Ice Land....

....So, it's pretty cold in the UK then. As this satellite image proves, courtesy of NASA.

Pickled work....

....Doug got some pickle for Christmas. Not great news, but I couldn't help but notice the name. As most of you are aware, I work for Abbott Mead Vickers. Well, here we have Abbott's Pickle with Mead! Maybe there's an affiliation. Either way, it tasted great!

Sweet toof...

....Albion Caff, (their spelling, not mine), just up the road sits beneath Terence Conran's latest hotel and above his latest restaurant - both called the Boundary. Anyway, Albion is a great cafe, but also a great shop - as these ridiculous desserts show. Liam, Doug, Chris & I were fairly wired after eating these at 11pm, but they were worth every sleepless wink!

A London sun rise....

.....not bad for out my bedroom window! (click to enlarge)

Guess Who....

....Everybody played this game when we were young, right?

"Does he have glasses?...", "Is it a woman?..." We all loved it, and it took a good few moves before someone ran out the winner.

Well, just watch this video:

Clearly the innocence of youth never lead me to that question!

The Notebook....

....Kelly and I watched this last night. One of her favourite films since watching it on her 21st birthday. I was not au fait with it, but my soft side was immediately softened further by this romantic love story.



Beautifully shot and directed by Nick Cassavetes, a poor and passionate young man falls in love with a rich young woman and gives her a sense of freedom. They soon are separated by their social differences, but the story develops further and proves enriching and rewarding. I have never watched Ryan Gosling or Rachel McAdams before, never mind as the lead roles, but they were both incredible.


"If you're a bird, I'm a bird"

Sure, I need to toughen up, but this one really shouldn't be missed. Rent it now.

New Year '09/'10....

....Ok. So I have just had the best New Year ever, with the best people ever, in the best city ever. (After NYC, Berlin & London!) History tells me I've been pretty lucky with NYE celebrations, always having a great time. But this one superceded them all. Friends Harrie, Ems, Aimee & Ed all live and work in Paris, so the traditional dinner party in London relocated to France! The photos and videos say it all. A huge, huge thank you to those whom know they deserve it and a big bonne annee hug to everyone that made it so special.

NYE '09 (daytime) :

NYE '09 (evening):

New Years Day:



Jan 2nd:

Harrie's place, Paris....

....In Paris during New Year, Harrie's flat was where the majority of the time was spent. As ever, she was la hostesse extraordinaire and her impeccable taste in all things home made me very jealous indeed!

Skype shopping channel....

....I didn't get the opportunity to see my Nana or Uncle over Christmas, so mum & dad picked up their presents for me yesterday. Then, with the genius of Skype, they opened and even modelled the goods.


Dad wearing the new scarf from Nana


Ma & Pa laughing at my incredible sense of humour(!)

Thank you to both Nana & Paul - the pressies look great and generous as ever.

Christmas Poker....

....Before leaving Newcastle after Christmas, there was time to squeeze in a game of poker with Andrew, Tom, Nick & Mark. (Oh, and a brief guest appearance from Andrew's fiance Alice.)

Hardly an oil painting....

....Well, in fact, it is. The only of my art A-Level paintings to survive the scrap heap. (Not, I'll have you know, due to naffness, but my disdain for hoarding and the lack of storage at mum & dad's). This work is now over 10 years old, and sees a street scene view from a window, upon the sill of which is a mirror bearing my reflection. (Yes, that's meant to be me!) Almost enough to make me pick up those paint brushes again.

Nappy dash....

....Xav uses his Tonka truck for some urgent nappy disposal!

Christmas continued....

....Andy's parents, Jean & Nige arrived on Boxing Day, whilst we also briefly hosted Ruth's friends Jude & David. The usual fare continued - eating, drinking and game playing. And of course the traditional walk along the beach. Nippy.


Lunch with the usuals, plus Jean & Nige, Jude & David.


Whitley Bay beach at dusk


Shadows in front of a distant Spanish City

The old games are the classics:

Yahtzee

Buzz wire, with added balloon explosion!


Dinner time

Christmas Day '09....

....It took on the usual format. Mum, Dad, Ruth, Andy and I went down to church in the morning. The Brannen family came back to ours for drinks and nibbles before we parted for our respective Christmas dinners.


Andy, Ruth, Dad, Mum, Roy

XMAS MORNING:



FOOD:

Andy prepared and cooked just about everything this year. Dad on hand throughout. I'll admit, I did nothing. We had an incredible dinner.



Oysters followed by scallops wrapped in parma ham, then pigs in blankets. And we hadn't even reached starter yet! Pea, mint and watercress soup began the meal. Rib of beef was our meat this year, accompanied with carrots, parsnips & potatoes, (all the Jamie way) with brussels & chestnuts and sweet potato mash. Oh and a sneaky Yorkshire pud. We topped this off with a cheese board, then mum's traditional chocolate roulade.

After dinner, we got stuck in to three separate Skype calls.


With Andy's folks, Jean & Nige and family in York.


With the Palmers in Lytham St. Anne's.


With the Smiths in Statford Upon Avon.

I then tried to roll back the years on the piano, but couldn't even lie convincingly!

XMAS EVENING:

Back down at the Brannen's house for games and giggles.

Skidding all the way:

Sibling stars....

...Ruth and I are clearly in the wrong professions.
Here she is on the front of her work's website:



And here am I starring(!) in a work teaser film to get us excited about our xmas party:

AMV xmas party teaser from Roy Barker on Vimeo.

French Ram....

....I bought and framed this print by French, and now it has pride of place alongside Richie's.

My type of present....

....Typographic Communications Today, by Edward Gottschall. Thank you KC.

Hostess with the mostess....

....I went to the Natural History Museum to watch Ivvet host a show in the Attenborough Studio, within the incredible Darwin Centre.


Inner walkway of the Darwin Centre

Ivvet hosts Nature Live Online events, (streamed live over the internet), with more skill and enthusiasm than Terry Nutkins and Michaela Strachan combined. A true natural. (Excuse the pun).


Ivvet in all her Christmas glory

Clementine for breakfast....

....Doug, Ross, Nick, Joss and I joined Anne, Richie and Clem for an xmas breakfast.




And here's a rather cute video involving Clem, a fork, an apple slice and some huge excitement!

Ed's leaving home, bye bye....

....Well, not quite home, but work. My nearest and dearest is moving on to better things, and well, I'm quite sad. We organised a fitting leaving party though. Beginning with a long lunch, then on to leaving speeches, present giving and an all out knees up. A great great night. So long Edward.

Ed's leaving man-hug with Chris from Roy Barker on Vimeo.

Speech! from Roy Barker on Vimeo.

Ed's leaving video from Roy Barker on Vimeo.

A lot of photos, a lot of people, a lot of fun

How not to dance: Part 1 from Roy Barker on Vimeo.