pick out a favourite OMD track, I think it would have to be Maid of Orleans, which they played about a quarter of the way into the set, straight after Joan of Arc.

But each time they started the next song you thought: “this is brilliant.”

A great night. A life affirming night.

 

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M-m-m-my Girona

Pic of the week 3/11/19

So half term inches towards its inevitable conclusion with parents consultations this afternoon, but what a fantastic week and half its been.

Monday evening saw Becky & I jet off for a few days in Girona, our first trip abroad sin hijos for over twenty years. It had been a bit of a “on the whim” purchase of flights back in August and it did feel like a bit of an adventure as we headed off in the dreary dark, wind and rain to Bristol airport.

And what a fantastic place Girona is – it was all that I hoped for, and more.

A picturesque city, steeped in history, but compact, accessible and not overcrowded.

We arrived at Girano airport at circa 11 pm local time time to warm, clement, conditions. I’d pre-booked a taxi (this turned out to be a good move) that whisked us to our hotel in about 20 mins.

Tuesday was a bank holiday – by fluke our visit coincided with Fires de Saint Narcis, Girona’s major festival and we got to see and hear much music and dancing, although we probably didn’t make the most of the “big headed people” parade. We walked the wall of Girona (a must do if visiting the city. Top tip, start at the Cathedral end – not only do you (tend to) walk down hill, you are also rewarded with the best views at the start; I suspect that if you start at the other end, you may think “meh” for the first part of the walk.)

We also spent much time just sat drinking coffee at various cafes, outside, soaking up the warm sunshine. It was wonderful.

On the Wednesday, we took a bus to Palafrugell, and then another local bus to Calella de Palafrugell, which is a stunning seaside town, to which I am sure we will return some day. I had a swim in the sea – I’m not a religious man, but swimming in the sea is the closest I get to a spiritual experience – it (the water) was not warm, but not too cold either, it had a refreshing edge to it and, with sunshine and an air temperature of about 23-24 degrees, basking in the sunshine after my swim was a real pleasure.

Thursday was more wandering the historic old town, picking out a few Game of Thrones locations before heading back to the airport, via a public bus.

I didn’t much use my embryonic Spanish, but it was good to be able to to try the odd phrase, and pick out the odd word spoken in Spanish. Hopefully by Majorca 2020 I’ll have a slightly wider range of phrases to call upon.

And a few words about Ryan Air – one hears bad things about them, and this was our first flight with them. So a sample size of one trip is not statistically significant, but I liked the simplicity and efficiency of the whole experience. Lets be honest, air travel is not the glamorous experience that the ’50s and ’60s promised; it is simply a means of getting from A to B as quickly as possible.  Their was no faux luxury, the stewards looked a little harassed and tired, but they loaded us on the jet quickly – no faffing about – and got us in the air and to our destination swiftly. It was just like getting the bus to Palafrugell, a means to an end, I was happy with that. (And I’m now a big fan of just having carry on luggage – significantly less queuing outbound, and waiting to pick up bags on landing – a big win.)

A fantastic few days in my new favourite city. Becky’s blog has a much more detailed account of the trip and many more pictures. Worth a look:

http://dotsandspotsdesign.blogspot.com/2019/11/girona.html

 

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Lisa Stansfield

Pic of the week 27/10/19

No need to go around the world – in Friday we just had to pop up the A39 to Bath to see Lisa Stansfield.

It was a foul night – the rain poured and the wind howled, Bath Rugby were playing at home so parking was not easy, but by shortly after eight we were sat in the Bath Forum, waiting for the girl from Manchester.

She (and the band!) were great. Of course, she belted out the big hits: Around the World, and People Hold On, but many of her tracks were not as familiar to me as they might have been, but a few bells rung in my memory and the band were fantastically funky – not a million miles (although a good few!) from JTQ.

I must confess to a few doubts as the night drew closer – would it be worth it? She was, doubts were unfounded, a great night out.

Other news:

On Thursday passed his driving theory test.

Today (Sunday) he (Sam) snagged himself a full weekend ticket to Glastonbury, and I got myself a Sunday ticket.

After an autumn of rain – and two very wet & windy days on Friday and Saturday – today dawned to a beautiful, if cold, sunshine, a lovely day. Ran in double layers and gloves (needed them!) and spent some time this afternoon tidying the garden (a bit) and planting some daffodil bulbs. The nights are drawing in – clocks went back last night – it’s not yet 5pm and already the light is waning. Good job we are off to Girona tomorrow for a little bit of warmth and culture!

Here’s Lisa:

 

 

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We soldier on

Pic of the week 20/10/19

It’s been a tough, tiring week. The pension crisis rumbles on at school – I do think that this is the most difficult thing I have ever had to do professionally.  Not only is it absorbing a significant amount of time (I reckon and extra half a day’s work a week) and head-space, just trying to accommodate the wants and wishes of circa 250 people is  so difficult. This Saturday was “video-gate”, when someone objected to the recording of the Head’s Q & A session.  All rather unnecessary, and another few hours lost for good.  I have made the decision to stand down as Common room Chair once the pensions crisis has run its course – I have lost the energy, ambitions and ideas I had for the role, and (sadly) I have lost a little bit of love for my colleagues.

On Friday I went on a school trip to Oxford – hence the pic of the Anthony Gormley statue. A reasonable day out, but a long way to go to look around a couple of colleges in the cold – the cold, that was my most noticeable element of the day.  Made me look forward all the more to our few days in Girona in ten days time.

Yesterday, Becky & Sam went to see Becky’s granny in Cornwall, she’s not been too good of late.

Today, I was swapped from my morning game in the Bridgwater district league to act as Assistant Referee in Somerset FA U16 v Dorset FA U16 – at age 50 I was the youngest of the three officials.  I think our combined age was more than that of either team on the pitch.

Half term in two and a half days – I can’t wait!

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El bambino es un perro de booze

Pic of the week 13/10/19

So Sam had his first encounter with gin yesterday, and lost.

Out with his pals in Shepton yesterday, I got a text at circa 8.30 pm – can you pick me up? (He was supposed to have got the bus, bit had missed the last one.)

The smell of booze in the car was intense. He fell asleep on the short journey home. Under the white light of his mother’s interrogation, looked green. He took himself off to bed.

This morning he was woken, ready to go to work. Oh what a sorrowful, pitiful sight! I ended up calling in sick on his behalf and he shuffled back off to bed.

We’ve all been there, schadenfreude is a wonderful thing, and (out of his eye-line) I had to suppress the odd chuckle. He’s mopped all day, “I’ve learnt my lesson” – well, time will tell!

 

Other news – it continues to be wet, wet, wet and more rain is forecast for tomorrow. Cleaned the deck in a break in the rain this afternoon, unable to mow the lawn which is beginning to reach “untidy” heights. Weather warning for more rain tomorrow – will it ever end?

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Stuff

Pic of the week 6/10/19

My muse has deserted me of late, and I struggle to think of what to write.

Possibly because – whilst not quite overwhelmed – “the pension scandal” has come to dominate my time and thoughts over the last two weeks. A week last Friday I chaired a staff meeting to discuss ways forward and it would be polite to say the atmosphere was febrile. Whilst I appreciate that the ire and anger was not directed at me, I did feel like I was the lightning rod for the staff’s displeasure, and sat in front of 100+ angry people was not a pleasant place to be.

But everything looks better the next day. And even better a week or so down the line. The staff remain confused, upset and determined, and whilst it (our proposed withdrawl from TPS) still takes up a significant amount of time, I feel more rested and more on top of the other aspects of my work than this time last week.

The weather’s not been brilliant – its been a wet early autumn thus far – but today has been bright, if blowy. I enjoyed ref-ing Puriton v Huntspill in the Bridgwater Sunday league (terrible pitch, mind. (Puriton R.O.F) Narrow, and I think used for grazing sheep Monday to Saturday, and football only on a Sunday. A marked contrast from the carpet of Kingweston Pitch 1 that I was on yesterday.) and my game yesterday (U16A v Dorset Schools) two good games, no dissent, a perfect sorbet for the mind.

Mowed the lawn today, “vinegared” the front gravel (much to the annoyance of Becky) and failed to get Sam a Glastonbury ticket this morning.

Life rumbles on, but with a lighter step than a week ago.

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The new normal?

Pic of the week 22/9/19

Yesterday, Sophie went back to uni for the start of her second year. It doesn’t seem like a moment that we were dropping her off in the pouring rain last year. (Fortunately, this year the weather – at least yesterday – was much better. Scorchio)

It’s also quite frightening how Sophie not being at home has become the new normal. It has been lovely to have her home for the summer but, unlike this time last year, it does not seem odd her not being home. Not quite the circle of life, but certainly the passage of time and confirmation that Becky and I are now well into a new chapter of our lives.

In other news, the weather of late has been fantastic, wall to wall sunshine and pleasant day time temps, although getting chilly in the evenings. However, rained this morning and that is, apparently, the precursor to ten days of rain. Quite a pleasant evening now, though.

Has been exeat this weekend, and I’ve enjoyed a complete break from school, listened to a lot of music, refereed a couple of OA games, tidied the garden (a bit) in preparation for autumn and winter – planted 50 allium bulbs and x 6 bare rooted peony plants. Still mowing the lawn. Mini rumbles on, quite literally, Sam has had his first couple of “proper” driving lessons, and Becky continues to be as beautiful and wonderful as ever.

Oh, and I nearly forgot, my (other) blog was mentioned by Rob Eastaway in a recent interview – rather chuffed and proud!

Whimsical and self-deprecating

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A busy week

Pic of the week 15/9/19

Its been a busy week.

On Monday, the Head announced that the school will come out of TPS – I (as Common Room Chair) was aware on Saturday, but the tsunami began on Monday break. It seems a long time ago now, but there is still much work ahead – I’ve become somewhat of a pensions guru.

It hasn’t helped that I had a bad cold for the week -Tuesday and Wednesday were particularly bad, but I didn’t spin on Thursday (a good decision – the extra down time at home did the business in completing the cure) and I’d say I’m over it now.

Have been busy ref-ing: Tuesday night, Wednesday, Saturday & today (Sunday) and I had my LOTG test on Wednesday, which I passed.

Swapped the Mini front wheels today – think its made a difference(?) but nothing decisive. Quite enjoyed doing it, though.

Monday was wet, wet, wet, but the week has finished in glorious sunshine – let’s hope the good weather can last a bit longer: a good autumn makes the winter seem that much shorter.

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Stuff

Pic of the week 8/9/19

Buenos Dias. Mi llamo Jeff, y yo soy un maestro de mathematicia. Yo vivo con mi esposa, mi hija, y mi hiho. Yo quiero hablas Espanol.

Term has begun, Becky and Sophie have enjoyed a few days in Paris (Sam and I somehow survived in their absence) and I am continuing to learn Spanish. I’m rather pleased with myself in that I wrote that entire phrase above and, when I checked it using google translate it said what I wanted!

My Sunday league refereeing has begun, have done a couple of games now – I particularly enjoyed today’s game, despite it being all the way over beyond Burnham. Floodlit league starts this Tuesday with Glastonbury v Wells.

Mini making an annoying (worrying) rumbling noise, definitely something to do with the wheels/tyres as its frequency changes with speed. Hoping its just a tyre (to be fair, did drive for about 15 miles the other day with one of the run flats, flat so could be the cause.) Will swap the front wheels tomorrow – if the sound changes side it will confirm tyre/wheel problem (hoping for this easy/cheapest fix) if not, its probably a wheel bearing – not a disaster, but I’d prefer it to not be. Hopefully next week I’ll be able to update with some positive diagnosis.

 

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Sam 17

Pic of the week

Sam has turned 17, and taken to life behind the wheel.

I haven’t been out with him (yet) but Becky’s taken him out a few times and he seems to be enjoying life on the road. They started in Strode car park, but have since graduated onto the levels back lane (that I run along) as well us driving up Downside Road, to Millfield car park (main & swimming pool) and back home, to reverse onto the drive.

Other than his birthday, the week has been a little non-descript: the inevitable come down after the highs of a week away. I’ve ref-ed a couple of games, done some more painting of hall and utility room, but not too much to write home about. The weather has not been brilliant – high winds on Friday and Saturday and today – after a bright-ish morning – we’ve had some torrential downpours, thunder and lightening: