Steve Hooker: Personal Stuff

Brad's pouting kisses

Mon, 14 Mar 2005 14:36:22 GMT

It's going to have to be my mission in life, to capture the definitive picture of Bradley and his pout as he goes to kiss someone. Here he's relaxed it for the photograph.

A day in the park

Wed, 09 Mar 2005 13:21:06 GMT

Just some pix from the weekend's trip to Telford Town Park. We went on Saturday to feed the ducks, but it was bitterly cold with horizontally blown snow. Sunday was much better with warm sun and blue sky.

Now I have a neat-o video camera I'd like to add more videos to my blog postings, but all I'm getting from MPEG4s of the first screen are black screen grabs, so looks like I need to convert them to MPEG2s first, which rather defeats the point. Humph.

Brad shows us his muscles after his exercises.

An aerial view of the park (reflections of me on the right).

Kids drawings

Wed, 09 Mar 2005 13:11:05 GMT

I love my kids drawings, and the stories behind them. Esme's always drawing princesses. Well, she wants to be one and is always dressing up as one. Brad, he likes dinosaurs though they frighten him and he's had a few bad dreams about them

This is a fireman, fire engine (top, right—see the four wheels and ladder on the roof), and fire below. By Bradley.

Two dinosaurs. Left one a flying dinosaur. By Bradley.

A self portrait at Brad's nursery. And his birthday, I think.

Esme's drawing of a princess. Including crown and star.

Quick video test

Thu, 24 Feb 2005 15:46:26 GMT

This is from my new DigiLife DDV-S670 MPEG4 camera. Pity my routines for grabbing the first frame are only grabbing a black screen.

Worse, if you haven't the correct codecs installed for MPEG4 then you'll not be able to see it.

It's not much, just a pan around my snow covered back garden. Nothing exciting. But it shows the quality, I guess.

Throwing stones in Ironbridge

Thu, 10 Feb 2005 12:12:05 GMT

Another throwing stones trip to Ironbridge. Amazing the differences between seasons.

Looking down stream to the Ironbridge

From May this year, with lots of leaves.

May 2003 looking up to the power station, you can just see a cooling tower behind the trees

From October 2003, nice Autumnal colours

This Winter 2005. Looking up to the power station

Esme off to a pyjama party

Thu, 10 Feb 2005 12:11:24 GMT

Esme had to go to a girlie pyjama party. Sue's daughter Amy. And me and Brad go on a lad's afternoon out

Lad's day out in a Batman car

Dressed in pjs and slippers

A trip to Bridgenorth

Thu, 10 Feb 2005 12:10:30 GMT

Another trip the Bridgenorth.

As we are now near the very big shed and I'm acting a bit sneaky, they get the willies put up them thinking they're going to get told off any minute. As it was I merely decline an offer of a guided tour from the friendly staff.

Explaining coal to Teddy, Bradley, Dolly and Esme. Though it isn't dolly but I can never remember all her dolls names.

Looking into the sheds from the Bridge

Posing with her doll. Bradley was too scared due to the steam

Hey it's me! By Esme. I've grown my hair!

Another of Esme and Brad's cheeky grins

A nice cuddle

Looking at the River

Working in the big city

Thu, 10 Feb 2005 12:09:27 GMT

Sometimes I have to do real work. At least work away from my office. Here I'm visiting the new offices of the Government Office for the West Midlands and snap this picture out of the top window.

It's over looking the Cathedral down Colmore Row.

A short morning that seemed to drag on for hours and hours. I miss all the pretty women to be seen in cities but all the hussle and bustle and parking 'issues.' Glad I'm not a commuter that is for sure.

Colmore Row, Birmingham City Centre

At the pub always nice pix (and beer)

Thu, 10 Feb 2005 12:08:27 GMT

We go the the Kinnersley Arms in Leighton as often as we can which means once a month if we're lucky. It's a 5 mile drive. Started going there on my way back home from fishing (November 2003). Just after Bradley was born, and numerous occasions since:

Esme does a handstand in the pub. This is as high as she gets, and holds it for 2 or 3 seconds

Bradley doesn't hold it for so long, but they both get applause from Amanda and me. The rest of the pub ignores them

We stopped for a mean in the Kynersley arms

What a winning smiler Bradley is

She takes a good picture

Am I embarrassed? Nah! Everybody laughs with her, or rather they are too polite and bow gracefully

He waits patiently but they take far too lang at the bar and this bores Bradley the audience of one

The Sleeping Beauty Pantomime

Thu, 10 Feb 2005 12:06:31 GMT

Oakengates Theatre
And a great time was had by all. Bradley was a little scared of the nasty fairy, kept saying, "tell me when this bit is finished, Dad!" And hiding is face in the back of the seat. Them pulling it back to peep through under his arm.

We went with some friends of Amanda' sister, Amanda was to go but had to drop at the last minute, so as a stand in I was very pleased. Even if the main 'Buttons' character was quite camp and some of the jokes fairly risque. On the weekends apparently they are—for the parents. In the weekdays for the schools he's... well I can only guess.

Esme had been before, with the school so felt ever so confident there, even if she kept telling me what was happening and what was about to happen