I rode to work for the first time since before Christmas yesterday and nearly died. No dooubt the Christmas excess has something to do with the feeling of choking my lungs up. Give me some oxygen the cried as i clung to a tree wheezing like an elderly asthmatic. Little did i know that the ride was going to hurt me in new ways later in the day.

As i rode through the woods a splat of ‘mud’ did penetrate my lips. I thought nothing of it and expelled it within an instance. As the day drew on i grew increasingly  crampy until the inevitable erruption from both ends of the body. Bow down to the porcelain god. I am not certain that the ‘mud’ was the offender, it may have been the Noro bug, but safe to say some of the Christmas excess was quickly reversed.

Until recently the MEDICI were completely off my radar, that was at least until Andrew Graham-Dixon’s great programme ‘ The Medici: Makers of Modern Art’. I had not realised just how much impact the MEDICI have had on our every day life, let alone the art world. These are the original money men. They were the Italian bankers who financed Religious based art in an attempt to apease the Church, and that their money lending was not so ungodly. The word bank derives from the Italian word from table, as the bankers would literally set up in a town square on a table. The word bankrupt also comes from the Italian for ‘table broken’ as when a bank went out of business their table would be ceremoniously broken. The Medici were also responsible for the first art college and gave Michealangelo his big break. Loads more can be discovered at this great site.

I really like Andrew Graham Dixon and he along with Waldemar Januszczak are both the most presentable and watchableart critics in the land, even if Waldemar’s website is a little boastful.

Which animal can possibly claim to be the most amazing athlete. Well shockingly Arctic Terns have emerged as the leading contender with their 70000 km annual migration. Yes, seventy thousand kilonmitres. Scientists tracked their journey for the first time and were amazed at the extent of their travel. It was discovered that the birds RESTED for nearly a month feeding in fertile waters somewhere near Newfoundland. What amazed me was that this stretch of water has no land so the birds remain in the air for the whole period of this ‘rest’ stop. Don’t know about you butrelaxing for me generally includes cushions, warmth and the term ‘feet up’.

In other birdy news, since the snows arrival i have been leaving out loads of food for the birds. Since moving to our new house i have been disappointed by the lack of feathered action in the garden. I am happily able to report that my recent attempts haveresulted in large amounts of feathered friends feasting in the garden. Most notable visitors have been a Fieldfare who daily chomps on the berries of a bush i have not identified. Incidentally check the latin name of the fieldfare for a wee giggle. A pair of spotted woodpeckers and a green woodpecker were the most vivid visitors. There have been a smattering (the technical term) of black birds hopping about in the snow. This has resulted in great sets of impressions in the white stuff. I am now hoping that this show will encourage visitors all year around.

I stumbled upon noticings in much the same way you stumble across the content of noticings. This is a website of strange and peculiar items, sights and visuals people have stumbled across in their wanderings. this is a treasure trove for people like me (whatever that may be). It is the chance encounters with random beautiful images which makes wandering enjoyable.

Went late night sledging last night and it was a blast. Bouyed by the daylight experience on my sons sled i snaffled it along with a head torch and a stack of layers of clothes and headed to our nearest steep hill (end of the road - 10m away). Whereas we had had to dodge the odd intrepid 4×4 during the day we were free to career head long into the night.

Late night sledding is not without its hazards.   The head torches definitely help. Avoid parked cars and trees is a must. Wrap up in multiple layersd with a waterproof outer and wear some glolves. I always go for the head first skeleton bob pose (other poses are available) with hand for steering but yo’ll sort it.

    

I long for snow days. Theres a miriad of reasons why. Not least of these is the prospect of seeing the world completely different for a few days. The other is of some snow play time. I studied art at collecge and it is the one time of the year when I can practically and easily sculpt in any scale.I have been out with the little ones making a snow pig and elephant combo. The pig is big, but non too accomplished while the elephant is an Elmer look alike. As art projects go they keep the kids amused, I really need some grander plan perhaps…. mmm. 

This snow was actually sculpt friendly. the last snow we had was like sugar or soap crystals and you could not make it hold together into any form. You don’t notice the cold so much when playing in the snow. Aparantly the wind chill today was -6 or more (or less) but i could manage a good while outside. Mind i did have 3 pairs of socks on. I reckon i’ve got the whole snow attire sorted. Dress like an onion = layer up.

I recently been enjoying the BBC i player hugely. The most amusing show has been Knowing me knowing you - with Alan Partridge. I always enjoyed the TV show but never heard it on the radio. It is a cracker. The writing is pure class.I will not bore you with retelling the scenarios but the show with the gifted child and the mind reader is genius.

Whether it is the seasons cheer rubbing off on drivers or not i am unsure but on my way home from work the other night 3 drivers courteously stopped and allowed me to pass on my bike. Now one driver doing this would ordinarily be unusual, but three is a miracle. It must be seasonal goodwill. Another reason not to look forward to the season passing.

The national lottery recently celebrated its birthday, or so i read (if a national competition can celebrate a birthday). Amongst the items i read in the press was one piece recording what some of the newly made millionaires have done with their money. Now the question ‘what would you do if …’ is a common one, maybe less so as the lottery has got older. I remember the lottery starting and i did occasionally spend my pound. The lottery ahs since seemed to merge into the everyday. Its almost completely off my radar. Does anyone actually watch the lottery shows? so heres a selection of the best and most useless uses.

The purchase of seven acres of woodland, saving it from a housing development. A collection of action men. Knee replacements to allow ballroom dancing once more. Breat enhancements for two sisters (yeah, i’ll improve you). A gold coloured Robin reliant. A distillery. A stud farm.

I am unsure how many of your dreams were amongst those. Dream on.

The Times has published a list of the top 100 albums of the Noughties. I was annoyed by this on two counts. Fistly they stretched the piece out over 15 web pages. For that reason - here is a link to the top 10. Now thats more like it.

The other mythersome angle for me - is who compiled this list - why should i listen to them. So heres my own top 100 albums list …. let me just stretch it over 16 pages

100 - DJ Distance - my demons

Incidently check him out. He dont look anything like what you oughta think he o should be.

Oh hold on … look hat i’m doing now.

29th Nov - Over the past few days i have dwelt on this list a little more and got even more annoyed with it. The breadth of music included is so narrow its stupid - so discount the whole thing. Aaaahh!

I was talking to a friend about thefunniest bits of the Adam and Joe show on 6music. It is the soundtrack to my week at work on the pc. For me the week where the music was punctuated by pirate interruptions was a cracker and had me rolling around. The premise was that driving around london with an FM radio would lead to your station of choice listening being interrupted for a second or two with some pirate radio station. Take a listen to one of Adams interruptions which he has expanded into a rough jungle tunes about a nice piece of cake. He had another cracker which was a pirate Classical station. Hold tight the Pitzicollo chamber quintet.

I noticed a story today which made me think mmm thats surely a wind up (titter). There is a town in Essex which had itsclock vandalised. It has now been repaired, you’ll no doubt be happy to know. Unfortunately the repairers failed to notice they had placed the numbers the wrong way around

My immediate thought was, oh come on I am not that stupid. No one noticed until a local walked past and thought ‘how odd’. They  are going to leave the clock as it is now and hope that it becomes an attraction for tourists. Of course they are. The place really must be a dump if the highlight of a visit is spotting a clock which has two numbers round the wrong way. No, I am sure its a lovely place.