17 Months on...

Some of you will know that a Charlotte shaped whirlwind whisked me to St Mary's last July to make various promises of love, honoring and cherishing...

Marriage is a private thing and a public thing it seems. My darling wife would be less than darling were this to be some sort of confessional (which it's not), but various things are publishable to the net and hopefully a few happy readers may benefit.

I've taken up gardening.

Smile.

Not only is the Harmer well astride that middle youth bracket, plus marriage and mortgage type things, but part of the BD dowry is our 45 by 90 foot communal garden.

Alan Titchmarsh... you never looked so lovely!

Anyhow, garden type posts ahoy.

I think that I shall never see
A thing as lovely as a tree

(DHLawrence apparently)

The massive light blocking Sycamore at the end of our garden however, aperched atop the precarious and listed Victorian brick wall is looking rather less than lovely. Lambeth Council website: here I come!

Well, since the news about Charlotte and I (that we are engaged) has made the back pages of facebook, I suppose I'd better nip any further gossip in the bud and post a few piccies up here on thefellowshipofthestring.

She's a lovely girl: I'm a very lucky man.

Ma A and Ma B at our 2nd engagement party.

6th form running club plus mascot, seen here at the Cliftonville Golf Cafe

The old Pirate Rest Home for distressed Vikings

R for iRene 

C heart J

Fuschia and Mum chez cuisine Harmer

Brother Ranald meets his sister-in-law

James Bond 'double 0 evans' plus Edward and George

Yet again, Maria Bonet took the photo that has become my screensaver

The knives and forks in the bag and the table were our first 'marital' purchases.

I've been advised by my agent at Debrettes that the word 'Cutlery' is inappropriate...

LORD, thank you for finding me this 

wonderful woman!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

New TFL bus shelter seating policy

Father Lenonmass bringing some Christmas-tide cheer to the Willow nursery

Vaguely Womble 

Poetry gig at Soho Arts Cafe with Alice Stanley: 'the shroom of doom...'

Clapham Common

St Anthony of Padua: one of my favourite Saints

On my high chair at the grown-ups party

Barrrrnarrrnabee at the wheel of Doris; Harp taxis for SW11

A big kiss for someone

Aaron and Mike hard at work

Barrrnarrrnabee on another 'job'; Harp delivery again

The Schola Cantorum of Heythrop College at St Ann's Kingston: thanks so much guys!

L-R: Joey Dreycott, Antony Le Fleming, Muggins

Martina Jelinkova, Soprano, and Bluebell the Harp

Houseguest Kaushik Das returning to Kolkata: really enjoyed your cooking Kaushik, thanks!

Winter Wonderland: Jo J-M with Grace and Maria

Margaret Labongo

The girls' first bus journey(!)

Wesley chapel with JMB at the consul

Beverley Green, Willow pianist plus Bluebell on Cedars Road

It's been an amazing few weeks: definitely some of the best. Feeling a bit shy about putting everything that's been going on up here so please excuse me; let's just say 'Justin Harmer is happy.'


GRAZIE CARO SIGNORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fashion police are back out in force: a case dating back to 1989 this time, and Emma Tracey's 18th birthday. L-R Martin Bradbury, Vic Benady, Lisa, Baz Barran. This crucial piece of evidence was submitted in trial and the culprits will shortly be appearing before the beak...

Well you asked for it Clampy my boy - Victor looks vaguely in pain nestled between Lisa and Ed 'where's my other hand' Stern... aah, such larks, such innocence, such sweetness, and still change from a fiver on a Saturday night out...

Christmas stock at the Catholic bookshop in Victoria.

I look vaguely like I'm about to eat Warren's head. Should he be worried? Probs.

Ron Knights - cool. Bass player - that's jazz... nice! And other catchphrases off 'telly...

"Whistle while you work... whistle while you work..."

Sarah de Nordwall, warrior Bard, seen here with Bluebell. 

Proper harpists will excuse her for the shoulder choice and applaud the intention.

A good friend informs me that there is only one true king.

Other friends will know that Arajust of Batterthorn received his call to arms on this spot in  April 1993

For reasons best kept to cybersilence it has been an exceptional week, for which....


MOLTISSIME, MOLTISSIME GRAZIE SIGNOR!!!!

Scenes of terrible, red wine carpet devastation, a long time ago in a

 galaxy where glasses that big went unnoticed... 1988!

Juju's b'day at 'HOTSTUFF!' plus ma n pa

Mama, rushed to the rescue of the victim of the Shroom of doom... 

(still recovering actually, thanks for asking)

Jane really likes this photo

It's like a scene from 'I'm a celebrity get me out of the jungle...'

Baz's birthday lunch

Sir Baz plus Lady Baz

Susle plus young master Kit Barran

"...So I said to Sacha, 'Andy W can have the 16 piece backing band 

so long as we're in the clear with Sony...'"

L-R: Victor Benady, Jim Clamp, Harmer, Zachary Corbett, Rajah

Johnny the Baz in January 1989, Chez Benady

Little trip down memory lane folks: not sure if any of those featured read my blog but maybe you'll see it one day, don't know where, don't know when...


Have been laid up with food poisoning for the past few and not looking forward to choir this evening as feeling decidedly under the weather: concert on Saturday... aaaargh!

Nonetheless...

MOLTO GRAZIE!!!