3 February 2026.

Good morning.

I was up at 7:00 am - however Julie was up before me to take the hound through the woods.

My job. Make the bed, chuck some clothes in the washing machine, feed the dog, empty the dishwasher, put the coffee's on...

Déjà vu?

You better believe it.

Julie is back in the Dearne Valley this morning. Her mum's internment at Wombwell cemetery - the burying of the ashes.

She is picking our Jamie up and meeting their Jane down there around 10:00 am.

I did quite a lot of work yesterday. My day job.

I also had the kid from British Gas come and take less than five minutes to tighten up the valves on three radiators.

He's coming back on Thursday to service the boiler, so I have the added delight of emptying the utility room so he can get at the fucking thing.

And we have the heaviest tumble trier known to man, which sits on top of the washing machine.

Something to look forward to I suppose.

Opposite. I mentioned Switzerland yesterday.

If you trawl back through the 2025 blog - this was an idea I got whilst flying over The Alps on the way out to Cyprus.

I always look for ideas and angles.

I've done some photos and video clips of this before - however, 12 months is a long time and the technology has got better. As have I.

Look at the quality of the photographs / imagery.

They now look very real.

It was quite good before, but now it is much, much better as I have more control over the assets and software.

I'd still like to output a 16:9 landscape image with a full body that doesn't deteriorate at distance. It will happen - but it's not yet. I'd also like to animate at 4K... proper 4K and not the upscaled bullshit that passes off as 4K.

Six of the crowd go. Mason and Gaynor, Augie Doggie and Clara - and Jack Thiam and BAM BAM.

Augie Doggie (Dorian Ogley) and Clara Margieson in the hotel bar.

A valid reason why Clara poses NO threat to Gaynor, maybe?

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It's a last minute trip... a long weekend set up by the wheeler-dealer bookie that is Cyril Pope.

The story is that it was an £18,000 holiday that was cancelled due to a bereavement - and one that he bought for under £5,000 - as the guy who booked the holiday (and died) didn't take out the insurance.

Sorry - I'm info dumping!

Cyril didn't want to go - he just needed to sell the idea to Mason to try and turn a quick couple of grand.

How would he do that?

The answer is opposite top.

"Come on Mace - Gee would be love it," Cyril told him.

A point of note: Gee is the shortened version of the name Gaynor, which quite a few people used.

It was no surprise that Gaynor thought it was an absolutely brilliant idea. Not that she got told about it until fairly late in the day.

Why?

Mason was making Cyril sweat as he knew that Cyril had got it for much less that he was being asked to cough up.

How?

Now, that bit is easy. 

Day 404 (23)

Photograph Album

Switzerland, February 2023

Gaynor Mellor - après ski with a Martini in hand

Gaynor Mellor and Clara Margieson aiming to break a leg or two

Clara Margieson - après ski with a Martini in hand

Gaynor Mellor and Clara Margieson - the best of friends.

2 February 2026.

Good morning.

I was up at 7:10 am and out through the woods with the hound.

It was quite mild and I didn't need to use the torch.

I have a treat today.

British Gas are coming out as part of our extortionate gas service plan-stroke-insurance.

We have three radiators that are leaking.

We replaced the original box-standard rad's with Victorian-styled ones which I have to admit, get really fucking hot. However... and this is a big however, the getting-very-hot-and-cooling down bit takes its toll on the rubber washers and they often need replacing.

A £60 call out fee has just appeared as well, therefore that is something Julie said that she'll look into.

Last night we ate out at the Curry Leaf.

Omar the owner heard that it was our anniversary, so he treat us to the meal. A very nice gesture from a very nice kid.

If you look at the header photo (top) - the regeneration of 138-154 King Street Hammersmith - you will see the vegetable wholesalers shop beneath the mosque.

I named that after Omar (Farooque).

In fact - he also owns the fictitious Delhi Belly restaurant which is nearly as prevalent in the story as Facchetti's opposite.

(Series 1) The owner of Facchetti's - Judy Knock (nee Facchetti) with Gaynor Mellor and Clara Margieson in the kitchen of the restaurant

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The idea is to get Omar and do some photogrammetry or use a laser scanner and 3D him, so I can stick him in the series.

Like Johnny Welsh he is a character - and one that I have used before (S5 Uncovered).

I also have an angle that I can use for his character.

Opposite (and below) is Facchetti's.

Facchetti's. 132-136 King Street, Hammersmith W6.

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As part of the regeneration of Hammersmith I left Domino's Pizza as it is, so you can get a feel for its location - as I did with the Iceland freezer place and both Lloyd's Bank and Marks & Spencer.

As I said, the attention IS in the detail.

No animation has EVER gone to these lengths - ever.

I am hoping that I can create something different and make the animation real.

If you look at the characters, you can see how they are evolving as after 403 days the software (and my ideas) are getting better.

The Clara character was initially a problem as the 2D asset was a fucking nightmare. Not anymore. She now looks great.

Clara is plain but pretty... and very likeable.

In the story it was Clara that attached herself to Gaynor, and as Clara is in a relationship (with Augie Doggie), Gaynor doesn't see Clara as a threat.

Well, she did at first, as there is a conversation between Gaynor and Ana... and some other stuff...

On second thoughts - yeah - Gaynor saw her as a threat - but that is just who the Gaynor character is. Highly complicated and very insecure.

Clara is older than Gaynor and I have her working in some mega computer store on Goldhawk Road in Shepherd's Bush when the series starts.

Clara is drawn to Gaynor as everyone in The Vaults has been on about this "posh girl" from The Green who has attached herself to Mason.

Insecurities aside, Clarae and Gaynor get on very well and as stated (opposite) - Gaynor encourages her to go for higher education. 

You can see how well that works come Series 2.

Aside of meeting up on weekends Gaynor and Clara often have tea (in Facchetti's) and go to Yoga once a week.

In Mason and Gaynor's life there are not enough hours in the day.

Clara is a very good friend to Gaynor is as much as I can say - however always remember that word. Complicated.

Gaynor continually hovers over that self-destruct button.

Day 403 (22)

Photograph Album

Facchetti's Restaurant

(Series 1) The owner of Facchetti's restaurant - Judy Knock (nee Facchetti). Judy was married to Frankie (Knock), who it is said died of cancer before the series starts.

Her grandfather was an Italian PoW and stayed in the UK after the war and brought his wife and daughter over - the latter of who is Isobella - Judy's mum.

Isobella is still knocking around in Series 1 and is as a cantankerous woman as you could imagine. However... she absolutely adores Mason Green...

Why is that?

(Series 1)  A 22-year-old Clara Margieson and a 19-year old Gaynor Mellor outside Facchetti's restaurant on King Street in Hammersmith.

That morning they had just flown into Heathrow from Zurich.

They had had a long weekend in Switzerland and had obviously brought the weather back with them.

College was quite funny that day, but that's another story.

Clara and Gaynor were the very best of friends - however, they never spoke for over 7 years.

Why?

(Series 1) Gaynor Mellor. The girl who had the world at her feet.

(Series 1) Clara Margieson was in a relationship with one of Mason's best friends - Augie Doggie (Dorian Ogley).

Gaynor encouraged Clara to do higher education... and she did.

1 February 2026.

Good morning.

It's our anniversary.

I was up at 8:00 am and through the woods with the dog... sort of.

The dog walking traffic both on a Sunday and at this hour can be annoying and this morning was one such morning - therefore, I took a slight detour and managed a five-minute conversation with the Costa Coffee Man.

We have names for everyone.

This guy has been knocking around for a couple of years now, and due to his bearded appearance he was initially thought to be one of those that have come here off the boats. This thought was reinforced when one of the woman dog walkers... the Incinerator Man's wife, sort of said that she was chased by someone matching his appearance. 

The Incinerator Man was arrested by the police for allegedly threating his wife after she found out that he'd been shagging around and he rather sinisterly threatened to kill her and sling her in an incinerator.

All good stuff.

Anyway, the Costa Coffee Man was not only from Chesterfield and called Tim - he was totally innocent.

The police interviewed the Incinerator Man's wife and thought exactly as I did - that she's a fucking brick short of a load, and another one of those people who only listens to her own voice.

The Costa Coffee Man is called that as he generally has a coffee in his hand. A Costa Coffee!

Trivialities aside...

Opposite and seeing as it is our anniversary, here are a few shots of the good wife that is Anita Pallenburg.

As I've often stated, Anita is Group Procurement Director with Greenford - and one of its several group companies is Greenford Geotechnical & Piling - of which Pat Marshall (Angie Mellor's husband) is the managing director - and her mum's cousin's husband - Teddy Layne the operations director.

Nepotism eh?

Anita's job involves the purchasing materials for site and the pricing of contracts - but being a Group director, she is part of the board of directors that also has to make big decisions.

"Do you ever have to shout at people?" Jenny once asked. "You know - at work and that?"

"Not really," Anita replied, "As when I'm not impressed they tend to know about it."

Anita started off at Greenford as a trainee quantity surveyor and even throughout Series 2 she is still trying to better herself and goes to Hammersmith Polytechnic one night a week working towards getting chartered.

Although Anita and Maureen Mellor don't quite see eye-to-eye, she and their Angie are extremely good friends. 

And Gaynor?

They get on - sort of.

Their relationship can be quite humorous as Jenny is often the go-between, and much like her dad - Mason, in Series 1 - she just says what she thinks.

As Gaynor is insecure, full-on and very high-maintenance and Anita quite the opposite, it becomes quite an interesting friendship. 

As I've often said - Jenny is the glue that holds Series 2 together in much the same way as Gaynor does in Series 1.

As for Anita - she is just a nice girl.

Day 402 (21)

Photograph Album

Anita Pallenburg

(Series 2) Anita just finishing off in the offices of Greenford Geotechnical & Piling.

(Series 2) Anita calling at the supermarket after finishing work.