Tim O'Brien GAvA

Sunday June 16, 2013

FATHER'S DAY

Spent the afternoon at the allotment with the family and what should fly past, heading towards RAF Syerston having come from the Belvoir Castle area? The Lancaster: the perfect Father's Day!

Monday May 27, 2013

BRADGATE PARK, LEICS

All four of us spent this Bank Holiday exploring Bradgate Park, Leicestershire in glorious sunshine; although a bit breezy!

Saturday May 11, 2013

NOTTS COUNTY SHOW

We visited the County Show today at Winthorpe, Newark as Julie was singing with Southwell Rock Choir and I was curious to see my photographs and painting on the Dam Busters display.

Tuesday March 26, 2013

BINGHAM BUSINESS CLUB

I attended this mornings breakfast meeting of the Bingham Business Club and enjoyed listening to a talk by fellow artist & author Lady Helen Nall about her book and memorial project.

Saturday February 16, 2013

HMS ILLUSTRIOUS IN LIVERPOOL

As a family we spent the day in Liverpool and enjoyed being guests of Captain Connell who gave us a VIP tour of HMS Illustrious which was docked by the Liver building for a few days. 

Monday January 21, 2013

IT'S SNOWTIME!

Pulled the kids to school today through the blizzard on an old wooden family sledge!

Friday November 16, 2012

SKYFALL

Finally managed to see the new James Bond film tonight and yes, it does live up to the hype. Great to see the series back on track after the last film and good to see his Royal Navy heritage back on screen again, plus three RN Lynx helicopters. Can't wait for the next one!

Sunday November 11, 2012

REMEMBRANCE DAY

A time to reflect today and remember old soldiers such as my two Grandads and other relatives; plus it was great to see our son marching along with his Beaver Colony through Bingham with the veterans.

Friday October 26, 2012

EDDIE READER

Went to see Eddie Reader in concert tonight at the Palace Theatre, Newark and we even got to meet her afterwards when she met everyone in the foyer.

Sunday September 9, 2012

ALLOTMENT BBQ

Enjoyed meeting all the other allotment holders at this annual get-together. Julie's Courgette cake was a success!

Friday August 10, 2012

OLYMPIC STRAW SCULPTURE

We stopped off for an ice-cream at Snugbury's near Nantwich on our way to Llandudno today. Having followed Bradley Wiggin's success in the Tour de France and the Olympics it was great to see cycling reflected in the choice of sculpture this year.

Friday July 27, 2012

ALL THE BELLS...

At 0812, sat in front of the TV watching the BBC Breakfast News we all took part in Martin Creed's Work No. 1197 by ringing bicycle bells and an old family christening bell to help celebrate the start of the London 2012 Olympics.

Monday July 16, 2012

GAvA ANNUAL EXHIBITION

I attended the launch of the 42nd 'Aviation Paintings of the Year' exhibition by the Guild at the Mall Galleries, London, which this year was opened by Rt Hon Michael Portillo. When I returned home our little boy (6) had drawn me a Sopwith Camel and our little girl (4) had drawn her version of an airliner - will have to get them exhibiting soon!

Thursday June 28, 2012

THE OLYMPIC TORCH RELAY

The Olympic Torch relay headed through our part of Nottinghamshire this afternoon. We picked the children up early from school and caught up with the celebrations in the neighbouring village of Radcliffe-on-Trent.

Sunday June 17, 2012

FATHERS DAY

We spent the afternoon at the Nottingham Heritage Centre, Ruddington, Notts; the home of the Great Central Railway (Nottingham). We missed the steam train to Loughborough, but enjoyed many rides on the miniature steam railway instead.

Sunday June 10, 2012

TEA-TIME AT THE ALLOTMENT

At the end of a cold, soggy half-term, the weather in typical British tradition has brightened up for this last day. We spent the afternoon at the allotment, weeding and fixing-up extra guttering in case of more rain! 

Friday May 18, 2012

TIGER MOTH GRAND DRAW

John North was the lucky winner of my watercolour painting of a Wellington bomber that I donated to the Tiger Moth Grand Draw to raise money for the proposed RAF Newton memorial.

Sunday May 6, 2012

COLCHESTER ZOO

Despite the typical Bank Holiday weather (cold & wet!), we enjoyed a day out with family friends at Colchester Zoo, Essex.

Tuesday April 24, 2012

BUSINESS BREAKFAST MEETING

I delivered a powerpoint slideshow to members of the Bingham Business Club at their breakfast meeting at the Horse & Plough. The main theme was a brief history of RAF Newton and the work of the Memorial Fund.

Easter, 2012

ON THE BEACH!

We spent the week pottering around Sheringham and re-visiting favourites such as the steam railway, the boating lake and discovering new delights in the "Little Mo" museum. Also went "crabbing" off Cromer Pier for the first time.

Sunday March 18, 2012

RAISING THE BARN!

We spent the afternoon on this Mothering Sunday at the allotment with some family friends and their children. While the kids loved splashing in muddy puddles like 'Peppa Pig', the Dads helped construct the shed. Once it was finished, we all celebrated by cooking 'hot-dog' sausages on a camping stove. Reminded me of that magnificent scene in the 1985 Harrison Ford film Witness.

Saturday February 18, 2012

CROESO I GYMRU

Spent half-term week visiting family in a very chilly north Wales, which surprisingly hasn't seen any snow this year.

Sunday February 5, 2012

IT'S SNOWTIME!!!

With at least three inches of snow, our family mission to reach the post-box failed as we came across other families on a nearby street and all the children put H&S to one side to enjoy good-old fashioned sledging and snow-ball fights until lunch-time; perhaps we will reach the post-box tomorrow!!!

Sunday January 15, 2012

SPLASH!

Too cold and frosty to continue digging at the allotment today so went swimming instead. Then went for a family walk after lunch looking for fallen branches to use as 'contemporary' edging around the individual veggie patches.

Friday January 13, 2012

CUTTING THE RIBBON

I was invited by David Wilson Homes to cut the ribbon to officially open Meteor Close at the Newton Park development.

Tuesday January 10, 2012

MOVING TO A NEW ALLOTMENT

Having outgrown the old plot at East Bridgford, we collected the gate key for our new 65x35 feet rabbit-proofed veggie patch. We like the fact that the allotment society has ambitious plans to add beehives to their co-operative orchard. Plus, being only a mile away from RAF Syerston I can't think of a more perfect spot for our family allotment...

Sunday January 8, 2012

SHERLOCK

Enjoyed watching the second episode of Sherlock tonight in the second series (or should I say season?) of this contemporary, stylish BBC production. Apart from it looking great from a design perspective, I love David Arnold's theme - shame he is not involved with 007's forthcoming Skyfall, but curious to see what he will compose for the Olympics.

Sunday January 1, 2012

STEAMING INTO THE NEW YEAR

Started the new year by visiting Papplewick Pumping Station near Nottingham as it was one of their 'steaming days' for the giant Victorian beam engine. The ornate splendour reminded me of the sweet factory in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. The kids loved the ride on the mini steam railway, while Julie enjoyed filming us with the new family 'flip' video camera.

New Years Eve 2011

"OH YES HE DID..."

We took the kids to the fantastic pantomime Aladdin at Newark Palace Theatre this afternoon - they loved it, especially veteran comedian Bernie Clifton who played wishee-washee and yes, his yellow ostrich was there too.

Christmas 2011

FOLLOW THE BEAR!

Looking forward to a relaxing Christmas at home after our recent travels to see the "outlaws" in Devon and north Wales; although the weather looks bleak with the wind and sleet so hope we don't go too 'cabin-crazy' being stuck inside! Saw the latest Snugbury straw sculpture on our way to Wales - this year it was a Polar Bear, wonder what they will do in 2012?

Sunday October 16, 2011

A46 'HIGHWAY HOBBLE' RAISED £716

My wife Julie and I, plus our two young children took part in a sponsored walk today along a new section of the A46 to raise funds for the RAF Newton Memorial Fund. Julie managed to raise £716 in sponsorship and we took part for support. I also helped the project by contributing an artist's impression sketch for the Fund to use within promotional material. Read more at: http://rafnewtonmemorialfund.yolasite.com/

Sunday August 21, 2011

MOTHS GALORE AT BELVOIR CASTLE

Enjoyed a relaxed family afternoon out today at the Tiger Club's Moth rally at Belvoir Castle, Leics - it was like stepping back in time to witness the airshows of yesteryear. The children enjoyed watching the flour bombing and limbo competitions.

18-24 July 2011

GAvA ANNUAL EXHIBITION

Exhibited three of my oil paintings at the Guild of Aviation Artists annual exhibition at the Mall Galleries. The trilogy had an RAF Cottesmore theme and depicted the last days of JFH and the station - result: one sold!

Saturday June 4, 2011

BELTON HOUSE SPITFIRE PROM

Along with some friends, we attended the excellent Spitfire Prom at Belton House, near Grantham last night which has returned to the local music scene after a temporary hiatus. Great to see the RAF Regiment Band and the BBMF Spits while Julie enjoyed the firework display.

March, 2011

OUR FIRST FAMILY TRIP TO DISNEYLAND

Our two children had their first taste of flying when we flew from East Midlands Airport into the very stylish Charles de Gaulle Airport before spending an enjoyable short break at the New England style hotel, Disneyland Paris. Highlights included the Cars live action show, Buffalo Bill's Wild West show and our little girl collecting hugs from Minnie, Mickey, Sully, Aladdin, Princess Jasmine...

Then back home to reality - work, school and nursery...

TOP: My photograph on the Dams raid display at the Notts County Show.

ABOVE: The 2012 straw sculpture near Nantwich, Cheshire. 

ABOVE: Aeroplanes drawn by our children.

BELOW: The Olympic Torch Relay tarvelling through Radcliffe-on-Trent. 

ABOVE: The magnificent Britannia Class 4-6-2 70038 "Robin Hood" miniature locomotive at the Nottingham Heritage Centre, Ruddington, Nottinghamshire.

BELOW: Our allotment - since we moved in eight months ago, it is now taking shape along with other plots to resemble a wild-west shanty town!!!

TOP: Watching the Sealions at Colchester Zoo.

ABOVE: A Stone Age camera found on the beach at Sheringham! 

TOP: Tim (far left) and Cllr Neil Clarke, the Leader of Rushcliffe Borough Council handing over an original watercolour painting by Tim to John North (right) who won it in the RAF Newton Memorial Fund's raffle. Bart Luckhurst (far right) won a family pass to the Waddington Airshow. Photograph by Malcolm Sales/Buttercross Photography.

ABOVE: An artist's impression of how the RAF Newton Memorial could look. Read more at  http://rafnewtonmemorialfund.yolasite.com/

ABOVE: The children's willow "Wigloo" at the allotment.

BELOW: Julie cutting the turf at our new allotment on a frosty Saturday January 14, 2012 having pegged out our plot on what was known as the village "Poor Field".

ABOVE: Tim cuts the ribbon to Meteor Close, the first completed road in David wilson Homes 'Newton Park' development at the former RAF Newton site. DWH made a generous £100 donation to the memorial fund. Photograph via Unsworth Sugden/DWH.

BELOW: The 2010 Snugbury Meerkat straw scuplture on the A51 Chester Road, Nantwich which stood a whopping 36 feet high - "SIMPLES!" In the past they have also created Big Ben, a space rocket, Jodrell Bank amongst others.

ABOVE: The firework finale and patriotic flag-waving at the 2011 Spitfire Prom at Belton House, Grantham, Lincolnshire.

BELOW: Fellow artist, the President of the Guild of Aviation Artists, Michael Turner and his Chipmunk (WP800) also attended the Moth rally at Belvoir Castle. 

BELOW: Our children had their second taste of flying in the balloon at Disneyland Paris. I admired the contemporary architecture at Charles de Gaulle (see bottom photo).