Sonnet Lays One On

Richmond Sunset

And Friday again. Another week under the bridge. And why? Maybe as simple as the pooch - a scratch behind Rusty's ears and it all kinda makes sense.

Me: "What are your goals any way?"

Madeleine: "I don't know."

Me: "Well, what do you enjoy doing?"

Madeleine: "I like looking at bugs."

Me: "I get that, but what excites you? What gets you out of bed in the morning?"

Madeleine: "Well, first I get bored. Then I am hungry."

Me: "We don have to have goals but it sure makes life more interesting. Let's have a think about this for a while and come up with some ideas."

Madeleine: "Ok."

Skeptical

I pick up Madeleine from school.

Me: "How was your day?"

Madeleine: "Fine."

Me: "More than one word please."

Madeleine: "Very fine."

Me: "What did you do?"

Madeleine: "We had our first day of school council."

Me: "That's cool."

Madeleine: "I proposed to change the school song, which is really boring, to something new."

Me: "Neat. Like what?"

Madeleine: "I don't know. Just something that is not rock and roll because adults don't like it."

Me: "Good idea."

Madeleine: "So I said Elvis Presley"

Me: "Do you think they are going to go for it?"

Madeleine: "Well, Mrs. X looked at me kind of funny. So probably not."

Me: "Do you know what 'sceptical' means?"

Madeleine: "Dad, I am trying to read. Just leave me alone."

Me: "Fine. Just tell me what it means."

Madeleine: "Dad . ."

Me: "It means 'having doubt.'"

Madeleine: "Ok, Dad, now leave me alone."

Me: "Use it in a sentence."

Madeleine: "I am skeptical that you will ever leave me alone."

Me: "Works."

Life Repeats

1976 - I think. Please note the plaid pants. This puts me about Madeleine's age.

How did that happen ?

Samuel Wanjiru RIP

The world may have lost its greatest marathoner, who you have probably never heard of. Samuel Wanjiru died after a fall from the balcony of his home in Nyahururu, Kenya at 24. Wanjiru the first Kenyan to win a gold in the marathon, which he did in Beijing, in 2:06:32 despite 29C temperatures. Wanjiru also won London (2009, pictured), Chicago (twice) and Fukuoka, Japan. He was the youngest man, at 23, to win four of the world's major marathons and he did it in style : Wanjiru's London time of 2:05:10 suggested that he would one day own the great Haile Gebrselassie's World Record of 2:03:59. Haile 35 when he lined up in Berlin to set the standard, an age, Dear Reader, generally thought to be the peak for long-distance running. In the athletic community, the whisper that Wanjiru might have a legitimate shot at The Holy Grail : sub-2-hours. We shall miss him in London next summer.

IMF WTF

Dominique Strauss-Kahn, until yesterday the head of the IMF which, you know, is bailing out Greece as I write this, charged with sexual assault, forcible confinement, and attempted rape of a hotel maid.

Hair Job

Sonnet's morning routine fascinates me - indeed, I live with a woman. She allows me to post this photo btw.

Word on the playground that my vampire a success : "spooky," and "scary" and even "creepy" are the words that get back to me. Sonnet worries that I may have given the children nightmares. Hope so. Eitan informs me that he was embarrassed but then I overhear him tell Auntie Katie that he "was proud" of my story-telling. A high complement. Eitan's teacher asks me to return for an encore.

Le Count

So today, a vampire. The kids' school doing "story week" so Eitan's teacher has me in the classroom, little does he know. I'm stumped for an idea until last night then,voila, it strikes me : "Twilight" (even if the little monsters not supposed to see the movie since rated 18 - they have, and Madeleine gives me a "thumbs up"). So I open Party Palace costume store to buy a cape and faux fangs (chewing gum holds them in place) and loosely retell Bram Stoker's tale relocating the plot to the bayou. I use the first-person to suggest that I recount a true thing - kidnapping, bloodletting and etc, all on a business trip to Monsieur de la Bloodfern's Louisiana estate. Half way into the story I pull down the drapes, light a candle, pour red-dyed water into a glass (blood), put on a cape and switch to .. Count Dracula , complete with snarling and hissing. Kids enthralled. Eitan mortified. Eitan's teacher on the edge of his seat. It all works and, once again I think, "I am in the wrong profession."

As an encore, I bring back "Kit Kat Cowboy" who checks in on his cow gals and cow pokes to make sure everybody happy and working hard.

Dear Grace : you would be proud.

The Many Faces Of Dad

Me: "Walk the dog."

Madeleine: "My plan is doing some reading."

Me: "I've walked Rusty twice today. Your turn, kiddo."

Madeleine: "I am supposed to do reading for my school homework. If you give me a lolly I will walk Rusty. And no reading."

Me: "Nicely negotiated. How's this: Walk the dog. Then reading. No lolly, followed by bed."

Madeleine: "That's not a deal, Dad!"

Me: "That is the only deal. Now get going."

Madeleine: "And you say negotiating is supposed to be fair."

M & S

Indeed.

The venerable Marks & Spencer draws complaints for its national campaign, pictured. This one of 8,000 ads over the past three years which have prompted complaints because of their effect on children, says the Advertising Standards Authority.

Self Portrait XVII

While on red . . . .

Madeleine has a hard time with the 7AM Sunday swim-practice. Madeleine likes swimming but is not a morning person which makes me think of our other night owl Katie who somehow endured all those early AM workouts at King pool. Poor kid. Anyways, Sonnet notes age-9 a difficult moment for many future Olympians - the sport's demands increase yet the competitions not for another year or so. Many kids drop out at now - all this work and for what?

Me, I love that Madeleine swims and I know her big, powerful, body will make her competitive. Swimming also one of the few sports in the UK that women may pursue without a ceiling. Exhibit A: football. Our gal has been in the pool since age-3 and the structure has snuck up on her. She has never really decided about it and so she must. But it will not be over Sunday practices. This, Dear Reader, part of the package: swimming and morning workouts like bread and jam.

Red Shirts

Madeleine and I share a goof before going to Stephen and Jennifer's party. Today is Jenn's 40th and their newborn, Sabrina, christianed.

Eitan and I run the Richmond Park 5K. One fella gets a tee-shirt for having completed the race 100 times. Eitan tells me confidently: "I want to be in the top-third" and so we give it a go. Unfortunately my body arthritic from the two marathons in '09 so racing no longer a joy - my Achilles let me know who is boss. I'm still able to keep a step or two ahead of the boy until the final end, when he throws in a gear and races another kid who nips him at the gate. Good lesson. Eitan's time: 21 minutes or 6:45 per mile.

aneta

Eitan shows off our tomatoes which seem to be doing OK.

Madeleine and I walk the dog in Richmond Park.

Madeleine: "Can I watch a movie that's an 18?"

Me: "You mean rated 18 for 18 year-olds? No."

Madeleine: "That is so unfair. How about 15?"

Me: "No. It's not meant for you."

Madeleine: "Well, I saw Twilight and that was 15."

Me: "Oh, yeah - where?"

Madeleine: "Alex's. Besides, it wasn't even scary. And there was hardly any blood."

Me: "Great."

Madeleine: "I love horror anyways. Can't I watch an 18?"

Me: "No. Besides it's not me, it's the rule."

Madeleine: "Rules are meant to be broken."

Me:

Madeleine: "11-year olds can watch the 15s and 15-year olds the 18s."

Me: "So?"

Madeleine. "So I can watch them."

Me: "You are going to be an entrepreneur. A great one - you won't accept 'no' for an answer."

Life's A Ball

Sonnet and Oriel at Blythe house, where the gals have been all week photographing ball gowns.

Last night we dine at St John's with Beth, Sonnet's former colleague at William-Sonoma, and her friend Laurie. They are checking out a few retail businesses while having some fun. I went to college with Beth's brother Doug and, on the lip of the Ngora Ngora crater, in an ancient English bar, there he was. Years later Beth and I re-united on Russian Hill, San Francisco, when I first was dating Sonnet. Since then, Beth has moved up the executive ranks of W-S while Doug to Stanford Business School then bought a company.

At St John's I enjoy a pig's spinal chord on toast with gherkin and red onion for an appetizer and Chitterlings and fava beans for my mains, washed down with a '07 Chianti. Of course. Chitterlings are the intestines of a pig that have been prepared as food.

Bonded

Nobody loves Rusty like Madeleine loves Rusty. She made the pooch happen.

Tony and I have lunch - Tony returns this evening to Boston's back-bay where he recently returned following ten years in London. Tony buzzy about software company Datanomic which was sold to Oracle realising a serious return for the company's VCs and Tony, who was on the Board and helped turn the business around when they got into trouble two or three years ago. Bravo!

Purple

This lovely iris from our backyard having survived Rusty.

Juniper Hall

Madeleine returns from Juniper Hall, which reminds me of Chantilly (or maybe The Shining), and jumps into my arms - so much to tell me ! She shares a room with four girls who keep her up all night "crying and stuff" - our Tom Boy has no problems missing home. The children explore their natural surroundings on guided tours, set worbel traps and examine plants. Madeleine tells me : Photo from a scanned post card.

"In a quiet wooded valley in an unspoilt area of the chal North Downs, Juniper Hall, leased from the National Trust, is a superbe country house dating from the 17th century. It is about 1km from Box Hill and 40km from central London."

Soul Sister

Katie and Cornel @ Princeteon -->

Katie at Princeton for the Op-Ed Project - she recently signed Yale along with Stanford - and re-unites with former think-tank colleague Cornel West. Katie first introduced me to Cornel at the Houses of Parliament when Cornel and she presenting their findings on the labour pool's loss of women and minority talent : "The Hidden Brain Drain." Cornel, who I had not met before, called me his "Berkeley Brother" and Sonnet "my Soul Sister."

Madeleine Rocks It

Working Hard

Eitan tired and who can blame him : Friday slumber party (four hours sleep), the five-mile "fun" run, homework, chores and, finally, a morning at .. Ham House. Poor kid. We give him an opt-out for Sunday 7AM swim-practice. He takes it.

Glasvegas

Morgan and I check out Glasvegas at the Forum in Kentish Town. Awesome photograph of Caroline McKay by Jon Behm. Glasvegas does Indie rock and has a weird, intense and violent energy - perhaps because they are from the East End of Glasgow? Or maybe guitarist Rab Allen enormous and dwarfs his instrument. His brother and lead-singer, James, wears a white sleeveless sequined outfit - and jams. Behind them, "GLASVEGAS" , spelled in large bulbs, flashes. Glasvegas got critical acclaim for their debut album Glasvegas , released in 2008, reaching No. 2 in the UK Album Charts. Their debut album also nominated for the Mercury Music Prize in 2009. The NME declared, "If The Libertines defined the start of the decade and Arctic Monkeys its middle, then Glasvegas are almost certainly going to define its end and beyond."

After the concert I get a Gyro at Clapham Junction, taxi ride home and a bowl of strawberry ice cream, Rusty on my lap and television until 3AM (the ends of "Aliens" and "The Matrix"). Pretty much perfect.

Fixing A Head Piece

Sonnet at the V&A's costume storage facility at Blythe House in Olympia, London. Today and this week she is with fashion photographer David Hughes where they set up a make-shift studio to photograph ball gowns for Sonnet's upcoming book and exhibition, both out next year.

Golden Iris

From the gardens at Ham House.

Ham House

My photo facing Ham House northward with the Thames on the opposite side.

From the National Trust brochure :

"A 400-year-old treasure trove waiting to be discovered and one of a series of grand houses and palaces alongside the River Thames. Ham House and Garden is an unusually complete survival of the 17th century that impressed in its day and continues to do so today. Rich in history and atmosphere, Ham is largely the vision of Elizabeth Murray, Countess of Dysart, who was deeply embroiled in the politics of the English Civil War and subsequent restoration of the monarchy. Discover the fine interiors and historic gardens that make Ham an unusual and fascinating place to visit.

The house is said to be haunted by the Duchess of Lauderdale [the Lauderdales owned Ham House and bankrupted themselves with parties and entertaining; the house became dilapidated until revived by the National Trust from 1965] . The house was subject to a year long investigation by the Ghost Club which recorded a number of phenomena that remain 'unexplained'.

Sunday Joy

Since Sunday, the weather fine and Katy here, we motivate to Ham House on the Thames. The Shakespeares mood only worsened when they realise we will have a guided tour of the grounds , 1230PM, sharp. I tell each they must know one thing, and one thing good, which they will tell me afterwards (Madeleine: "Aw, Dad, this is torture.") while Eitan sulks. The old-age pensioner takes it in stride and gives us a lovely overview of the property from gardens to gates, kitchen to ice which, we learn, Queen Victoria had shipped from Norway until she decided America had better ice, then it came from there ("beggars belief" our guide says). Once concluded, Eitan and Madeleine snap-to with Best Behavior, under Sonnet's watchful eye, and all ends up fine.

This morning I look up Ham House's opening times.

Madeleine: "What's that?"

Me: "Ham House."

Madeleine: "What?! We're going there?!"

Me: "Yep."

Madeleine: "Aw, Dad, it's just an old house."

James Will Finish The Iron Man

James awakes 5AM to bike five hours. Here he restocks with a beef burger before running two hours.

Fun Run 2011

The school Fun Run yesterday and Sonnet organises the event - field marshals, aid stations, St John's ambulance and 200 or so runners. Me, I do the BBQ - picture coming. The five-mile course, which may be 5.5 miles as the crow flies, starts at Sheen Gate then through the park and concluding on the school grounds, pictured.

Eitan tells me he aims to win and comes pretty close, taking second behind a 14-year old school alum. He holds back until the final mile then puts in another gear to finish in 38.09.

Madeleine equally fantastic, finishing the race in 54.12 for a two minute improvement on last year.

Rock On

After the ramble I pick up Katy in Oxford and back to London. Katy has been in the UK for four years and is an interdisciplinary scholar and a senior researcher for the UK Energy Research Centre at OxfordU. "Her role is to integrate social and technical dimensions of changing building practices for a lower carbon future" and (from Oxford) :

"Katy has studied the interface between social and technical systems in the built environment since 1990 and is particularly interested in why different social groups decide to promote or reject environmental technologies. Social groups she has studied include: building designers, environmental advocates, and building users. Technical systems she studies include energy-efficiency techniques and green building strategies. Her research encompasses three principal areas:
Social dimensions of energy use;

Social, economic and environmental implications of ecological design; and

The relationship between environmental technology adoption and organizational decision-making.

Katy also leads the Worldwide Status of Energy Standards for Buildings project, an investigation of the worldwide status of energy standards for buildings in more than 80 countries linked to the legal status and building sector coverage of the standards in different countries."

Katy and I once danced ourselves silly Thursdays at "Funk Night", Freshman and Sophomore years @ Brown. We walked the couple hundred meters to campus bar "The Underground" where a dj spun beats and a lot of Prince . The weekends for frat and off-campus parties or the occasional concert somewhere downtown, Providence, but who had the dough? There was also studying but most of the learning elsewhere. At least, for me.

New Peeps

Madeleine's orange spectacles chewed to bits by the dog so our gal gets a new pair and goes for blue, pictured. Her prescription not particularly strong but it makes a difference in the classroom and for reading.

Eitan under a blanket sprawled out on the sofa.

Madeleine: "Eitan has been watching TV all day."

Me:

Madeleine: "Can I watch what I want to watch?"

Me:

Madeleine: "Just say 'yes,' Dad."

Me: "Yes."

Madeleine: "Eitan! Give me the remote. Dad said I can watch whatever I want!"

Br'er Rabbit

My first thought before the field, pictured, is Uncle Remus and the trickster rabbit who succeeds through his smarts rather than strength, sticking two fingers at authority and bending social mores as ever he did wish. No doubt Br'er Rabbit, who originated in Africa, represented Southern slaves who use their wits to overcome circumstances and to exact revenge on the slave-owners. He does so without violence. Though not always successful, Br'er Rabbit a folk hero - even I understood, back in the drive-in, thumb-in-mouth, before the main-feature "Robinson Crusoe," Br'er is a multi-dimensional character : while he may be a hero, his amoral nature and lack of any positive restraint can make him a villain as well. This why the rabbit one for the ages.

“You can't run away from trouble. There ain't no place that far.”

--Uncle Remus

Burford OX18

Since Friday, Dave and I meet in Oxfordshire for a ramble through the Cotswalds.

"Burford's history began in the middle Saxon period with the founding of a village near the site of the modern priory building. This settlement continued in use until just after the Norman conquest when the new town of Burford was built. On the site of the old village a hospital was founded which remained open until the dissolution of the monasteries by Henry VIII. The modern priory building was constructed some 40 years later around 1580. In 1649, the church was used as a prison (during the English Civil War), when the New Model Army Banbury mutineers were held there. Some of the 340 prisoners left carvings and graffiti, which can still be found in the church. Between the 14th century and the 17th century Burford was important for its wool. The Tolsey, midway along Burford's High Street, was once the centre of the local wool trade, and is now a museum. " (Wiki)

Lounge

Britain's April the driest on record and our good fortune continues - I take advantage, sitting in a lounge chair in Green Park (cost: £1.50/ hour) reading the USA Today and drinking coffee. The lunch crowds arrive and soon there is barely a patch for a picnic or nap. Suits and skirts next to loafers, teenagers and late-risers. Double decker red buses and black taxis speed along Piccadilly while the Green Park tube station, the busiest on the network, undergoes an overhaul.

There are more than 2 trillion ways of feeding a lace through the six pairs of eyelets on my trainer. Go figure.

Rusty Gets A Bone

For Posterity

American Apparel - Bin Laden Dead

Returning from the pool this morning I listen to Presca Ahn, a Yale graduate and Fulbright Scholar at the LSE, who, with 16 others, signed a petition now with the US Dept of Education stating sexual harassment at Yale has created an environment non-conducive for learning. She sites October 2010 when several members of a Yale fraternity marched across its 300 year old quadrangle, lined up outside a women's hall of residence, and chanted "no means yes". Her petition takes courage.

Sexual harassment at Yale, Ahn says, handled lightly, sending the message that such behavior tolerable. She further suggests that 20% of college women raped by graduation. But where does the blame end? Without doubt the individual/s involved and perhaps the frats or the university - but look around us : American Apparel, pictured, a publicly traded company which did $530 million sales last year. This ties into popular (and favorite) show "Mad Men" and, without apparent irony, the same Radio 4 Women's Hour program where I hear Ahn concludes with "Losing Your Virginity". Our culture entertained by sexual exploitation until it is not. Eitan and Madeleine absorb the message.

"Those who want to solve our problems at the UN are hypocrites... Those who claim to be Arab leaders and whose countries are UN members are infidels."

--Osama Bin Laden, November 2001, from a videotape obtained by Al-Jazeera.

“For over two decades, Bin Laden has been Al Qaeda’s leader and symbol. The death of Bin Laden marks the most significant achievement to date in our nation’s effort to defeat Al Qaeda."
--President Barack Obama, 1 May, 2011

“This momentous achievement marks a victory for America, for people who seek peace around the world, and for all those who lost loved ones on September 11, 2001. The fight against terror goes on, but tonight America has sent an unmistakable message: No matter how long it takes, justice will be done.”

--President George W Bush, 1 May, 2011

Rusty's Nose

Nathan comments that a dog's sense of smell 150x humans so I investigate : turns out, it is 1000x more sensitive than ours. In fact, a dog has more than 220 million olfactory receptors in its nose, while us humans have about 5 million. So sensitive is a pooch's snout that it can, when trained, detect an early stage tumor in the human body. For his part, Rusty has never missed a dropped kibble nor best mate's ass.

Sierra

Dana and Sierra, who is ten months at yesterday. Cute as a button.

Dana and Nathan are superb parents and we should know, having observed them to three.

Good Day, Sunshine

The weather a surprise - it's sunny! - for the long-week end. We take advantage, preparing a picnic for Primrose Hill with Dana & Co. The dog none to happy about the ride, either, making his displeasure known in the boot. We forget his lead. Usual stuff.

Rusty gets plenty of exercise as, per our w/e usual, Sonnet and I walk him around Richmond Park. Between the Internet and Trailhead Capital, with two kids under two, living in a flat with no office nor prospects, Sonnet and I walked, every morning, to her V&A or about 50 minutes from Maida Vale through Bayswater then Hyde Park and South Ken. This saved me, I think, these moments of intimate respite. Sonnet a strong woman. Afterwards I took my notebook to the British Library or some museum to job-search or idle. That was a time I missed California most but we were not set up to return and so here we are now. The sun is shining and life is good. Do not think for a moment I am not grateful for every day.

Madeleine Starts A Business

Madeleine, without any suggestion from me or anybody, thinks up "Dream Clean", a gardening service, pictured. She sets out to canvas the neighborhood so I join to make sure everything Ok; her pitch perfect : "Hello, I am Madeleine. Me and my friend, Billy, have started a new business, 'Dream Clean.' We rake all the leaves, pull weeds, sweep, clip and tidy up. It is six pounds." Within an hour she has 2 and half customers and I throw in our house so she adds up the maths: "that's £21, Dad!" Eitan sniffs an opportunity and asks to join the business but Madeleine demures - as she should. Her idea, her effort. Why share ?

This morning Madeleine and I march down the block to No 22 with two rakes, a broom, some clippers, one saw and a bunch of green refuse bags. I am quality control. Mr X's front yard requires a half-day's work - more than the business plan anticipated - but we have a good time hacking through bushes and pulling weeds. By afternoon we are nearly done so Madeleine asks for the final check and gets a "thumbs up". I walk out-of-sight so she and her customer can complete their business. Madeleine returns with 15 quid - a fortune. She remains poker faced until 20 yards from the house then lets out a giant "Whoopie!" The kid is in business.

'Murderers's End' Continues . . .

Detective Bob started to pack his bag! He left on Friday, he had said goodbye to his wife and his children then set out [Dad's note : Madeleine decided that Detective Bob's wife being murdered too gruesome]. His crew of detectives were waiting for him by the office.

Bob's friend, Peter, was a well known detective. He had seen many crimes and knew what to do. Peter would tell Bob stories of what he had done. Not all of them were nice, but Bob had gotten used to them.

Bob stopped and gasped. Blood, everywhere ..... and a huge lake. "What can we do?" trembled Bob.

"Never fear Peter is here!" cried Peter. "I can call my good old friend, Tumnes, he is sure to bring us a boat!" cried Peter.

Ten minutes later. "Ahhhh, here he comes now with a nice big boat." said Peter. "See, you can always count on MY friends can't you?"

"Yes, yes, now let's get on board this ship!" shouted Bob.

"All aboard!" yelled Bob and they began.

The sea was very, very, very, cold. One day Alex screamed and pointed out the biggest monster. It was twice the size of the ship! Alex did a stupid thing of diving in the water. Unfortunately he got eaten.

Bob, expecting to hear Peter cry "Do not fear Peter is hear" but instead he heard a splash and a scream. Peter had been eaten too!

"I know what to do!" yelled Max.

"Get the meat of four cows and three pigs and one horse and put them in the cannon and fire out as far as you can he will follow it!" cried Max.

Two minutes later, "Have you go the meat?" asked Max.

"Yes," said Tom.

"Good, now fire!!!" roared Max.

"It worked, the beast is gone!" cried Bob.

"Land ho!" yelled Tom.

"Max you are a hero!!!" Tom, Bob and everyone shouted.

The story continues.

It's Official

Kate and William take their vows - the first Royal Kiss, pictured (Eitan tells me they kiss twice). The Queen, being The Queen, confers the ancient title of Duke of Cambridge on her Grandson knowing full well that his future is her future and the future of the monarchy. In a flash they are relevant again : this is one heck of a Fairy Tell that us commoners, whoever we are and wherever we may be, can celebrate in full. Not so in '81 BTW in that pre-arranged and gloriously choreographed affair. The British do pomp and circumstance like nobody's business and today The Firm is "on".

Sonnet watches the Big Show and breathlessly notes the dress : Alexander McQueen ! The choice seems unusual since McQueen committed suicide last year but, Sonnet tells me, the McQueen brand important for British fashion : celebrity, creative and avant guard. This is a global niche filled by British design shops - Kate agrees. Of greater importance - she is stunning, as is her sister, Pippa, whose swishing derriere watched by 2 billion people. These gals have been on some kind of training diet, no doubt.

The kids, for their part, watch like they watch any television. Madeleine becomes bored and chases Rusty in the backyard. Eitan considers certain peculiarities like what happens to the horse manure on The Mall leading to the castle? Why are there so many Americans ? Why would anybody want to marry a girl anyway ?

And Great Britain : the world may be coming to a standstill but the country has reason to celebrate its Royals and itself. The banks are closed, bunting everywhere and block-parties fill the streets with cucumber sandwiches and joy; and, yes, a youthful Prince and Princes : the future as ever before us.

Sonnet wonders if the Queen sings "God Save The Queen" and, moments later, we see that she doesn't.

Olympic Tx

Mo Farah, pictured (AP photo), a Somali-born British athlete, is a great prospect for London 2012. Mo holds the British road record for 10,000 metres, the British indoor record in the 3000 metres, the British track record for 5000 metres and the European indoor record for 5000 metres. On 27 July 2010 Farah won Britain's first-ever men's European gold medal at 10,000 m in a time of 28 minutes 24.99 seconds. He followed this with a gold in the 5000 m, becoming the 5th athlete to complete the long-distance double at the championships and the first British man to do so. A bad ass.

Tickets for the 2012 summer Olympics closed on 27 April - there were > 20 million applications for 6.6 million seats, making it the most sough-after event in UK history. Wowza. At least half the sessions sold out and the opening ceremony is ten times oversubscribed. 95% of the applications had come from the UK. In all, 1.8 million people participated who, on average, sought 11 tickets from £20 to £2,012 each.

The cost of the Olympics, which is now somewhere over £10 billion and up from £2.5 b suggested to the Olympics Committee, passed on to us via tickets and taxes since the British Government picking up the full tab. Of course the games to regenerate East London - they better - and improve our transportation and underground networks - we hope. I have visited the Olympic grounds at Athens which are depressing : unused, unloved. And who can forget Montreal in '76 which the city still paying for?

Me, I love that the Olympics are on the door step. Sure, it is expensive and even irresponsible how much money I may pay for tickets but, hey, this is something special. Go with the flow, I say.

Arcon Payloader

My and Madeleine's rocket nearly complete, pictured, requiring only black fin paint and the decals. Then blast off, baby. I have yet to investigate if one is actually allowed to launch, you know, a missile in Richmond Park given the flight path to Heathrow follows the nearby Thames. I do, however, note a park-posting that propeller-powered model airplanes permitted yet not meant above 40 feet. My D12-7 Estes Model Rocket Motors promise 2,500 feet of lift which is, like, a multiple on London's tallest building. I can understand a worry.

Madeleine: "Mom, when I grow up, I want to live in California. If I have kids, I want to raise them there."

Sonnet: "That's great. You've got an American passport. You can do that."

Madeleine: "The problem with that is I would be far away from you."

Sonnet: "Well maybe by that time I will be living in California too. Oh, but maybe you wouldn't want me living that close to you."

Madeleine: "Don't worry, Mom. By then I will be over the teen-age years. It will be fine."

Sonnet:

Madeleine: "Can I have some ice cream?"

Me: "No."

Madeleine: "Today is opposite day. Wednesday is always opposite day. So when you say 'no,' it really means 'yes' and I am gong to have some ice cream."

[Madeleine opens the refridgerator.]

Me: "Go ahead, have some. There won't be any consequences. I assure you."

Beef Valley

Tweed Valley, a long, deep valley in Scotland sometimes called "Devil's Beeftub" or even "Devil's Beef Valley."

Me: "What did you learn in school?"

Madeleine: "We didn't actually do any real learning today."

Me: "Oh, really? What did you do?"

Madeleine: "We cooked."

Me:

Madeleine: "And we are studying everything there is to know about Scotland."

Me: "Cool, now we're talking. Where is Scotland?"

Madeleine: "I don't know. They didn't teach that yet."

Me:

Madeleine: "We learned about Devil's Beef Valley."

Me: "What's that?"

Madeleine: "It is where murderers hid beef. Stolen cows. I mean it is where murderers hid stolen cows."

Me: "You're kidding."

Madeleine: "Look it up on Google."

[Dad's note: I googled "Devil's Beef Valley" and, indeed, there is a "Devil's Beeftub" which, Travels In Scotland helpfully informs us, draws its name "as a popular (and safe) place to graze stolen cattle."]