My little i

Untitled

2011-06-07T00:22:00.001+01:00

Test post

Testing testing

2011-05-29T20:58:00.001+01:00

Yet more testing with links to my main blog.

And here is a picture I painted years ago.

OK it's working.

Testing my iPad

2011-05-29T20:37:00.001+01:00

This is a post to test the blogsy platform for posting from my iPad.

I am trying to work out how to format and type and insert photographs too.

Just worked it out.

Banjo like you've not heard before

2011-01-30T04:11:00.002Z

Not often I post a video, but I reckon these guys are fabulous; and the rest of their new album is just as good. Oh, it's the Kruger Brothers by the way and the album is Forever and a Day.

The things I do.

2010-12-02T17:29:00.000Z

It's nativity practice tomorrow - so clearly, a donkey mask is in progress

Just glad he's not a camel.

If you go down to the woods today...

2010-11-28T21:32:00.001Z

Dad will find some fascinating trees and fungi

And Dylan will show his usual level of interest in all things natural.

New paintings

2010-03-26T14:45:00.001Z

Not by me, but by my old painting tutor John Skinner who contacted me the other day.

For more of his paintings, go to his website

La demoiselle qui souhaite preserver son capital

I am so envious.

La jeune fille qui retient son souffle a

So, so envious.

Daddy help...help...help

2010-03-01T17:54:00.002Z

So I rushed upstairs and this is what I found...

Marloes sands before the snow

2010-01-06T21:40:00.004Z

Marloes is not the most popular of beaches - because it is all of ten minute walk from the car. All the better for those who make the effort

Meet Bessie

2010-01-06T21:28:00.006Z

'Shall we fire up Bessie Dad?'

"Later perhaps.'

"Aw - please.'

'Oh, go on then...'

I'd always wanted of these, but it is Dylan's I promise.

It's just that he he needs me to help him work it safely!

Starling roost at Plumstone, Pembrokeshire, Wales

2009-12-29T14:26:00.003Z

Not a very good video - but you'll get the idea.

A small amount of the birds that turned up last night.

Three million starlings

2009-12-28T22:54:00.004Z

Three million starlings roost near my house on a good night - tonight was a very good night. This is the first flock - about one percent of what arrived later. The black dots to the left (and above on the picture below) are hen harriers and buzzards - there was a peregrine too which made a spectacular strike.

Nature in the raw - brilliant!

Who said men are hopeless?

2009-12-23T21:53:00.003Z

Inspired by Preseli Mags I remembered my own recipe for oaty rolls.

Not bad eh. Now I just need some nice cheese

Dylan's got a letter from Santa

2009-12-20T18:58:00.002Z

It arrived in the post with snow and jingles.

Saturday night: Sunday morning

2009-12-13T22:02:00.006Z

I grew up by the sea.

We lived less than half a mile from the beach; our school was on top of the cliffs.

I still love looking at it.

Saturday night:

Sunday morning:

A Level Art

2009-11-22T21:59:00.007Z

I have redicovered these photographs of two paintings I did in my teens.

The one above is the only photo of the piece I submitted for my A-Level art exam. My teacher was Miss Davies, though we used to call her Aunty June - she was hugely encouraging to me, and I don't think I'd have painted much beyond school had she not been so supportive. I wonder what she is doing now?

When I look at the painting today, I can see all sort of flaws, but I suppose it is not bad for a 17 year old using poster paints on cartridge paper.

The picture below I painted for friend who liked jazz - I must have been about 19 when I did this. It is of Art Pepper and Cannonball Aderley and is titled Spontaneous Combustion - I think this is because one of them had an album of that name and it must explain the ridiculous fireballs! It is not a good painting, but it is part of my past.

I can't explain how strange it is to see these again.

Strata Florida

2009-10-29T18:14:00.007Z

I had wanted to go to Strata Florida for some time.

We went on Wednesday after spending the previous night in the mountains above Llanddewi Brefi. It is a fabulous place.

Look carefully at the tiles on the last picture - or click it to enlarge; these tiles are more than 600 years old.

Spencer - the world's fastest engine

2009-10-29T16:18:00.003Z

Or rather, the world's fastest cardboard box engine.

Another morning spent with glue and scissors.

Window(s) painting

2009-10-29T14:13:00.004Z

Window(s) painting isn't quite what it used to be.

Here are Dylan's attempts from last night - with a little help from Dad.

A wet afternoon picture by Dylan

2009-10-26T17:52:00.005Z

It was a wet afternoon, so Dylan did some drawing and we have a new pocket video camera to play with. I especially liked his drawing of a helicopter.

Here's hoping it works...

18 years ago tomorrow

2009-09-13T21:31:00.003+01:00

I was married at the Bryn Mawr Chapel, Betwys y Coed.

My first postcard painting in a long time - took me all of five minutes (hey, it's too late to go buy a card, so I made one instead!)

The things we did in France

2009-09-01T21:33:00.008+01:00

French bread

And (leap) frog's legs - but of course

Mountains, the very best

Trains too

and knights in armour

and don't forget tractors

or picnics in our cool shelters

whilst looking for bugs

and tigers

and tortoises

or just taking it all in.

Vive la France!

Life is slow in the Gwaun

2009-08-08T22:39:00.003+01:00

At least it is for this little one.

Not seen one of these for a while.

The Walrus and the Carpenter

2009-08-08T07:49:00.006+01:00

"The time has come," the Walrus said,
"To talk of many things:
Of shoes--and ships--and sealing-wax--
Of cabbages--and kings--
And why the sea is boiling hot--
And whether pigs have wings."

"But wait a bit," the Oysters cried,
"Before we have our chat;
For some of us are out of breath,
And all of us are fat!"
"No hurry!" said the Carpenter.
They thanked him much for that.

"A loaf of bread," the Walrus said,
"Is what we chiefly need:
Pepper and vinegar besides
Are very good indeed--
Now if you're ready, Oysters dear,
We can begin to feed."

You either love em or hate em.

And I love em

What a lovely day we had

2009-08-07T18:26:00.004+01:00

Despite the rain, he loved it.

And so did I really

These pics were taken at the Gwili Valley railway - a wonderful example of enthusiasm overcoming limited means. And acording to Dylan - loads better than the zoo.

Why I like Pembrokeshire

2009-08-04T22:36:00.002+01:00

There was seal just off shore, watching me taking these photos. I'm not sure who was most surprised.

If only the sun would shine every day.

Messing about in boats

2009-08-04T22:07:00.005+01:00

There has been the occasional break in the clouds this week.

And when the sun shines. is there anything much better than messing around in boats?

We had an accident today

2009-07-30T21:13:00.003+01:00

And typical for us it happened miles and miles from anywhere. To see exactly where, click here.

'Next time I go for a walk in the mountains Daddy, I'm going to stay in the car.'

Under a fiver - # 5 guitar

2009-07-30T20:47:00.003+01:00

The things you can pick up if you ask nicely enough.

This cost Dylan 2p from our neighbour who was going to send it to a car boot sale.

Last night we had to listen to his songs. Mmm...

P.S. We do buy him normal toys as well, it's just he likes these ones the best, and they make me laugh.

Under a fiver - # 4 Tidmouth Sheds

2009-07-30T20:40:00.002+01:00

Dylan's been wanting a Tidmoth sheds for his train set for a while.

I'll do a post on his train set soon, but for the moment, here is a much, much better version than the one available fron Tomy for sixty pounds.

I have to make the turntable tomorrow...

How to steal an extra malteser

2009-07-26T20:54:00.005+01:00

Pure genius.

Under a fiver - #3 workbench

2009-07-26T20:49:00.004+01:00

Another gem from our fabulous local tip. Cost: absolutely zip. Level of fun: unlimited.

So far, my favourite of the output is the Woodentops - all his own invention.

Wired and ready for take off

2009-07-19T19:52:00.000+01:00

Dylan has been sorting the electrics on the plane.

"Dad, it's working - come and see. Come now Daddy, it's working, it's working!'

'Just a minute, I'm coming, I'm coming...'

Another Sunday; another box.

2009-07-19T17:32:00.000+01:00

'Thanks for buying me an aeroplane plane,' Dad.

'But I didn't buy you a plane, Dylan. '

'Come on Dad, you can do it...'

Five minutes later, we've launched Charlton Air. Tickets available from our kitchen table.

Oh the joy of it - and to think I said I that buying an electric cool box was dull.

P.S. Note in background, general wet Sunday chaos, including the much loved 'Dylan TV' (previously an iMac box) which still resolutely refuses to make it the big bin outside.

In his element

2009-07-19T09:37:00.000+01:00

Turns out our neighbours have a hobby they kept quiet.

What a lovely time he had.

Under a fiver - #2 update

2009-07-19T08:32:00.000+01:00

We decided to have pancakes instead - oh, yes, I can cook too.

Under a fiver - #2

2009-07-19T06:52:00.000+01:00

We've been camping this weekend, and despite the hideous weather we've stayed dry.

It helps to have one of those pop up tents and I'm not including that in the price of the fun, but if you don't have one there are some bargains out there for as little as fifteen pounds.

So far the weekend has cost me about a quid for a midnight feast of chocolate buttons and I suppose I'm paying too with a stiff back this morning - oh yes, we do it properly in our house, none of that 'time to go to your real bed now.'

Got to go now - we're lighting up the camp cooker for bacon sandwiches on the patio.

Some pictures from my Austrian trip

2009-07-17T17:43:00.001+01:00

It wasn't all hard work. Though the sunny pictures were all taken on one day!

I can't believe it

2009-07-17T17:09:00.000+01:00

Last year in Neustift we noticed that someone had built an inappropriate Italian style villa - what's more they fenced off part of the hillside and installed solar panels that further spoiled the view. Evidently, the locals were annoyed.

So what fun to see that two tress had fallen in a recent storm. I wonder if there were any axe marks on the trunks?

Stuffed squid in a light olive oil dressing

2009-06-27T15:59:00.000+01:00

It seemed such a nice idea...

It wasn't. It so, so wasn't.

Tiger in my garden

2009-06-27T15:49:00.000+01:00

Too many Frosties this morning...

This one could be part of the under a fiver series too.

Mark

Under a fiver - #1

2009-06-27T15:47:00.000+01:00

The first of an intermittent series on how to entertain cheaply.

I hate those tips that stop you picking up stuff that other people have left there. Thankfully ours isn't like that - and they do good line in recycling useful if slightly shabby items. These drums cost me three quid - they are knackered really, but they make one hell of a noise and Dylan loves them. They live in the garden for now - in a few weeks I'll take them back to the tip and someone else can have them.

Rock on.

Back home...

2009-06-27T10:40:00.000+01:00

...and playing with picassa while sitting in the garden.

Here are some pictures of my house in Wales - I do love it here.

Hey it worked!

Roof nearly finished

2009-06-14T18:56:00.000+01:00

On one side at least

Well done Emyr - what a star our builder is.

As for the other side - this is how they used to do insulation pembrokeshire style!

Dylan's new iMac

2009-06-14T18:51:00.000+01:00

Whatever Dad has, Dylan has to have too.

We've been watching a lot of Dylan TV recently. Excellent stuff!

When I was small my mother wrote a craft for kids book - we were the guinea pigs. I never thought what I learned on those wet Sunday afternoons would come in so handy - but if ever you come to our house, please don't bring a cardboard box.

Roof coming on

2009-06-03T22:14:00.001+01:00

You remember those slates - and the murmerings of 'major work' that I moaned about on my other blog.

Well, it's starting to look worthwhile I think.

I discovered this too

2009-06-02T23:38:00.000+01:00

The estuary at Laugharne, where Dylan Thomas wrote.

Old friends

2009-06-02T23:22:00.001+01:00

Drawings are like old friends. You see them for the first time in years and suddenly their good qualities come flooding back.

About ten years ago I made dozens of figure drawings with my left hand, using cheap shiny paper and a form of hard coal, to see how the marks would come out.

See what you think.

Even Dan was impressed

2009-06-02T23:08:00.001+01:00

Once upon a long time ago...

...I kayaked this, I told him.

The Aberglaslyn gorge - Grade V(e) very dangerous

Short but so sweet, the river is more alpine than British ... peek over the road's retaining wall if you will or gaze hesitantly from Pont Aberglaslyn at the bottom, or inspect brazenly from the catwalk on the left bank, and imagine yourself in there. You will join many others who have looked - and left it for another day. (Terry Story, British White Water.)

I left it to memories - good ones though.

How often do you see this?

2009-05-30T11:24:00.000+01:00

I can't belive it.

Chippenham, England

21°C
Current: Clear
Wind: E at 8 km/h
Humidity: 45%

Sat

21° | 8°

Sun

21° | 10°

Mon

23° | 9°

Tue

23° | 8°

Pembroke, Wales

16°C
Current: Clear
Wind: S at 16 km/h
Humidity: 67%

Sat

20° | 12°

Sun

20° | 13°

Mon

20° | 12°

Tue

20° | 12°

Cadair Idris

2009-05-28T22:49:00.000+01:00

My builder phoned me the other day - just as I reached the summit of here.

Strange thing was, I took the call.

Beach

2009-05-24T23:31:00.001+01:00

I wonder why we always attract so much attention?

Slates and Serendipity

2009-05-22T20:38:00.001+01:00

There is something a bit awry when you are reroofing a cottage in Pembrokeshire and the slates come from Canada.

They couldn't get any from Wales. Or at least not for price that didn't include those little digits that mathematicians use to mean 'a very big number'. I could have some from China they said. Or I could go for the traditional Pembrokeshire look: corrugated sheeting and mastic!

Then the slates arrived and I thought I'd test the camera to check there was no dew on the lens.

Sometimes good things happen unexpectedly.

Back to Wales

2009-05-21T00:31:00.000+01:00

Back to Wales tomorrow.

Can I see my friends, asked Dylan?

Certainly, said Dad.

And can we stay for lots of sleeps, like last time?

Oh yes, said Dad.

All boats have a scullern Dad

2009-05-17T20:49:00.000+01:00

Conversation this morning.

'Look at the picture I've drawed you.'

'Lovely Dylan'

'It's a big boat, just for you... and the sea, and your cabin, and you on the boat and the wheel that's got your fingers on it. '

'And what's this,' I point to large elaphantine thing 'The sail?'

'No silly, there are no sails on this boat - that's the scullern.'

'The scullen?'

'Yes - a scullern, just for you.'

'And what is a...'

'You know, a scullern.'

'Do you mean the anchor?'

'Not an anchor, a scullern!' Looks at me as if I'm an idiot. 'All boats have a scullern Dad.'

'Do they?'

'You're being silly.' He stamps his foot. 'All pirates have a scullern.'

'Do they?'

'Yes, and some of those cross bones.' Stamps foot again.

'Ahh.. a skull and cross bones!'

'I said not the bones Dad, because I wasn't not very cross!'

'Well that's nice Dylan.'

'But I am now, so you're getting the bones as well.' Runs off to find pens.

We had similar incident a while ago when he asked, 'Who's Starker Man?'

Lots of surreal questions followed until,

'You know - like Buzz Lightyear said - come in Starker Man - to invisiby and beyond!'

'Oh, you mean Star Command!'

'Yes, Starker Man. Who is he Dad?'

Hours of fun

2009-05-17T09:00:00.000+01:00

Complete at last - he won't let me do any more.

C'mon Dad, you forgot something

2009-05-16T10:03:00.000+01:00

Poor Ivor the Engine, he's not even finished and yet I woke up this morning to 'C'mon Dad, let's play with Robotty!'

Ah Robotty, now with his third little owner. I suggested a make over the other week; or maybe it was time for him to join the (shh, quietly now) tip run.

There were tears, lots of tears...

To tuck or not

2009-05-16T06:59:00.000+01:00

To tuck or not to tuck, that is the question;
Whether 'tis nobler of the body to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous flapping,
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,
And by tucking, end them...

I'm a tucker at heart.

Pushchair peloton

2009-05-15T23:55:00.000+01:00

From my sketchbook...

(Newgale Beach)

I liked the way they walked in line - perhaps they've been watching the Giro d'Italia like I have this week.

I spy with...

2009-05-15T23:47:00.000+01:00

This dropped out of my bookcase today.

I spy dinosaurs...

Are you sure about that David?

Dylan looks at bugs in a bowl

2009-05-15T18:04:00.000+01:00

I wish I could paint like this. Seriously, I do.

Waste not

2009-05-15T17:45:00.000+01:00

You know how children like the cardboard packaging more than the toys you buy them?

As there isn't any Ivor the Engine merchandise (remember Ivor, Llaniog Station and all that?) Dylan pester-powered me into making him a

homemade version from some old pieces of wood.

After a lot of splinters and swearing, guess what? He likes the off-cuts the best! '

They make a great workshop Dad.'

I was thinking I might shape them up a bit, so they looked more like boards and planks from a proper workshop. But then he'd like the resulting off-cuts even more... and then...

I suppose we all turn to dust in the end.

Ivor in progress