Saturday, July 31, 2004
This is a picture taken by Joshua while Jessica was blowing bubbles.
Photos and words from some Russians. Really interesting.
Wednesday, July 28, 2004
Amazon.com: Books: Red Dog
Amazon.com: Books: Red Dog
This is a great book. If you're looking for a quick read, treat yourself and enjoy!
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This is a great book. If you're looking for a quick read, treat yourself and enjoy!
Sunday, July 18, 2004
Finally managed to track down that little cute car / van I mentioned earlier in the blog. It is called an Aixam Mega. 400cc van with a payload of up to 500kg. Amazing looking thing!!
Bookreporter.com - THE PROMISE OF A LIE by Howard Roughan
Bookreporter.com - THE PROMISE OF A LIE by Howard Roughan
This is one of the six books I read last week. Yes....6. That's what commuting is for OK!
But... the reason for this link is this list of words that is repeated at the end of the story and the main character has it up as a list of ideals to teach his child one day:
To love
To laugh
To laugh some more
To listen and learn
To say please and thank you
To have opinions
To respect those of others
To be honest
To be a friend
To be yourself
So.... now for you..... let me know of some you would add!
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This is one of the six books I read last week. Yes....6. That's what commuting is for OK!
But... the reason for this link is this list of words that is repeated at the end of the story and the main character has it up as a list of ideals to teach his child one day:
To love
To laugh
To laugh some more
To listen and learn
To say please and thank you
To have opinions
To respect those of others
To be honest
To be a friend
To be yourself
So.... now for you..... let me know of some you would add!
Saturday, July 17, 2004
Last Week
Last week was a tough week. So many loose ends to tie up with work and I know there will be more loose ends next week.
The security gaurds in our building (Old Broad Street) are currently South African and I normally just say a few words in Afrikaans when passing. Coming back into the building after a meetings, I said hello to this one tall chap and guess what...... he called me UNCLE... yes, you read it correctly..... U N C L E ... can you believe it. I have always thought that I was the one to call other older chaps uncle (In Afrikaans it is Oom). I guess it is a form of respect and OK... maybe it is good in it's place but quite a shock when it happened to me I can assure you.... makes me feel so.... well yes! OLD!
I must have had a real mean look on my face at the shock of being called uncle that he immediately said sorry... Oh well.... it's happened. Goto get the walking stick out soon!
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The security gaurds in our building (Old Broad Street) are currently South African and I normally just say a few words in Afrikaans when passing. Coming back into the building after a meetings, I said hello to this one tall chap and guess what...... he called me UNCLE... yes, you read it correctly..... U N C L E ... can you believe it. I have always thought that I was the one to call other older chaps uncle (In Afrikaans it is Oom). I guess it is a form of respect and OK... maybe it is good in it's place but quite a shock when it happened to me I can assure you.... makes me feel so.... well yes! OLD!
I must have had a real mean look on my face at the shock of being called uncle that he immediately said sorry... Oh well.... it's happened. Goto get the walking stick out soon!
Taken by Dave just in front of our favourite pastry and bread shop in Ponterson in France. It is a strange looking car. I have no idea if it is a petrol / diesel or electric car but it is really different!
Sunday, July 11, 2004
Another shot of UK mainland from the deck of the Barfleur.... no people on deck.... all still watching the football.
This looks peaceful now.... but D-Day this must have been a mess. I'll rather have this scene any day!
One day we went to Granville and saw some bunkers. The responsibility for managing the "Atlantic Wall" (Mur de Atlantique) was the responsibility of Rommel. He was called back from Africa to make sure this wall was well managed. Here is a picture of one of the concrete bunkers.
On the way back to Poole, the sun was setting, Greece was playing agains Portugal, everyone was watching but I had to get on the deck and see the sunset!
I love the sea... so another shot for you. Full of mood and colour! Just a bit south from Granville on the way back to the house.
This is a picture of where we stayed.
Ah.... by this time you could be bored with all the pictures.... did I say that I was an obsessive photo taker? Well.... I should show you what it looked like where we were staying... starting with this photo... we went for a walk between dinner and night. This was just around the corner within walking distance from the house where we were staying.
Rue de Petit Fort going down to the river.
Still in Dinan.
This little street, Rue de Petit Fort, has so many interesting little shops and restaurants. Very nice. Still in Dinan.
Anyone for some pastries?
Ahhhh!
This is a picture of the top of the old town in Dinan. What a lovely place. All types of old houses and shops, cobbled streets, windowboxes. Very pretty. Oh... don't forget the pastry shops!!
Saturday, July 10, 2004
Towards the top, closer to the church bit at Mt St Michel, loads of people were just standing and watching the tide come in. As it is so flat, the tide does move in very quickly and it is something to stare at... quite relaxing to see...
Mt St Michel is amazing. Mostly geared to impress the tourist, but not so tacky as lets say Brugge during the christmas market time of the year.... at least there were no street speakers pushing piped music.... yet! There is a norrow steep walkway with bars, creperies and other restaurants on the way up... and of course the normal tacky junk, sweet and trinkets shops. The buildings are kept in good order and you can quite imagine the monks going about their business in this lovely safe and walled city.
Looking back, the days we had there are now a bit of a blur. We went to Mont St Michel, Dinan, St Malo, Granville and a few places inbetween. We stayed close to a village called Ponterson which is close to the Normandy / Brittany border.
Thursday last week I went with Dave and his Dad - Robin to France. We crossed from Poole to Cherbourg on the fast 2 hour ferry. I went out on the deck and the wind nearly blew me over.
One of the other things we did while on our break, was look for and buy a few tents for camping. We could not decide on a big tent yet so the older children pooled their money and bought one two man tent and one three man tent. Although the weather was terrible, they put the tents up in the garden and slept outside, possibly in the worst stormy rainy weather. In the morning we expected to see them all wet but no... everything was fine and dry and the tents did not blow away.
In the two weeks of holiday, we went on many walks and the BIG cycle ride as previously mentioned. We also had a lovely picnic in the fields.
