http://dickonedwards.co.uk/diary Dickon Edwards's Diary Sat, 16 Jan 2010 17:09:42 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en A few days into the New Year: with Dad to Somerset House Ice Rink. A favourite spot at this time of year, though we always go as spectators in the cafe, never as skaters. We also drop into the Norman Parkinson exhibition, A Very British Glamour. Stunning photos of ladies from ... http://dickonedwards.co.uk/diary/index.php/archive/the-back-seat-exhibition-captioner/ Am back in the Highgate bedsit after three weeks flat-sitting in Crouch End. No more cat to look after me. Somewhat taken aback by the contrast in heating. In the flat, there was a boiler and radiators and the knowledge that I didn't have to pay the heating bill. Back here ... http://dickonedwards.co.uk/diary/index.php/archive/the-cat-lets-me-go/ View from the flat a few days before Christmas. I pass the Christmas week painlessly enough, cat and flat-sitting on my own in Crouch End. The freedom of having a whole flat to myself including a bathroom (I've spent most of my life sharing a shower with other bedsit tenant), ... http://dickonedwards.co.uk/diary/index.php/archive/a-one-joke-christmas/ The papers today carry a photo of the man of the moment, the failed Nigerian leg-bomber who tried to blow up a US jet on Christmas Day. Though his attempt was mercifully thwarted, it's still meant for a new range of over-the-top security measures. A full hour before landing, passengers ... http://dickonedwards.co.uk/diary/index.php/archive/naughty-children/ A Frankly Merry Christmas and a Splendid New Year to you. (This year's London tree: in the foyer of the 100-year-old Phoenix Cinema, East Finchley, Christmas Eve 2009. Just before seeing the new print of  The Red Shoes. Photo by Ms Shanthi.) saunders.mike@virgin.net http://dickonedwards.co.uk/diary/index.php/archive/christmas-card/ Early December: As I suspected, the BBC Short Story competition is won by my least favourite of the shortlisted five - the one about the terminally-ill son. It was beautifully written: I just think that if you're going to write about terminal illness without adding anything new, the work needs ... http://dickonedwards.co.uk/diary/index.php/archive/the-reluctant-contrarian/ I love a good award shortlist, particularly if I'm familiar with the nominees in question. Trouble is, the Oscars are usually about new films that haven't hit the UK yet, while the Booker is about new hardback novels, which I rarely buy. One could try a library, but once the ... http://dickonedwards.co.uk/diary/index.php/archive/avoiding-the-epiphany/ Mum returns from a quilting trip in Kenya (including a proper safari) and sends me a few photos. This is a Rothschild Giraffe called Laura. Funnily enough, I visited the eponymous Walter Rothschild's museum of stuffed animals in Tring a few weeks ago. Favourite exhibits included the elephant seal high up ... http://dickonedwards.co.uk/diary/index.php/archive/endangered-species-in-their-natural-environment/ (Sorry it's taken me so long to do this entry. I wanted to get the links and credits right. This one is all-singing and all-dancing...) Quick alert: Today is Buy Nothing Day in the UK, which I'm observing. I love how it throws up all kinds of questions, and how it ... http://dickonedwards.co.uk/diary/index.php/archive/the-librarian-dj/ Far be it for me to add to the tiresome anti-Twitter articles out there, but I have to pin at least some of the blame for my diary hiatus on the popular sky-blue social networking site. And now I know I have to wean myself off it in order to ... http://dickonedwards.co.uk/diary/index.php/archive/garage-sale-garage-not-included/