Back with a bang!

So as you know, I have a new gang - half of my (enormous) tutor group consists of some of last terms lovelies, but they are now joined by the grown-up children - the foundationers - so as a means of getting to know each other they were paired with a realtive stranger and asked to create a piece of work which contained specific information about the other person..... A handbook if you like - basic information - name, age, D.O.B, favourite film and so on, coupled with hopes and dreams and favourite topic of converstaion!

The final outcomes will appear in due course - but here is a taster of what they came up with.....

Everything from bunting to, pop up maps, to flick books to illustrated books with a pair of shoes thrown in for good measure, what an inventive bunch they are!

BACK TO WORK - UGGHH!!!

Only kidding - if anything it is saving me from the Gilmore Girls - Really need to get some better viewing taste this year (yeah right! - Glee starts again on Monday!), and grazing on chocolate whilst wrapped up in a blanket on the sofa!!

I half a new tutor group too which is lovely - especially as they are all such gorgeous girls - even if they do look like they have escaped from the nearest mental asylum!!



Happy New Year!

Blimey - so here we go again.... Hmmmm, 2011 looks like it might be a bit of a strange one for me - for starters I will be turning 40 in March and then if all goes to plan, Ivan (Mr Bicknell) and I are going to be taking our first steps towards growing one of those baby things, well, all being well of course - the shock of turning 40 might be enough to send me over the edge before that happens though! Funny, I don't feel like I am about to be 40 - after all, I got a Glee annual for Christmas, alongside some Xfactor tour tickets and a Take That album - not many of my similarly aged friends would have found those in their stockings! But, hey, I feel absolutely no desire to grow up, so why should I? Life is short enough already and if you can't get stuck in without worrying what people think, then what's the point? I hope each and everyone of you enjoy and make the most of your year ahead - remember - it is going to be what you make of it, so all you students out there, by all means play hard, but work hard too - the benefits of the product of this are worth it. So, happy New Year. xxxx

Ours started, as it always seems to, with a splash - there is a tradition in the Bicknell household which involves some icy cold water, a luminous white body, an ageing Labrador, a flask of tea, some good dark chocolate and a fluffy towel! Needless to say I am the one holding the flask, the chocolate and the towel! You might remember the summer version - well here is the winter version!

Not a particularly flattering photo I grant you - and of course it is all artificial padding (!), but an example of just how cold it was on new Year's day in Worldham - this is the ice I chipped off the horse trough in the field next to the infamous spinny.......

The luminous body prepares to join the enthusiastic Labrador for the first dip of the year....

And he's in.....

And he's racing to the edge....

And he's out!

What a nutter!

A very urban Christmas

Now this was a first for us - Christmas in the city, Annie, Ivan's (Mr Bicknell's) sister took it upon herself to "do" Christmas this year, and well, who were we to argue? As sad as I was about leaving our little haven in the country for three days, I was secretly pleased about not having to be in charge of clearing up all the mess afterwards, also very nice not having to worry about cooking too - although the two of us aren't too shabby on that front. So we packed the car - no mean feat as a) our car was still at the top of the hill and b) we had to fit all our presents and food contributions in along with Ivan's lovely Mum and what appeared to be enough booze and food to last for a good week... What would we do without our neighbours? Next door lugged everything up for us in their car which was a life saver and for some bizarre reason the roads to the big smoke were clear, so the festivities began....

Spoilt children...

I told you......

Dinner in Islington at the magnificent Isarn - if you find yourself on upper street - pop in! Strawberry Bellini's to die for and the grub's pretty good too!

A rare thing indeed - cheery boys at Christmas - the lovely Rainer and the even lovlier Ivan (Mr Bicknell).

A stroll on Hampstead Heath - one thing Worldham can't offer!

Huge kite!

A well balanced camera!

Annie concentrating on creating delicious delights.

A Vegetarian Christmas - who needs a turkey?!

Primrose hill on Boxing day - Gorgeous!

Messing about in Regents Park - don't tell Tim Harvey!

Snow Geese!

 Now where did that Partridge go?

What yer doing?

Nice to see that even the inhabitants of Primrose Hill suffer from a lack of taste!

A Christmas miracle - my first real Banksy sightings!

The cats were unimpressed!

I always think that being a cat in our house would be fab - Scratch and Sniff are totally over indulged, but apparently it really isn't on when your owner can't control the weather.....

Err, no, we NEVER let the cats sit on the table....

Scratch

Sniff - sniffy by name, sniffy by nature...



Here comes the snow....Again!

So, it snowed again - but it was the sheep I felt bad for this time, I really don't think that they could look any more miserable! Especially as whilst I was indoors decorating our tree and wrapping presents. However, they were not the only ones outside in the cold, Ivan (Mr Bicknell) decided to head off for the hills the moment college closed it's doors and sped off to the Lakes - Why? Because he is certifiable, that, my friends is why! Stuck for the night in Rochdale must have been a real high, but I understand that a fine time was had by all, apparently the coldest part of the trip was walking down our hill at 1.00am when he got home - minus 14 apparently!

Doesn't look much fun.

Errr, nor does this really.....

But this was!



Christmas shopping

I was ill at the end of November with a sick bug, courtesy of my nephew Rafferty - which he generously passed on to a whole number of us at our pre-Christmas, Christmas in Glastonbury, so whilst recovering at home and being forced (!) to miss a day off work - the rest of the art staff refused to have me in the building, I did most of my shopping on line - fortuitous as it turned out as it all arrived on time and I wasn't caught out by the snow - it is amazing however just how commercial things have become, but I was very surprised to see domestic pets getting in on the action this year - well, i suppose if you want exactly the right Jumbone you have to pick it out yourself huh?!

On his way home for a happy and contented Christmas!