Friday 31 July 2009

Logan gets a haircut

Before...




...and after!


Wednesday 29 July 2009

Name that giant caterpillar


Answers on a postcard to the usual address.

Name that media pub





Monday 27 July 2009

Homeward bound



With Gran and Grandad at Durham station, looking for choo choos.

Friday 24 July 2009

Mmm ice cream



Went for lunch at Valentino's, the Italian in Lanchester, with Michelle and little Caitlin (who was an absolute star and let Mum finish her meal before she wanted feeding).

It was great, huge portions and really cheap (£6.95 for three courses at lunchtime - I know I'm used to London prices but that's cheap, right?). Logan had a tasty meal of potato skins, parma ham and melon (all with ketchup...), but the ice cream was the biggest hit.

Wednesday 22 July 2009

Bedtime story with Grandad


Logan has a new Logan-sized chair at my folks' house in Durham, where we're staying til Sunday while Mark's in India. One of the things Ikea does right! And he's reading my Miffy books which are complete classics.

The genius of Walker Evans



I did a module on American art at uni and I remember being fascinated by the photos Walker Evans took of people living in the dust bowl during the depression, as part of the government's Farm Security Administration and his work Let Us Now Praise Famous Men (buy it here).

I bought a book on him from the Tate Modern months ago but just got around to reading it, and his work was about so much more than those well-known images - he took brilliant street photos, including a series on the underground with a hidden camera, and found hidden meaning in graffiti, signs and all sorts of everyday objects (the one above was taken at Coney Island). Something to aspire to! I wish I could be that good.

A book out this month takes in Henri Cartier-Bresson's work too, another personal hero. Straight to the top of my Christmas list.

Logan popped in to see me at work today


That slightly smug looking woman in the canteen beaming as her child did Something Adorable? Today that was me. Sorry.

Bizarrest news story this year

Mexican midget wrestlers given overdose of eye drops in a botched robbery, anyone?

Monday 20 July 2009

On the heath


Hit the heath with Richard An and the gang on Saturday, surely a must for any visiting American?

The Children's Traffic Club


Not as nuts as it looks, honestly. It's free for all 3- and 4-year-olds in London and teaches them how to cross the road safely. A bit like Tufty but with balloons instead of squirrels.

Logan checks out the Holly Bush


He's looking underwhelmed, to be honest!

Tuesday 14 July 2009

News marketing doesn't get much more cynical than this


You'd think Jonathan Ross had thrown himself under a train or something, instead of which an 85-year-old man and his wife, both ill and nearing the end of their lives, chose a dignified exit. Anything to sell papers though, right?

Monday 13 July 2009

Monday 6 July 2009

Cutest cat ever


Eliot is my new favourite thing.

Eastbourne sunshine


Had a fab weekend with Christine and Paul, full of tasty food, ice cream and copious red wine. If only there was a commuter train from Eastbourne, we'd be round theirs every weekend for breakfast in the garden!

Friday 3 July 2009

Daddy or chips?



Can't beat a bit of ketchup.


Thursday 2 July 2009

We are the champions


Won the Lucky Voice music quiz tonight, hurrah! Only 3 points in it but Linda's slightly scary recall for dodgy '90s tracks won the day. Bring on the karaoke!