Best friends

From birth they were friends.

Held hands within a month. Seven years on they still hold each other's hand and stick up for one another.

I love Caleb and Toby's special bond. This past week it was awesome to see them still holding hands and loving every moment of each other's company.

Quite possibly my favourite picture

I returned home the other week with Joshie giving quite possibly my favourite picture. 

It was of his papa, the rock star performing with his rock n roll band... On a nine wheel train (of course). With the family, including Joshie, watching on the right.

He was so looking forward to giving me this picture. Apparently been waiting eagerly for days.

I loved it. Quite possibly one of my fav pics ever.

Joshie and Freya

Friends from birth and completely betrothed. Joshie and Freya "Noono" dance fairy tale style.

Utterly mesmerising on a lovely bank holiday weekend.

 

In the back of the car

Swapped my front seat for a back seat and Joshie asked to take a few shots of us back seat boys.

"I knew he was scared as his arms locked up"

I am surrounded by the nations. Around 170 different nations represented at this UN conference on Disaster Risk Reduction. The theory: "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure"

It's a privilege to be here as I have worked through many disasters, particularly in responding and reacting to them. Yet they keep coming and we keep reacting. Its a great time to be here amongst so many others (around 3500 people) to reflect, be inspired and see the call for global action on these matters.

Yesterday I was in a session where children were allowed to speak. They in fact made up the panel for the session.

The room: packed. People standing at the sides just to listen in.

Two girls talked us through the rules (including a form of what I can only describe as child like "jazz hands" to agree with the statements from the front) and introduced children from a host of countries including Lesotho, Japan. At the end an 11 year old disabled boy from Vietnam and his translator were asked to take the microphone.

The boy proudly dressed in a great grey suit with lovely bow tie spoke up and his words were hard to understand both as it was in Vietnamese but also as his disabilities limit his speech. The translator knew both him and every word and intent behind them.

He spoke out about the desire to be in school and the love for education. This is the number one thing. His idea: Protect our schools so we can go to them. Its been his dream to go and he was saved when the flood hit their area. the swept away much. He himself nearly went with the floods were it not for the loving arms of his mother who saved him. She carried him out whilst the waters raged. Amazing.

His mother cried from the crowd with tears of pride and joy, holding her camera as her son shared the call to protect what we have.

He received a standing ovation.

Later on I was able to meet him and the small delegation.

I asked the boy what it was like when the floods were there, how did you feel. He said "I was scared". The mum had grabbed him and pulled him out just carrying him. She wasn't a big lady as she squatted next to me saying and hand gesturing the lifting.

She concluded "I knew he was scared as his arms were locked up as I carried him". She carried him up to the second floor. She was still smiling with pride.

In shock

Caleb managed to find a pair of scissors and took to his hair.

I always have loved long hair. Possibly because I have none.

In shock.

 

Back at the UN Disaster Risk Reduction gathering

One company in New Zealand invested $6m. It saved 65m people.

I was here two years ago and a lady who heads a Japanese company was speaking about the impact of the earthquakes and tsunamis to the 2500 people of the nations (around 190 of them represented here). Today she speaks proudly to encourage the people to engage at local level, to use your core business to look for solutions and learn from new areas and disasters.

Pretty inspiring being here again especially as the attendees of last time are now on the panels calling out for new champions for such areas as disasters.

Boys of Steel

So I'm excited.

I can't wait to see the new up and coming Superman film "Man of Steel".

This trailer is absolutely superb and captures everything I love about the character.




The suit has served this family well too:

80

We celebrated my father in law's 80th birthday today. 

Had a marvellous meal in the Carpenter's Arms near Hadlow.

Amazed at how much time had gone by and also how some who were not at the table as they had passed on.

Time. What a thing. Waits for no one and just keeps going. However as a captain of the Enterprise comments:

"Someone once told me that time was a predator that stalked us all our lives...

... but I rather believe that time is a companion who goes with us on the journey and reminds us to cherish every moment because they'll never come again. 

What we leave behind is not as important as how we've lived. 

After all ... we're only mortal."

Happy 80th Dad.

the cinema experience

I've just seen Star Trek: Into Darkness.

I treated myself to see this in the IMAX format.

Wow and WOW!

The film was breathtaking. A non stop thrill. But the experience was phenomenal. An enormous creen on which I had to turn to get from one side to the other. A screen that created a depth lower than my vision. And good heavens the sound was powerful.

A few time I felt my stomach leave me. A  few times the sounded penetrated through me. I gasped many times and even shed a tear. What a great experience.

It is this experience that I have always craved when stepping into the cinema. From when I chased with Luke Skywalker on his speeder bike on Endor, the gun rack with Neo and basement fights with Tyler Durden to the vampire brawls with Seth Gecko.  The combination of character, thrills and intriguing story telling are my favourite cocktail for cinema.

The experience was certainly complemented by the extras such the glasses, the walk in to the theatre, the short welcome by the staff member exclaiming that the screen is the largest in the country.... even the stewards with their torches at the end of the aisles reminded me of smoked filled screens of a youngster waiting for the ice cream lady to come over.

As the film ended an applause rung round the auditorium. I, too, was grateful for the experience. Thank you.

Bank holiday snaps

Just mucking about.

"Elijah"

I was at a friend's for breakfast today and I was arriving he said one of my sheep has given birth. Could you help me bring the lamb to the barn.

I put on some Wellies, a water proof and a hat and went out in the rain. We walked through the barn where the current lambs were. It was full and we saw a lamb stuck in the fence. My host freed her up and she happily was rejoined with her mother. As we walked around we met the others and a fox had recently come and helped himself to six of the lambs. Security was tough. Sadly one black lamb had died.

We walked over two fields and to a river bank where a ewe was standing and my host approached gently from the side. The mother was hovering over a small black lamb. He signalled me and that was my cue to approach. After handing me a towel I grabbed the lamb. Barely an hour old and wrapped it up.

As we walked the mother and child back the two blessed to one another and I held this amazing newly born lamb with such affection and protective spirit that I only felt when we had our own children.

We dropped them both to the barn and settled them.

Triumphantly we went back to the house to have breakfast. As I left to start my day my friend said we name them all with a name starting with "E"- I'll let you name him. Instinctively I wanted Elijah a name that I've always loved.

Here he is.

Star of the Week

Very proud

Ten

Ten years.

TEN yeeeears. Wow!

Ten years ago Angie and I made a public vow. A vow which today we particularly remember, treasure and celebrate. This vow has guided us, carried us, held us, binded us in a bond that simply beyond words can describe. I cannot describe how, why or even what this is. I can describe what has been done like when we first made the decision to drop my salary... Or when we decided to move house, or have children to even smaller matters like choosing the colour of paint in the lounge. The bond however I cannot find words for. The loyalty. The love. The patience. The continual seeing that the best is yet to come. The belief in potential. The sense of companionship. Man... All these things. Wow.

All this from a vow... An act of will.

We sit amazingly where we honeymooned, enjoying a coffee, enjoying the stunning Scottish vistas, looking back with a welling of gratitude for the gift of these ten years.

Happy anniversary.

(http://solanky.blogspot.co.uk/2007/04/4-years.html?q=Anniversary)

Hanging out

Spending some time in the woods with the Tranters this Easter.






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Location:Pepenbury

A nice rainbow on the way home

Broken light. A sign. A Promise. Richard Of York Gave Battle In Vain.

Love rainbows. Was awesome to see such a sight on my short walk home.

And some more pics from around Skipton

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A walk in Skipton Woods

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Location:Cambrian Rd,Tunbridge Wells,United Kingdom

The Solanky family lineage

From youngest to oldest.

Good bye eighties

An icon of my decade of growing up died today.

She was the first English Prime Minister. A testimony of a strong female leader.

She was the poster girl for that era.

Margret Thatcher, Conservative Prime Minister of the UK for 11 years during 1979 to 1990, passed away today aged 87.

BBC political writer Nick Robins sums it up well:

"In an era in which politicians are all too often greeted with indifference, it is easy to forget that Britain was once led by a woman who inspired passion - both love and loathing.”

She was decisive and divisive.

I recall how everyday we'd see the update on the Miner's Strike. I saw the people rise up when being taxed to live. I lived with the idea of "me" being popularised. I recall Adrian Mole's headteacher displaying, proudly, his poster of Margret in his office. I recall when they announced the war in the Falklands. The SAS raid at the Iranian Embassy. The bombing in Brighton.

These were the days that I grew up in with Margret Thatcher as our leader.

I can't really say that I was an admirer nor supporter of her.

But today I find myself feeling a sense of loss with the news of her death. A reminder how life, no matter whether its my friend or opponent, is precious. Each of us matter. Each of us carry a unique signature. Today I mourn for Margret Thatcher.

"I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that." - Martin Luther King Jr.