12 of 12 V – January 2010
Amazingly we are now into the fifth year of 12 of 12, it doesn’t seem possible! But this is an extra special year, as it is the final year that creator, host and all round nice guy Chad Darnell will be hosting. So I will do my very best to get all twelve done this year.
I’m not entirely sure how this months entry is going to turn out. Why? Because I write them as the day goes on, saving a lot of photo editing and writing in the evening and we have actually gone for a joint effort this month. As it is a week day, and I have just been to work and home again I’m starting to get desperate for photos that haven’t been done before. So Sally has taken some with her iPhone in Christchurch today, so they will be included later. As for my photos, I’m sorry I tried!
As an additional note, as there were a load of pictures that didn’t make the cut this month I have created a Flickr set in case anyone wants to see them.
Before we start properly, I include this pre-image as Janelle included my tweet as her first image I’m returning the favour 
And also to say that everyone should follow J (and me!) on Twitter, be our Facebook friends and send her some love as she battles on with cancer. 2010 is the year of remission, tell your friends.
My first photo is from my drive home from work. England has been battered by ice and snow for the last couple of weeks which has made folks from around the globe who deal with far colder temperatures for way longer point and laugh at us. Fortunately it is now finally on the wane, and this is the first time I have seen clear roads for over a week. I have a really pleasant route to take into work, which half the time I never notice because I’m so focussed on getting where I need to be. As I will be leaving this particular contract after two years at the end of February, I can enjoy it while it lasts.
Back at home and the snow is finally on its way out, just the lovely thick ice still on our driveway to go which I have a helping hand to be on its way after taking this picture. I love the snowman across the road, I think the elderly lady who lived there had it made for her by her grandchildren. Strange thing about it was it wasn’t there on Sunday morning, then about half an hour later I looked out the window and there he was!
Right here I was going to have a TV photo, Food Network has just recently started broadcasting here in the UK (it’s a mix of the US shows with over UK stuff) and I relaxe with a cup of tea and Tyler’s Ultimate. We love this show, Tyler is sort of like a US Jamie Oliver only unlike UK chefs these days HE LOOKS AT THE CAMERA! I have also tried getting into Giada At Home, but Giada de Laurentiis scares me because she has the largest mouth on anyone I have ever seen. Although she is extremely pleasing on the eye.
But that picture was taken away because Sally has come home with a ton of pictures so these next snaps were taken in Christchurch (where previous months pictures have proved to be popular) during her very cold lunch break.
Only January and already the Easter eggs are in Marks and Spencer. They do look rather nice though.
Across the road from M&S, the old Christchurch town hall.
A stern warning for any witches around the borough, Christchurch still has its ducking stool!
Wondering about the life saver? It’s because this house sits right on the rover. Normally this photo couldn’t be taken unless you enjoy standing in the middle of a busy road. But one of the town’s primary roads is closed for six weeks for repair works. Bad for the local residents, good for photo enthusiasts!
Can you spot what is wrong with this picture? The window at the top right isn’t a window. It’s painted onto the brickwork! The house was built when there was a tax on how many windows your property had!
Just the one more from Christchurch, more of the river houses.
Back at the homestead, Will impatiently sits on the side while I get to work cooking dinner.
And just to prove that I can actually cook! Our Food Network fanboy gets to work.
The net result. Steffi, I tried to get a better picture! It was mushroom and bacon (sorry J) pasta with tomato and basil sauce topped off with some ciabatta bread. Very nice.
And finally because he’s just so damn cute and popular. That’s 12 of 12 done for
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What a good set of pictures ! So much of your area looks like the stuff from the movies . . . movies set in the UK . . . you know what I mean.
Good to see you in the kitchen as well !
I love the ducking stool as well ! Here in the states, we just burn our witches with out seeing if they float or sink.
Also, you’re driving on the wrong side of the road . . . 8- )
I win a £10 internal bet for you mentioning that.
I think you will find that it is YOU sir who drives on the wrong side
I love the ducking stool and painted on window – so quirky! And yay for a double person 12 of 12 – nice to see Sally’s photos getting in
I’ll have to tell Mum about the Percy Pig Easter eggs – it’s a family thing to buy each other bags of Percy Pigs for birthdays and Christmas (amongst other things!)
Peeete, thx for the foood! Love it!
Funny, cause I mentioned you with my “walk” picture :O))))
Looking forward to the upcoming foods :O)))
Take care.
Steffi.
Can I just tell you how jealous I am of all the cool stuff you get to see around town. The Ducking Stool is a little creepy, tho.
Happy 2010!
- Jill
Woot! I get a pre-image! That’s something I’ve never been before!
What can I say other than because I’m a twisted individual the ducking stool is one of the coolest things I’ve seen. I had never heard of that before. Is it actually operational?
The river house shot is great. It looks so serene. Why isn’t it snowing there though?
I would guess that people with larger mouths get to try more food, thus becoming better chefs!
Beautiful pictures
I wish I had such interesting things to see on my 12ths! I, too, love the ducking stool (why is it called that?) and the painted-on window. This month I mostly have pictures of rain.
Nice 12, as always!
i want to visit where you live! great 12 of 12!
Hi Pete!
Sorry, I was too tired last night to check the other entries. I love yours and I’m glad that I decided to join again. I really missed you guys.
These are lovely pictures (as usual). The house with the painted window is funny (but I think I can remember something about windows and taxes … but I don’t know where *g*).
We have this easter stuff in the shops, too. Started right after Christmas.
*pets Will*
See you next month (or on twitter – I’m your new friendly neighborhood stalker *g*)
So I’ve concluded that when I make it over to your part of the world that I want to have breakfast with you. Even though there is not breakfast pictured in this one, your dinner picture made me think of it, and it’s probably my favourite kind of picture from you.
BTW, that pasta looks REALLY good right about now.
Thanks for including two pictures of that cute cat! I just love his milk moustache!
Such interesting information along with the photos this month…love the painted-on window!
so here am i, quite late. we have two mobime modems now beside our f****** satellite line but all the three are causing trouble with my new macbook. i like the house from the rare photograph, the one with the life saver. and of course the easter bunnies, not only of chocolate but also of ciabatta. i treid to convince lance the not-anymore-kitten but he wouldn’t want to be photographed, instead he killed a bird i had saved two times (!!! i am really sure it was the same bird) yesterday and i was allowed to take as many of his first prey.next month i will send photographs from vienna (hopefully) and in march i will be in southern germany at the 12th. in april i might be home at the 12th… see you and sally! cheers from ireland eliane
Great pictures, Pete. The ones from Christchurch make me want to take another trip to England. I needed a good laugh today, and your comment about Giada DeLaurentis made me crack up. See you next month.
It probably isn’t going to make you feel any better to know that with the cold snap, we’ve all been muttering, “Well, at least we’re not in Europe.” Sorry ’bout that.
I am so going to come over and borrow that dunking stool. There are a few people here at work I want to test.
OK: Giada de Laurentis: it’s not her mouth that I find distracting (unless you’re talking about the obnoxious pronunciation of English words that happen to also be Italian) — it’s her waistline. Specifically, how narrow it is, given her constant protestations of “loving chocolate.” I trust no one who doesn’t clearly eat what they cook. This is why I love Ina Garten!
Nice 12, as always. And I’ll be over for dinner
Great photos Pete, I always look forward to your 12 of 12. Will looks as cute as usual! I can’t believe they have Easter candy out already. We have tons of Valentine’s Day out in our stores (Feb 14) but I’m sure the Easter goods are right behind.