From Gatesgarth we first climbed Fleetwith Pike. The memorial to “Fanny Mercer, accidentally killed 1887” Looking back over Buttermere Up onto the ridge Looking back to Buttermere The summit of Fleetwith Pike Innominate Tarn in threatening weather Descending Haystacks to Scarth Gap in a howling gale Descending Scarth Gap Pass A Herdwick... read more

Yay, it's the summer holidays! Weeks and weeks of lovely Welsh sunshine, no school, and absolutely nothing to do. We have set Lois, Helen and Robin a challenge; they must produce the following items on Sunday 30th August: A piece of sandstone The Dean's signature A recording (home made) of Mendelssohn's Lift Thine Eyes A fig... read more

After all the scanner woes, I almost forgot about Helen’s art… here’s a pencil drawing she did for art homework a couple of days ago. I love it, remembering how my own childhood attempts to draw human faces always made the subjects look like they’d been run over. read more

An old blotting paper table covering is finding its way to the recycling bin, but in a corner amidst the doodles and noughts-and-crosses, this was written long ago by the Helly: Help! Please, someone! As if stuck in a world of darkness I cannot see, only hear and feel. Please help! Oh no, wait, I was just closing my eyes, silly me! Sorry... read more

As folk will surely know, I’m organising a South Wales Traverse relay with exeGesIS colleagues on 7th – 8th June, the aim being to complete the 73 mile route in less than 24 hours. This is a Big Ask, requiring an average speed over 3mph over mountain terrain, with lots of colleagues whose main form of exercise is writing software. We’re doing it... read more

At last we are the “proud” owners of Number 1 Fronwen Terrace, and over the last couple of weekends we have begun the mammoth task of making it habitable for humans. Here’s the kitchen after lifting the lino to reveal the slime and mould… I removed the whole lot, along with most of the skin on my knuckles.  The quarry tile floor is in good... read more

Number 1 in the charts on  the days we were born… Naomi Lois Helen Robin Crispin read more

Poj roused the Scouts for a walk up Pen y Fan in driving drizzle. Naomi and I went along to make up the numbers of “responsible adults”, and we took Grandma too. And of course Robin and Helen to even things up again. We were able to park at Pont ar Daf despite the Phytophthora ramorum outbreak that has attacked the larches. On the hill, Mackenzie... read more

Lois playing her new cello Helen, Bobs and Naomi All of us with the tree Windy walk up the Crug with Mike, Sally and Tony Christmas dinner Robin sorting out the Hotwheels, and still in pyjamas at lunchtime Lois and Helen rehearsing for the concert (Mae Hen…) read more

Here is Helen’s recipe for an alien:

Grind up some special soap, and add some ground up c

... read more