PAXTON

Saw Tom Paxton in Worcester last night -- this is an amazing man: certainly one of my musical heroes. I've known his songs for almost 50 years now and they still move me (I realised that I like singers and songwriters who deliver in 3 areas:
1: Songs of social comment, politics, etc.
2: Silly songs.
3: Love songs.)

So this is why I like Eric Bogle and Stan Rogers, I guess (and, at least, only one of them is dead).


BUT, isn't it strange how happy memories and sadness are so closely allied?

Cold here!

Since the report got written yesterday, we've had today pretty-much to do what we want. (Though, to be honest, choices are a bit limited!)

We decided to go to the new art museum KUMU. It was about a 3-mile walk though the snow (see left) to a fantastic Finn-designed building. My photo does not do it justice.
We spent several hours looking round the Estonian art -- some very powerful images from the period before independence.

Then, of course, we had to walk back! Getting a bit tired by then (the herring & egg sandwich helped a bit). Still had to go and change Estonian Crowns into Euros.

I think the bit of the museum I liked the most was the 'Head Room' -- see left!

TALLINN

So, here I am in Tallinn. It's pretty cold and the journey wasn't as relaxing as it might have been. However, it's good to meet with old colleagues and also to make some new friends.

Dinner last night was in a Russian restaurant (frankly, better food than I've had in Russia). Hotel is fine, but over-heated.

Anyway, it's 08:00 so time to go to work!

SNOW!

We've had a week of snow now (worst for 18 years, apparently) and I'm getting a bit fed-up with it!

There's been a lot of disruption on the roads and the airports have suffered too. Since I'm supposed to be flying to Estonia on Tuesday, I'm rather hoping that there won't be a problem (only have a 90-minute window in Amsterdam to make the connection).

We'll se!

Eating Well!

I've been eating well (too well) over the last couple of weeks:

Last Friday was my mother's birthday (86) so we took her to Turners in nearby Harborne, which has just been awarded a Michelin star. Did the 7-course tasting menu, which really wasn't bad -- my favourite part was the scallop tartar.

Then this week was the wedding anniversary, so off to Edmund's in Brindley Place in Birmingham --- really good food and wine (nice to see some 1/2 bottles) == beef fillet was great.

The I cooked tonight: scallops with bacon and black pudding on caulfifower puree: pork fillet braised in apple juice with saffron bread sauce (sourdough bread, which was interesting) and french beans: cheese: creme brulee.

Next Saturday, we're taking Selwyn to Liaison in Hall Green (it's his Christmas & Birthday present) - so that'll be interesting too!

However, it's now confirmed that we're having the coldest winter for 13 years! The forecast for tomorrow ad tuesday is dire (lots of snow) so we'll see!