2017: We'll Pretend You Haven't Been

 Hello and Happy Christmas

Writing to you this year from Cheltenham via Avebury were in addition to the largest megalithic stone circle in the world the pagans were out in force playing drums and praying to stones it was in the local parlance(probably not)-massive! Topping off the trip, nearby Silbury Hill stands as the largest man-made mound in Europe comparative in height and volume to the roughly contemporary Egyptian pyramids-in England!

Speaking of piles of ummm dirt, 2017 was once again full of them in the news. Still despite the many backward, ill informed, neonationalist, greedy, intolerant, misogynist types in the world, plenty of progress was apparent. Even in Saudi Arabia, were in addition to other reforms, women can now drive cars by themselves-how 21st century! While the public policy response to the real eminent threats from climate related disasters like hurricanes, forest fires and drought serve as reminder that we are all sharing the same planet and need to do better to make it safer for ourselves and future generations.

The year in a few words:
A freshly minted teenager, Will is practically counting the days until he can drive. He’s a seriously extreme motoring enthusiast intent on plotting his education and career path toward a yet to be determined German manufacturer. If you have an interest, or can feign an interest, his parents would be much obliged to receive a holiday from the topic. Speaking of holidays he’s had quite a nice run with trips to Paris, Italy and an excellent visit to Chicago. Also, being able to spend an extended period of time with grandparents this year was pretty great too. Otherwise, a Grade 5 Cello Merit, progressing golf swing, basketball and rugby club playing, size 10 shoe wearing, giant hug giving, sometimes infuriating little man is happening! Bring on the pimples and braces! Hahahaha

Marian would like you all to know she turned 40! Seeing it in with characteristic style(now blonde in an improved effort to hide the grey), grace(yeah right) and homemade curry feast with friends. Otherwise she is our rock and very much appreciated at #52 Malling street.

Not to be outdone by Marian, I too turned 40 which considering I spent most of my youth uncertain I would ever make it this far feels pretty great! To top it off, I've finally won my fantasy football league and even get to play basketball twice a week if I like so happy days. It was great to go home and commune after an extended time with so many people I really miss and love to be with. A  few new paintings mostly variations on a theme due to my limited skill level. FunctionalFinance.org stands as a clarifying beacon of understanding in a sea of false economic narratives and encourage you to like it on your favourite social media outlet. I was keen to find a single destination to access my favourite economists blogs so developed Ur-Text-a destination for other postgraduate enthusiasts or hobbyists to access their academic topic of interest by consolidating feeds from a host of popular sites and blogs. Very much a work in progress at the moment, building websites is new to me, but check it out for anything possibly of interest.

Music
At Marian’s most recent choir concert with the London Philharmonic, following some spectacular trumpeting, a long time love affair with the trumpet was finally realised. If you have any recommendations for trumpet based bands do let me know. Otherwise, Tube + Berger particularly Introluction is highly recommended. More Perfect, Sam Harris, Hidden Brain and many more make up a stellar roster of quality podcasts. But yes Tube + Berger will make reading this all worth it...

Person of the Year

No doubt buoyed by my ringing endorsement as people of the year last year, in 2017 women well and truly announced the end of the status quo. Whether the global Women's March on January 22 or the #metoo movement take a moment to acknowledge the long, painful, uncomfortable march to extinguish misogyny in our culture and applaud these efforts.

Since this section has developed into more of a forecast, I am hopeful the rumbling
Youthquake, Oxford dictionaries word of the year, awakens more of those voices(+ votes) necessary to push our politics away from desperately divisive, exclusionary and short sighted policies manifested in 2017 dead enders- I mean headliners. If we're to avoid war or improved representation  in places like the US and Russia in 2018 they may be decisive.

Well, the good news is we've made it through 2017 and hope you're enjoying a much deserved break in anticipation of a positive, healthy and productive 2018.

Big Love,

Bryan, Marian and Will

Vacation

July 28, 2009

Vacation day #2

On my to do list for this week to begin and maintain a journal that I am committed to regardless of the peaks and troughs that time allows. In preparation I have been especially interested in reading entries deposited in varies places, notebooks, napkins, etc. earlier that communicate the mundane daily events and hope to stick to that recipe. The actual accounting of time provides for memory maintenance and proper placing of things. Otherwise, I have always thought or debated what the goal of an exercise like this should be and having not too many important things to say I will stick to the mundane time keeping with respect to personal matters. Furthermore, I don't have a particular audience that I am shooting for so I will pick one and who better to write to or about than the particular growth and development of William Van Namen-chief cat annoyance officer.

This is perhaps too harsh a title, although Marian wouldn't disagree, the better question posed would be how do you expect a 4 year old to react to a mother and 5 kittens especially having been without Roger, our last feline friend, when he was 2. It is a situation that is constantly testing our resolve and his listening skills with really no sign of ending these daily altercations.

Today's while no one was looking he put the cat in the washing machine! Quite a task considering he had to move his step stool into place and open the top of the machine assuming it wasn't premeditated and he did not open them in advance. Of course, he comes right out of the laundry room chuckling to himself and tells us what he has done. I won't bother to communicate here all the variations on the conversation that follows except to say that he is Marian's son especially in those moments.

I confess to still having mixed emotions about Elizabeth Haley Delilah Bennet, yes that is her real name. I mean how much can you really love a cat that showed up at your workplace pregnant on a Thursday and has six kittens the next Tuesday. Marian, unable to let her curiosity at never having had kittens, motherly instincts and general love for animals go to waste was happy to charge the $200 fee for a cat she knew at that point for a grand total of 10 minutes. It has been all down hill from there for me and the gift that keeps on giving for the vet. An absess, special feedings, excess medicines you name it i've sighed and paid for it.

All this being said I was intrigued at the experiment knowing that Will would love it and watching Marian would remind me what a special person she is. Which brings us back to her name. Assuming Will would be quick on the draw like he always is with his stuffed animals--Barry the Bear, Mikey the Monkey, Hound the dog and Roger and Luigi our previous two real cats. But he was stumped, knowing that she was female I think he was hoping to score some points with the lady's at school and name them after one of his favourites Senaa, Haley or Erica- his teacher. 

Finally settling for Haley we went with that for a while except both marian and I were lacking input. Marian's love of English romances and Biblical women went with Delilah while myself slightly infatuated with Keira Knightley in her role in Pride and Prejudice opted for Elizabeth Bennett. So Elizabeth Haley Delilah Bennet she is. A suitably outrageous name for a similarly mad moment in time.

This whole experience has been a nightmare really but now with a little over two weeks left till they can be re-homed I sit here and admire them all clumped together asleep or licking each other laying on my favorite chair while mommy rests comfortably on the ottoman I so desperately want to put my feet up on. They look at me from time to time in between lazy stretches, yawn and never know anything about it. What bliss.

2016: Pushing the Boat Out?

Ho Ho Hello,

Wishing you and yours a Happy Christmas and healthy new year. We’re spending the day at home in Lewes with our most splendid tree, carefully prepared menu of culinary delights, and special guests.

As the calendar comes to the end of a year marked by important national races with uncertain, destabilising outcomes here’s a roundup to bend your ear and provide some cheer. While prospects for 2017 aren’t exactly an empty canvas we can still paint what we like to make it beautiful so let’s do it.

The year in a few words:

Will, now 12, is back on the bottom of the pile in his first year of jacket, tie and carefully manicured hair secondary school. Highlights include a Distinction on his Grade 4 Cello exam, day out at Goodwood Festival of Speed and Mercedes driving experience for his birthday reaching a top speed of 35 mph and third gear. A Segway entered his life this summer and forever changed how he interacts with the outdoors. These days he prefers communicating in German, wears hilariously big shoes and has settled on studying engineering as an outlet for his automotive enthusiasm.

Marian was selected to join the Brighton Festival Chorus performing alongside the Brighton Symphony and London Philharmonic this autumn. Attending concerts have made for some memorable days out for everybody and a wonderful outlet for her musical affections. She continues to do incredibly well in her work managing a  flight of stairs commute or campervan mobile office(he says jealously).

I’ve not much to say for myself really. Despite the reactionary movements apparent in Brexit and Trumpworld, the practical limitations and hypocrisy of the ideologies they represent will no doubt prove disqualifying in practice. While we’re still pushing the functional finance framework and progress is slow, the limitations of orthodox policy continue to manifest with solutions in our direction. Otherwise, managed two paintings this year for a change of visual stimulation around the house.

Music

Now I know what you're thinking. How can a year full of fantastic new albums from Andrew Bird, Radiohead, Wilco, et al be all bad? And you are right music continues to be a beautifully redeeming reason not to give up on society and culture even in a largely Radio 1,X Factor-televised talentless autotuned world.

Person of the Year

That “surreal” topped the Merriam-Webster word of the year list pretty much says it all about 2016.

For me, in part due to the nomination of the first female Presidential candidate from a major party in the US, I was constantly reminded of the increasing leadership positions held by women around the world. There are now 26 female heads of state, not including the queen, with many other policy makers such as Janet Yellen, Christine Lagarde and Elisabeth Warren and many others prominent in their fields as well. A positive, perhaps timely, development that is worthy of note and praise. Even though the most privileged group in the history of the world, the white American male, had a hissy fit and gave us Trumpism  the continued march of equality and civil rights will persevere. If you’re not convinced here are 99 reasons 2016 was pretty good and to be optimistic.

Well, all that's left to say now is Peace and Love to you all the best from us,

Bryan, Marian and Will

2015: On To Some Good Things

Hello and Happy Christmas,

Writing to indulge you in our yearly happenings and sending our love to you and yours at this most celebratory time of year.  We're in Perth, Western Australia where the cloudless skies and cool refreshing water provide a welcome reprieve and beautifully relaxing end to a pretty good year.  

On to the year in a few words:

William, now 11, is in his last year of primary school! As such he wears many hats: car aficionado, conscientious school council member, music, table tennis and drama club participant and still reigning chief of the contagious laugh. He and Marian continue to make beautiful music with their cello’s passing grade 2 after just one year. We had a proud parental moment when he finished first in a solo competition and is now on to prep for grade 4 exam. Apparently my parental input consists of reminding him of Ned Flanders-an opening I have willingly exploited for maximum embarrassment with great pleasure. hahaha!

This letter marks the only time all year I get to speak for Marian so let me take full advantage to say it continues to bring me great pleasure to see her enjoy and succeed in her work. When she isn’t culinarily scheming or making the finest cup of coffee based deliciousness you’ve ever had….she’s pretty great and especially pleased to see her family and close friend here.

As for me, I’m especially pleased to get off the British Isles for the first time in almost 5 years and basking in the break from the norm. Also, after years of trying to work out how the financial crisis of 2008 happened, mostly profligate banks creating too much money, I’ve set up a campaign FunctionalFinance.Org to raise awareness and promote a more balanced approach to managing money and the economy. A few things in the works for the new year otherwise early days but nicely occupying. Otherwise, apart from some sunburn on my feet at the moment no major injuries from athletic pursuits so that’s a bonus.

Finally, Gandalf the Gray cat arrived thru the cat flap some time this year and has managed to stay and eat while avoiding contact with us as much as possible.

Music

The beautiful music and violin of Andrew Bird has been a wonderful close companion this year. Especially in those moments when I pine for that place I used to call home his Pulaski at Night fills my cup of nostalgia. Many good albums another song taster is Danse Caribe. Otherwise,

my close musical proximity to brass instruments from an early age provides easy affinity for bands like Beirut...more trumpet!

Person of the Year

With all the monsters and mayhem about it's notable that the leadership of Germany and Chancellor Angela Merkel stand out. While the rest of the western world grapples terribly with the mess we made in the middle east, her country's mercy and compassion to those in need is a reminder that we can and should do better.

Well, that's all from us except to say big love and a cheeky back to the pool. All the best for a healthy and happy 2016!

Peace and Love

Bryan, Marian and Will

2014: We Hardly Knew You

Ho HO Hello

It’s that time of year again wishing you and your people a merry Christmas and all the best for a happy and healthy new year.  Here with some of our whereabouts and what not for the year.  Writing to you from Shipston on Stour, deep in the horsey heart of the Cotswolds, where the yellow Jurassic Limestone houses and classic country living make for a nice change from our busy Lewes lives. We’ve already taken in our pantomime, Beauty and the Beast, at the Oxford Playhouse, and Christmas Eve movie, The Hobbit, with the pleasure of being with some good people(+food) we're feeling pretty blessed.

The Year in as few words as possible:

Following on Marian and Rosie’s inspiration William, now 10, has picked up the cello.  With a great deal of support from his mom is now making some beautiful music that we’re always glad to hear. He’s pretty good and this activity looks to be sticking so we’re pleased for that and with group session, lessons and pending Grade 2 examination all keeping him keen we’re hopeful he’ll move on to orchestra in the next couple of years. Otherwise, he’s preoccupied with cars, chocolate, joking around, stealing time to play whatever game he can get his hands on and loving his parents;).  

Marian is doing it “proper like” in the VO booth and continues to progress in her craft all while taking good care of us and anyone else who walks in the door.  

After just one go, I’ve suffered a career ending foot golf injury, which was probably for the best but has been a major downer and kept me on the sidelines of my usual physical activities for a while. Otherwise, we’ve had a good year at Light Foot LED and pleased that our now 4 yr old business is continuing to progress nicely with the technology.  

We've 2 new additions to the family this year:

Precious, the VW T25 autosleeper campervan, Marian's long sought after weekender, holiday maker and mobile editing office.  She's been good to us so far on a couple of trips to the west country, as Sunday walk drinks support vehicle and mobile beach hut.  A vision of serenity with us packed in, usually Marian deftly manages the oversized steering wheel while looking a picture of happiness.  William, following their summers trip to Dorset, has developed into a keen navigator/ blind spot checker, and sits shotgun.  Leaving me to enjoy the leg room and brilliantly contented view as we roll on down the road at whatever max speed momentum allows.  An absolute laugh!

Our second new addition Juno, the cat. Minus her aversion to interaction with people and Will's previously unknown allergy to her has been.....better than our last cat who we took in pregnant and gave birth to 8 babies the next day so that's been positive...

Other indulgences

Music?

For years I've neglected music for the quality podcast content supplied by NPR stations around the country so it has been a result and brilliant office distraction to find something new to listen to besides, Marian would say, economists on YouTube.

Still not claiming to be a connoisseur of fresh beats, none of these are even new albums, but still people I’ve been keen on:

Toro Y Moi is a great talent and especially like Rose Quartz.  

Caribou so many great tracks to recommend mostly the whole Swim album but tasters Can’t do without you,  Odessa , Our Love, Sun….if I could this would be the music I would love to make.

Sebastien Tellier - La Ritounelle extended version really nice.  Boy Genius Flume, Flume again and Tycho Tycho again for running the streets  

Finally, this little beauty from Neutral Milk Hotel for when you need it.  It feels inappropriate for a music list to occur without note of my favourite track, of late, from the people doing it best.  So Staircase and this.

Only one painting this year :{, kind of got stuck after the Venus' and working on some other stuff but resolving to at least double my output!

The Plight of Man (Prisoners Dilemma)

2014 Person of the Year: Elon Musk

Ebola is a big deal and those at the forefront of stemming the spread are worthy of note. However, here we like to look forward, acknowledge those who are upsetting the apple cart and providing for positive change.  Elon Musk tops the list revolutionising 3 important sectors of the economy with battery storage next up a pretty awesome effort.

Well, that’s all for us. As always thanks for taking the time to drop in to our lives with a few words of encouragement to have a go as well, I would love to read it. So Merry Christmas! Turn up the christmas tunes and enjoy Arthur Christmas if you’re looking for a classic holiday tale.

Peace and Love,

Bryan, Marian & William

Feel the Christmas Love 2013!

Ho Ho Ho,

Happy Christmas and so long 2013! Well, its that time of year again when its cold, days are short, the year is coming to a close and we seek the shelter, warmth and love of family and friends.  If you’re reading this we send big love, hugs, kisses and wishes that you find loads of Lindt balls in your stockings.  Writing this year from Lewes, for the first time, where we are spending our first Christmas at home with special guest, Oma, visiting enroute to Paris to celebrate a special birthday with Tante Willy and seeking respite from the deep midwestern chill-for 6 weeks anyway.  

Before we start on the updates and other nonsense know this, apparently if you’re reading this before dinner on Christmas Day you’ve already eaten your daily calorie intake and will start the New Year some 6 lbs heavier, you pig!   Who cares? Not me, feast and watch football all day anyway but maybe take a walk as well, a nap if you can manage and your favourite Christmas movie.  As always we recommend Elf.

Cutting to the chase:

William, now 9 as of December 4, celebrated a meticulously planned and hugely anticipated sleepover/birthday party with 7 friends, an indoor tent/fort and the mother of all birthday cakes.   At school he’s in Year 4, a Lemon Lobster, meaning more homework and additional after school clubs including outdoor, table tennis and gardening.  These in addition to choir, drama, swimming and field hockey(ish) keep him out of trouble.  But still unwilling to go to sleep when we tell him.  Otherwise, parents and child are both awkwardly, fumbling with our little guy getting older.  While he’s still a Santa believer, shortly after his birthday he told me that he doesn’t want putting to bed anymore because”You know if you’re still doing it when I’m like 20....”  Couldn’t refuse that logic so I offered to go but “Maybe we’ll start tomorrow” has turned into weeks.  Though now we just read quietly to ourselves.  I fear with time inevitably flying by we’re going to start to lose our little man but until he stops grabbing my hand when we walk down the street, I’m not going to stop taking it.    

Marian continues to stimulate ear drums in the audiobook world and will soon be an Audible Approved Producer hopefully opening the door to more lucrative and she would eagerly add higher quality material to choose from for your listening pleasure.  We’ve upgraded her equipment this year and have a giant steel box, professional VO booth, in the house so that’s been really fun.  Otherwise, dreams of a doggy companion for walks on the downs and a campervan occupy the rest of her time.    

    

I have spent the last 9 months in UK immigration bureaucratic limbo but expect 2014 will provide for a result and the ability to leave the island.  Managed to randomly join a basketball league playing for the Lewes Wanderers. Attempting to show the 20 somethings how its done led to a sprained MCL just in time for “league” commitment to start so that was fortunate.  Anyway, this year I’ve resolved to raise my game in the kitchen and  cook more or at least cut my vegetables correctly to complement my already legendary eating and cleaning up skills and learning html.

This year marked the passing of two giant patriarchs; my grandfather, Jacob Van Namen, who was truly one of a kind and impacted my life, and many others, profoundly-an incredible, legendary man.   The other and more recent freedom fighter, Nelson Mandela, whose story is remarkably redemptive in its place and time but fear will never be repeated, regrettably.

Its also been almost a year since we lost Julia, Marian’s brother’s partner and William’s much loved Auntie, who we continue to miss for her brilliant sense of humor, contagious laugh, unforgettable smile and special way with Will.

Finally, for our annual Person of the Year, Time Magazine was not far off the mark in selecting rebel  humanist Pope Francis.  However, its first in the shortlist, Edward Snowden, is my pick for  lifting the lid on the reality of the modern security state in the aftermath of the war on terror.  His actions took conviction and ethical clarity that highlights the cowardice of those public servants who knew and failed to correctly maintain the rights of citizens. Both represent a rebalancing, blowback from previous choices, shaking up consensus to raise questions about the direction of society.  Which has inspired this years theme of rebalancing that has filled my thoughts and inspires hope against the struggle with powerful, institutional authority common throughout modernity.  Hope that in the face of seemingly overwhelming obstacles or lethargy people can make a difference.  I’m all in for that and expect more to come in 2014!  Which is why while exempting all Chicago sports teams, I’m deeming 2014: This Is The Year! What that means is up to you.

Now that I’ve properly made a mess of this letter and strayed far enough from its purpose without hope that you’ll ever read an entry again all that is left to say is goodbye.  As always, if you’re ever in this part of the world do come knock on our door, we’ll probably let you in.  All the best for a happy and healthy 2014.

Big Love & all the best,

Bryan, Marian and William

Err Christmas Letter 2012

Greetings,

Well, it’s that time of year again to travel near and far, give and receive thoughtfully planned & anticipated gifts, eat too much, watch Elf, take pause on what the year has wrought, possibly write it down and bother everyone you know with having to read it.

This year we’ve traveled from Lewes to Mutley Farm outside Bridgnorth, Shropshire where the ground is saturated, the roads flooded, the smell of cows and their activities as close as they've ever been outdoors, the wifi nonexistent, 3G only available close to my corner of the bed(relief), the board games in ready supply and the isolation, beauty of the barren oak trees and rolling countryside terrific.  Our thoughts as always, go out to everyone we love but could not be near and hope that you ate half as good as I’ve done in the last week-in which case you’ve made out alright.

I’m feeling marginally less like a stranger in a strange land these days, as much as that is possible for me, but still manage to marvel at every picturesque small town, stately home, barn conversion and Marian would add solar panel installation we pass along the endlessly winding, incredibly narrow hedged roads ripe for exploration.  All serving as daily reminder of how far from home I am.   In the workplace, I’ve managed a promotion now with a fancy title and continue to enjoy the work, people and places along the way.  Otherwise, following the fascinating, to me, conversation regarding the nature of money and the political, economic system.  Apparently, we're called monetary policy obsessives, which is accurate, except unlike the ends which supplied the crash of 2008 we're conscious of the need for public goods and sustainable growth.   Finally, when the spirit or sanity moves me writing and wondering over paintings to hang in the study or around the house when clearance is provided.

Marian has had a great run now working on her fourth audiobook and is hot on the trail of a campervan for weekend excursions to some fossil hunting site or day trips to a beautiful spot to do some editing.  And a food processor for all the resulting wonderful food and perfection.

William, now 8, is progressing well in his studies and acting as every 8 year old is expected with hilarity and increasing independence.  He was fortunate to spend his birthday at one of his favorite places, the British Museum, escorting around and communicating his knowledge to some of his favorite people, his grandparents, all in attendance for the big day.  Otherwise, he spends his time developing plans for his club, no name that I can think of, tediously drawing up their road trips around the world, modes of transportation and places to see.  Christmas came early this year when Marian’s Uncle, Brian, left us with his metal detector, previously top of the list from Santa, so watch ought lost Lewes horde we’re coming for you. 

In addition to this letter I've also taken to end of the year to formulating some conclusive end of year thoughts-what the year has brought us: themes and people.  No surprise money and debt continue to enter into the lexicon in new linguistic forms with catchy phrases like "Fiscal Cliff" and "Euro Crisis".  From my glimpses around the world to destinations I know well another tie that binds is "Whether Weather" with increasing drought conditions(Australia and Chicago) and severe flooding(North & Western England) weather will no doubt continue to reshape how we live and hopefully adjust our behaviour.  Finally, failing Time Magazine & Nobel committees failure to affectively highlight people for the year I'm nominating Bill & Melinda Gates and their foundation work-Nobel Peace Prizes will come soon to these NGO's who do what governments cannot.  As for Time,  when you juxtapose a decade of boots on the ground occupation style, quagmire warfare with the obviously debatable but still effective activity of drone planes.  This was no doubt the year of the drone.  The real debate hasn't come and who knows when it will but drones are here and proving to be an incredibly transformative technology.

Alright enough of that.  All that is left is for us is to send our love and best wishes for a healthy and enjoyable 2013 and a blanket this will definitely not be the year for any Chicago sports teams.