Last weekend: oy.
Inlaws' birthdays, lodgers' disasters, lost children, meals, wine, pilates, bike maintenance, broken scooters, all human life was here. Oh, and a lantern procession was in there somewhere.
Photos of the lantern procession will follow as soon as I have access to the camera we used on the night. Isn't it a shame digital cameras are so useless at night outdoors? You take what looks to the eye like a fantastic panorama, and what do you get? A few nearby faces bleached out, and utter darkness beyond. Camera never lies? Bollocks.
It was a very successful night it has to be said - mind you, I'm not party to the financial results. However, the buckets were certainly noisier this year so hopefully people were generous. Many hundreds of lanterns and much shuffling along the Torrs walkway, then a nice firework display. I got so hungry I gobbed two ostrich burgers in as many bites when we finally reached the field.
Father in law Tony, not great on his feet, opted for the electric scooter, and it was a partial success. He got round, but at the expense of one tyre. He endured with some dignity the awful sound of the tyre flapping around for three quarters of the journey.
Many thanks to Lucy for snagging the missing offspring, and keeping him safe till we passed by her position. Lucy, you looked very cold I have to say.
Quite proud, as already mentioned, of our lanterns. Many compliments as we went round, also a staged pic for the Peak Times (I think) newspaper. Mind you, they asked everybody. Our coloured LED idea worked well, and with real actual candles in the main section of the lantern, we had the perfect mix of tradition and technology.
In other news, I attended Pilates for the first time. It's for my back. Lots of wobbling and straining, and now I have pleasantly sore stomach muscles. Unfortunately I've always hated sit-ups and all other core-strength exercises, and I believe this has contributed to my weak back. Great arms and legs, great lungs, but my middle is like when you twist a balloon into two halves. A bit. Anyway hopefully pilates will help, and my plan to play squash again will be back on track by 2011 *sob*.
Wifey took her Mum to a Spa treatment day in Buxton and a wonderful time was had by all. Met up with them afterwards, whereupon they proceeded to drink far too much wine and wax lyrical about their newly smooth complexions. I must give it a try some day.
More soon, or late.
Inlaws' birthdays, lodgers' disasters, lost children, meals, wine, pilates, bike maintenance, broken scooters, all human life was here. Oh, and a lantern procession was in there somewhere.
Photos of the lantern procession will follow as soon as I have access to the camera we used on the night. Isn't it a shame digital cameras are so useless at night outdoors? You take what looks to the eye like a fantastic panorama, and what do you get? A few nearby faces bleached out, and utter darkness beyond. Camera never lies? Bollocks.
It was a very successful night it has to be said - mind you, I'm not party to the financial results. However, the buckets were certainly noisier this year so hopefully people were generous. Many hundreds of lanterns and much shuffling along the Torrs walkway, then a nice firework display. I got so hungry I gobbed two ostrich burgers in as many bites when we finally reached the field.
Father in law Tony, not great on his feet, opted for the electric scooter, and it was a partial success. He got round, but at the expense of one tyre. He endured with some dignity the awful sound of the tyre flapping around for three quarters of the journey.
Many thanks to Lucy for snagging the missing offspring, and keeping him safe till we passed by her position. Lucy, you looked very cold I have to say.
Quite proud, as already mentioned, of our lanterns. Many compliments as we went round, also a staged pic for the Peak Times (I think) newspaper. Mind you, they asked everybody. Our coloured LED idea worked well, and with real actual candles in the main section of the lantern, we had the perfect mix of tradition and technology.
In other news, I attended Pilates for the first time. It's for my back. Lots of wobbling and straining, and now I have pleasantly sore stomach muscles. Unfortunately I've always hated sit-ups and all other core-strength exercises, and I believe this has contributed to my weak back. Great arms and legs, great lungs, but my middle is like when you twist a balloon into two halves. A bit. Anyway hopefully pilates will help, and my plan to play squash again will be back on track by 2011 *sob*.
Wifey took her Mum to a Spa treatment day in Buxton and a wonderful time was had by all. Met up with them afterwards, whereupon they proceeded to drink far too much wine and wax lyrical about their newly smooth complexions. I must give it a try some day.
More soon, or late.
