New Things - and one Old Thing

I'm feeling discombobulated ... love the word but hate the feeling.   I've had a big work setback, but also, if you look at it another way, an exciting opportunity. (Well, how else can you look at it?!)

This must be one of the most exciting times in history to be creative, with so many chances to connect that didn't exist even a few years ago. The problem now is not in expressing yourself so much as finding the money and the people to watch what you do. And that's where we've had a slap in the face.  Sigh. Just as well I am philosophical by nature.  In the big picture of life, this comes low down after loved ones, home, and having enough money to get by.

So despite the work problems, it's been a good week, lovely weather, and the best part of a day looking after the babies, pure pleasure

whoops, sorry, wrong picture  - try this one!

He looks as if he is punching her in the head, but luckily he missed.  Both of them are working hard on stretching their arms and legs at the moment, and will soon, I think, be smiling.

Little A has put his first movie on Youtube, a runthrough of a Minecraft session. It's called Miners in the Tardis, reflecting his love of both Minecraft and Dr. Who.   Youtube movies are so popular with kids who like to entertain other children with what they have been doing. The models they copy are usually made by teenagers or young men - here are some on Yogscast.

This stuff isn't taught at school and thousands of kids are doing it, not just the geeks.   Some of the films are really remarkable, often made with Lego, and they express what the children like and think.   Just check out this selection of Lego Mothers Day movies here for instance.  Many mums will have been delighted to get them, I bet.

 Little A is 9 and has got 17 Minecraft movies ready to post.  He saved up all his birthday and pocket money for a year to buy a computer capable of doing what he wants (thank you Cash Converters) , and now he's aiming to take coding lessons so he can do more elaborate stuff.  I'm feeling VERY left behind and making some efforts to understand Minecraft at least, so I can keep up with, um,  let's say the six year olds...

Thought you might like some sights from a day we spent following the course of the hidden river Walbrook, another of Tom Bolton's Hidden Rivers of London walks (the book (here's the Amazon link) is highly recommended if you want to amble through some of London's hidden corners and learn all about them)

These photos were mostly taken in London, EC2.   The tube trains on top of the buildings are now artists studios. How cool is that?

Cats eyes indeed in this wal painting.  Surreal.



And this was very eye catching in an almost deserted street

And this unofficial notice board below

where as you see The Thinker has his back to some unexpected information - I've enlarged the bit in the bottom left of the image below so you can read it more easily.  I wondered why the street was called Curtain Street. and now I know it was named after Shakespeare's theatre. I believe that when the expenses and taxes got too much for Shakespeare's company in Curtain Street they did a moonlight flit and set up at the Globe in Southwark, which was far less regulated, and they left their debts behind them. 

I think the photo below had a kind of Edward* Hopper feel, something about the yellow reflection from the treated glass in the door and the large blank areas. 

This little old house is sandwiched between Starbucks and a modern office. You can only imagine how different this bit of London was in the days when it was built. Can't you imagine people in knee breeches going up the steps to that front door?

The area has been revitalised over the last few years, and in renovated areas I always like to look out for works of art. This one is inside a building, very tall, and here's what it's like looking up, up and upwards inside a tunnel of Spanish tiles that seem to reflect skies and water and dreams.

I just heard from Maria, whose blog Penelope Puddlisms from BC is always one that I enjoy.  She won the prize for her response to the story of the lacemaker,  Little Red Shoes which was on here a while back.  It was a lace collar which belonged to my great-aunt Mab and Maria has done a beautiful job framing it and also written a very interesting post about it here. 

PS *Thank you Meike, for the correction.