Andy Smith Olympic Illustration

Have you been into a Waitrose this week?

If not, hot foot it. Do a Usain Bolt impression and make haste.

And pick up the Waitrose Weekend free paper (before Thursday when they replace it with the next edition).

Because on the cover you will find a fantastic illustration created by Andy Smith. It represents a city scape of London incorporating all the countries competing in the Olympic games, even Palau.

Pure genius.

365Project Week 30

30 is a significant age I think.
I remember working out when I was at primary school, what year it would be when I turned  30.
I did a similar calculation when I started my 365project. What month will it be when I hit week 30?
July.
Or more importantly first week of the school summer holidays.

I had visions of this week's photos showing all the adventures we had got up to, the action packed days we had filled.

Instead, I present you a block of ice, a blue tongue, a scooter, a shadow, some children (mine, 2 of) sat in the shade, a water fight and a spectacularly ugly fly. Not quite what I had in mind.

We may not have crammed every day full of special memories but we have had fun (when we remember to), just enjoying the weather while it lasts and relaxing.

Maybe a more eventful week next week.


If you would like to see these photos in more detail, please head over to my 365project where you can see them all in their glory.

Joining in with The Boy and Me for the 365 Project

Silent Sunday

Our Olympic Ceremony

photo credit Daily Mail

I was prepared to be disappointed. I was prepared for the kids to say "Can we watch something else now?". I was prepared to argue with the kids about what time they could stay up till. I was prepared to be confused about what was supposed to be happening.

I was not prepared for the fantastic feast of cultural and artistic delight that was the Olympics Opening Ceremony.

I was also ill prepared for the deluge of questions fired at me by the Big One every 15 seconds.

Where is the running track?
Are they playing cricket on the Olympics?
Why are they wearing tall hats?
Why are their faces dirty?
What are those chimneys for?
What are those ladies doing with those placards?
What is a suffragette?
What does NHS stand for?
Who are those scary people?
Who is Mary Poppins?
Can I read Harry Potter?
What is this music?
What is punk?
What are those messages popping up on the screen?
Why is there a smiley face?
What does CND mean?
Who will carry Great Britain's flag?
Where is Palau?
Is that the real Olympic torch?
How many are there?
Who are those teenagers carrying the torch?


He was completely glued to the screen.
I was glued to wikipedia.

I hope it is something he will remember for the rest of his life.
The other two nodded off and were carried to bed.

What a night of pure Britishness and brilliance. The over tired grumps are worth it today.

Saturday is Caption Day

I have no words.
I am hoping that you will supply some in the form of a witty caption.

And then pop over to Mammasaurus for more wit and wonder.

You know it is the school summer holidays when...

• Your children suddenly wake earlier than they have done in the last 6 months rendering any hope of a lie-in null and void.
• Gin consumption increases. Substantially.
• As does chocolate consumption.
• The fridge is permanently empty...
• ... as is the fuel tank of the car from all the ferrying to and from friends...
• ... and so is your bank account.
• It rains when you plan a day out to the beach.
• It's 30 degrees when you plan a trip to the soft play center.
• Your previously happy-to-play-together children, refuse to play happily together.
• You let the children fight and don't intervene believing that this is an essential life skill, and you can't be arsed.
• You buy craft supplies in bulk...
• ... and borrow craft books from the library.
• Your recycling bin is full of your kids craft creations.
• You know exactly how many days it is till they are back at school.
• You have watched all the DVDs in the house 3 times over and it isn't even lunch time yet.
• You make enquiries for meals on wheels.
• You are actively looking for an Au Pair.
• You are actively looking for full time employment.
• The kids complain that they don't want to go to the park AGAIN.
• The ducks erect a sign politely requesting no more bread.
• Your facebook timeline is full of families lying about having fun...
• ... and pictures of their kids craft creations and baking acheivements.
• You have looked at your watch 15 times and it still only 9.30am.
• All your children get ill, staggered throughout the summer break.
• There is less traffic on the roads but you have nowhere to get to.
• Price of ice cream goes up.
• The old school shoes fit right up till the day before returning to school.
• Back to school stuff is on sale but when you remember, it will be sold out of any size you need.

I have faith that as the summer progresses there may be more examples to be added to this list. For this reason, this blog post will have the subtitle Part 1.

What have I missed? And can I plagiarise your ideas for Part 2?

Street Photography / People Watching

I love people watching. It is one of THE best pastimes, especially in new places where you don't know anyone (so you don't get caught out!).

I try to work out what the relationships are between people at tables in restaurants; a married man and his mistress who is about to give him an ultimatum; a mother and her two grown up children who have brought her out for a birthday treat but are broke so hope she will offer to pick up the bill; best friends from school but haven't seen each other for 5 years and now have nothing in common; a couple who have been tweeting and have met for the first time in real life only to discover the artistic licence of their avatars. That sort of thing.

Irritatingly, with small children in tow, I have very few opportunities to indulge in my favorite hobby so for this weeks prompt for The Gallery, I instead hit the church fair. Apparently there is plenty of gossip and people watching to be had in Church too but I wasn't privy to this, it being a Saturday and all.

However, in my head, that guy standing on the right with his back to us biting his nails, is desperately hoping the other guy in the dodgy T-shirt, isn't going to pick up the copy of Riders by Jilly Cooper, because he really wants it himself, but couldn't possibly pick it up with anyone else watching. The lady on the left is keeping a close eye on him, and is ready to upsell him a complete set of Readers Digest abridged novels circa 1979.

I walked away with a Jasper Fforde novel for 30p. The kids couldn't be swayed by Peepo Baby or Little May.

See what fun you can have spying with street photography.

Go and check out the other entries in the weeks Gallery.