I will come to the pictures in due course, because I must first mention last night's EPS club night. In the programme, a digital skills evening was scheduled. And it was, but almost exclusively a 'photoshop skills evening'. Hardly anyone was interested in Picasa, or producing a blog. I had taken my Vodafone dongle, which connected me with the internet, but only Roy had any real interest. Jim, bless him was interested in what I was doing but unfortunately he himself isn't on the internet.
People's photoshop interests lie in things like making skies more dramatic, brightening individual buildings, cloning things from one picture to another and the like; all of which are anathema to me. To me the results are faked pictures which fall ignominiously into a dust-bin between Photography and Art. I can understand someone 'cloning out' an ex-partner from a treasured picture (as I know Brian was sometimes asked to do when acting professionally).
I saw nothing to compare with Incy Wincy's 'farmer ploughing with oxen' which I had the honour of publishing a few days ago. In that picture the sky was completely blank, which concentrated one's attention on the important passages of the picture. Plus of course, AnonymousRob's cyanotype, brilliant pin-hole 'bowl'. And many of Reg's, Brian's, and Roy's pictures which are all about 'seeing a good picture' and grabbing it.
And OK, I do it myself. But only in a 'graphics way' as above (to show a book followed by 2 open pages for example) and I'm not setting out to win a competition anyway.
Rant over ! People must do what pleases them most, in the residual freedom we enjoy in this country.
In passing, here is a link to the updated Picasa 3 which has many useful improvements and innovations. At long last there is a 'retouch' tool for removing many blemishes. Also a 'text' tool to write text on pictures, and it's range of fonts outstrips Photoshop.
Picture 1 is my old lappy with Y's sleek new Toshiba at it's side. Sorry about the aging banana in between. I didn't notice it. I suppose I could clone it out....................... !!
Picture 2 is all about this gorgeous book on the left which I was fortunately enough to find in the second-hand book shop at Canons Ashby at the extortionate price of £2 for a leather bound, hand-press printed (you can see the slightly raised indentations on the reverse of each sheet), first edition of a collection of quotations selected by Alfred Lord Tennyson.Wow--eeee ! What a find. And lovely content too.
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incy wincy ...... As Rob says, and as I know - with your gift for understatement, I think we can all assume that the 'wedding snaps' are little short of brilliant. And considering what awful conditions you had to contend with. At least they wont all have their eyes squinting against the fierce sun !
You are right about pub food and the microwave. I know I distrust these £3.50 'Carveries' which have blossomed, but at least they would have difficulty microwaving a turkey. But on the other hand...................... !
Like you, the mysteries of high finance elude me. I don't like 'stocks and shares' and my 'few quid' is in National Savings Bonds. But no doubt a way will be found to cause me concern too.
AnonymousRob ....... You too are quite right about pubs, but I agree with Bungus's point about the silly 'no smoking' ban...... Like you, we find little pleasure in eating inferior food out when we can eat better at home. There are exceptions and the Restaurant at Clumber is now good.
Pleased you are not neglecting your 'sports desk' responsibilities.
Thanks for your holiday activities and events info. and we are all looking forward to the pictures, - here's hoping you continue to avoid suicidal motorists.
Bungus ........... Thanks for the blow-by-blow account of your scan but sorry it was so horrendous.
But your 'odds & ends' haul sounds magnificent.
I've noticed the pasta of which you speak in Lidl and now, on your recommendation, intend to try it.
You ask if Canons Ashby is to do with the poet Dryden. I would have thought that, when I wrote in Tuesday's blog ...."The house is the ancestral home of the poet Dryden"...... it would have given you a clue !
Thanks for your thoughts about the alcoves. I should have persuaded Y to stand next to them. They were perhaps just under 5' and a small person could well have sheltered from the weather, whilst eating the vittals provided. The brickwork stuff was most interesting too.
4 ticks ....... I will certainly send you Bungus's 'spiced gooseberry' recipe.
We had 2 gooseberry bushes but, in the end, uprooted them because of the pain involved in picking the fruit !
I must speak up in support of Reg. .... Cotmanhay, Awsworth, Ilkeston, Heanor - what the hell? He found it in the end. I can get lost going to Ashbourne (my home town).
Glad you are still enjoying the basil. I will root you another to take over when that one gets past it.
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Quotation time ....... From my Hand-Book of Proverbs again.... I can speak to the truth of this, having been married to one such.....
"A woman that loves to be at the window, is like a bunch of grapes on the highway"
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Sleep tight and I'll catch you tomorrow
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p.s. I'm loving all these 'comments' ..... Please keep them coming.....
Sleep tight and I'll catch you tomorrow
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Meant to say I did like the photo of the lock, lots going on but somehow not too busy.
ReplyDeleteAnd weren't you lucky with your book find, you must be one of those irritating people who always find real treasures in charity shops, all I ever find is tat.....
The photo of the two laptops side by side could be one of thse modern cards 'togetherness is.....'
Must go, am off with friends on a 'road trip' today, to celebrate the 5th birthday of a yarn shop run by a friend of ours in wildest Surrey. Cake will be eaten, Cava will be drunk, knitting will be done (and undone, depending on how much Cava)fish and chips will be eaten on the way home. We know how to enjoy ourselves.....
Looks like good tv tonight, the medieval stuff. Have seen the Stephen Fry prog. before, about the Gutenberg Bible, but it will certainly stand a second look. If you have not seen it, it's good.
DIARY:
ReplyDeleteWoke early this morning (after sleeping till 11.00 on Friday)to mishear a report on Radio Nottingham. It wasn’t three hundred robbers that terrified staff at a Supermarket but three hooded robbers.
Thanks to those who offered sympathy regarding my scan experience but I don’t think I really deserve it! I wasn’t aiming to sound like a martyr. It was, as we were wont to say in the sixties, “All part of life’s rich and varied pattern”, soon over with and carried out for my benefit. OK, it was a distinctly uncomfortable episode but I have endured much worse pain, sometimes for a lot longer.
One only has to think for a moment about the pain, suffering and humiliation being inflicted upon people all over the world for no beneficial purpose…
That all sounds a bit too noble so I’ll shut it.
BLOG:
What a lovely green book. You did well to snap it up.
And I like the side-by-side laptops. Do you email each other?
I think you dismiss the aging banana too easily.
Segueing smoothly on, I agree with you that people tend to be too dismissive of Picasa (the retouch tool sounds good) and I also agree about ‘photoshopping’. In my view, the techniques you speak of are there to be used for purposes of temporary amusement. Only occasionally can they serve a more serious purpose.
A pity some people can’t be cloned out in a more significant way (see quotation comment below).
A well-judged rant, I ‘d say.
Don’t be too critical of the £3.50'Carveries', certainly not of those where the big joints are clearly displayed and carved to order (even if the veg are often overcooked).
In these days of people living alone, single-parent families, vegetarianism, and doing what is easiest, a Sunday roast is impractical and/or expensive; so the pub carvery is the sometimes less than perfect answer.
I hope the salmon pasta does not disappoint. Obviously it is not suited to a bolognese or other heavy sauce which would kill its delicacy.
Re Canons Ashby and the poet Dryden, you are asking a bit much for me to remember 3 days ago!
In mediaeval times, as hinted at, only freaks were over 4’6” high. This was genetically deliberate because otherwise they would not have been able to get into the suits of armour (it’s the same sort of natural selection process which keeps sardines small enough to fit in the tins).
I am having to bone up on brickwork (did you know that 'boneing' is the traditional method of laying drains to the required inclination?) as Sandra is currently learning the craft of bricklaying and I shall need to know what she is talking about.
We have one gooseberry bush which has been moved 3 times from home to home. It gives at least 5lb of fruit each year which, even if you like goosegogs a lot, is plenty for normal consumption.
Pain in picking! What a wimp (it’s good for you; helps the circulation and keeps you alert).
I got lost in Mansfield (my home town) last week. Took the wrong turning off the ring road and ended up going south on the Nottingham Road when I thought I was going north.
And, some years ago, when they first introduced the one-way system, I set out one evening to visit a friend at his Mansfield office (The Willam IV or ‘Jack-up-t’Steps’) and couldn’t get there. In the end I gave up and went home to Wellow.
My second wife fits the quote too. She has been in America for 25 years which is not long enough or far enough away for my comfort.
4 TICKS:
Spiced Gooseberry recipe will be winging its way shortly. A bush is excellent value. I have long been convinced that fruit growing is the most valuable form of gardening. It is relatively easy and saves the most money (just look at the price of raspberries). Home-grown veg, apart from the exotic, often costs more than if bought from the greengrocer although, admittedly, it does not then have the ‘just harvested’ quality.
Fancy you being female! Why should I be at all surprised. Try as we might, some things take us unawares. I shall consider my wrist slapped.
Rhubarb is something that I only really enjoy a couple of times a year and, having passed on roots to my neighbours (the nice ones) and RG, the surplus is not easy to dispose of. So a pickle recipe is useful.
’Photographing part of a sign painted on a wall which had been exposed after the pebble dashing collapsed’ sounds to me like an extremely important mission. I hope I do not detect a superior smile on your lips? There certainly are times when ‘silence is golden’.
I had never thought of GM being genetically modified but it might explain a few small things that have caused me concern.
Jill:
Slight misreading; thought you had a friend with a YAM SHOP – very esoteric!
I’ll check out the TV programmes but, if it’s a clash with ‘Match of the Day’…
I knew exactly were I was and where I was going I just got the names wrong i.e. A typical senior moment.
ReplyDeleteThe sign its self was very intresting. It was Blanchards Confectioners Steam Bakeries. Roy may know did George have a shop in Cotmanhay? I though the original shop was in Kimberly. For the none locals George Blanchard CBE JP was a local sucesss story who built up a local bakery to one of the largest in the district eventually selling to Wonderloaf /British Bakeries? Somebody will tell me if I'am wrong
4 ticks was seceratary to his son at his garage Rod Blanchard Motors.
I like Anonrob's optimism re wedding pics.
ReplyDeleteReg is correct about Blanchards Bakery, He started just below the Queens Head & before the Post office. Good stuff too, my wife worked there on twilight shift when our kids were very young.
The bakery is now 95% foriegn workers now.
Have a great weekend all, hope the sun keeps shining for us, I'm off to Anderby, my grandaughter has requested a "photo shoot" with her friends for her impending birthday.
Got driven to Caulke Abbey today with an impromptu picnic bought from Morrison's. Enjoyed the sandwiches because I didn't have to make them. We parked the car on a sort of field and proceeded to walk to the house. By the time we'd walked up and down two hills then found we were on the wrong path so had to walk downhill again to get on to the right path we climbed yet another hill, fortunately it had steps for most of the ascent. By the time we got to the house I was totally shattered. We sat on the steps of the sundial whilst I plucked up the courage to attempt the trek back to the car. A cup of coffee, produced by himself, was much appreciated. Next time we will drive round to the other car park and enjoy a tour round the house and walled garden which we haven't done for some years. Wonder if he has planned any further delights for tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteGot driven to Caulke Abbey today with an impromptu picnic bought from Morrison's. Enjoyed the sandwiches because I didn't have to make them. We parked the car on a sort of field and proceeded to walk to the house. By the time we'd walked up and down two hills then found we were on the wrong path so had to walk downhill again to get on to the right path we climbed yet another hill, fortunately it had steps for most of the ascent. By the time we got to the house I was totally shattered. We sat on the steps of the sundial whilst I plucked up the courage to attempt the trek back to the car. A cup of coffee, produced by himself, was much appreciated. Next time we will drive round to the other car park and enjoy a tour round the house and walled garden which we haven't done for some years. Wonder if he has planned any further delights for tomorrow.
ReplyDelete