We’re Still Here

Well, what a long time since my last blog post. I’d like to say that it was because we were doing lots of exciting things, however we’ve instead been working really hard on our own projects. We also spent some time in the back yard, trying to reclaim it from the triffid-like weeds. We also declared war on the rats, blocking up as many holes as we could.  While I was looking for rat holes, I saw something worrying large looking out at me from under a box in the store. I called Ian and he got a torch. Nervously we had a better look and found two young pigeons who were living in there. I know we’ve had a lot of pigeon activity, and I think these two must have fallen out from their nest. They are being looked after, and hopefully they’ll be taught how to fly.

Ian has given Marchena35 a redesign, which isn’t bad going since it’s only been live for a few months, however as I have been making games and videos to go on the site, we needed a better way to present the content. My highlight of the last few days was getting a young rapper to rap the alphabet for me. I am making a short animation to go with it – here’s a sneak peak:

I have also commissioned some voice over work for the site. Here’s a video that I made using the numbers that I had a voice over person do Click on the triangle in the middle to play the video:

This was really just a practice, using ‘Norman the Number Mouse’. He’s not very mouse like, but ‘Norman the Number Thing’ didn’t sound quite right. It took an absurd amount of time to do this as I did the spinning numbers first and had to guess the amount of time required for the audio and it was surprisingly difficult, the better way to have done it would be to have made the animation to fit the audio. However I’ll know better for next time. I eventually got it finished and then realised that I’d left the cursor on view in the video – however this is something that I decided I can live with!

We went asparagus picking yesterday and a snake slid over my foot. It was a little scary and reminded me that perhaps crocs aren’t the best shoes for asparagus picking.

The solar fairy lights now stay on all night until the morning, so that is a sign that summer is on its way. I also went for a cycle ride before breakfast, which is something I haven’t done since last October. It is light enough and warm enough now.

Roland continues to settle in well. He has met Sam which was fine, and Bob who climbed onto the table where I’d put the cat food, and Henry, Petal and Tinkerbelle, who were excited by the content of the litter tray!