Well it was a quiet New Year with just Margot and me in front of the TV watching Jools Holland's Hootenany. Liked Jessie J and Imelda May but experience tells and Betty Wright and, above all, Ruby Turner were outstanding.
On Tuesday we headed south, staying overnight with Ann and Alan. Next day up to Dulwich Picture Gallery to see the "Tom Thomson and the Group of 7". I was brought up with prints of these on the wall but the real thing is altogether different, incredibly vibrant. And the variety - 120 paintings in all, some sketches done in the wild, but all the famous ones too. We saw a few in Toronto a few years back but the galley was only part open and I don't know if Canadians have been able to see such a comprehensive collection at one time in one space. Lucky us.
My mother worked with Arthur Lismer in Halifax and in fact he offered her a job when he moved back to Toronto, but by then she had met my dad so turned it down - lucky me.
We had met Rosie and Richard at the Gallery and afterwards drove them back to their new home near Faversham. With oast houses down the road it's in typically Kent countryside and with the coast a few miles away they are very happy with the move, but we were on a tight schedule, and spent too much time chatting so didn't get a chance to see any of it. Another longer visit is promised.
We were having lunch with Pat, my last remaining contact from Essex University. Her husband, Andy, who died some years ago was my best mate there and we spent a fun but ultimately futile year learning Portuguese together. Planning to go back to Portugal soon, after 40 years, so we will see if I can remember any of it.
Pat's computer warned us that the M25 Thames crossing was closed due to the high winds so we headed back into the centre past the O2 (Millennium Dome as was) and through Blackwall tunnel. As we had gone to Dulwich through the centre as well, we ended up avoiding the M25 altogether and in fact the traffic was not bad. Also gave us a chance to see the Olympic Park. It amazes me how well it seems to be progressing and we recognized a few of the arena (plural arenae?). We've got tickets for Mountain Biking which is in Essex where they are presumably building a mountain too as I can't recall there being any there last time I looked. Our only ticket on the main site is 830am Round 1 Hockey but at least it will give us chance to take a look at the site once its finished. Not quite carried away with Olympic fever yet but beginning to feel a bit positive. We're going to take the camper to the nearby camp site and cycle in.
Our objective that evening was supper with Jeff and Debbie. A very tasty meal and it was good to see them. Debbie's base is closing down (peace dividend?) so there was talk of moving to the south-west where Jonny works and where Jeffs parents are - just a few miles from Pat and Kate.
Back to Ann and Alan for the night and the following day when we went for a walk in beautiful weather (can this really be January?) along the Grand Union Canal for a tasty pub lunch and then out for evening 'tapas' at the White Lion in Great Missenden. Spoilt for choice now in GM eateries but White lion is my favourite though the music suggests they are looking for a younger clientele than us.
Saturday and on to Malvern to stay with John and Monica - friends from London in 70s, and my best man. Weather still great and we had time to walk along the Malvern Hills, near Roman Camp. It would be sacrilege to visit without walking along the hills. Time for a beer and then an Indian meal in the town. John and Monica are getting ready to go to New Zealand where their daughter and son-in-law are working. Jealous, moi?
Spent Sunday morning showing them how to use Picassa and Blurb ( the one-eyed man in the land of the blind...) and then back North in time to check Jim's house in Wakefield. He is now living with us while looking at houses to rent in York.He has just signed up for the 10k runs this year so dragged me out around the streets twice this week.
I had onlya few days to finish my on-line TEFL course but I managed with hours to spare and now am proud owner of a certificate though not sure if its worth anything as the course is not yet accredited. But it was cheap. The idea was we might go and stay a while in Spain and use this to pay the rent but it needs a bit more thought. Finished just in time to start back at the University tonight. This module is Psychology of Intelligence which looks interesting - mostly the same faces from before but a couple of new ones.
Somehow found time finish Marilynne Robinson's "Home". It took me awhile to work it out but it follows the same characters, place and time as "Gilead" which I read a few months ago. I loved both of them and will go back and read her first one "Housekeeping". There's a Guardian review at
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2008/oct/04/fiction
Matt and Sam and Jim are all here this weekend and tomorrow we go to the Panto of which more next time.
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