London Fashion Week

This photograph taken on the runway during London's Fashion Week. The catwalks take place in February and September at changing venues such as the Natural History Museum, showcasing upcoming and established designers like Vivianne Westwood here. As curator of contemporary fashion, Sonnet is able to get passes which makes her particularly popular amongst her (female) friends.





New York's Fashion Week takes place twice a year: the fall shows are held the preceding winter (February). The spring shows are held the preceding late summer (September). The event takes place in Bryant Park, which is converted to a temporary arena with tents covering the park's 8 sq. acres. The individual venues - ranging up to 12,000 square feet - come complete with runway, seating for attendees, backstage areas, lighting and sound. Influentials include Oscar de la Renta to Zac Posen and P Diddy. And of course our very own Sonnet.





While these photographs are not technically inspiring, shot from a poor position and with a c****y digital camera, I like the outcome nonetheless. It shows (me anyway) that the subject matter counts for the majority of an image's value, and the steps to get there only get in the way. A rule of thumb seems to be one good result for every 200 shutters, though this final number might be low.

Bank Holiday Weekend

Eitan watches the rain and television (28/5/06). While the long-weekend brings a break from the working life, inevitably so to the rain. Somehow, and without fail, the weather turns on the holiday. One would never know that the Southeast suffers a drought prompting the weather neutral friendly comment: "this is the wettest dry-spell I've ever lived thru."

Tussle

Moments before going to the pool, Eitan and Madeleine have a 'battle' (their expression). The thought was to capture a happy photo together, but I found this animated shot presents more accurately their essence. Eitan and Madeleine play well together, unless bored then they fight. Both use tears to their advantage - Eitan perhaps more so as he likes to play by the rules. Madeleine is not above lying to sway 'the law' in her favor. This weekend, while driving to the coast, I found myself in the timeless and classic move of trying to drive and strike the backseat kids at the same time while shouting 'knock it off.' History repeating itself, or are we simply programmed to act so?

Seaside

Our urban kids seem somewhat befuddled by the idea of the beach. I admit that this photo saddens me when I consider their now distant roots to California. Photo taken at Bournmouth, where we spent our 'bank holiday' weekend (why do the Brits not name the holiday?). It was family style all the way at the Bay Side seafront hotel, pool inclusive. From the beach, we watched the large cumulous clouds roll in (yes, rain), the cliffs of Dover and The Needles, which are chalk stacks at the western most point of the Isle of Wight. It was nice before we had to flee the weather - but not until after a beach-front lunch at the local chippie.

Pretty in Pink

Madeleine on her way to a birthday party (25/7/05). The girls are into dress-up these days, and the princess motif is the resounding favorite (does this change from generation, I wonder?) Madeleine balances her feminity with football, tree climbing and general stubborness. By English standards, she qualifies as a Tom-Boy. For us, she is a well balanced kid.

Our Own Steven Gerrard

On a drizzly Sunday, we visit the common o practice some moves. It is also Sonnet's birthday. The common has a series of 'secret fields'; the main pitch is occupied by a cricket club who fills their time with tea and biscuits and the occassional bowl. Eitan has no time for this. The rest of the afternoon is spent at our favorite local pub-restaurant. Nb Steve Gerrard is an England footballer who plays for Liverpool, and recently scored a remarkabe equaliser in extra time of the 2006 FA Cup final.

Bricks

Madeleine in front of sculpurist Rachel Whiteread's exhibition at the Tate Modern (Feb'06). The museum is in the resurrected Bankside Power Station built in 1947 by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, also the architect of the Battersea Power Station (and the cover of Pink Floyd's 'Animals') and designer of the red telephone box. For the millennium, the Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron remodeled the building at a cost of £134 million. the Turbine Hall is 500 feet long and 100 feet high and has housed works by Bruce Neuman (Raw Materials, 2004), Olafur Eliasson (The Weather Project, 2003) and Anish Kapoor (Marsyas, 2002).

6 days and counting

Madeleine makes her appearance to the world (12/2/02). Born at St. Mary's hospital in Paddington, she weighed in at 3.3 kg (7.3 lbs) and arrived with eyes wide open and a loud whoop of joy. On the day, Kate Larrison arrived at our house at 4:45AM to watch Eitan while we dashed to the hospital. The delivery was fast - less than three hours - and our lives have been filled with joy since.

Sticky fingers

Eitan discovers tape (27/3/03).

One by the river

This photo taken on the Thames Path in Richmond. The spot is nearby the end-point of the Oxford Cambridge boat race (ie, crew or rowing), which has taken place every year for 177 years. Today's 4.5 mile course, which was first used in 1845, stretches from Putney to Mortlake. Oxford won this year's race in 18 minutes, 32 seconds for the Blue's fourth victory in five years. Cambridge maintains the edge, however, with 78 wins to 72 (the slight discrepency the result of a boat sinkings in 1912).

Happy chappy

Eitan prepares for the winter walk to St Mary's Montessori (24/2/04). London's boggy weather is not as bad as most foreigners think - 45 inches of precipitation a year, or about the same as San Francisco. The difference: it occurs throughout the year. Plus we have dull, overcast days especially in the early months of the year. And the sun goes down at 1530 following daylight savings ('spring forward, fall-back'). The kids know nothing else - what they worry?

Pensive

Eitan outside T J's restaurant cafe on an overcast Sunday morning. Visited by blue collar workers from around the neighborhood, and next to the local hardware and wood cutters, the diner is neither hygenic nor smoke-free. It does offer the page-3 girl and a fine fry-up any day of the week from 6AM. No neighborhood should be without one.

Yes, Dad... ?

This Madeleine's practised 'kiss-off' look. I spent Tuesday with the kids and it is always fun to re-connect with their daily routine (24/5/06). After the morning school-run, several free hours present themselves for chores or reading. Madeleine has her friend Katie over for lunch, then we pick up Eitan from school. Both kids in spanish (teacher Angelina: 'children are making fine progress') followed by bath, dinner, homework, bed-time books and some (forbidden) T.V. All this by 7:30PM. Sonnet and I find ourselves in bed not much later.

Targé

As London is expensive, and the dollar week against the pound, we take full advantage of the mega-stores upon re-entry to the good 'ol US of A. In this instance, we buy a season of kiddie outfits in one afternoon at Target... or is it Walmart? Any case, nobody does scale like America and these Brits could learn a thing or two about mass merchandising. Madeleine and Eitan enjoy the free ride.

Out on a...

 Madeleine is a tree-climber . At first, this hobby a minor irritant as inevitably it delays passage from football, school, the park... anywhere some bark catches her fancy. However a school mom made me appreciate that not many girls actually like to climb trees. In fact, such an activity is a fine example of risk-taking, thrill seeking, experience gathering and general creativity all bundled together. Now I (try) to show patience when Madeleine stakes her high-up claim.

Pre school

Madeleine before the walk to school, Thursday morning, 17/5/06. She is working on her sounds and slowly beginning to recognise words and numbers (she can count to 100 in english and spanish). We give her lots of praise to build her confidence. Sonnet and I get a kick out of her attempt to work through 'van', 'dog' and 'truck'. As does she.

Spring III

More tulips from the Bank holiday weekend; photo taken with my mobile phone, 2.0 megapixels (1/5/06)

Madeleine and Sophie in Big Trees state park

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BBQ

Eitan agrees that the more lighter fluid, the better (Jul'04). Sonnet must have been inside when I took this photo.

Myself

This self-portrait taken at home in front of the living room mirror, circa 2005. The kids are healthy and happy. My wife loves me. We live in London. I'd still like to break 3 hours for the marathon but this somehow seems further from reach each passing year. Relearning french and sitting in a Paris cafe life is good.