Home sweet home

What a weekend!! Worked on Thursday then we sped off to the airport, Manchester bound, my car making a rather alarming noise (bearings according to himself).
My brother, Barry, picked us up, fed us garlic bread and cherry yogurts, then next morning we were up bright and early and heading across the Pennines (thick fog) to Bradford where he was one of the main guests at the annual Bradford Animation Festival, held in the National Media Museum. We've been to this festival several times and it's always highly enjoyable. The great and good of the animation world were there including Irina, the producer of one of Barry's films, Tchaikovsky, who had just flown in from Moscow bearing gifts of Russian chocolates. The news was promising, the sons and Ash were on their way too, hurtling up the motorway in son number I's not entirely reliable car!
While we waited for them we went to a talk by Steve Schmidt, one of the leading animators at Pixar (Toy Story, The incredibles, Nemo). Fascinating to hear how their CGI films are put together - masses of money, an army of animators and years to do it in. Barry's was the next talk and he discussed the making of his two recently finished short films - Plume and Tchaikovsky. What a contrast - he worked in his house, had an army of one plus several enthusiatic students and volunteers and was working to a very tight schedule - 12 seconds of film a day (that's a lot!!!) . Interesting to see which films packed the powerful emotional punch though (of course I'm biased!!) Son number 2 was the only full time permanent crew member on Tchaikovsky and found himself on a very steep learning curve - graphic designer, camera man, lighting expert! He also made a short documentary about the making of the film, which he finished on Wednesday and literally handed to Barry just before he went on stage! Wonderful to see everything on the big screen. Very proud.
Not only was all this going on but I also had a blipmeet!! Earthdreamery found time in his punishing schedule to nip over, watch the films and join us for a drink afterwards. Fantastic to meet him and I think we're engineering a more relaxing and leisurely meet soon.
Being in Bradford, a curry was essential and a most enormous and varied meal was then consumed before collapsing.
On Saturday, we headed off to Saltaire - a World Heritage site. originally a colossal mill built by the wonderfully named Sir Titus Salt, it now houses a fantastic collection of works by David Hockney. It's also a very high class shopping centre - mainly art books and materials.
In the evening we went to the Awards ceremony, hosted by Barry and watched an amazingly varied animation programme. The night was finished off by a party complete with disco and punishingly expensive drinks!! We didnt stay long!
Back to Manchester on Sunday, the sons heading off down south and Barry off to an evening celebrating the achievements of Vanessa Redgrave. Himself and I spent a gentle afternoon wandering around Dunham Massey, a very pretty village and estate just outside Altrincham, before we headed home.
Arrived home at 1am this morning, so wired I didn't get to sleep till 3am and was up at 7! The first thing you notice getting off the plane in Cork, seemingly whatever time you arrive, is the smell of manure!!! After the manicness of Bradford this smelled wonderful!!
Today's image is a view of part of the garden - even more appreciated after a trip away. The abundance in the front is the big pond with royal ferns, cabbage trees, water lilies and bamboo. You can just glimpse the house through the foliage and can you spot Kitty (white) and Ada (large).
Apologies if the spelling has gone awry, my spellchecker's mysteriously vanished!
Backblips:
Messing about in the museum
Sons in Saltaire
Bob Cat
Is it bedtime yet???