2013: Week 29

2013: Week 29, a photo by MAStapleton on Flickr.

My feet on the Olympic track, London, after running 5 miles in the Anniversary Run. This was definitely a highlight for week 29, if not for all of 2013. Amazing.

Hashtags: #FromWhereIStand #Epic #ALifetimeOfRunningCameInHandyAfterNoTraining

2013: Week 28

2013: Week 28, a photo by MAStapleton on Flickr.

Wandering around the garden of Charles Darwin's house down in Downe.

2013: Week 27

2013: Week 27, a photo by MAStapleton on Flickr.

A day of miracles: Andy Murray winning Wimbledon, getting nine people to church on time, a beautiful sunny summer day (after a very soggy spring), and a ray of sunlight streaming through the church windows to shine on (only) me during Thing One's confirmation.

2013: Week 26

2013: Week 26, a photo by MAStapleton on Flickr.

As the Steve Miller Band once sang, "Time keeps on slippin' slippin' slippin' into the future."

This week I was reminded more than once how quickly time flies. Our 13-year-old is heading off for a week with his class for a trip to France, while our 10-year-old moved up to the highest swimming level after taking lessons non-stop since he was 18 months old. It seems only yesterday that both of them were toddlers with a headful of curls running around whenever possible.

They'll be leaving for university before I know it if I'm not mindful of the time we've got together.

2013: Week 25

2013: Week 25, a photo by MAStapleton on Flickr.

I had a really hard time choosing this week's picture: it was down to either this one or the red balloons floating to the sky for Walk for Tom.

Walk for Tom was a charity walk around the grounds of Charlton Athletic to raise money for Charlton Park Riding for the Disabled. It honoured the memory of Tom Warren, who had cerebral palsy, and loved riding at the RDA. (To see that picture, see it here: [http://www.flickr.com/photos/mastapleton/9118297022/])

In the end, I went with this one. "Brain Collector" was one of the dozens of art happenings this weekend as part of the Greenwich + Docklands International Festival. Brain Collector was absolutely mad-- in a good way. I have no idea if it collected our brains after we visited, but it sure was interesting.

2013: Week 24

2013: Week 24, a photo by MAStapleton on Flickr.

The moon shines on Bruce Springsteen at Wembley during his EPIC concert during Week 24.

It was amazing. Bruce was epically good, as always. But it was also amazing because we took our 10-year-old and 13-year-old sons with us. They now know why The Boss is The Boss. It's almost as if our parenting job is complete. Ha!

I was also able to capture the moon rising over the Wembley. It's not often that you look up at the sky during a monstrous rock concert, but there you go. That's me for you.

2013: Week 23

2013: Week 23, a photo by MAStapleton on Flickr.

X marks the spot on this delightfully sunny day.

Week 23 was a week of glorious sunshine. I found myself eating lunch and working in the garden every day, because I was so desperate to soak up the sunshine and Vitamin D. I even managed to get sunburned on two days. It all made a nice change from the endless gray skies we seem to have had so far in 2013.

2013: Week 22

2013: Week 22, a photo by MAStapleton on Flickr.

The Cutting Edge, in one way or another.

I literally stumbled across this street art on my way back from eating pizza on a retired double-decker bus. Only in London.

2013: Week 21

2013: Week 21, a photo by MAStapleton on Flickr.

Drinking in the experience that is ComicCon London.

A formula for you:
CosPlay* + Marvel Avengers + XBox Game Preview = ComicCon Nirvana.

*For the non-hipsters among you, it means "Costume Play". I had to ask the 13 year old what it meant.

2013: Week 20

2013: Week 20, a photo by MAStapleton on Flickr.

When I was a little girl, I absolutely loved the movie "The Red Balloon." (One of the Simpsons writers did too, because it featured on the episode when Bart became an exchange student in France.)

This Red Balloon found its way to our ceiling during Thing Two's 10th birthday celebrations. It, along with a dozen other balloons, found their way there while Thing One showed us all how static electricity worked. Every morning after they had fallen down in the night, Thing One would dutifully put the balloons back on the ceiling for us.

2013: Week 19

2013: Week 19, a photo by MAStapleton on Flickr.

High concentration, strategy and creativity were all in order as the boys tried to create the fastest drag racers at Legoland during Thing Two's 10th birthday party there.

2013: Week 18

2013: Week 18, a photo by MAStapleton on Flickr.

In Week 18, I found that it was peak cherry blossom season in Greenwich Park during one of my morning runs.

The funny thing is, this is our 14th spring in Greenwich, but this is the first time I actually got around to taking a picture of the beautiful cherry blossom lane near the top.

No filter was harmed in the making of this picture.

2013: Week 17

2013: Week 17, a photo by MAStapleton on Flickr.

Sun + Trees = Epic Tree Shadows.

Captured in Greenwich Park during my morning run. It was fantastic to get a string of sunny days. It's been too long since we've had reliable sun.

2013: Week 16

2013: Week 16, a photo by MAStapleton on Flickr.

The 2013 London Marathon had perfect conditions on Sunday: a clear blue sky, sunny and lowish temperatures.

Every year we go to Deptford Creek bridge and cheer on the runners. I spied this patriotic fellow as we were walking back home. Unfortunately, my son lost interest before we got to see any interesting fancy dress runners, but we did manage to see Mo Farah, which was its own sort of awesome.

Inevitably, the cheering exercise also reminds me of the year that I ran the marathon myself, in 2005. It was easily in the Top 5 of the best days of my life. Although I won't be able to do a marathon ever again, it still brings a smile to my face and a tear to my eye when I think about that day.

2013: Week 15

2013: Week 15, a photo by MAStapleton on Flickr.

Every year at the height of the daffodil season, we take our sons down the street to the Queen's House in Greenwich to take their picture in front of the daffodils.

Although we can't see how tall they're getting from year to year, since they sit down in the picture, it's still a great way to chart their growth and mark the years.

This year was the latest we've ever taken the picture, which is probably down to the cold winter and spring we've had. But usually we take the snap in mid- to late-March. This year, it was mid-April, and we could have waited even longer as the daffs are still emerging.

2013: Week 14

2013: Week 14, a photo by MAStapleton on Flickr.

Barbed wire still remaining from the D-Day landings at Utah Beach in Normandy, France.

2013: Week 13

2013: Week 13, a photo by MAStapleton on Flickr.

Otherwise known as the Easter Morning Massacre. What was left of one of the chocolate bunny. Not pictured: the other chocolate bunny, in a similar state.

2013: Week 12

2013: Week 12, a photo by MAStapleton on Flickr.

This is the week it officially became spring. This is also the week it snowed in London (and in lots of other places around the U.K.). So if I were to make a mathematical formula, it would look something like this:
(First day of Spring) + 2Snowstorms / (Interminable Grey Skies) = Most Rubbish Spring EVER.

Yes, Rubbish Spring. That's what it's been.

On Saturday, the third day of spring, we woke up to snow. Now if I were still in Chicago, this would not be newsworthy. But here it is. We're all fed up with it. Please, if the sunny skies and the warmer temperatures could get here ASAP, we would very much appreciate it.

Thing No. 1 made this snowball while we were out and about on Saturday afternoon. Not surprisingly, we spent most of the walk complaining about the weather.

2013: Week 11

2013: Week 11, a photo by MAStapleton on Flickr.

The granddaughter of an Irish immigrant to the States, St. Patricks Day was a BIG deal in our family when I was growing up. My grandfather even had a special sign that counted down the days until St. Pat's, starting with 364. (He couldn't help himself. His name was Patrick too.) The tradition continued at university, where I was surrounded by other Irish-Americans who liked to live it up on St. Pat's. When I say "live it up" what I really mean is, "start the party at 8 a.m."

I then went to graduate school in Chicago, a city that *literally* dyes the river green for St. Patrick's Day. When I first moved there, I thought it was a joke, because the Chicago River was pretty green for the rest of the year. But no. On St. Patrick's Day, they dye the river a bright green. Amazing.

St. Patrick's Day 2013 in London was a cold, grey and rainy day. But I was determined to celebrate. So I set myself the task to find green things in Greenwich, which I did. I might not have drunk any green beer, but I think my grandpa would have approved.

Red Nose Day 2013

Clark Kent/Superman eats his breakfast and gets ready for Red Nose Day 2013. #rednoseday #squareready, a photo by MAStapleton on Flickr.

Clark Kent/Superman eats his breakfast and gets ready for Red Nose Day 2013.

His school asked that they dress up as superheroes. As he has outgrown his old trusty Superman outfit (Sad Face), we had to improvise, but I think the improvisation is better than the original.

2013: Week 10

2013: Week 10, a photo by MAStapleton on Flickr.

In Week 10 of 2013, I had a variety of events from which to choose my weekly image. This past week we had World Book Day, me trying (and failing) to see a taping of the Graham Norton Show at the BBC Television Centre, and finally, Mothering Sunday.

These pussy willows were given to me by my sons on Mothering Sunday. No fool me, I put in a specific request for them on Saturday to give them a steer on what I would like. Early on Sunday morning, the two boys went out to the flower lady down the street and got them for me. When I finally got up (Saturday had been a very late night), they were waiting for me on the dining room table, along with my cards, some chocolates, some hand-made gifts and the Sunday Observer.

Pussy willows are my absolute favourite flowers of March. My Gramps had a massive pussy willow bush, so every March when he came to visit, he would arrive with an armload of them to give to us. (Now at £3 for 3 stems, the armload was worth a fortune in today's market. But I digress.) So whenever I see them, I think of him: his kindness, his love of reading and his dry wit.

Happy Mothering Sunday everyone.

2013: Week 9

2013: Week 9, a photo by MAStapleton on Flickr.

The skies have been unrelentingly grey, but I spotted some crocuses that gave me hope that Spring will be here eventually.

I took this photo on 27 February, but for reasons unknown to me, that's not the time stamp assigned by Flickr.

2013: Week 8

2013: Week 8, a photo by MAStapleton on Flickr.

Week 8 of 2013 happened to be half-term week, which we spent in North Devon.

There is no way I can say the next statement without sounding like a twat, but honest, I'm not. We rented a castle to stay in for the week. The central heating might have been a bit dicey, but I did manage to get some good photos. This one was my favourite of the lot.

2013: Week 7

2013: Week 7, a photo by MAStapleton on Flickr.

This was a week with loads of photo opportunities: Pancake Day (check). Valentine's Day (check). Arrival of my parents from the U.S. (check).

But I went with this one, because it's my favourite of the week. My son and I were waiting for the bus after his weekly swim lesson, and I saw that the rain and the car lights looked really cool through the glass panel of the bus shelter. I didn't know if the picture would come out, but it did, and I love it.

I didn't even put it through a filter or do any PhotoShop shenanigans. This is just how it came out.

As they say, the best camera is the camera you have with you. Thanks iPhone.

2013: Week 6

2013: Week 6, a photo by MAStapleton on Flickr.

Guerrilla Knitters brighten up the Thames Path in Greenwich. It never fails to make me smile.

For years, the Thames Path in Greenwich, between the Cutty Sark and the Dome, was a hard-core industrial area. Bit by bit in the last seven years, the businesses have moved and plans to redevelop the area into a residential area have moved ahead. At the moment, it is in between the two phases, making it a bit desolate.

Greenwich Guerrilla Knitters, our local guerrilla knitters group (doesn't every town have one?), have done their bit to brighten up the path in the last few months. I think it looks gorgeous, and it definitely brightens my day as I run down the path. During Christmas, they even mounted an advent calendar and Christmas stockings with a fireplace, which really was something else.

I picked this photo for Week 6 because I took this photos during my run on Friday morning. It was one of those legendary runs when you don't feel like going out at all, then you convince yourself to go a little farther and a little farther. Before I knew it, my plan to do a quick two-mile run had evolved into a five mile run. It was a glorious morning and the sun was shining. I'm also glad I took along my phone. I never do, but maybe I will start to make it a habit.

2013: Week 5

2013: Week 5, a photo by MAStapleton on Flickr.

EAST London, as quickly captured from the DLR.

In actual fact, I was surprised I got the picture at all. On the way into the Stratford DLR station, I saw this mural and figured it would make a great picture. But eager to get on with the task at hand (buying son a new pair of shoes at Westfield Stratford), we hurried past it when we arrived.

Of course, sod's law meant that when we got back there to get our train home, the doors were about to shut and I couldn't stop to take the picture, as neither one of us had the required energy to wait 10 minutes for the next train. So as soon as we dropped our bags, I ran to the door and snapped several pictures as the train pulled out of the station.

Sure, the EAST isn't as much in focus as I would like. But I love how the tracks are out of focus, which is down purely to the fact that we were on our way.

2012: Week 4

2012: Week 4, a photo by MAStapleton on Flickr.

In a week when London was blanketed with snow-- thus exponentially increasing the photo opportunities-- I went with this one instead. While the snow was beautiful, I thought this photo would be what I would want to remember for the week. It was, after all, my younger son's first protest march. May it be the first of many.

Lewisham Hospital, our local hospital, is facing the dismantling of its services due to the failure of a neighbouring (not even its own) health service. The plans, which are currently under review by Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt, would involve the closure of Lewisham's A & E departments and a reorganisation of its maternity ward, as well as the reorganisation of many other departments.

On a beautiful Saturday morning, my son, my friend, her son and another friend took part in the march, along with about 25,000 other people. I don't know if it will change Jeremy Hunt's mind (the cynic in me says no) but I feel better having made my outrage known in a very public way.

2013: Week 3

2013: Week 3, a photo by MAStapleton on Flickr.

Have you heard? It snowed in London (and elsewhere) this weekend. (Sarcasm hard to transmit electronically.)

In any case, we hit the slopes of Greenwich Park early on Saturday morning. Later, the hill in the background was heaving with sledders of all shapes and sizes. We like to get there early in the day when we have the place nearly to ourselves.

I took this picture on Saturday morning, and snow continued throughout that day and again on Sunday. London truly became a winter wonderland. But the sun is out now on Monday, so it won't last.

2013: Week 2

2013: Week 2, a photo by MAStapleton on Flickr.

Just in time for the winter snowstorm, we went off to Canary Wharf in week 2 for its annual Ice Sculpting Festival. There were some amazing ice sculptures, including a King Kong on a Big Ben, which we thought was quite inspired.

My son and I also had a go at doing our own ice sculpting. It was-- no big surprise here-- very difficult to do. Luckily, all of the hard work on our polar bear had already been done. We only had to do some minor work on it. Too bad it was so ephemeral, but at least I got to take a picture of it.

2013: Week 1

2013: Week 1, a photo by MAStapleton on Flickr.

We're lucky enough to live in Greenwich. Home of the Meridian Line, the one of the locations of the Les Mis movie and the Thames. When the tide is low, we like to go out and see what treasures we can find on the foreshore. Luckily, we've done it a few times with people who know what they're doing, so sometimes we think we know what we're looking at.

This may or may not (we think may) be a roof tile from Henry VIII's Palace of Palcentia (or Pleasure Palace). When they demolished it, they threw all of the rubbish and rubble into the River Thames. As it was so huge, you can still find roof tiles pretty easily. The hole in the top is where they attached it to the roof.

I could be completely wrong, but that's what I like to think we found on our Sunday walk in Week 1 of 2013. My husband (pictured) was the one who scored it for me. Thanks.