Period Us
November 23rd, 2008
Had a bit of fun this weekend at Beningborough Hall in Yorkshire where they have some virtual portrait software. Here are three lovely 18th century renderings of us.
If you go down to Willow Farm …
September 2nd, 2008
As the Genesis song goes … on Willow Farm one should look out for butterflies, flutterbyes and gutterflies. Well, we didn’t see any of them but we did see 100’s (literally) of guinea pigs, lots of hungry sheep, two salivating reindeer, two cheeky ferrets, grumpy goats, recumbent cows and a maize maze. All this excitement is to be found at Willow Farm Village near London Colney. We went on the late August bank holiday and it was busy but not unbearable. There were duck and dog displays, dog agility and sheep racing … fun for all the family!
Finger tricks and yoghurt
August 16th, 2008Sylvia is always making us giggle. Just now she managed to get her fingers into a funny tangle and I got a bit on video. Also, some footage of yoghurt eating, always funny how she opens her mouth so wide and enthusiastically! Can someone tell me why she can say ‘yo-yo’ but not ‘yoghurt’?
Just in case the video thing didn’t work try this URL at YouTube instead
Walkin’ the dog
August 11th, 2008
Having re-discovered my camera (I’d hidden it before going on holiday and then couldn’t find it again for ages) we went out for a little walk in the neighbourhood yesterday, Sylvia with her walk-along doggy.
Got some nice shots around the streets of Bloomsbury and in the park, where we go most weekends we are in London. Sylvia was looking very grown-up in her head-scarf. Later we went to Saskia’s 2nd birthday party and then today to the Psycho Buildings at the Hayward then up to the O2 Arena by boat. A lovely London weekend.
Summer is here!
July 1st, 2008
So, the ad hoc blogging is more ad hoc than even I imagined. Anyway, the Hughes/Quinsee household is only days away from a much-needed break in the US. We’ll spend a day or 2 in Connecticut for 4th July and then head off to Block Island with Paul, Deb and Isobel.
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Last report from Bangkok
May 16th, 2008Day 8/9 - 14-15th May - Bangkok, Thailand
It is now almost 2 weeks since cyclone Nargis ravaged Myanmar. The initial flurry of general situation maps and imagery showing flood waters has now subsided and more detailed analyses are already being carried out with the aid of before-after high resolution satellite imagery.
e.g. http://unosat.web.cern.ch/unosat/asp/prod_free.asp?id=66
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Maps is spaM backwards
May 16th, 2008Day 7 - 14th May - Bangkok, Thailand
The days are starting to merge into one. We got a cab to the UN as usual accompanied by Raji and Javit. Our cabbie did not know the way and so Raji directed using her in-built GPS (wish I had one of them). Started at 8 and got down to business getting the W3 mapping operational. By lunchtime we had produced some maps which were sent to Myanmar for a high-level meeting with the UN staff there. During that time we were also tasked to provide a ‘map-pack’ for the British Embassy, another press pack and field maps for UNICEF who are going in-country tomorrow.
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Who, what, where …
May 14th, 2008Day 6 - 13th May - Bangkok, Thailand
Rainy again today and heavy rain has been falling too over Myanmar although we’ve not heard any reports yet of it hampering relief efforts. Visas are being issued in a slow trickle and NGOs are gradually getting mobilised relying heavily on their in-country staff. We hear though that even if they get in they are restricted to the Yangon area and not allowed in the most affected areas. Food and shelter remain the priorities but disease is now becoming a big risk.
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Maps at last!
May 14th, 2008Day 4/5 - 11-12th May - Bangkok, Thailand
Sorry for lack of sitrep yesterday - it got late and the hotel internet inexplicably shut down before I could send it. Sunday can be summed up thus: got up, ate breakfast, got taxi, made maps, ate fried rice, made more maps, got taxi, ate dinner, went to bed. Actually, something interesting did happen yesterday … I got brought a coke and it was delivered in a plastic bag (no can), complete with straw. Very odd indeed. Oh, and it rained. Hot tropical rain with lightening.
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Still not much to map
May 14th, 2008Day 3 - Saturday 10th May - Bangkok, Thailand
Today started like the others so far … up at 6.30, breakfast at 7, taxi at 7.30, in the office by 8am. This morning we attended the daily cluster meeting where each cluster lead agency gives an update. Still not much happening regarding visas - the Myanmar govt have taken a long weekend while they hold a referendum and embassies are not open until Tuesday.
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