A day to remember. As we park our paper poppies on our lapels it’s a time to remember those before us who sacrificed so much so that we have what we have today. (It’s at times like this that) I personally feel utterly fortunate to be alive today, and to be living a life in all probability more comfortable than any of my forefathers have lived before.

The hardships and sufferings that men like my Grandad Watson went through to ensure that we have what we have today were extreme. Boiled down – they gave us peace, freedom and comfort. Three things that we take so much for granted, but for which millions before us have given their lives.

A time to remember. A time to think. A time to take stock and reflect that the primary objective of humanity should be the continuum of these three watchword – peace, freedom and comfort. And spaceships. Maybe an answer to the meaning of life other than  ’42′ would be good as well.

Nothing much to report since my last post really. This particular post was inspired by looking at other blogs and thinking, I’ve not blogged about nothing in particular for a while. Maybe it’s a blogger thing. Looking back over the past wee while, dragondrop has been somewhat of a review site. Somewhat de personalised views of the outside world. Observations. I’ve not done a stream of conciousness type blog for some time.

I do get bored of reading too much ‘me, me, me’ though in other blogs, hence the reason I’ve been avoiding that as a topic.  The frequency of my posting has gone down a bit. I have been known to be a harsh critic of people who say “ooh, but I’ve got nothing worth blogging about, I’ve got nothing to say, that’s why I’ve not updated my blog for ages”. I typically retort with something like “just start typing and see what comes out”. That’s what I’m doing now. Perhaps I’ve fallen into a trap of thinking my posts have got to serve a purpose. They’ve got to be about something. I think on the whole, yes they have (or it would be one of those me, me, me blogs.) but occasionally, a word puke, is quite healthy.

I’ve always quite liked the lomography edict of “don’t think, just shoot”. Perhaps that’s a good exercise to try and translate to blogging although, I generally like something to point at. In this case, it turns out, it’s my blogging style that I’m writing about.

The insecurity of why, bugs me from time to time. Why do I keep writing, shooting, tweeting, organising, etc.? Who is it really for? It’s kind of dear diary a lot of the time but it’s as much to myself and on particular days, when someone else is at the top of my thoughts – it’ll be to them (although they may never know it).

So now this post feels like it’s about the right shape. I’m going to hit publish.

Flickr android app test shot, originally uploaded by DragonDrop.

Flickr android app test shot. Yahoo has FINALLY got round to releasing an android app for flickr. So far, so good.

 

Casablanca, originally uploaded by DragonDrop.

You must remember this scene from Casablanca.. ? no? It was 8pm, Sunday evening in Harrogate. Daren, aka @paint_Monkey defined the moment by taking the Cuban bit by the teeth and declaring one of the few smoking cinemas left in England,  was open for business. Casablanca was playing on the temporary outdoor cinerma, perhaps less inflectionally known as ‘Movies on Montpellier’. The weekend activities (of which there were a few) were enhanced by the option of the free (and easy) outdoor walk in moviedrome.

The something for everyone film policy could have oh so easily gone for a strictly mainstream super safe approach the selectors, I think, got it spot on. Toy Story 3 was their opening gambit which we attended – on a stunning afternoon – and this was one of the kick-off (read awareness) events of the Harrogate International Festival – proper.  The Talented Mr Ripley headlined Sunday with Sherlock Holmes and Moulin Rouge! being the Saturday night showreels. I tweeted and foursquared during the event – seemed like quite a buzz about town for this event. We made the most of it and I rustled up a cracking picnic, washed down with cider on ice. Happy atmosphere, loads of space and thankfully the quality sound and picture were more than acceptable. The surreal bit was watching a terrific thunderstorm, whilst sat outside on a red hot and sunny July lunch time.

The only slight erk was that the virtual brochure (see link above) claimed that it would be showing “an array of feature [tick], family friendly [tick] and art-house films [hmm..?] as well as a showcasing talented young filmmakers in the region [insert Family Fortunes big cross noise here]“.  Is this last years copy? Were they featured but not billed,  or are there no talented young filmmakers in the region?

If I may reiterate the emphasis on ‘slight’ erk though – my main regret from the whole package was that we didn’t get enjoy more of it. Our weekend was jam packed. A Pub Quiz night at Grove Road School, a 4 year olds princess party, a huge win by fixing the fridge in our land ship as well as a bunch of other uber practical activities topped off with a lovely dinner and hang out with super fine wine and sunshine at the gorgeous abode of some lovely friends. Quite a special weekend all round. Here’s looking at you kid!

vin book, originally uploaded by DragonDrop.

I’ve just had this photo of mine used by in this article by  The Guardian.
Thanks to Simon TW for the heads up.

I think I should open a bottle of wine to celebrate or something.

I live in Harrogate, home of Betty’s and Taylors of Harrogate. They make the Yorkshire Tea. We drink Yorkshire Tea nowadays. I’ve liked a few other teas – Ringtons Gold (which was once subject to a tea off – documented on this very site) and Barry’s from Dublin.

I work in Lancashire – just over the border. I smuggled Yorkshire Tea in past border control. One of my work mates from Lancashire brought in the box of Lancashire Tea. I did try it, and with as unbiased a pallet as possible concluded that it’s no where near as good as Yorkshire Tea – it’s got a slightly tarnished, cloudy taste to it – a bit like you get with generic, cheap institutionalised  tea.

I thanked my colleague for his tea and bid him a good day.

The doctors have just been in to say we can go home, not just for the day but till Thursday when we have to come back for a blood test to check his inr levels. Jaygo and I are so excited. I am a bit nervous too. Its a bit like bringing a new baby home from hospital in so far as up till now we have had doctors and nurses on hand immediately to help should Jaygo’s condition worsen. Now we are on our own. Do we have all the information/medication and knowlege to continue from here and help Jay to make a full speedy recovery? Well they think we do or we wouldn’t be being discharged. Jay will have to keep a medi alert card on him at all times whilst he is on the warfarin and be careful during contact sports but I reckon table tennis should be just fine. I can’t wait to spend a night all five of us together at Dragon Drop for the first time in eight weeks. If we are quick we might even make it back to Harrogate in time to collect Sophie from school.

Sleepy ay home, originally uploaded by DragonDrop.

So Jaygo has been allowed out of hospital for the last 3 afternoons. Great to get him out and about. Yesterday we went to Bilton Gala for a bit – but it tired him out. Here he is having a bit of a kip on our sofa. I snuggled up with him for an hour yesterday and snapped this.

Jaygo for lunch!, originally uploaded by DragonDrop.

They let Jaygo come home for lunch. He requested my French Onion Soup with Gruyere croutons. So nice to have everyone back for a bit. Such a nice day.

This was yesterday morning in York Hospital – the sun was shining, Jay and I were tucking into banger sandwiches whilst he had the attentions of several young female nurses!

Not been a bad run since then. A bit sick yesterday am and a bit of pain round the site if the new IV central line thingy and a weird pins and needles sensation but no sickness in the afternoon and two hot meals (including a halal curry – top tip for if you are getting bored of normal hospital food).

Its hard as a parent to make the right judgement calls on not much sleep by yesterday afternoon. Loads going on – its hard not to make knee jerk reactions and instead make considered responses. Yesterday I recognised that Jay was ‘just’ tired. By yesterday afternoon he was in a terrible mood and complaining about everything and acting in great pain. At one point I was really worried and then I thought – hang om – I know this – he is ratty through lack of sleep. He was up loads the night before. I decided that almost above all else he needed lots of sleep. Over the last 12 hours, he has slept lots and I have where poss (apart from waking up for meds) encouraged sleep. He is still sound asleep.

He is back now. He is fine.

My baby boy, originally uploaded by DragonDrop.

There’s something very comforting about watching him sleep. Ups and downs kind of day. He’s just had a bath though and was fairly wobble free on the way to and from the bathroom.

Friends gone home now. Been out for what was a lovely few hours. Brave face wasn’t hard. Good food company cricket banter. Perhaps the beers have made me feel sorry for myself. Perhaps the brave face isn’t as easy as I thought.  Just want all my lot home to roost now. Bit sad. Lot sad. Don’t worry though. This is not some reaching out need help plea this just me venting a little. Typing this knowing that people will read it is a double edge sword, but I am holding the handle. Missing my full clan. I am one of five. So lonely right now but by the time you read yhis I will be fine and strong again.

I miss mum. I miss dad. I miss my wife. I miss my son. I love what I have got. Stop. Take stock. 

There are apparently some fruit machines out there in the wild now called DragonDrop. What ever next?

Lego, originally uploaded by DragonDrop.

Super nice to see him doing something he enjoys doing.