oggleblog

If you want a tune to get you out of the right side of the bed in the morning -  go to Utube and see/listen to Sister Rosetta Tharpe singing “Down by the Riverside“. Amen

Artist Krista Davies from Wolverhampston sent us a photo of Miss Nancy

A character who looks like she is waiting for a good script and an animator.

Ok so your new year’s resolutions are dust….lift your spirits by going onto utube and type in Validation.

A film recommended by our film maker in Poland Richard Coleman.

An inspiring contribution from architect Maria Evagora

Old school, Kenya, Africa

Old class Kenya, Africa

Kenya, Africa.  This is an example of what can happen when people work together and keep the momentum up.  The dream was to create a new school for 1500 children between the ages of 5 –16 in Kenya. The existing school was totally dilapidated and was inadequate for the numbers of children who attended the school, nearly half of which were orphaned to AIDS.

But where would the money come from and how could the dream be realised?

The school was designed and drawn up in London by an architect and these drawings gave the proposal credibility and weight. The new school design was ambitious and included a separate nursery school, 18 classrooms, a shady courtyard area for school assemblies, a library, and playgrounds.  There was even an outdoor theatre area; made up from the remains of the erstwhile mud brick school building…

All these drawings and ideas helped possible donors get excited about the project and helped them to visualise what could be done and drove the project forward.

A generous offer from one benefactor meant that a new nursery school could be funded. From this, another donor offered money for a water bore hole to be made – this meant that the school would have it’s own water source.  Something they never had before.

These kind donations generated interest from others, and so the momentum continued.  Over a period of a few years of drawings and discussions with the end users and fund raising and promises made and kept, the school did eventually get fully funded and is now in its final stages of completion.
This is a true story; and one that can hopefully be repeated.

Maria Evagora

Ben showing new school

New class

Photographer Craig Earl sent us some images from Stockton-On-Tees

Glare

Mars

December 1st

Gosia Dzik-Holden, a designer and maker of all things beautifully knitted (see:www.oggleverything.com) has been knitting magic for her family over Christmas.  She invented a tactile calendar, a calendar of anticipation, of hidden treats, of collected memories.

A calendar that accumulates treasures to be taken later during the frosty chills of January.

A tactile calendar of extra ordinary yarn from around the world, each holding a story to be retold.

For more information go to: stitchville.blogspot.com

Drain pipes in Valencia, Spain (photo; Mel Larsen)

The Santa Convention took place at the weekend….itineries were checked…requests for presents were checked and double checked…it’s all perfect. Thanks to Michael Webb for capturing the moment.

Today is the shortest day of the year.

From tomorrow the days expand until we are in the full bloom of roses.