Pick a stylesheet that suites you: left, sleft, mright, sright, mno menus, sno menus, m
Steve Hooker's Radio: kids, war, blogs, gadgets: A Welsh man in the wrong country, going home

31 December 2003   

 

New Years party with the dancing kids

newYearsEveEsmeDancesBradPlays.jpg

We stayed in again this New Year's Eve. This time with the kids kept awake.
We danced, and played pirates with Bradley. We were going to watch TV, I guess, but halfway through a pre booked Santa Clause 2 Telewest Cable stopped working. The telephones still worked, so did the internet, but no TV!

newYearsEveEsmeDancesBradPlays2.jpg

Never mind we had a great time, watching the fireworks at midnight from the upstairs windows - magical.

newYearsEveAmandaWatches.jpg

I think both me and Amanda were slightly pissed at the end (1am), and thankfully Esme lay in till 11:30am and Bradley till 12:30. When he awoke, he told me he had a "lovely sleep."

 


1535 Also posted to: personal . At: 5:25:55 PM  . .
Permalink  Top  Search Google  Technorati
Other title(s) for this story: New Years party with the dancing kids

 

29 December 2003   

 

Xmas dinner at the outlaws

xmasPartyWhitehousesFrankGail.jpg

I'm told to come to Auntie Alison's for a dinner. Amanda did the cooking, and Gail (Her other sister) and Simon, with Charlie and James and their dad Frank (Grandad Frank) all are there.

Here Frank and Gail.

xmasPartyWhitehousesGailAlison.jpg

Alison and Gail.

xmasPartyWhitehousesAmandaEsFrancisAlison.jpg

Amanda, Esme, Francis (Esme's cousin - Alison's daughter) and Auntie Alison.

xmasPartyWhitehousesCharlieSimonAmanda.jpg

Charlie (Simon and Gail's eldest and Frank's oldest gradchild) Simon and Amanda.

xmasPartyWhitehousesXmasPudding.jpg

The lovely, delicious Christmas Pudding made by Amanda, with copious booze added over the past weeks, set alight, though can't see the flames with the flash.

 


1534 Also posted to: personal . At: 5:25:18 PM  . .
Permalink  Top  Search Google  Technorati
Other title(s) for this story: Xmas dinner at the outlaws

 

28 December 2003   

 

Sales shopping with Esme's push chair

shoppingSalesEsmePram150.jpg

It's a nightmare anyway, but with Esme pushing her pram in a zig-zag across the path of everybody walking towards her...
And not one of them had a smile on their face, far too busy in shopping mode, than to appreciate the push chair gag.

While Amanda took some stuff back to a shop, and we waited outside, Esme insisted on taking photos of her pushchair which came out all blurred, so I took this one.

shoppingSalesEsHidesBradLies.jpg

Why do kids do exactly what you don't want them to do?

I asked if they could stand together so I could take a picture. Esme hid behind the shop front, and Bradley slithered on the floor.

 


1533 Also posted to: personal . At: 5:24:50 PM  . .
Permalink  Top  Search Google  Technorati
Other title(s) for this story: Sales shopping with Esme's push chair

 

27 December 2003   

 

Snowy Brecon Beacons on way home

panoramaBreconBeaconsSnow.jpg

Just had to stop on the top of the Brecon Beacons to take these pix. This was the first proper snow I've seen all year.

panoEsmeSpysSleds.jpg

We pulled over at the Story Arms so the kids could watch the sledding. There were dozens of people there just to catch the first snow.

 


1532 Also posted to: personal . At: 5:24:32 PM  . .
Permalink  Top  Search Google  Technorati
Other title(s) for this story: Snowy Brecon Beacons on way home

 

 

A visit to the stables

xmasAberdareEsGetHugCoatsOn.jpg

A big hug before we leave on our customary visit to the stables.

stablesBradEsStanding.jpg

stablesBoredHorse.jpg

This horse had a broken legs, and wasn't allowed out. They hung a ball up to occupy him, keep him from getting bored.
The horse bit me.

 


1531 Also posted to: personal . At: 5:21:53 PM  . .
Permalink  Top  Search Google  Technorati
Other title(s) for this story: A visit to the stables

 

26 December 2003   

 

A Boxing Day walk before the snow

hayFieldCharlotteEsme.jpg

It was only when I looked through the camera that I saw the coming storm, blowing south from the Beacons. Looks like snow I say. Five minutes later, and after only just arriving and to Esme and Bradley's chagrin we start walking back home. Amanda and I are fucking freezing! My checks are numb, ears about to drop off...
We make it home just in time, it does indeed begin to snow.

hayFieldBradAmanda.jpg

Green, green, grass of home.

 


1530 Also posted to: personal . At: 5:19:47 PM  . .
Permalink  Top  Search Google  Technorati
Other title(s) for this story: A Boxing Day walk before the snow

 

25 December 2003   

 

Xmas day playing with presents

xmasAberdareReadingFamily.jpg

Cute, very cute! Except for Amanda wearing my socks.

xmasAberdarePoliceEsme.jpg

We made quite a few boobs with the presents, this was one meant for Bradley, I figured that he would want dressing up stuff, because Esme has loads already, but he's not into it... She is. Looks like another swap.

xmasAberdareBradNanna.jpg

Nanna still in her night clothes helps Bradley with his battery operated digger, which is a great success.

xmasAberdareBradDrummer.jpg

Drums again for our musical Bradley. These are drumless drum sticks.

 


1529 Also posted to: personal . At: 5:18:58 PM  . .
Permalink  Top  Search Google  Technorati
Other title(s) for this story: Xmas day playing with presents

 

 

Xmas morning unwrapping presents

xmasMorningEsWonders.jpg

Esme spots that Bradley has more big presents than her, though the difference is marginal, it's quite important to her. I think it's a mark of how good she's been through out the year.

xmasMorningEsUnwraps.jpg

But, she's got loads of good stuff, and is thrilled with many of them.

xmasMorningBradUnWrapsBlur.jpg

Most of the shots were much more blurred than this, and it make it looks as though Bradley's tearing through the unwrapping, as it is, he's the slowest most dainty unwrapper I've ever seen.

xmasMorningBradUnWrapsBlurClose.jpg

Because of his slowness, Esme's long finished her unwrapping, and this makes her angst over the number and size of presents more marked. She offers to help Bradley. Of course, he declines her kind offer.

xmasMorningBradEsBackground.jpg

Presents everywhere. They have a pile each off us, and a pile each of the grand parents.

 


1528 Also posted to: personal . At: 5:18:03 PM  . .
Permalink  Top  Search Google  Technorati
Other title(s) for this story: Xmas morning unwrapping presents

 

24 December 2003   

 

Final Xmas shopping and escalator rides

escalatorWatchTheEnd.jpg

You can't beat a good escalator ride. This is in one of the new shops in Telford. Here we go up and I warn, "remember to jump off, watch the end!"

escalatorBradNervous.jpg

Bradley's a little nervous and takes his time, while Esme's long gone.

escalatorLookThroughGlass.jpg

It must be utterly fantastic, riding on escalators, looking through the glass as we decend.

escalatorBradWalksDown.jpg

He can't get used to the sides not moving, while he does.

escalatorHandSlideGlass.jpg

Neither can esme and her hand slip..

 


1527 Also posted to: personal . At: 5:17:34 PM  . .
Permalink  Top  Search Google  Technorati
Other title(s) for this story: Final Xmas shopping and escalator rides

 

 

Chips for Christmas Eve lunch

chipShopXmasEveBradBiscuits.jpg

I'm told to get out of the house and to take the kids with me. Amanda wants to pack the car for our trip to Nanna's in Wales.
Bradley passes a shop we don't usually go in, and spys some crisps. I say we don't go in there and he plays up, screaming and shouting, so I tell him he can go in by his self. Which he starts to do, stops, and shouts, top of his voice, "give me some money!"
Cold shivers run down my spine.
He buys packets of biscuits (on his own), and is eating them in the pic above.

chipShopXmasEveEsmeCloseUp.jpg

Esme bought the pop, by herself. (She just reminded me about this, as she peers over my shoulder as I type.0
We go to the chippy, and have a sit down. Which brings much amusement to the staff. And to us.

chipShopXmasEveCloseUpBrad.jpg

Bradley tells knock-knock jokes to two gilrs, aged about 10, at the next table.

chipShopXmasEveThroughWindowMeAndBrad.jpg

And Esme insists on taking a picture from outside.

 


1526 Also posted to: personal . At: 5:11:26 PM  . .
Permalink  Top  Search Google  Technorati
Other title(s) for this story: Chips for Christmas Eve lunch

 

 

The little park, Brad wees, discovers ice

bradWeeEsmeProtects.jpg

We take a walk to the park, the little one. As soon as we arrive, Bradley announces that he needs to "wee-wee."
Where else can we do it? Next to a tree. And Esme protects, not that there's anybody else in the little park, far too cold for that.

bradWeeLaughs.jpg

And with a "ha-ha-harrr!" He completes the job, by doing the little shake.

bradWeeProudSmile.jpg

And a proud smile for the camera, once I've pulled his pants and trousers up.

littleParkTrees.jpg

Bloody cold! Even the trees look cold.

littleParkBradSlide.jpg

But still they manage to run around, and I want to come home after only being there 20 minutes or so, they argue and argue that they should stay.

littleParkIceEsme.jpg

Esme discovers a bit of ice, and wants to take it home.

littleParkIceBrad.jpg

Bradley's just amused by how cold it is, and how it's melting.

littleParkEsmePushchair.jpg

Initially, Esme didn't want to go into the push chair, afraid that someone from school may see her perhaps? She said, "I'm not a baby anymore," when I asked her to hop in, and she walked all the way to the shops.

littleParkBradStompsIce.jpg

We had to wait ages here for Bradley to stamp on every piece of ice in this frozen puddle.

 


1525 Also posted to: personal . At: 5:05:54 PM  . .
Permalink  Top  Search Google  Technorati
Other title(s) for this story: The little park, Brad wees, discovers ice

 

22 December 2003   

 

Last day of school for Esme

walkingHomeSchoolFurther.jpg

walkingHomeSchoolClose.jpg


I suppose there's a load of things to do on the way home from school. For the past few days, it's been that we shouldn't walk Bradley's secret way, we should go the other way around the bingo hall.
For one reason, I think, that she can walk across the wall, balancing.
 


1523 Also posted to: personal . At: 1:39:34 AM  . .
Permalink  Top  Search Google  Technorati
Other title(s) for this story: Last day of school for Esme

 

 

On the swings in the Little Park

swingBradKickingSmiles.jpg

swingBradKickingRoarsLaughter.jpg


Head back roaring with laughter.

swingEsmeClimbsInOwn.jpg

It's an old game: I stand too close as they swing back, and the kick me. I over react, throwing my arms up, shouting, 'ouch' or some such, and curse. And this happens time and time again.
At first Esme's away in the distance, but on hearing Bradley's chortling she looks up, smiles, and runs over.
Esme can climb into the swing on her own. Mind, she could do that, probably a year ago.
Two kicks up Daddy's arse and it's the other's turn.
 


1522 Also posted to: personal . At: 1:38:50 AM  . .
Permalink  Top  Search Google  Technorati
Other title(s) for this story: On the swings in the Little Park

 

 

Bradley makes a cake

makingCakesBradGrowlReal.jpg

makingCakesBradGrowl.jpg

makingCakesMe.jpg


Bradley took this of me. With a beard! (Me, not Bradley.)

 


1521 Also posted to: personal . At: 1:38:09 AM  . .
Permalink  Top  Search Google  Technorati
Other title(s) for this story: Bradley makes a cake

 

21 December 2003   

 

Esme the fairy queen

esmeFairyWritesLetters.jpg

Esme's constantly writing letters, it seems, even when she's a fairy. Today, she wanted to get changed, just so she could write letters.
Fairies to die for. She's looking in the mirror at her wings. Dunno why. But wonderful pose, on top of our blue, sea shells toilet seat. esmeFairyBrad.jpg

esmeFairyStandsToilet2.jpg

esmeFairyStandToilet.jpg

 


1520 Also posted to: personal . At: 1:37:08 PM  . .
Permalink  Top  Search Google  Technorati
Other title(s) for this story: Esme the fairy queen

 

 

Bradley says 'Stop bus!'

bradStopBus.jpg

Big thing for Bradley. When the bus comes, I say, 'stick your hand out 'Bradley.' And he does, saying over and over 'stop bus!'
When the bus stops, he jumps up and down, 'I did it, I did it!'
Of course, everybody on the bus sees him, and the driver (with a big grin on his face) stops, exactly by his hand. As we walk up the bus, everybody seems to be smiling.

Good to have such an effect.
(Amanda bought the hat, just to annoy me, and Grandad in Wales, I doubt if he'll be allowed to wear it when we go down there for Xmas.)

 


1519 Also posted to: personal . At: 1:36:44 PM  . .
Permalink  Top  Search Google  Technorati
Other title(s) for this story: Bradley says 'Stop bus!'

 

 

Alex's birthday

alexPartyradBalls2.jpg

alexPartyBradBallMouth.jpg

After this, I read how to correct red eye properly.
The huge ball pool was as deep as Bradley's waist. I'd have loved this stuff when I was their age.

alexPartyAlexBalls.jpg

alexPartyBradalls.jpg

alexPartyFrancisSwing.jpg

Strange distortion. She's swinging, and moving quite fast, I guess when I took this.
Francis is Alex's younger sister. And Most of the time I didn't see either Esme not Francis as they played together nealry tthroughout the whole party.

alexPartyDinnerBradEs.jpg


They even get on so well, other people comment on it.
alexPartyDinnerHarriot.jpg


Harriot, Alex's sister. And Esme's and Bradley's other cousin.
alexPartyDinnerBradEs2.jpg

alexPartyDinnerWideBradAlex.jpg

The dinner worked out quite well. Even some for the grown ups.

 


1518 Also posted to: personal . At: 1:34:44 PM  . .
Permalink  Top  Search Google  Technorati
Other title(s) for this story: Alex's birthday

 

 

A scooter and trike ride to Dawley

villageRideVillageCentreFront.jpg


A deserted Sunday. I take them out on their respective locomotion devices. Bradley's a tough geezer. He peddles all the way on his little trike. Esme speeds too fast on her scooter - much to fast for my liking.

VillageRideShopWindowXmas.jpg

But we have to stop to look at Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer. Well, who could pass this shop window without looking at Rudolf?

villageRideWideBalancing.jpg

And testing their balance. Funny, how we cannot pass these little walls without balancing.

 


1517 Also posted to: personal . At: 1:33:01 PM  . .
Permalink  Top  Search Google  Technorati
Other title(s) for this story: A scooter and trike ride to Dawley

 

20 December 2003   

 

Esme's school play

scoolPlayWideEsmeMouse.jpg

Very bad light for the camera, this was the only shot that's usable. Esme is the blurry figure mid, front left. I managed to get some on video, but the battery gave out just seconds into her performance.

She'd been practicing the mouse dance, and was by far the most accomplished of the assembled mice.

schoolPlayWideOtherKids.jpg

Some of the other kids. One by one those on the stage rose to give some part of the narrative. Something about a lost kitten, I think.

schoolPlayLongWideEverything.jpg

Somewhere to the far left is our little mouse.

schoolPlayBradFrank.jpg

schoolPlayBradAmandaFrank.jpg

Amanda, Bradley and Grandad Frank in the background. I think he loved it too.

schoolPlayBradAmanda.jpg

schoolPlayMrSanderson.jpg

The lights came on and Mr. Sanderson, the head teacher gave a thank you to us, the actors, teachers, and everybody he could think of.

 


1516 Also posted to: personal . At: 1:30:40 PM  . .
Permalink  Top  Search Google  Technorati
Other title(s) for this story: Esme's school play

 

 

Xmas at Wonderland

wonderlandXmas.jpg


I'll have to question Amanda about this trip, she took them, I didn't go, so I've no idea what goes on in these pix.

wonderlandXmas2.jpg

wonderlandCupsEsme.jpg

 


1515 Also posted to: personal . At: 1:29:40 PM  . .
Permalink  Top  Search Google  Technorati
Other title(s) for this story: Xmas at Wonderland

 

 

Esme's school fair

fairEsmeJumps.jpg

fairEsmeChubbyCheeks.jpg

Much anticipated - the School Fair! We arrive, very keyed up. And cold. Esme's like a little girl possessed. We must arrive early!

Inside, it's very, very crowded

fairEsmeInsideChubbyCheeks.jpg

We're soon in Esme's classroom, there's no room at all, and we squeeze through to the stalls, to enter the lucky dip and other contests, soon, we've won chocolate and some tiny figures, and a purple horse thing.

And Esme sees all her teachers.

I soon realise the reason she desperately wanted to come. She's been making Xmas Crackers all day at school, and if she didn't get there in time, some one else may buy hers. Obviously, it's a scam by the school to ensure they want to come, and get there on time.

fairBradEsmeChockie.jpg

She's happier then Jack McHappy, winner of last year's MR Happy contest. There's sweets and chocolate inside her cracker. She even gives one to Bradley.

fairBradleyEnjoysChockie.jpg

fairAwaitingSanta1.jpg

fairAwaitngSantaExcited.jpg


It's a long pensive wait in the queue. Moving up one chair at a time, sometimes three.

fairSanta5.jpg

fairSanta4.jpg

fairSanta3.jpg

We finally get in. And I say come on Bradley. Santa says, "hello Bradley!" Bradley turns to me and says, "he knows my name!"

And he doesn't forget to test to see if he's the real Santa. The real Santa says, 'ho, ho, ho' when he laughs. So, Bradley has a prepared joke, especially for the occasion...

"Why does, beedy beed?" Asks Brad.
"I don't know, why does beedy beed," says Santa.
"Because beedy beedy beed," says Bradley, covering up his increasingly contagious laugh with his hand.
"Ho ho ho! That's the best joke I've heard all night," Says Santa.
Bradley turns to me and exclaims, "It is Santa!"

 


1514 Also posted to: personal . At: 1:27:48 PM  . .
Permalink  Top  Search Google  Technorati
Other title(s) for this story: Esme's school fair

 

19 December 2003   

 

Putting up the Xmas tree

xmasTreeEmprtyTrunk.jpg

xmasTreeEmptyTrunkEsme.jpg

I dunno how it became my job, but here I am helping putting up the tree with little helpers. I know it's gonna take ages, especially with the little helpers.
xmasTreeHelping2.jpg

xmasTreeHidding.jpg

xmasTreeHelping.jpg

Sorting out the correct branches and placing them in the correct holes is difficult enough.

xmasTreeEmptyTrunkEsme2.jpg

xmasTreeBradHelping.jpg

xmasTreeLightsHelpers2.jpg

Then, putting the lights and decorations on. I let then rip first, sticking them all on the bottom, where they can reach I guess.
No Bradley, that's not supposed to go on the tree. Or, are you showing the fish the tree?

xmasTreeLightsHelpers1.jpg


Finished, with my rearranging. Which lasts all of one day.

Looks lovely, or it did.

xmasTreeFinal2.jpg

 


1513 Also posted to: personal . At: 10:38:08 PM  . .
Permalink  Top  Search Google  Technorati
Other title(s) for this story: Putting up the Xmas tree

 

 

How to Get Your Products Featured in the Mainstream Press

I guess it's more about knowing or getting to know individual journalists. Which is one of my tasks for next year.


1512 Also posted to: cyberSaps . At: 11:11:54 AM  . .
Permalink  Top  Search Google  Technorati
Other title(s) for this story: How to Get Your Products Featured in the Mainstream Press

 

 

How To Get A Book Deal With Your Blog

"The secrets of blog-to-book success."


1511 Also posted to: cyberSaps . At: 11:05:39 AM  . .
Permalink  Top  Search Google  Technorati
Other title(s) for this story: How To Get A Book Deal With Your Blog

 

 

National strategy for technology nets £150million

"New government procurement guidelines to make government a more 'intelligent customer'"

Don't make me laugh.

"We want the UK to be a key knowledge hub in the global economy: a country with a reputation not only for outstanding scientific and technological discovery, but also for turning that knowledge into new and exciting products and services," said Science and innovation minister Lord Sainsbury, who has been leading a review of innovation policy.

Blogs connect innovative people, forces them into thinking before they write, and allows rapid peer collaboration and correction.


1510 Also posted to: cyberSaps , GOWM . At: 10:24:56 AM  . .
Permalink  Top  Search Google  Technorati
Other title(s) for this story: National strategy for technology nets £150million

 

 

UK: More than 1 in 5 are obese

It is going to be a more serious health problem than smoking.
If you are obese at 18, you are twice as likely to be dead at 50 than if you are at desirable weight. We are going to see significant numbers of people dying before their parents.
We are up against a food industry that is far bigger than the tobacco lobby ever was.

Very worrying. I see pictures on the net of ordinary Americans enjoying a night out, and they are nearly always very fat, very fat. And now Esme's going to school, the number of very fat kids is astonishing. Even at the swimming pool, it's shocking.

When I was a kid there was only one fat kid in the class, sure he was teased. In Esme's class there's 3 or 4 really fat kids, mainly boys. (¾ are boys anyway.)
 


1509 Also posted to: News . At: 10:20:51 AM  . .
Permalink  Top  Search Google  Technorati
Other title(s) for this story: UK: More than 1 in 5 are obese

 

17 December 2003   

 

The Problem With Presentations

"Presentations are as much about slides as poetry is about handwriting."

Lovely overview and advice for creating a presentation, and getting up there and doing it. I'll be making several presentations and pitches next year, and this really is going to be a big help.


1508 Also posted to: cyberSaps . At: 8:54:01 PM  . .
Permalink  Top  Search Google  Technorati
Other title(s) for this story: The Problem With Presentations

 

 

IE Overhaul Part of Windows XP SP2

"Microsoft's soon-to-be-released [Q2 2004] service pack for Windows XP will come with a major security-centric overhaul to the company's flagship Internet Explorer browser, including a new add-on management and crash detection tool and several modifications to the browser's default security settings."

Mainly security, no PNG nor better CSS2, sadly.


1507 Also posted to: cyberSaps . At: 11:48:28 AM  . .
Permalink  Top  Search Google  Technorati
Other title(s) for this story: IE Overhaul Part of Windows XP SP2

 

 

Saddam was turning into Santa

saddamTurningSanta.jpg
Funny old world - innit?


1506 Also posted to: warBlog . At: 9:48:00 AM  . .
Permalink  Top  Search Google  Technorati
Other title(s) for this story: Saddam was turning into Santa

 

16 December 2003   

 

E-Commerce News: 10 Ways To Increase Your Search Engine Ranking

Be suspicious of sites that claim to mass-submit your URL to many dozens or hundreds of search engines. There are less than 10 major search engines that you should care about being listed in.

I'd take that a bit further... There really is only one. Google. Alright, two. Yahoo.
Not a bad article, though nothing new (I've been reading such for years). It's the new content and links to your site that are really important, once you've mastered meta tags, good titles and a wide breadth of content.


1505 Also posted to: cyberSaps . At: 8:04:28 PM  . .
Permalink  Top  Search Google  Technorati
Other title(s) for this story: E-Commerce News: 10 Ways To Increase Your Search Engine Ranking

 

 

Nokia Content Syndication Program

"The Nokia Content Syndication Program (NCSP) offers direct links to Nokia documents, toolkits, videos, images, etc., all through standard XML and JavaScript interfaces."

Phwoar! A tonne of channels to pick from. Glad to see so many very large names coming into the syndication fold. (No RSS2.0 feeds though.)
I'll have to decide which ones to pick: thinking of XHTML, Symbian and MMS initially.


1504 Also posted to: cyberSaps . At: 10:51:33 AM  . .
Permalink  Top  Search Google  Technorati
Other title(s) for this story: Nokia Content Syndication Program

 

 

UserLand Announces New Management Team

""UserLand has advanced products and deep customer base. We will continue to support that base and intensify our focus on the enterprise. In the near term, we expect to be enhancing Manila with improved authentication and single sign-in support, making it even easier to deploy secure weblog based solutions," said Scott Young, chief executive officer of UserLand Software. "These are features that our academic and gov