Stoogies and stella

Stoogies and stella
Originally uploaded by Phil Haygarth.

My old friend and colleague Leo 'Roy' Condron from New Zealand stopped by for the weekend, the last time he was here was in 2002. True to tradition, there was a celebratory cigar and a drink or two, plus lots of talking a bit of walking…. Have a look at the pictures at
http://www.flickr.com/photos/50992354@N00/tags/2228may2006/
best
Phil

A weekend of contrasts

Home at last
Originally uploaded by Phil Haygarth.

Over the weekend we travelled home from Uberlandia via Sao Paulo, which was an edgy experience in view of the current unrest and riots that have been going on in the city. We arrived in Sao Paulo on Friday evening and were initially afraid to leave our hotel, but the receptionist convinced us we were in a safe (Jardin) district. We braved a little walk and had a Capurina in a bar in a mall - indeed it seemed just like any other big and busy city and there were lots of folk out shopping and it felt safe enough. The next morning we took the subway to Caterdral da Se, reputedly the old heart of the city. This was an edgy part of town, we witnessed extreme poverty, homeless folk waking up in the park. Martin said it felt like we were walking through someone's bedroom. Two memories I have is one chap retaining his dignity by shaving on a park wall, another was a young mother with two toddlers of similar ages to Angus and Helen, the youngest just walking. Their entire home was a plastic bag and the mother seemed totally frazzled. I took some pictures around the park and the church, but had to conceal my camera. We also noticed police roadblocks outside our hotel, police holding machine guns and stopping the traffic. Later that day we flew home, and after a pleasant night flight, I said farewell to my companions and hello to my family. What a contrast in fortunes I witnessed in one weekend - I am a lucky man.

Phil

For return home pictures see:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/50992354@N00/tags/1921may2005saopaulojourneyhome/

For the whole album of the Brazil trip see:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/50992354@N00/sets/72057594138474512/

A day on the Cerrado

Dusty departure
Originally uploaded by Phil Haygarth.

Yesterday we went on a conference tour of the amazing Cerrado (Tropical Savannah) region of Minas Gerais in Brazil. Some highlights were a visit to a well-managed sugar cane farm. You can see the pictures at;

http://www.flickr.com/photos/50992354@N00/tags/fieldtripbrazilmay17th2006/

Phil

From the 9th floor

From the 9th floor
Originally uploaded by Phil Haygarth.

It was hot and I was tired today, the conference has been hard work and the travel yesterday has caught up with me. I nipped out to catch some late afternoon sun around the hotel and conference centre. See;
http://www.flickr.com/photos/50992354@N00/tags/brazil15may2006/

Phil

Brasil calling...

Talking to Helen on the webcam
Originally uploaded by Phil Haygarth.

The last 24 hours I have spent travelling from my home in Devon to Uberlandia in Brazil. It has been a period of fascinating contrasts. I started my journey from Exeter with my colleague Martin Blackwell on the train. We met up with fellow travel companions Kathy Snars from Rothamsted Research and Helen Gordon from Lancaster Univesrity (Helen is doing her PhD supervised jointly by Richard Bardgett and I; Kathy is a collaborator of Martin and I). The 11 h night flight was plain-sailing and I got ca 5 hours sleep. Arriving in Sao Paolo was an eye-opener, what a city; it is always thrilling arriving somewhere completely new in the world and becomes more-accentuated when one is jet-lagged in early-dawn. Clearling immigration and customs at international Guarulhos airport was simple, but then we had to cross the city (it is huge) in a taxi to the domestic terminal, this took ca. 45 minutes and the traffic was surpisingly busy for 6 am on a Sunday. We did this ok and spent 3 hours loafing around the domestic Airport (CGH), drinking Brazilian coffee and simply watching the big city wake up. The flight from Sao Paulo CGH to Uberlandia was only ca. 1 hour and the sun emerged during this flight, when we arrived in Uberlandia it was baking, 25 degrees C and clear blue skies, an initially surprisingly dry heat. It is a savannah region. The conference bus picked us up and took us to the Hotel – we are in the ‘Plaza shopping hotel’ (sounds bizarre but it is very nice!) see www.plazashoppinghotel.com.br (if you can tolerate the cheesy music on the web site). Just had a lunchtime snack with colleagues an returned to my room to speak to my family over MSN (now that is a mind blower – chatting on the web cam – whilst they had tea!). And then I uploaded some of the day’s photos onto the Flickr site and write the blog….have a look..

http://www.flickr.com/photos/50992354@N00/tags/may14brazil2006/

Obrigado

Phil

A good time was had by all

Grandma and Helen 2
Originally uploaded by Phil Haygarth.

Grandma went home on Tuesday after a pleasant couple of weeks. On May bank holiday weekend we went up to Westward Ho! (I love that exclamation mark) to do the seaside thing and the little people loved it, antics on the slides and the bouncy castle, running on the beach etc. Helen has come on again and the other day shouted (no, bellowed) "Angus!", copying Anne as she called out to him. She is turning into a right character. Angus now carries her around wrapping his arms around her upper torso and she loves it, giggling al the time, looking forwards. Once he accidentally (?) picked her up by her head and she did most definitely did not like that! Spring is bursting out everywhere at the moment, I took Mum and the boys over to Copplestone on Saturday (after dropping some doors off at the pine Strippers at Crediton) and the lanes were awash with blossom and greenery, most lush. This really is the most beautiful time of the year. Anyhow, Mum and the boys went into Exeter on the train and came home via the bus, all jolly exciting if you are 6 and 3! A few good piccies illustrating this can be found at

http://www.flickr.com/photos/50992354@N00/tags/may1122006/

I am off to Brazil tommorow, exciting, never been to South America before. Gran arrived on Wednesday, so time for more fun.....

Dad

Springtime in South Zeal

April Aubretia at Lincidenell 2
Originally uploaded by Phil Haygarth.

The last week or two there has seen a flurry of activity on a number of fronts. My Mum (Grandma) has come down to stay. Last weekend was May bank holiday and on the Saturday Aunt Patsy and Fiona joined us. It was great because it felt so spring-like and we mowed the lawn for the first time. I took some nice pictures of Grandma, Fiona and Aunt Patsy with the children - see pics from this day at http://www.flickr.com/photos/50992354@N00/tags/lateapril2006/.

On Sunday Charlie and Juliette and Madeline came for the afternoon. We had a meal, a few drinks and a lazy walk around the village, which looks beautiful at the moment - see more pics from this day at http://www.flickr.com/photos/50992354@N00/tags/lateapril2006curnowvisit/.

On Monday it was 7 years since Anne and I were married, I cannot believe it, how time flies! Helen has made a few more developments, she stands up independently now, says clearly distinctive words like ‘Daddy’’, ‘Mummy’, ‘night-night’ and ‘no’ (note the lack of ‘yes’ yet!). We even think she said ‘Grandma’ (much to my Mum’s delight). Angus is consistently dry at night now and has at long last discarded his ‘running pants’ (family fun-code for pull-up nappies) and goes unaided in the night; hur-bloddy-ray.

Matthew and I cycled 5 miles during the week around Sticklepath and Taw Green. We are now reading 'Five Go off in a Caravan' (what bounders Lou and Tiger Dan are). I managed to do 225 miles on my bike in April, so fell short of my target 300 3-Peaks-target, but not bad for a busy month, I have other priorities at the moment and need to keep the balance right. It is my 40th this summer so I have been making some plans for a party, ordered a marquee for the garden and starting the invites. It is friday today and the sun is shining, only a few hour ‘til the weekend! Time to put the porridge in the microwave…..

Phil