Wednesday, July 26, 2006

Thoughts from Abroad 2


Reserved!
Originally uploaded by Navas.
Having had a recent encounter with the photographer, Martin Parr, who took a photograph of our little group at my son's graduation in June, I am now on the lookout for Parr-esque imagery. This morning I spotted these deckchairs covered with beach towels outside a shop here in Germany. Brits at least, should understand the reference.

Thoughts from Abroad 1

I was searched at security control when my hairclip set off the alarm and my camera bag was opened, emptied, swabbed and the highly suspicious battery charger taken off for closer inspection. A few moments later I was given the all-clear and made my way to a bottle of water, a glass of wine and an antipasto sandwich. The flight was uneventful, but I was taken aback by the heat at Stuttgart. 27C at 11pm!

Sunday, July 23, 2006

normal

Today I felt recovered. Yesterday was a nothing day. I did nothing, feeling so exhausted I could barely lift myself off the sofa. In the afternoon I dozed. But today my energy returned and I have almost finished packing. The Grand Tour this year takes us down into Spain for a few days, back up into France, first to Arles, then Avignon and Aix En Provence getting back to England at the end of August. Tuesday sees me leaving for Germany, where I can chill out for a week (can you really chill in such hot weather?) while J finishes his term.
I'm reading the last few pages of a Richard Zimler book at the moment, Guardian of the Dawn. I'll finish that on the plane and then start on Hunting Midnight. A couple of years ago I read The Last Kabbalist of Lisbon and find that I lose myself easily in his words. The descriptions are so vivid you find yourself transported in time to the place he takes his reader to in his books. An impressive talent.
One of these days I'm going to re-read the Dark Materials trilogy, but other books I want to read keep getting in the way! Will I ever catch up with myself?

Saturday, July 22, 2006

Saturday

I'm officially on holiday but my body still hasn't recognised the fact. It still thinks it's a normal Saturday! So what can I do to make it feel like a holiday? I'm flying off on Tuesday, so maybe I should start packing :-)

Thursday, July 20, 2006

fungus


fungus
Originally uploaded by Navas.
Have just discovered that Flickr can link me directly to my blog, so this is a bit of a test. This is a photo I took last Saturday in Hinchingbrook Park. It was a bright sunny day and I adored the dappled shade under the tress. This fungus was growing out of the side of a very dead and decaying tree.

Wednesday, July 19, 2006

Some like it hot

So today was the hottest July day here since records began. The tarmac on the roads is melting and the TV weather forecasters were announcing temperatures in fahrenheit rather than celsius. Fahrenheit always sounds much more impressive... personally I find it confusing and annoying these days as I've got very used to celsius.
The best place to be this evening was my air-conditioned Pilates class. Cool and calming :-)

Tuesday, July 18, 2006

Building

So what are the chances of builders getting a job finished on the day they say they are? We're having a lot done at school over the holidays to join the infants and junior schools together. A link corridor is being built, three classrooms are affected by the work, the Head's and admin offices are moving, partitions will be put up and two former classrooms are being converted into a large staffroom with workrooms. It's all supposed to be finished on Friday 1st September. They start next Monday.

Monday, July 17, 2006

Last week of term

So it's Monday and a very hot one. Today we've been moving furniture and boxes of stuff into storage so that the builders can work in our classrooms over the summer. It's been dusty, sticky work and I'll be glad when the week's over.
Pub quiz tonight. I don't think we stand a chance as it's been many a long year since I've been to one and I don't think my team-mates have either. Hey ho, it'll be fun anyway.

Sunday, July 16, 2006

first post

Not quite sure what I'm doing here, except that I'm putting off doing some work and I sort of drifted into it. More sometime soon, I expect.