LOLLY

Eitan scores a giant lolly at the the school fair, organised in part by your's truly. On a hot day in the UK (ok, about 85 fehrenhait) the community turns out to support the local institution, participating in auctions, inflate-a-slides, jumpy-castles, bbq and of course candy floss, popcorn and other forms of junk food. The fair is the school's largest money rake, beating out Christmas by a whisker. There is a lovely sense of community as mums and dads sweat out the stalls, while the kids run amok wired by sugar and the heat. The theme this year was 'circus' and while there were no cages nor animials, Zippo's suppled a cadre of clowns and jugglers. All in all, an A+ afternoon.

England vs. Trinidad-Tobago

Christian Wright visits Germany and the World Cup (15/6/06), which began 9 June and matches the 32 qualifying clubs vying for the championship one month later in Berlin. Christian's itinerary includes London to see his England play in a proper setting - a smokey pub filled with maniacal fans drinking, cursing and sweating for the red and white. Fortunately for this afternoon, the boys eek out a 2-nil victory against Trinidad & Tobago, a team they should have beat handily. Still, the Capital erupts in joy; we celebrate at dinner on the Marlybone High Street.

LOLLY II

Madeleine get's in on the action (17/6/06). Unlike Eitan who scarffed his treat on the day, Madeleine savours the experience and lords it over her brother' the rest of the weekend. The sticky gathers dirt, hair, dust... but this fails to pursuade Madeleine to throw the thing out. Sonnet and I try, but the screeches of protest unbearable. The final straw is the trail of blue, yellow and red across the couch, wall and any other exposed space under five feet.

Mary Poppins

Sonnet and Madeleine in front of 123 Lauderdale Mansions (19/10/02). Madeleine up from a nap, and collecting herself before letting loose.

Conked out

The ongoing buggy debate: side-by-side or long and narrow? We choose the aircraft carrier, which is what our stroller feels like fully loaded cruising Maida Vale (19/10/02). Our Sunday walks passes Little Venice, Paddington basin, Primrose Hill and Regent's Park. One fall evening as the sun sets we stumble upon a black congregation singing gospels next to the Paddington Green and the Edgware fly-over; another we discover the house where Nepoleon III lived in Exile (now a re-hab). Nearby is the Grand Union canal connecting London to the North and industrial revolution, and St. Mary's hospital where both kids born.

Jump!

Eitan discovers the sand-trap at the local race track in Maida Vale (5/10/02). For a good hour or more he amuses himself - impressive when one considers that he has been walking for six months. Nb this is where Roger Bannister trained to become the first person to break the four minute mile. For my part, I pound away on the stationary bike or treadmill at the adjacent gym while recovering from various running related injuries.

Homework

Eitan reads a book...

Homework II

Madeleine spells her name (June 2006)

Shopping

I took this after-hours photo of two Mannequins on rue du Faubourg St. Honoree in Paris (9/6/06).

Crayons

The kids hard at work at our local wine restaurant. Outside of the photo - dad with his glass of chianti.

Damien Hirst

This sculpture at the Royal Academy by Damien Hirst, b. 1965, perhaps the best known of YBAs (Young British Artists)(7/6/06). Death is a central theme in his work. He is best known for his Natural History series, in which dead animals (such as a shark, a sheep or a cow) are preserved, sometimes cut-up, in formaldehyde. His iconic work is The Physical Impossibility Of Death In the Mind Of Someone Living, an 18ft tiger shark in formaldehyde in a vitrine.

Summer arrives

A beautiful day in London sees us in Richmond Park for a picnic and some piggy-backing. This weekend otherwise spent watching England vs.Jamaica, known here as the "raggae-ists," in a "friendly" football match before next week's World Cup. England's 6-0 victory spreads hope and elation across the island. Eitan, Madeleine and I have our all-England gear for Paraguay 9 June. Other activities include pool-side romp, bbq and Sonnet's chocolate pudding pie and Steve & Louisa's 10th anniversary party. To work tomorrow for some rest.

Geneva 1984

Switzerland October '05 where I visited rue de l'Ecole-de-Médecine, my high school jr year address chez Tendon (to orient yourself, think Springstein's "Born in the USA", Yvan Lendl, Margaret Thatcher and the good 'ol USSR). To my surprise Yvette greeted me at the doorway. The apartment remains the same, though smaller (Msr. Tendon died several years ago). I'm reminded of my step-sister Joelle, 15 years old and having a torid affair with 24 year-old Theofile David, a strapping 200 meter butterflier ranked top 25 in the world. Or Etienne Dagon who earned Switzerland's first Olympics swimming medal - bronze in the 200m breast stroke in L.A. I watched Dano Halsell set the world record for the 100m short-course free, broken by Matt Biondi. All team-mates on Geneve Natation 1885. I also re-visited College de Candolle whose sciences track compared favorably to my first two years of college - combined. Mostly I was happy to be in Geneva on a nice day, able to use my french, and feeling the distance between that time.

London Fashion Week

This photograph taken on the runway during London's Fashion Week. The catwalks take place in February and September at changing venues such as the Natural History Museum, showcasing upcoming and established designers like Vivianne Westwood here. As curator of contemporary fashion, Sonnet is able to get passes which makes her particularly popular amongst her (female) friends.





New York's Fashion Week takes place twice a year: the fall shows are held the preceding winter (February). The spring shows are held the preceding late summer (September). The event takes place in Bryant Park, which is converted to a temporary arena with tents covering the park's 8 sq. acres. The individual venues - ranging up to 12,000 square feet - come complete with runway, seating for attendees, backstage areas, lighting and sound. Influentials include Oscar de la Renta to Zac Posen and P Diddy. And of course our very own Sonnet.





While these photographs are not technically inspiring, shot from a poor position and with a c****y digital camera, I like the outcome nonetheless. It shows (me anyway) that the subject matter counts for the majority of an image's value, and the steps to get there only get in the way. A rule of thumb seems to be one good result for every 200 shutters, though this final number might be low.

Bank Holiday Weekend

Eitan watches the rain and television (28/5/06). While the long-weekend brings a break from the working life, inevitably so to the rain. Somehow, and without fail, the weather turns on the holiday. One would never know that the Southeast suffers a drought prompting the weather neutral friendly comment: "this is the wettest dry-spell I've ever lived thru."

Tussle

Moments before going to the pool, Eitan and Madeleine have a 'battle' (their expression). The thought was to capture a happy photo together, but I found this animated shot presents more accurately their essence. Eitan and Madeleine play well together, unless bored then they fight. Both use tears to their advantage - Eitan perhaps more so as he likes to play by the rules. Madeleine is not above lying to sway 'the law' in her favor. This weekend, while driving to the coast, I found myself in the timeless and classic move of trying to drive and strike the backseat kids at the same time while shouting 'knock it off.' History repeating itself, or are we simply programmed to act so?

Seaside

Our urban kids seem somewhat befuddled by the idea of the beach. I admit that this photo saddens me when I consider their now distant roots to California. Photo taken at Bournmouth, where we spent our 'bank holiday' weekend (why do the Brits not name the holiday?). It was family style all the way at the Bay Side seafront hotel, pool inclusive. From the beach, we watched the large cumulous clouds roll in (yes, rain), the cliffs of Dover and The Needles, which are chalk stacks at the western most point of the Isle of Wight. It was nice before we had to flee the weather - but not until after a beach-front lunch at the local chippie.

Pretty in Pink

Madeleine on her way to a birthday party (25/7/05). The girls are into dress-up these days, and the princess motif is the resounding favorite (does this change from generation, I wonder?) Madeleine balances her feminity with football, tree climbing and general stubborness. By English standards, she qualifies as a Tom-Boy. For us, she is a well balanced kid.

Our Own Steven Gerrard

On a drizzly Sunday, we visit the common o practice some moves. It is also Sonnet's birthday. The common has a series of 'secret fields'; the main pitch is occupied by a cricket club who fills their time with tea and biscuits and the occassional bowl. Eitan has no time for this. The rest of the afternoon is spent at our favorite local pub-restaurant. Nb Steve Gerrard is an England footballer who plays for Liverpool, and recently scored a remarkabe equaliser in extra time of the 2006 FA Cup final.

Bricks

Madeleine in front of sculpurist Rachel Whiteread's exhibition at the Tate Modern (Feb'06). The museum is in the resurrected Bankside Power Station built in 1947 by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, also the architect of the Battersea Power Station (and the cover of Pink Floyd's 'Animals') and designer of the red telephone box. For the millennium, the Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron remodeled the building at a cost of £134 million. the Turbine Hall is 500 feet long and 100 feet high and has housed works by Bruce Neuman (Raw Materials, 2004), Olafur Eliasson (The Weather Project, 2003) and Anish Kapoor (Marsyas, 2002).