The Last Blog of the Old Year

Sadie with the tv remote control.

Memorials

They Had No Choice, it says on the Animals in War Memorial in Park Lane. Not that many of the fighting men had very much choice, either. Mr Cooper may have had more choice than most, and he made it from lieutenant to captain and lived to the age of 20. The Rush of Green is the last sculpture by Epstein and stands outside the Household Cavalry's barracks on Carriage Drive. It rushes from the fashionable shops and houses of Knightsbridge toward the green space of Hyde Park.

A Day in the Life

I was imitating Ann with this light misty pic in Kensington Park this morning, a slow-speed pan on the 'Snow Storm' in Hyde Park, and an evening view of the Bayswater Road.

Cemetery and Lights

Today we visited Ian and Tessa in Highgate and went to the cemetery. Then we took the Tube back to the West End, to Oxford Street in the sales and lights.

Kensington Things

Anish Kapoor's installation in Kensington Park, cars in the Science Museum, German chip shop in Hyde Park, and a skater outside the Natural History Museum.

If it's Hyde Park, it must be London

A German-themed food fest in Hyde Park. No snow in central London, but the Serpentine was frozen

Christmas Day

Sadie had so many prezzies we all had a turn at opening them.

Sadie's Christmas Outfit

Midge all dressed up for a cold Christmas.

The Wonder of Christmas

Sadie is fascinated by the decorations on the tree.

Madingley Trees

Fresh snow overnight for Cambridgeshire.

Albert's House

Christmas would not be Christmas in Toft without Albert's house being lit up.

Madingley Hall in the Snow

Two images from the grounds of Madingley Hall this afternoon.

Serious Sadie

Sadie at seven months is no longer a baby, but a rather serious, watchful infant interested in gadgets and wary of strangers. She still has a lovely smile.

Books

A volume of the Manchester Evening News from 1956 decorating a table at the Varsity.

Reed Bunting

A very smart little bunting at Wicken Fen on Saturday.

Water Rail

We had not seen a water rail for nearly twenty years, never mind photographed one.

Exhibition Annie, No. 2

Of course, she knew that I was trying to take an 'art' photo ...

The Beautiful Light

Jane Goodall discusses her book of the title above with another artist at the Varsity Hotel.

Gemma the Guitarist

Gemma was playing classical guitar pieces at the exhibition viewing.

85mm at f/2.2, ISO 3200.

Exhibition Annie

Ann at the Varsity Hotel in Cambridge this evening where a private view took place of her work and that of three other artists. (First outing for my new 50mm f/1.4, a replacement for the previous lens, which had developed a fault.)

Winter Wonderland

A Toft meadow in the frost.

Eating Time

The locust clock at the corner of King's Parade and Bene't Street in Cambridge. While the pendulum swings below, the insect moves the main disc, while blue lights indicate the time (ten to eight). 1/6th second exposure.

Brrrr!

Snow up to the eaves, wolfpacks down from Scotland, living on cold baked beans (us, not the wolves) so Sadie and her granny wrap up nice and warm and listen to nursery rhymes on iTunes.

Measure for Measure

Continuing the Shakespeare theme.

Kookaburra

Shakespeare walks into a pub. The landlord says, "You're barred!"

Ha ha de ha ha!

Much Ado about Nothing.

"Mum, what's so great about primates?"

"They have opposable thumbs, Rhinaldo."

Call themselves Primates!

It wasn't Caesar who said, "Friends, Rodents, etc.", it was Mark Anthony, cos Caesar had ceased to be, he was an ex-emperor! They know nothing, these lemurs!

Friends, Rodents, Countrymen, lem' ur ears!

" E finks e's Julius Caesar."

Grey Wolf

One of the four wolves at the Cotswold Wild Life Park. They had a fairly small enclosure for such long-loping animals.

OMG GDF EOS SLR NBG !!

Foot and Mouse

In accordance with the government's plan, six month-old babies have to have work experience. You're 'aving a larf, in'cher?

Edith's Sense of Wonder

Edith was laid to rest today. Tributes spoke of her sense of wonder at the natural world. Here, last April, she was fascinated by Fin's little hand.

Beach Hut Dentistry

How to remove the rotten ones.