Merry Christmas

Excited about her presents as you can see.

Latest pictures

Planes, trains and parking meters

It was an epic journey but we finally made it to London to see Ryan Adams & the cardinals.

By Air, road and rail we got there and our front row seats were Ace. I'd never been to the Appollo even when I lived there, but it's definatly one of the best venues I've ever been to.

With parking at £4 an hour till midnight and the underground not much further behind, it turned into an expensive night...but well worth it.

Something in the air

Babies on a plane are like snakes on a plane.

Good job Sammy L Jackson wasn't aboard.

Yorkie

Amber on the train...and in York.

Row Z

Match tickets £33

Getting tanked up before the game £40

Metro into town £2.80

Getting spanked 4 - 1 on your own pitch...Priceless.

Sundial park

Getting to the top was easy...getting down again with a pram before it gets dark....not so easy.

water babies

Hoop dreams

As I'm now season ticket-less I thought about trying some new sports to get the usual fix. I managed to blag some corporate tickets for the basketball, which meant a stint in the luxury bar, meeting the players and a 'courtside seat. Imagine Jack Nicholson and Tom Hanks minus the cigars.

One of the best things about the b-ball compared to football was the quality of half-time entertainment. There's DJ's, cheerleaders and most importantly break dancers.
Whenever a time out was called by either team we were treated to a performance of break dancing by these kids who would run onto the court and do their stuff.
If you've never seen anyone spinning round on their head I can't begin to tell you how enetertaining it is.

The kids doing it took a bit of stick from the crowd, most likely because they call themselves the Bad Taste Cru despite being neither American or street.
Very entertaining though. Got video but it wont upload.

shops

Never, ever take a women shopping for a 'few little things'

Poor amber was so bored she fell asleep. We now have more than 180 nappies in the garage.

cheap toy

My new book - 101 things to do with a towel - will be coming out soon!

Me and my balloon

Amber with her ballon after Abi's Christening.

carrot beard

Private dancer

I'd completely forgotten about this guy. We saw him nearly every night in the bars round Vegas.
He might be about 70 years old but he can still set the dance floor on fire..He thrived off a moonwalk as well.

medieval times

The show in the basement of the Excalibur hotel was something to behold. The crowd certainly got behind them, especially Pinar

pinar on the karoke

Shark

Stag weekend...

Photo04_4
Originally uploaded by rosswigham

Well not quite, but i did see these lot in Scotland.

Some of our other pictures are online if you click to the right.

Something's funny

Deep in a forest in Scotland...Amber realized how funny her dad is.

through the key hole

Pinar messing about in Scone Castle - the guards would have had a shock looking at that view.

Me wrestling a bear inside the castle in front of all the other visitors and guides - much to Pinars amusment.

View from our cottage

The place Pinar hired out was a bit more remote than we expected. It was well worth the drive though and the peace and quiet made a nice change.

Happy Amber/ Thoughtful Amber

Amber's new hairstyle

Case of the missing B

Not quite the globe trotting of yesteryear, but Pin has booked us a holiday in Scotland.

I'm a bit worried as she's only gone and booked us into a town call Alyth - that's only one letter away from Blyth!

Unless there's been a mistake we could be going just down the road on holiday - we could stay at my mams.

It could be some kind of parallel universe like when Homer goes to Shelbyville.

Different Pic of Amber

Amber below in her Swimming costume, she looks nervous doesnt she... she was a little shocked by her 1st experience but im sure she'll get used to it...

Above a picture of Amber and Abbie, they kept holding hands... Amber is 17 weeks here and Abbie 11 weeks...

To the left Amber smiling in a picture.. that was after 10 attempts, she always does a serious face when your just about to take the photo..

Fire starter

Got a bit carried away after our BBQ. Lit the chimnea but realised I was a bit too enthusiastic/timpsy when the flames started licking over the top of the shed.

I ihad to get the garden hose on stand-by at one point but managed to get the flames back under control thankfully.

Candy floss

Pinar enjoying herself at the Kite festival.

She didn't buy me a kite.

Rare

Just like Makems in Milan this is something that's also pretty rare.

You don't often see a picasso in Gateshead...so here it is!

Very small but thought I better go and see it as it might not happen again in my life time. I'm surprised it hasn't gone missing yet.

drunk on the sofa...

...just like dad

baby pictures

Amber checking out the art at Bowes. She didn't actually scream the place down which was a surprise.

In the grounds we even saw a special memorial to Bobby Brown - didn't even know the great man was dead or burried in Cumbria. Must have been taking witney's special tablets. New Edition for life.

Piglet

Here she is...

Amber is 3 and a half months now, isnt she lovely...

I know what you did last summer

Playing with the penguins at Simonstown beach, SA

Summer Tyne

Our work is part-funding this festival, which started with a giant light and acrobatic show on the quayside. Was wierd and wonderful in equal measure but with the arctic conditions I was convinced there would be an accident.

Basically troops of acrobats were jumping off a ring about 60-odd foot up.

It had all the ingredients for a July festival in the North East:

Driving rain....check.

Freezing temperatures....check.

Locals trying to jump the fence.....check.

There was also a healthy disregard for safety with the giant 60 foot puppet lurching into the audience at one point.

It made for an amazing specticle although the performers from Barcellona must have been cursing the name Newcastle as they headed for another 60 foot drop into the driving wind and rain.

Sticky wicket

After 3 rain offs I finally made it to the cricket.

Was in corporate which always makes the day go better, and got to see Ausie legend Shane Warne.

New toy

Anything to stop the crying for five minues!

Sitting there in her throne like the queen of England.

Obligatory amusing streetname shot

How immature...what's wrong with living on Gay Road?

Must be strange giving out your address to people though.