Jive, ballet, tap – these kids can do it all!

About to begin

How proud can you get as a Dad? Very, is the answer, when your little girl gets up on the stage and dances her heart out.

Reaching for the sky

Ballet – strike the pose

Rockin the jive

Eyes drifting right…

There must have been 70-80 girls in the show. 26 songs, fantastic choreography, costumes, music. A real show.

The cutest are always the youngsters. Here’s Nellie the Elephant:

I’ve been spotted by Wren in the middle…

From Nellie to Ballet.

Freya is a cutie

Showgirls

The show ranges from the babies to teens.

Tappety tap tap

Points

Too young to point yet

Of course, there won’t ever be a more positive audience than the one for this show. Pride doesn’t really capture it: All the applause, whistles, cheering, waving. Total overwhelming love!

Dancing queens

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Paris – a photographer’s delight!

To be in Paris for pleasure and not for business for once,… what a delight!

Who can resist a park bench…

It is just such a photogenic city. I love wandering about and soaking up the atmosphere, even if the weather is appalling.

Which century are we in?

In my opinion though it needs to be shot in black and white, preferably on a Leica. Overtones of Doisneau, Willy Ronis and Cartier Bresson. So on my perambulations, what did I see? Cafe life, of course: 

Too early for the terrasse

Still too early…

Good to get into the warm at last

A chance to gossip

Paris, being Paris, is not shy about offering delectation for the eye…

Shop window, Place des Vosges

Delightful!

Destined for someone’s garden? I’m jealous!

On the more romantic side of Paris is the bridge for lovers just by the Louvre. These padlocks are cropping up everywhere!

Jana and Lukas, for ever

But the best with street photography is always the people. Leica at F8 and shooting from the hip. A great way to spend a weekend in Paris…

Old soldier, Arc de Triomphe

 

France today

   

France tomorrow?

Modern France, yesterday, today and tomorrow

Woodland in Blue

Last weekend was dreary. I didn’t want to get out of bed. Cocooning warmth vs the eternal drizzle of the wettest spring in decades. But then the inner voice – “you’ve got to go to the Bluebell wood today, because next weekend it will all be gone!” So I dragged myself out of bed, and thank God I did….

The farmer planted rape this year – he’s a colour artist

A the vibrant zing of contrasting colours. In a weird way the incessant mizzling makes the colours leap out even more. The woodland is an enchanting place. No other people around, but the wildlife seems to be erupting everywhere. A cacophony of sound – mainly from the birds; within 15 minutes I’ve seen deer, fox, pheasant, kites, squirrels and rabbits.

stitched panorama

In fact, I think I’ve disturbed the fox. He’s clearly more intent on the pheasant than on me. And once the pheasant explodes into the air, cracking wings and squawking in panic, I swear the fox gives me a disgusted look as he lopes off into the undergrowth.

Woodland track

Having ruined the fox’s breakfast, I then manage to disturb the deer too. In the middle of the wood, surrounded by bluebells, a young deer. Being the advanced photographer that I am, I have the camera switched off, wrong lens, and have to put down tripod and backpack gear before I can raise camera to eye. By that time – no deer anymore. Ah well, that’s one that got away…

Blue star

Even the kite, screeching away as he circles over the wood, seems to mock my efforts to photograph the wildlife. So, thank heavens the flowers can’t move! In contrast to all the fauna, the flora revels in posing for the camera. To the benefit of the enchanted wood! Ah, the warm bed might entice with its soft folds. But that is a momentary pleasure easily forgotten. My morning in the enchanted wood… That will stay with me forever.

Bluebells and rape field

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Blue is the colour

Dick Turpin in Epping Forest

Mother-in-law’s poison!

Little did I realise, when my mother-in-law came for dinner, that she had brought poison into the house!

Ranunculus – beware…

These deadly plants – if you eat them – are growing in her garden. So, she brought a posey to put on our dining table. And very colourful they are. But pretty dangerous too….

Beautiful and deadly

This is not the plant you want to eat. (Not that we were planning on eating it – Roast duck actually with a fine Rhone wine, cooked by Mrs P no less!) I take it on good authority that there is an acrid taste, intense blistering to the mouth. Ingesting will cause excessive salivation and bloody diarrhoea…!

What a pink!

blinding yellow!

Beauty often hides a darker side. Lured in, captivated and entranced, only to be stung. Such is the power of deceptive plants…

hooded and hidden heart

Vicious fiery intensity

No respite in that poisonous green

So, poison from the garden, placed meekly in the vase on the dining table. From the mother-in-law! And who would know this dangerous plant’s common name? Ranunculus = the buttercup!

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Every cloud has a silver lining…

Mad business travel on a Thursday night

A five way conversation via Blackberry that sums up the madness of modern business lives.

 

Madridian hotel

 

 

Me, travelling home from Madrid (hence the pix). Woman 1, somewhere in central Europe, Woman 2 and 4 in London, Woman 3 on the Eurostar

 

 

From: Woman 1 to: Woman 2 and 3  and 4 and me

Still stuck in meeting, going on for ever!

From : me to : Woman1 and 2 and 3 and 4

I don’t believe it, I just emailed you as a joke to ask if you’d finished… I’m in the cab on the way home looking forward to a (lge) glass of wine avec ma femme who has spent the week in Singapore. We all live mad mad lives!

From: woman 1 To: me, woman 2 and 3 and 4

that we do – enjoy!

Lonely bed in a business hotel

From: woman 4 To: me, woman 1, 2 and 3

… I just got on the wrong bus, the only one on it and don’t know where I’m going!!!

From: me  To: woman 4, woman 1 and 2 and 3

Awesome! Maybe you need the wine more than me…

From: woman 3, To woman 1, 2, 4 and me

I toast you with all my bordeaux from the Eurostar! How did your preso go, or have you even got that far?

From me To woman 3, 4, 1 and 2

Done it. A success!. A most peculiar 5 way conversation this, i might have to blog on it…

From woman 3, To me. woman 1, 2 and 4

Actually, the question on the preso was to woman 1, not you, but glad yours went well too

From me, To woman 3, 1, 2, and 4

Classic!!!!!!!!!!!! (woman 1 seems to have ducked out of the conversation – probably powdering her nose…)

Lift lobby

From woman 3, to woman 1, 2, 4 and me

Despite it only being a 2.5 hour train journey and separated by merely a tunnel, how is the weather so much worse in the UK than France?

From woman 2 To woman 3, 1 and 4 and me

That’s the question I ask myself every single morning ….

From me, To woman 3, 1, 2 and 4

We make up for it by having a wicked sense of humour… 

From: woman 4 (still on a bus) To: me, woman 1, 2 and 3

I’d get off but I’ve been on a no carbs diet this week so don’t actually have the energy in my legs to stand!

Fixtures and fittings

From: me To: woman 1,2, 3 and 4

My wife just phoned me, having landed back from Singapore. “Where have I been?” “Madrid” I reply. “Oh, I thought you were in Munich?” “No, Madrid.” “Well, at least it begins with an M.” “Indeed.” A typical Peck conversation.

From: woman 3 To me, 1,2 and 4

Close enough for sure…

 

From: woman 1 To: woman 3, me; woman 4 and 2

I had the same discussion with hubby about Miami and Orlando all week last week

 

From: me, To: woman1, 2, 3, 4

At least they’re in the same country. We can’t even get that right!

 

From: woman1 To: me, woman 2, 3, 4.

I think I’ve won the race – clutching a g & t right now – Tom? 

 

From me, To woman 1, 2, 3 and 4

Woman 1 resurfaces! In an attempt to dodge traffic my taximan has gone via the backroads. Result – I’m completely lost. Could be in Timbuctoo (is that how you spell it?)

 

From: woman 2 To: me, woman 1, 3 and 4

It’s Timbuktu – haven’t you heard of spell check before… ?

 

From: me To: woman 2, 1, 3, and 4

!@+!?#####/!!! Spell check? Don’t make any grammatical mistakes in my presence for the next week. I will explode, apoplectically! (More likely to be woman 3 come to think of it…she’s an apostrophe abuser)

 

 

My Madrid view

 

 

From: woman 4, to woman 1, 2, 3 and me:

Apparently there’s a destination change on my bus… Which doesn’t bother me as I have no idea where I’m going anyway… Impromptu sightseeing of London whilst I look out for any tube station or friendly looking pub

 

From: woman 1 To: woman 4, 2, 3 and me

Sounds quite relaxing that – just sit back and see where you end up ..

 

 

From: woman 4 To Woman 1, 2, 3, and me

Just boarded bus no 3… Now en route to ‘Snellington Palace’! Quite an adventure, but think I’ll pay more attention tomorrow! Have a good evening all!

 

From: me To: woman 1, 2, 3 and 4

 I’m arriving! HOME!!!

Pour me my drink and let me flop on the sofa.

Bberry about to be discarded. Thumbs can take a break. Normal mania will resume tomorrow.

Its been an honour conversing with you ladies. God bless…

 

 

From: woman 3 To: woman 2, me, womand 1 and 4

Made it back to London…just the tube home to go! Double jack and coke here I come!

 

From: woman 2 To: me, woman 1 2 and 4

Have a good evening all!

 

From: woman 1 To: me. woman 2, 3, 4

and to all a good night  

M. Eiffel’s tower is a triumph!

The classic shot

It’s so nice to get to Paris as a tourist for once, instead of on business. I actually managed to indulge in all those classic touristy things – like taking photos of the Eiffel Tower!

I wasn’t the only tourist about, of course. Even at 7am on a bitterly cold April morning there were some very hardy Far Eastern newlyweds, who were doing the sites in full regalia.

This bride must have been freezing...!

Later in the day was time to climb the beast of a tower. No way were we waiting in the queues for the lift (at least a 2 hour wait) and we knew a trick, which I pass onto all of you here: climb the stairs to the second floor and get the lift to the top from there. Easy and saves hours!!!

Shy Eiffel.

Bold Eiffel!

Looking up...

Looking down

Looking out

Looking in...

So, walking up to the second floor is a good dodge, and it’s not too hard. That leaves an exhilarating ride to the top in the lift, and a great view from the top. Awesome!

Up, up and up some more

With a great reward

and a happy tourist family!

A bit of trickery with the last shot. Anyone know why it looks like this?

Distorted Eiffel!

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Mrs P’s great day – the London Marathon

Yesterday was a Great Day. Why great? Because so many people fulfilled their ambition – to run the London marathon. What an achievement! 37,500 people. The largest charity fund raising event in the world. And the rain held off until the end. So British!

We were out in force to support Mrs P, for whom a marathon was on the list of top 10 things to do before she dies (she’s still got a few left, so I’m not too worried, yet…). The nerves had been jangling all week in anticipation of the big day. Finally, the off!

Nervous and ready

looking good at 6 miles

What is it about the Brits? Any excuse to get our kit off, or put some silly kit on. But of course we love a bit of zaniness! And there were a few crackers on display yesterday:

Ray's got his tools out!

Crazy...

Imagine 26.2 miles dressed as a tiger...

Having shouted our heads off in support of Mrs P at the Cutty Sark, time to dive through the Greenwich tunnel onto the Isle of Dogs for rendezvous 2:

The kids under the river

Granny & Grandad too, & Isabelle, flown in from Switzerland to support Mrs P

But where was Mrs P? Had we missed her, distracted by all the entertainment on offer?

Hula Hoop girl + Mrs Whiplash, on a ladder, of course(?)

She was really good!

The runners kept running past, and we got a bit peckish, so stopped for some chips. And of course that’s when Mrs P jogged past. She wasn’t best pleased that we were scoffing chips, and I had put down the camera, so no photo at this stage (15 miles in, ooops…)

Determination!

Luckily we caught her again at mile 18 (having finished our chips). Still looking good, and we roared her and her friends on!

The 3 (sweaty) Graces

We jumped in the tube and shot off to the Embankment for the next rendezvous. Getting there considerably quicker than the runners, we had time for a coffee and a chat, before needing to yell our support again…

Mile 24 - you're doing great! Keep it up!!!

At which point it began to rain. How typical. That give Isa, our Swiss friend, a chance to try out some new fashion ideas from Zurich

Mind you, she did keep dry!

And we looked like drowned rats anyway

So on to the last stretch. More cheering and clapping and congratulations and, frankly, amazement at the fantastic achievement of all of these runners.

Blimey, he made it! Well done!!!

Well done Ray - he'll never be parted from his tools...

And at last, our own heroes. What an achievement! A real life affirming moment! Hats off to Mrs P and all the runners! So proud of her! Well done!!!

You are STARS!

(She’s immediately started talking about doing the New York marathon next…. Bonkers!)

 

 

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The Madness of a Peck Weekend in Suffolk

Easter snap happy

Easter  is a great time to get together. Family, old friends, new friends. A chance to catch up. To reminisce, and to look forward. We indulged. An art show with my Dad; a college friends’ get-together with lots of booze. Let the kids run wild a bit. And a chance to take some portraits….

Tea before a visit to the Hockney exhibition

Grandfather and daughter catch up on the gossip

A good trip

Fathers and sons

He's already bigger than his Dad...!

Mothers and daughters

Kids who are almost teenagers; how did that happen?

But the boy still loves a rough and tumble

A perfect long weekend.

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Sharing time together, telling stories

The Madness of a Peck weekend in Suffolk

Frothy White Easter

The Easter weekend – time to celebrate that Spring has sprung! The hawthorne is out 3 weeks earlier than usual this year, and it looks as spectacular as ever.

The hawthorne blossom

A fluffy delight.

Epping Forest bursts back into life

Wake Valley Pond

Epping Forest country lane

The hawthorne is pretty difficult to photograph – I’m never really satisfied with my shots. But I keep trying, every year. And regardless of the final images, I get a strong sense that Spring is here, bubbling over in its frothy whiteness. Gorgeous! Bring on the warmer weather!!!

Oi! that kid’s got my baguette!

1970-ish

I like my food, and it looks like I have always done so. This is me, aged 2? 3?. Got my hands on a baguette and I’m not going to give it up. France, no doubt. And here’s me, a year or two later, with a banana. Got a good grip on it, not giving that one up either. Suspect that’s France too.

1974?

And then it’s my kids turn. France again for the following pix. This time in the South, Uzes:

2002

2002

And then along came my daughter! A big surprise, as the Pecks hadn’t produced a girl in the whole of the 20th century. She’s made up for that – very girl, very loud

In Beziers, very pink, very smiley

Matching hat, very swish

And so the wheel turns. From father to son, and to daughter of course. Look, I even have the photographic proof. There’s my son, and he’s nicked my baguette!

Cheeky tyke!