Thursday 26th July 07

Another busy day, Gill trying to get our accounts done, so we offloaded the kids round to a friend and G got on with work, I had a shower and got ready for work, the second day with the gifted and talented kids at Manor School. Got there in good time and laid out the equipment for the workshop. This went well, very talented, good fast learners.

Home via the building society to get a cheque out and put one in, picked up compostables from Martins and got home before 3pm, and both of us felt really tired.

So I got on with more YGF stuff, oh it's nearly over....

Tea was lovely, fermented soya bean thingy (forgotten it's name) and onion, pepper and HOME GROWN TOMATOES yummy!

And then out again, a site meeting at Rowntree Park with stewards and organisers, which went well, and then a swift cycle to St Nicks for their AGM.

Had problems with blog not being connected, slowed things down quite a bit.

Tuesday 24th July 07

Another busy day, but woke when our 9 yr old knocked on the door to tell us it was 7.30 and he'd like breakfast. Yesterday he slid in quietly and we again asked him again to knock if he wanted to come in, in case we were doing anything which might embarrass him.... he had a huge paddy about this as he thought he'd been told off. This morning he told us he hadn't wanted to wake us up, just to see if we were awake... he can of course get his own breakfast these days, but the whole thing is a minefield.

I was able to do a bit in the garden first thing, before getting ready for work, at Manor School again, this time for a summer school Gifted, Able and Talented primary kids going up to secondary (I think). Gill went to pick up her new glasses and Maria came to babysit as I was leaving at 11.45 to start at 12.30.

The gig went really well, they were talented, several of them were already jugglers and diabolo players, and were good listeners and learners, it was a really good hour. We had 10 mins of instruction and information, then 45 mins of play, experimentation, trying stuff out, and 5 mins of showing what they'd learned at the end.

Then down to York again to visit Cycle Heaven to get my damaged wheel replaced, it didn't take long and cost just £20, and I was able to reload my kit onto the trailer and go to Rowntree Park to meet up with the Environmental Health people who were concerned about noise pollution. They were very supportive, unlike their colleague the Festivals Officer, and came up with common-sense solutions, and appeared to want the event to go ahead.

Then bombed home and Maria was still there, Gill doing accounts and Maria reading a book, they'd had lunch together and were just settled happily and the boys were playing without any grown-up input.

I did some housework and then had to go back into town to meet the Council Officer who's in charge of licencing the Rowntree Park, and discussed all sorts of issues with him and he too was very supportive and helpful.. quite a revelation after the feeling of a lack of help/support from the person who's supposed to assist festival organisers. I left feeling good, and picked up a huge load of compostables from Martin's Country Fresh, two sacks and 3 boxes, including a sack of bananas which hadn't sold even at knock down prices, perhaps 50 or 100 of them, I haven't yet got to the bottom of the sack! I've got loads drying on the stove though.

Tea was some out of date tofu with onions and yesterday's soup on top, with walnut bread from Masham. Delicious!

An evening of emailing and blogging and googletalk with K in US, we're enjoying our chats a lot at the moment. Also had to do some YGF stuff...

Thursday 19th July 07

A tough day for me, although Gill took the boys to school which was good. I had several things to get done first thing, mainly yet more Green Festival things. Then at about 11am, loaded my Fiddlesticks stuff onto the bike trailer and set off to town, where I popped into The Anti-Gravity Shop to get a couple of Devilsticks for one of my clients next week, and from there onto Manor School for my last gig with the group I've been with since January. I just let them play freely, and made some balloon models for them.

Then on the way home I visited Graham's parents, who had my penknife which I'd lent to Graham at the last Critical Mass and forgot to get back off him. They were lovely, I've met them both before, York's a small place! They told me that Graham had recieved his degree confirmation yesterday, a 2.1 which is excellent, especially for someone so active in community matters. Well done Graham! Good chats about composting and other ethical issues over a fair-trade coffee.

Then went to pick up my prescription. On the way into the surgery, probably cycling too fast, my trailer overturned (probably on the kerb) and I came to a sudden halt, my groin landing on the handlebar stem, quite a bump. Still aching hours later. Silly fool, speeding!

Anyway, got home a little more slowly and carefully than I sometimes do, and was in time to pick up the kids.... and in the playground was greeted by 'IRA Bob' who's building the new Japanese garden, and he was very angry with me for saying to the school about the railway sleepers not being suitable. He accused me of trying to sabotage his work, called me lots of vulgar names very loudly and threatened to kill me if I ever got in his way again. This was the first time I had 'got involved' in one of his projects, and my feelings about the unsuitable sleepers were nothing to do with him as a person. They are because tarry sleepers aren't allowed to be used in playgrounds or where there might be regular skin contact. The tar is difficult to get off skin and clothes, smells horrible and can cause cancer. And as this garden is in memory of a pupil who died of leukemia, it is particularly inappropriate. So Bob was really out of order, I didn't lower myself to his level and didn't retaliate. I could not reply to him as he shouted over my attempts to explain. So, feeling shaky about his threat to kill me, I went to the office and complained to the very tolerant Mrs C and then the Headteacher, who told me that I'd done the right thing and she'd go and tell him that using that language and intimidation was wrong.

My eldest child asked if he could go to S's house with several other lads, to celebrate the last day of term. I said yes, and Maria took his bike home in her car, and was dropping it off when I arrived back home, with a trailer load of recyclables from the school bins.

I spent quite a while doing more YGF stuff, made a quick tea of tempeh and onion, potato salad and cabbage salad, and then went to town to the Blue Bell to pick up the keys for Space 109 for our last York Green Festival meeting there. The meeting was well attended, with representatives from three bands, several stewards and various others. We got a lot sorted, it is all coming together I think. However I still think the council will cancel the event because the ground will be too soggy.

Home to sort out a letter to local residents, neighbours of the park, and other email stuff.

Whilst on the computer, did a search for health and railway sleepers, and yes, there is an EU directive saying that they shouldn't be used in playgrounds or if they would be in contact with skin if they have been treated with creosote, which these had. I am relieved that my info was correct... previously I had objected because I had a memory of the subject coming up on a gardening programme. However, I reckon that IRA Bob may try to get his own back because of this... I hope not, but only time will tell.

Thursday 7th June 07

I took the boys to school as my eldest has damaged his bike in two angry outbursts and it is unrideable. We found out yesterday that at one shop at least, it would cost over £80 to get it repaired. So he is walking, and when he walks with Gill he demands a ride on her saddle whilst she pushes. I won't allow this and he has to walk. I walked with him and we discussed snails (I saw a thrush using the pavement as an anvil to smash snails out of their shells, and we discussed a slogan that I need for being on the World Naked Cycle Ride tomorrow. He came up with something brilliant, see tomorrow's blog for what I eventually put on the placard.

Soon after coming home I started work on the Community Care column which needs to be in tomorrow. This one will be about transport choices.

Then at 11am I got myself ready to go to work, doing my penultimate gig at Manor School, where I did a balloon modelling lunchtime workshop. On the way I stopped off at Cycle Heaven where I booked my bike for a session of TLC and asked if they'd got a quote yet for building me a bespoke bike to replace this one which won't last for much longer, certainly I ought to replace it within the year.

The gig went very well, some of the youngsters were very attentive and followed instructions well, and were creative and prolific, making about 8 models in 40 minutes. Others struggled and couldn't really get the hang of it, but we all had a good time.

Came home via Out Of This World where there was stuff awaiting collection so I did, and brought it back to add to my extremely hot tumbler-full.

Then it was time to pick up the kids, I also picked up P and we all came home quickly, with my eldest on my crossbar. The three boys played in the garden whilst I did some compost management.

P was collected by his Mum at 5ish and we all had tea, Gill had made a quiche which I had with the remains of yesterday's cottage pie.

After all had quietened down I wrote my column and counted the words... I'm always amazed I can write it to almost the exact length I need. The column is supposed to be 350 words, I did it in 357. Then typed it in and sent it off, hooray!

Thursday 17th May 07

A work day so I started by hotting up the bathwater on the woodstove and had a bath and hair wash. Then cycled out to Manor School on Poppleton Road and at 12.40 started one of my first 'Human Pyramid Building' workshops. I have done limited 'acrobalance' as it is also known, but enough to do about 4 different things with the limited numbers present (3 chunky boys, one slim athletic boy and one small girl). There was also a lot of noise from the other side of the practice room as about 25 people were practicing some dancing.

Anyway the acrobalance stuff went well and the youths enjoyed it.

Home in time to pot up some sprouting beans which have their rootlets coming out.

Collected eldest son from school as youngest has been at home allegedly unwell.