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July 2004

BBQ

it’s been a day of fun today. we went to esther’s school’s summer fayre this afternoon and this evening we went to a BBQ at our friends’ house in the next village
in classic british fashion it was too cold to stand outside (we did try for 30 mins before admitting defeat) and eventually the only person outside was Steve, our host, who was doing the cooking. a most excellent evening.
tony babysitted this evening and was able to use the wifi successfully thanks to this morning’s fiddling. we may have to adjust the hourly babysitting rate to take account of the added Internet access facilties available.
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tony baby’s new hat

kezia has three babies. tiny baby, mummy baby and daddy baby. mummy baby used to be known as baby poo for those who are keeping track. if you haven’t been keeping track then follow the baby poo story back through time.
here is tiny baby with a drink on its head. kezia thought it was really funny so we had to take a photo.
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balloons

esther and i spent ages taking pictures of balloons this morning. i think this is one of her pictures.
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tarnished

it’s time to return my trophy ready for this year’s competition. but first it needed to be polished.
polishing metal is very satisfying (especially if you get your children to do it)
before:
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during:
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after:
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tony wifi

here is tony trying out wifi things in our house.
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street person

this girl seems very pleased with herself. very mysterious.
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hospitality

on the way back to the station last night there were some incredible sudden rain showers. i sheltered under this shop canopy.
As if by magic, the shop keeper appeared and invited me to shelter in his shop. it was a really nice tailors shop and the owner was a very nice chap. it was obviously i was’t going to buy anything (my trousers are beyond repair) so it was simply a matter of kindness !
hoorah for such things. (if i remember what his shop is called i’ll let you know)
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update: the shop is Nicola Donati. i took a photo of the shop on a dry morning here

spy ‘R’ us

these shops are just fantastic. just like stingy nettles and dock leaves, they are next to each other and have adapted to deal with competition nicely.
i especially liked the suspicious shop keeper who popped out in front of the shop for a cigarette. he had slicked back balding hair and dark glasses.
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it’s looking at me

i went for a post-meeting meeting this afternoon and as i left the establishment i saw this bollard blocking the way. it was slightly disconcerting.
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no road ramp

i love the word ramp. it’s a good ‘un and no mistake.
i think more roads should be replaced by ramps. life would become more dimensional with cars flying overhead Dukes of Hazard stylee.
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“CLEANING ON PREMISES”

this is my favourite dry cleaners. it’s appeared many times before.
but today i noticed this rather subtle sign which is quite amusing. click and read to enjoy it to the max.
they’ve also set up a little paper chase round the outside of their building so you can find the door. i appear in this photo. can you see me ?

click for biggerity

reverse is worse ?

they’ve used the old ‘reverse colour’ trick on the arrow. works quite well i think.
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cat in a window

i often see this cat in this doorway, but usually there is a bloke sitting at a table behind the window so i don’t take a photo ! but today he wasn’t there (as you can (or can’t) see)
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a pile of dirt

is this a bollard grave yard ? it’s just a pile of dirt, but you never know. burial in the road would be a bit like burial at sea from a bollards perspective. It would be a very dignified exit.
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update here

aluminium meets iron

lots of interconnected aluminium sticks leaning against iron railings. more wannabes i recon
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boots

i’m working from home today (8am start instead of 4am as i’ve got a stinking cold and feel like poo), so i was delighted when john sent me these photos of boots in the street outside my office.
it looks like he took these photos from my desk.
looking at the photo, i wonder if it’s a setup by that bollard on the top left hand corner. he looks ready to pounce if anyone approaches them.
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life floats away

on tube strike days people try all sorts of ways of getting to work. here someone has tried using a life bouy ring thing.
usually these rings are kept locked in little cupboards and only come out in emergencies, but this one was out and about.
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