Third coming

I'm sitting on a train. We just stopped at Crewe. I wanna be adored has just started on my playlist.

I'm on my way home.

Just been to probably the best gig of my life.

It turned out it wasn't just going to see the Stone Roses as I thought. It was a somewhat different entirely. It was a chance, just a small one, to meet myself, 23 years on. Who I was then and who I am now. And what a journey it was. Gosh, I'm a very different person now but still had that same vision then as I do now. I only realised that when seeing them live that despite the years they were the same. As was I.

When I was first handed the vinyl album The Stone Roses in spring of 1989 as the album to listen to... it was not only a record but also a gesture of friendship... one which also stayed and grew. Both transformed my world.

The new music, crazy square hairstyles and sounds that were frankly counter cultural and allowed me to find a new place.

23 years on I got my dream to see them play live as they too have been through a roller coaster of a time. Schisms, high expectation, hatred, egos, a departure from the core vision and much more. However, they came back and when the hugged at the end and came to the front and took a bow, the fireworks flying and Redemption Song playing I realised that this season is now over. I don't often like myself, what I've done and seldom have praise for myself. But I got to go back in time this weekend for albeit for a brief, short, moment and meet that young person that I was and say the only two words that matter: thank you.

I only wish someone had said that back then.


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Location:United Kingdom

Location, location, location

Over the past 10 weeks I've been seeking a location for an event we're planning over the summer.

This has been a real mission.

It's mainly been challenging as I've been looking for something that will be free and also something that the other group wants to partner with. Both have proved challenging. I've received good places with a cost and free places that are unsuitable.

Still this week I've been to some cool places including tunnels under railway bridges, old bank branches and disused offices among others.















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Josh n Jill ran up the hill

Josh was "Jack" as his chosen nursery rhyme character for playschool this week.

Whoops he's fallen down the hill... Ouch!






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Reuben is 3

9th of June

What a day, not only did we celebrate three years of Reuben, but we also welcomed Lilliana Naomi Das (Reuben's cousin).

We went down to the woods today and just enjoyed being out and partying with family and friends with a lovely barbeque. loved how being out in the open allowed us to relax and be free. we weren't saying "no don't do that" or " can you stop that" to the kids, but rather... "let's go explore" or "let's do that"... loved it, loved this day and love our boy. very thankful for this wonderful memory.

Happy Birthday Reuben.

more timelapses

I had fun before with this time-lapse app here... and here's another old one that i managed to upload

Photo fun

There's some fairly fun photo apps and quite enjoy playing on them when I have a spare minute.

Not bad what you can do with a phone and a few spare mins.









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Location:Cambrian Rd,Tunbridge Wells,United Kingdom

Diamond Jubilee

So we managed to get up to see the boats (weren't able to see many from where we were). Great vibe and Joshua was awesome at chasing the pigeons in St James' park.















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Some time-lapse fun

Just back from travels and dancing with the boys



Reuben turns 2



and with the family

Happy Birthday mum

First birthday in heaven. We made some of your ginger triangles. Not quite the same as yours but we'll try again next year. Happy birthday mum :) xo


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Just before bedtime

Story Festival

We were at a story festival yesterday in Hartfield. Had a great time popping to the mad hatter's tea party, sitting in tents reading stories.

Even Caleb got into the swing of it and sat next to the aspiring writer of ginger tails.







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I made it

it was a dream come true moment.

for me liverpool is about my big brother. i looked up to him when i was young. i looked up to him a lot. and when he cam in with the announcement that he supported liverpool. i was hooked. i envied his bag his scarf as he went to saturday morning football. i was a fairly poorly kid. i never made it to saturday morning football.

the allegiance to the Reds stuck. my big bro went on to like spurs and then settled with Crystal Palace. i, however, stuck with the reds.

grew up with them. loved the way Ian rush would make me feel when i saw him on the pitch. loved it when the words came out of from the seminal gerry and the pacemakers anthem.

i always wanted to get to see them in liverpool and recently we were given some tickets by the FA for an auction at an event i was involved in setting up. i head it was liverpool and got all excited. however the highest bidder happen to work with me and said he couldn't make it and asked whether i would like to go. i jumped up and down with joy.

i dreamed of this moment. to walk down to the stadium to see the team that has been a big brother to me since i was 5.

here's that moment my dream came alive. the experience was magical, made the 5 hour commute worthwhile. the only disappointment was the team itself. we lost. dismal performance. but what a night. still smiling now :)

Footy

Returned to a game of football. Managed a run out and a couple of efforts on goal. First win for our team in a few years. Well done St Johns!

(and check out the rookies)






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The Sky Bar at St Pauls

We were given this location to use for the Haiti Dream. Wow.

www.haitidream.org



























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Holiday patterns

A friend shared with me a pearl of wisdom: "Over the years I have observed holidays tend to follow a pattern. Its a panic to get there. Then there's an incident that fires up everyone. Once that has calmed over, you relax and enjoy."



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Location:Pale Ln,,United Kingdom

Great trains

My father had a set of special plates. For special occasions. These and the special cutlery used to come out when we had guests. Even at festive times.

I always remember the plates. They were majestic. Very special. What I remember was the pictures on them.

They had old steam trains on them.

Today I saw them for real in the York train museum. Wow. They are still majestic in real life.


















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Location:Wetherby Rd,,United Kingdom

Morning time

It's just turned 7am.

Cup of tea in my hand. 3 of us awake. I'm still on holiday.

Sometimes 7am can be just awesome.










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Location:Cononley

Snow

It's time for the April snow.










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Cononley

Holiday time.

Booked the time off ages ago. Fits in with the Easter break. Nowhere booked. We kind of have no money.

Asked around in an impersonal way. Nada.

We wait. Still nothing.

Monday morning comes. A new week and as we launch into it Angie fires a prayer saying: it's in your hands. I was resigned to a stay-cation.

It was a long day. Endless meetings and preparation. As the eve draws in we close with a prayer. Angie then shoots to prepare for an Easter party. I go to sit down and before my bum hits the cushion the phone rings. I answer. Someone says "You're going on holiday. We've arranged for you to go to Cononley."

I gasp. Hardly expressive of the feelings erupting and just blurt a tired yet poignant word of gratitude.

Angie gets back. I say we're going on holiday and explain the sequence. She says: I prayed for that just this morning.

Amen.




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Location:Overdale Ct,Skipton,United Kingdom

Off

We're off on holiday. Woo hoo.

Last minute change and we're off to to the Yorkshire Dales territory.



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Location:N Hall Rd,,United Kingdom