Shackletons ship

The house renovation is now a year on from when I first moved in and the place is looking good. All I have to do is fit the wood burning stove and its surrounding victorian tiles bought of Ebay, fit a carpet and stair rods to the stairs and Bobs your bloomin unckle.

Great, however, in this cold snowy weather the floorboards that I dutifully filed the gaps between with PVA and sawdust have started to move in the night. When the temperature drops really low Im awoken by large cracking sounds of the floorboards tearing themselves in half as they contract and the PVA holds.

Some nights I wake with a startle and still half asleep, thinking I'm asleep on Shackeltons ship caught in the ice of the southern polar cap. Crrrrrack! "get off the ship, the ice is taking her"! Only to wake and realize I'm in London, Walthamstow, innit.


http://www.timothyfoster.co.uk

happy birthday

...HAPPY BIRTHDAY ....the sun shone on the morning of your birth and I waited in one of Billinge Hospital's reception areas reading an article in the Geographical magazine on Concord's restricted flightpaths over the Bristol Channel. Then the nurses called me in and asked me to wait at your Mum's bedside...they said you would be ages...but then you came, unexpectedly and with little prior notice...and then you were in the world.

I love you.

Dad

3 to 9 months

When I get into bed at night I keep thinking I've been eating biscuits in it until I remember I'm just rolling in the grit, or the plaster, or well just whatever the hell it is that I've been knocking shit out of the house this week.

At the moment the bed isn't a bed, its a camping foam mattress on dirty floorboards covered in a duvet and to be honest, I've got quite used to it. The house is painful at the moment as its two floors completely plastered with bare floorboards with my bare ass lying on them. It was meant to be a 3 month project buts it's taken me 9 hard but worthy months to get this far.

Its amazing what you can do when you want to. At the moment im working the hardest ive ever worked, 7 days a week sometimes two stills shoots in day followed by the doc in the evening taking me into the very early hours.

Argh, sometimes I wish I'd worked this harder in my 20s instead of trying to find myself, why didn't I just look under the couch and get over what I found then buy a house at 25 and work hard instead of languishing and lacking confidence.

the times they are a changing

http://www.timothyfoster.co.uk

Tales of a Taxi driver

One of the Taxi drivers on the documentary I'm shooting for ch4, Dave, told me a story that I told to a group of undergraduates I was photographing for Bath University:

One day Dave picked up a client from a mental institution. He thought nothing unusual of the client as he dressed impeccably wearing a full suit and talked like a doctor.

The fare went normally until a few miles slipped by on the way to the destination of Romford hospital, whereupon the man began to scream and flail his arms about. Dave, began press his foot harder on the accelerator the louder the man became and they soon arrived at the hospital where the man calmed to a still.

Dave applied the hand-break and turned to the man and said, "Im sorry but the fare is still £8", where upon the man reached into his pressed waist-coat and produced a picked onion and placed it in Daves' outstretched palm. Flabbergasted and a little frightened he accepted and the man exited.

When Dave drove back to the cab office he relayed the story to its contents with much amusement and then went home scratching his head and £8 lighter.

The next day he arrived at the office to find on the desk a jar of picked Gurkins with his name written on the label.

"Whats this?", Dave exclaimed.

"Just in case next time you need to give change" came the reply.

m

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

"Smoke"

Filming begins of the ITV drama "Smoke" on the 5th of June.

http://www.timothyfoster.co.uk

Getting older means getting harder

Getting older means getting harder.

I feel like I'm catching up with my parents in age, I'm starting realise I've lived and my parents have lived, but most importantly they are as flawed as me.

It is such a disappointment.

A life gone by, and an approach to the end, I'm starting to see it in their eyes, the life gone by.

I hear those eyes speaking: "Don't worry It was good, we had a good go and now there's you. It's just a life gone by, and when it's gone there is no more, only you".

Such a responsibility, I hardly feel like I can own it. I look again. Ha, neither did they!

http://www.timothyfoster.co.uk

Food Etiquette

Being born in Wigan the borough Lancashire, the art of food is not one of our strong points.

I remember once going to Switzerland to stay with one of my picture editors. He and his wife served me what I initially thought was the bulb of a flower, but turned out to be an Artichoke but I sat and intently watched him eat before I attempted myself.

Again watching intently I sat, but this time with my exec producer at a sushi house in central London whilst she ordered and I ended up wondering if I should dip my fingers in the watery liquid that arrived at the table or drink it like soup, I think I did both and passed it off as a custom from the north.

This year Wigan held the Pie eating competition with a invent, 'the best pie filling competition'. The winning entry was a chip filled pie.

http://www.timothyfoster.co.uk

Events photography

You do these photography PR events time and again to the point that your brain starts to sabotage the job out of boredom. Sometimes I think I'm fighting a battle with me, the lunatic between my legs, and my unconscious mind that wants to do whatever the hell it likes without any forethought for the mortgage.
http://www.timothyfoster.co.uk

RE: pictures of Martin Jacques

Martin Jacques ©timothyfoster

Martin Jacques ©timothyfoster

Martin Jacques ©timothyfoster

Martin Jacques ©timothyfoster

Hi Tim,

Did you succeed in making the pictures of Martin Jacques yesterday? When could you send them to us? It would be great if we could have them today in the afternoon so that we can start the layout of the pages.

Alexia

Erdem - LFW 2010 - film stills

http://www.timothyfoster.co.uk

yogurt baby

[12/01/2010 15:52:10] Tim Foster: areet beth
[12/01/2010 15:55:26] Beth Pountney: hi timmy
[12/01/2010 15:55:59] Tim Foster: hum was thinking yoga thoughts today
[12/01/2010 15:56:58] Beth Pountney: good
[12/01/2010 15:57:15] Beth Pountney: OHMMMMM
[12/02/2010 15:17:43] Tim Foster: YOGA baby!
[12/02/2010 15:17:51] Tim Foster: Yogurt baby!
[12/02/2010 15:17:59] Tim Foster: YODA baby! yeah!
[12/02/2010 15:18:21] Beth Pountney: have you been talking to Rich?!
[12/02/2010 15:18:38] Tim Foster: no why? everything okay?
[12/02/2010 15:18:49] Beth Pountney: yep, It's grand!
[12/02/2010 15:19:00] Beth Pountney: Are you coming in?
[12/02/2010 15:19:11] Tim Foster: wait, hang on, you have a baby on the way?
[12/02/2010 15:19:49] Beth Pountney: Oh bollocks! You guessed.... :) I wanted to tell you in person!!!!!!!!xx

http://www.timothyfoster.co.uk

Nice guy

real ebayer. decent bloke. collected as arranged. Seller: xj53c ( 245) 24-Dec-09 14:54 (#320457727381)

prompt payment - good ebayer - A ++++++++ Seller: mcgettigan5401 ( 1240) 02-Jun-09 08:42
-- (#230344624438) --

Great communication. A pleasure to do business with. Seller: klisar1 ( 11661) 15-Mar-09 23:14
-- (#380090531392) --

Excellent value! great comms, nice guy! A1+++++++++++ Buyer: speed-freak-2007 ( 251) 30-Dec-08 19:17
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A1+ good comms, fast delivery, thank you. A1+ Buyer: keselgoldwing ( 64) 30-Dec-08 18:36
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fantastic cheers! Buyer: performancesy-sy ( 109) 11-Dec-08 17:35
-- (#270308503718) --

Thank you for an easy, pleasant transaction. Excellent buyer. A++++++. Seller: beautycosmeticgirl ( 924) 26-Nov-08 17:47
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Excellent speed, service and packaging. Great seller. Many thanks. A++++++++++++ Buyer: gb_safe101 ( 8460) 10-Sep-08 17:29 -- (#270270406165) --

Great ebayer, quick payement Seller: clanpollock ( 115) 28-Jun-08 08:04
-- -- Private

Good communications, nice guy, highly recommended !! Seller: tomisimpern ( 334) 02-Jun-08 15:50
-- (#330238347122)

http://www.timothyfoster.co.uk

Crapness as a course of life.

What if.
What if were all just not that important, that were just not special no matter how hard we work?

Zeppelin dreams

6:46pm New york Harriet time/11:48pm London Tim time

Listening to around the world by Zeppelin smelling of todays shoot in Hatfield. A lunging day of blue skys and whispers of corrupt MPs and apathetic voters. I ask Lydia the journalist could we interview a dog as we'd get better answers, we both laugh, and get back to harassing the evasive passers by.

We find a cake shop but they dont want to talk so we buy cakes anyway and eat them through fingerless gloves, red with the blue chill.

When I get home im weary but happy with the work and company. My mid repair house doesn't greet me but I accept its whimpering like the dog I never interviewed. Though, the wonder lies on my computer in the stolen moments I took at christmas of a family im learning to trust, and I let my mind absorb these shapes like a childrens puzzle where the wooden square doesn't quite fit in its correct hole, yet.

I am pleased with the grey images and finally decide to include my own image in the montage of A3 memories. I scan a 'post-it' hand written with only: 'le family 2009'. the phrase happily startles me, so mind turns to the late night cold chips that sweated in my kitchen and perusing emails, either, I will devour this evening not with relish but ruby red tommy sauce.

What does Harriet see over there, I wonder, does she sense the busy machines of buzzing lights and whirring fans amongst the frenetic humans. Does she smell the same in the cold and heat of the foreign city, like one huge human restaurant?

chips.

x

http://www.timothyfoster.co.uk

Grant Shapps - shadow housing minister

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Wassailing

Good evening all

Right final wassailing bits and pieces

When

January

We'll be walking up from our house at 3.17 pm. That way we get a bit of daylight to play on the deathslide (I mean zip line)

I guess we'll be finished at about 6-ish


What to bring

Warm clothes with thermal layers and everything if you've got them
torch
Wellies/ boots - there will be mud, it's practically the countryside
Something to make a loud noise (if you have it - preferably an instrument, rather than a PA system, we do have spares, but you might get the really weedy noise making thing and be drowned out)

Would everyone also please bring

some snacks that you (any offspring) would like to nibble on, just in case the food (see below) is delayed - obviously marshmallows might be appropriate - please don't bring much, there will be plenty, it's just to cover us in case of delays (see the fire below)

&

Jane - 1 bottle of cider
Becky - 1 bottle/ carton of apple juice
Sarah J - 1 bottle of cider
Sarah L - apple juice
Dad - you get cider
Tim - apple juice
Michael - cider

& just in case I can't find the mulled spices, if anyone has some mulled wine sachets in the back of a kitchen cupboard, do you mind bringing them along. Please

Food will be served as soon as the fire gets hot enough

We have vegetable soup (with Turks' Turban Squash and leeks from the allotment)
If I can work out a recipe for beetroot soup, that might also be on the menu

We'll have lots of bread for dipping

for dessert - there will be stewed apples (just finished cooking the first batch) and custard.

Before tea adults will be commenting on the best way to get a fire going and prodding said fire

There will be some lanterns to decorate

Zipline

After tea

We'll be burning toast and sticking it in the tree

Making lots of noise

Reading a poem and, following inspiration from the highly musical Amanda Lees, we'll have a go at a song - which obviously I've not worked out how to share the words in advance - but have massacred the tune on the fife & bodhran (see attached sound file)

And then firing some fireworks into the air in lieu of shotguns

Anyone who needs an explanation about why - I'll try and explain on the night/ make up answers

I hope that's clear (unlike my musicianship)

Ed

Decorating on drugs

Tim Foster a friend of mine said she decorated her house whilst taking a lot of coke, she said she got a lot done but wasn't sure on the choice of decor when it was finished. I've been trying to do the same thing but with toast and it's not working.

29 December 2009 at 01:56 via Facebook for iPhone · Comment ·

Sarah Burton likes this.

Jemma Cullen

Ummmm, tea?

29 December 2009 at 09:54 ·

Tim Foster

aiit

29 December 2009 at 11:52 ·

Justin Quirk

Really strong builder's tea?

29 December 2009 at 12:29 ·

Jemma Cullen

And jammie dodgers.

29 December 2009 at 12:44 ·

Tim Foster

i actually stained a floorboard with Yorkshire tea yesterday, so you can come round and lick the floorboards anytime. oh man, im sooo middle class now.

29 December 2009 at 12:48 ·

John Hooper

Not if you are drinking Yorkshire tea darling...

29 December 2009 at 13:06 ·

Roberta Nitsos

ha ha ha

29 December 2009 at 20:31 ·