I like birds.

I have to, it's a family thing.

This week I proudly attended a slide show at the library, presented by my brother Malkolm, about his year-long birding by bicycle adventure. It was a great show (about an inspiring feat of typical and admirable family craziness) and I was grateful to see so many of my friends there. I won't deny several moments of cringe - did they have to sing? - but I think embarrassing my sister and I was part of the show so we were all satisfied.

www.birdyear.com if you didn't know already.

Birding started long before Malkolm in my family. Here's some shots of the famous 'birdie buffet' at my grandmother's house in Victoria:

I spent two days there last month, watching the birds feast, playing Scrabble after Scrabble, and vigorously massaging my jaw every thirty minutes. This is something a dentist has advised my grandmother to do - she carries a kitchen timer and a small notebook everywhere in order to stay on track. I joined her in support and just for the general wackiness of the whole thing.

I really love my family.

I enjoy this packaging

november / rain

My head hurts. I have some kind of throat-rasping, head-woozing, snot-producing thing.

I'm supposed to be writing a novel this month. I've only written 10 pages. Productivity - or maybe I mean quantity? - is not my strong suit. It's a good lesson for me to practice writing without editing myself as I go. That's not easy for me.

I'm happy to be home in the Yukon (especially to be with the big-eared dog) though the darkness is pulling down around my ears a little early this year. November.

Here is the view upwards as I stood in line outside the Centre Pompidou, waiting for my modern art fix:

It seems a long time ago, now.