It's all happening in Brentford

Brentford has become an even livelier place - eco squatters moved onto empty land - waiting to be developed near Kew Bridge, and a sub group of them have moved into local mp Ann Keen's house; our children have become involved. This is a very interesting situation - some children are allowed to go, some have been urged not to, but go anyway. Some friends are supporters of Ann Keen, and some not. Interesting times and time to write my blog again.

All this excitement is happening at the same time as the 4th meeting of Book Group Two; indeed, our children invaded the book group several times to ask if they could go, and the answer was yes with varying degrees of enthusiasm from parents. I think it's a great thing so far; teenagers, the same ones that we have encouraged to be free-thinking, going to look at ways people are trying to live an alternative and sustainable lifestyle, getting away from their computers and doing these things within walking distance. Even the local police have been supportive of the squatters at both sites, some saying they would bring their families there to have a look later.

Anyway - Book Group Two- Ruth,  I  and others have tried to enforce the one person speaking at a time rule as in we go round the room with each person speaking in turn re: their impressions of the book...this is being met by some resistance from others. We will stand firm. It worked really well this time and it was good being able to hear everybody's views before enthusiastic chaos set in.

Must go, off to face the boiling day ahead; more soon

Our most recent book was Snow by Orhan Pamuk and a very lively discussion 

snowed in properly

Well I didn't get to be snowed in for long in Whitby, but am snowed in at home now. More precisely, it has snowed very heavily here in London and there are no buses. No, I am not going to walk to work today, although I have walked in the snow before, it's much deeper and more treacherous today.

All very sad of course.

Managed to leave the house to walk around my rather picturesque part of town today and took some photos. Very pretty, and very lovely to be at home gazing out at the beautiful winter scene.

Amazingly, although I haven't written much/anything since November, people are still reading this blog. Thankyou.

I can now report that the new book group will be starting this Friday - don't know what we'll read yet but hopefully there'll be a few ideas on Friday.

Happy 2009 everyone, it will be an interesting one, I'm sure.

Whitby in November

In Whitby at this the most beautiful time of year. Cold crisp sunny (mostly) days. Whitby very quiet compared to the summer although there are still a few visitors about. Our favourite place to eat, The Khyber, is closed for the winter. This is a great time to come. Great to not be at work. Still hounded by e-mail by the builders, bickering over the last bits of money I owe them.
This is a great trip. Thursday already though and that means only today and tomorrow left, so we have to plan carefully and make sure we stare at the sea enough.
Yesterday we went to look for Roseberry Topping. I was sure there'd be a bus that would drop us quite near. Well there was, sort of, but then it was a two hour walk and the only bus back to Whitby would only really allow for about an hour walk each way and then a very short lunch at The Fox. The journey there and back was so beautiful though. Steep hills, woods, streams and autumn colours.
More walking about today, before the weather takes a turn for the predicted much worse.

two bad gigs and one good one

What have I been doing for the past month. Reading a lot, cooking in my new kitchen and going to gigs.

The first disappointing gig was the Nico tribute thing at the Festival Hall. John Cale curated it and there were some interesting things going on, but no idea who was who as they came on stage in a rather disorganised fashion. A couple of beautiful, evocative numbers, but mostly mediocre. John Cale had been on the radio the day before saying it would be -I think he used the word difficult - as Nico herself was a difficult person. It wasn't difficult at all - maybe that would have been preferable...mediocre in parts. I wonder what she would have thought? We had a fun evening though as we went with Di and Paul, and had a quick drink in The Hole in The Wall afterwards, before getting the last train home that night.

Disappointing gig number two. was at my old stomping ground, the Half Moon in Putney. Again with Di and this time with Alan and Patricia. The support man was great - sadly I can't remember his name, so that made the gig for me - plus of course being out with friends, but the main act - Jacqui mcShee's Pentangle was disappointing. A few of us had gone to see the original members of Pentangle do a 25th anniversary gig at the Festival Hall in the Summer and it was beautiful. This was different - Jacqui, too self effacing, straining at notes - the band , well they were very good, but it felt like they were playing in their own style and seperately to Jacqui. The band were reminiscent of Weather Report not that that's a bad thing -just didn't work for me, in conjunction with Jacqui's style. Good bits were when Jacqui and the band first came on with the support guy still playing, and they all slotted in to what he was doing as they built their own stuff up - that was perfect. Also some of the second half was good, where Jacqui did a few folk songs I hadn't heard before Can't believe a Guardian journalist who described this set up as 'the English Grateful Dead'  I don't think so.

On to the good gig. Last Saturday Phil and I went with Rebec to the Half Moon again to see John Otway. Hadn't seen him since the 80s, and then in the King's Head, Fulham - another old haunt. This time there was another good build up, a band with Loyd Grossman off the telly. They were good - lively american punk - all band members thoroughly enjoying themselves -Mr Loyd not at all starry, just part of a hard working band. Very good - lucky with support bands at the Half Moon. This time the main act was fantastic - John Otway; witty, energetic and musical the whole evening made me feel full of life. Shame to have to wait 25 mins for the train home though...

Settled in

The Autumn's really begun. My favourite weather. Crisp sunny mornings -  Fresh air in the park in the mornings. Fresh starts. 

A weekend of fun coming up. Lunch with Ali la Peche on FridayParty on Saturday, Jacqui McShee gig at the Half Moon Putney with Phil, Di, Patricia and Alan on Sunday...all good at home, an optimistic time. One violin lesson with Pete Cooper lined up, as far away as November. What will I wear at our party? who will come? will there be enough of everything? Noooo! there's a scottish dancing night at church the same night, how can that happen?

Finished reading Dracula last week - what an excellent, cleverly written book. Am in the mood to write. Have got into dancing again, three times a week at the moment, having no discernable improving effect on my figure. More soon

Back again

Home again. Hoping for a good year this year. The autumm 'term' is my favourite - crisp cool mornings, sunny days and a feeling of optimism. Whitby was great, and although it was hard to leave, and there have been some difficult things to get through since we got back - we are going back there in November! Lots of fun and lots of music before then. A party or two...and then we'll go and see what Whitby's like in the deep autumn.

The kitchen floor saga continues. I have withheld money from the builders until it is sorted out to Phil's and my satisfaction. An independent floor person is coming to assess it tomorrow, so we'll see.

Back to dancing with a vengeance - three times a week last week; feels very good. Next year -Phil and I are going to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary and are going to have a ceilidh...who will we get to play at it? Lots going on. Feel optimistic. Will write more but not all of it on here.

More soon.

Last one from Whitby

Last day today. It's been great - yesterday we went on a boat trip to Staithes, had an hour ashore, and came back. It was a lovely trip, but I was glad to be back in Whitby afterwards. Staithes is very pretty and quaint. The bit we saw was anyway, but it had an eery, museum like quality. There was a butcher's shop with prices marked in shillings and pence, and items weighed by the pound. I wondered where the real every day stuff was, or if people that live there all the year round have to go elsewhere by car for their shopping.

Aah, last day today. Will finish here and pop into Bothams for some gifts to take home, and some fresh bread to have with our using up leftovers lunch. This afternoon, we'll go and find a quiet spot somewhere near the abbey and just gaze about us. Then maybe wander across town to the West cliff and have a coffee in the little place among the beach huts. More wandering, and then to the Khyber for our final meal in Whitby - so hard leave such a special place....returning in November though, so not too hard!