Busy Day - Frustrating - Then Success

A quiter canal picture today. Commenters have said that the first picture yesterday was too bright - the word 'garish' was not actually used - just implied. So I thought, subdued lighting, subtle colours, view through the trees etc., - sorry about the van but you know what 'white van men' are like. They park anywhere they like - smack in the middle of one's 'shot' for instance. Must confess that I only noticed it when I downloaded the picture.

Picture 2 is a hangover from Mansfield Museum. Byron's bust, in bronze of course, and apparently copied from one in Athens.

Somewhat over-romanticised for my taste I fear - But that's Greek culture for you. And of course, he was extremely popular there, having organised their army agin' the Turks. He is buried in Hucknall Church and Y was instrumental in getting the appropriate 'brown & white' signs erected in suitable places. Sometimes people don't realise the importance of what they've got until some perceptive and industrious person points it out and takes some action. I don't think Nottingham makes nearly enough of Alan Sillitoe for instance. A major 20th century novelist and almost completely ignored. If I was 20yrs younger I'd deal with it. The pub with the green tiles - the setting for the famous scene in Saturday Night Sunday Morning is still there, but for how much longer?


Mixed day computer-wise. I successfully set up my Photoshop Elements. Then I tried to download my old Casio pictures from the data DVD the computer bloke had rescued from the old lappy. I found 1305 on there and it took hours and hours for them to upload. Obviously something went awry because when I checked what I'd got I only found 45. Then I remembered that I had downloaded pictures up to July 06 onto a 1GB Flash drive. Unfortunately I had packed it. But when I found it they uploaded without any demur.

While Y was still over at Burton Joyce Hannah wanted to send me an email with a picture she had done. We finally succeeded !!

I must go up and see Beryl in the morning. The poor love has got mice - which means that Y won't be visiting until there is solid evidence of their eradication. Karen has been putting bait down and clearing up. Even the bottom of some curtains has been nibbled. My view is, the Pest Control man with some old-fashioned traps is called for.

Byeeee....................

WEA Class Nottingham - Nice Lunch

I know I've already shown you images of the Boat Basin which we pass en route to Lidl - but yesterday was a such a lovely morning with brilliant light, so maybe you won't mind two more.

In the second one I was particularly taken with the reflections of the clouds in the water.

Not sure if our WEA class was mentioned last week, but we are doing 'Holbein to Hockney' at The New Mechanics. Silly me! Couldn't have told you because I didn't have a computer in working order. Nice course. Comfortably sized group and a good tutor who does know his stuff and has plenty of slides. And is well-qualified! Such an interesting subject and we are learning lots.

The Great Northern Boat Basin is only a mile and a half away and we have to go over the canal-bridge to reach Lidl. And, if the light is appealing, I'm always tempted. Abit like Tram Shots and Flowers. But not as good as Skies.

Flitting about rather - but on the way to Nottingham we called in at Castle Marina, PCWorld and obtained the correct version of PhotoShop Elements and, pleasant surprise, the Pc version is almost £10 cheaper than the Mac version. As it's a birthday prezzie I suppose I shouldn't be bothered but I don't like people to spend more than they need to. Haven't installed it yet but I'm looking forward to a play.

We had a pleasant lunch in the restaurant at The New Mechanics and it may well become Our Place - until we find another one of course! Not gone off St Peter's Church Hall - but it is the other end of town.

Ta Ta for now................

Mansfield - Twice in One Day

Not a good photo and I knew my flash wouldn't quite reach Bungus peering into a display cabinet. So I steadied the camera on a balcony rail and gave it a long exposure. The attraction of Mansfield Museum this morning was that they have unearthed many of their old exhibits. Stuffed birds and animals and trays of moths etc., and Bob remembers the museum containing them when he was a boy. The other attraction is that the museum is just across the road from the Wetherspoons we use for lunch.

I called at PCWorld on the way, to buy Photoshop Elements, and succeeded in acquiring the Mac copy rather than the PC version. When I rang, after arriving home, they agreed to exchange it so, as they were open till 8pm I took it in on our way to the National Trust meeting. As was to be expected, they didn't have the PC version and gave me a refund.

The National Trust lecture should have been interesting - it was about National Parks - but it was in fact boring boring. The lecturer committed a 'cardinal sin' of lecturing and spent the first 10minutes of his introduction 'putting-down' the lecture he was about to deliver. Explaining how ill-qualified he was to speak on the subject; how he didn't know much about this or that, and how he wished he had his own slides, but he hadn't etc.,etc. Everyone immediately thinks "What the hell are we here for then?" He was duly thanked by Gerry and everyone applauded dutifully. Although I had noticed that there had been several nodding heads, nobody had actually snored. But we enjoyed the company of our chums and Y did very well with the raffle - as always.

In between returning from lunch and eating and going back to Mansfield we showed some people round the house. Don't know? - could be? Y says she thinks they like it but will probably make us a ridiculously low offer.

I think I lied about the basil seedlings. There certainly were 7, now there seem to be 11. Ah well, some people may have to have 2.

They look a little leggy - but they will sort themselves out.

Byeee.......

Rest Day - Not Quite

These 2 lads were having a great time at the ford. A sort of 'chicken game' of 'see if we get drenched'. Good to see that 'dares' live on. Seeing them there though, caused the few drivers who came along, to drive through slowly. People are basically so decent aren't they? Apart from that thoroughly unpleasant woman on The X Factor that is.

Today wasn't quite a day-off because I had to go to the Hospital for a 'minor-procedure' which I don't intend to dwell on. But it involved having antibiotics again because of the metal valves and things in my heart. So, my blood-level will no doubt go haywire again! As Ray says so expressively 'Ho Hum'

Before we went we finished off the Spagbol and I made a cottage pie ready for evening meal tomorrow. I'm meeting Bob in Mansfield at lunchtime and Y is meeting Joan in Nottingham. So I must remember to only have a sandwich at The Widow Frost. And then, in the evening, we have the October meeting of The National Trust. It just doesn't seem possible that it is winter-meetings time again. Always the first Tuesday in the month, which isn't too difficult to remember.

Y now has a variation on the 'senior moment'. It is entitled a 'craft' moment. Can't Remember A F****** Thing.

My basil seeds have germinated. I set 4 seeds and now have 7 plants - always the same with small seeds and fumbly fingers. Not to worry - they will all find good homes.

Steve worked out how to do the 'slide show on the telly, direct from the camera, with background music and transitions' but he hadn't known about the 'comments' system on the Blog.

More tomorrow ...................

Misty Morning - Roast Beef

Up at sunrise or 'before sparrow-fart' as we used to say crudely when on 'mornings' (6am to 2pm) and this was my view over the footie-field. Just couldn't resist another misty-morning shot. Hannah was up at 7am but she told me that she always gets up at that time so I didn't feel she had had a bad night. We all enjoyed yesterday evening. Played cards (eights) watched TV, some awful programme called The X Factor, which was so crass I can't bring myself to describe it. But by far the best was a website called Mr Picassohead which Stumbleupon sent me. Click here if you want it . A blank canvas on which to build up weird faces and very child-friendly. And the faces are email-able.

A busy day as you would expect but the roast forerib was much appreciated and therefore worth the effort. Our butcher hangs his beef for at least four weeks, so it was well purple when it went in the oven. Didn't we once call the cut 'chine' or have I imagined that? Whatever it was called it was full of flavour and tender. And the yorkshires worked a treat. I always worry about the yorkshires. Y says I shouldn't because they are always great - but I fear that, if I didn't worry about them, they would be as flat as a pancake. Virtually the same mixture, after all. Anyway, enough about food or Tracy will be shouting 'boring'. She looked tired and we think she is working too hard. Ho Hum.

This is Moorgreen Reservoir again (taken Thursday) and is included because of the added detail and clarity of the Nikon. Particularly on the far hill-side where the road rises before dipping down again into Hucknall. I'm very pleased with it even though there is such a lot for me to learn. Now I've lost PaintShop Pro on the old Packard Bell I plan to have Photoshop Elements 4 for a birthday present. Eastwood Photographic Society are running a one-day School on the programme this coming Sunday and I intend to attend.

Spoke to David this morning and he sounded perky even though he reports intermittent sharp pains in his collar-bone area but I guess it is just 'knitting'. Be a relief when he gets the all-clear though. They had just spotted a Great Tit in the garden and i.d'd it from the wall-chart. "Bigger than a blue tit and smarter" - bang on!

On the subject of words and although Jill is away, my pet hate at the moment is weather-forecasters who describe 'pulses' of rain. The thing which throbs in your wrist is known to me, as are the things you grow, cook and eat. Can anyone help explain?

We've just tidied up, hoovered, and emptied the dishwasher for the 3rd time and I'm done for.

Byeeee........

Brief Blog - V. Busy

Still quite busy but happily so. Shop, collect meat from butcher - wrap, put away in freezer. Pack away other shopping - abit like provisioning a ship. But we don't seem to do it that often. Certainly not more than three times a week.

Then cooked bolognese sauce for evening meal.

Collected Hannah from Burton Joyce for her sleepover. Not sure who is more excited - Hannah or her Grandma?

Picture 1 is a close-up of another of David and Helen's 'Heavenly Blue' With the sun shining though them they really look uncanny.

These artichokes are looking very distinguished at the moment and are rewarding us for not chopping them off. It's a matter of taste of course, but they make me think "Where is Van Gogh when you need him?" You will just have to imagine the yellow!

We returned to Brinsley via the ford and drove through it fairly fast which Hannah thought was great fun. There were no other vehicles or people around so we didn't qualify for an ASBO.

The 'spagbol' was a success and Hannah is now so grown-up she has her spaghetti left long. Obviously more grown-up than Grandad who cuts his into manageable pieces - otherwise he finishes up with it all over the place. Shirt, beard, trousers etc.

Going to leave it there. Busy day again tomorrow..............

Torrential Rain - Still Playing with Fujitsu

Picture 1 is taken from the car which was parked roughly in the middle of our ford (on Beanford Lane, Oxton) because the sun shining through the foliage and the look of the water appealed to me. The modern trend for 'water-photographs' seems to involve a long exposure which makes moving water look like candyfloss. The effect appals me. I want water to look like water not wool and if I can see individual droplets, so much the better. When I was a boy and was allowed to borrow the family camera (a folding Kodak) I took a similar photograph of the upper reaches of the Henmore Brook at Ashbourne. Black & White of course, but I was so proud of the light showing through the leaves and the appearance of the brook. My Dad said it was 'alright' which was praise indeed.

Picture 2 is of David and Helen's Morning Glory (Ipomea) 'Heavenly Blue' with the sun shining through it to the extent that it almost looks as if it has been fitted with a light-bulb. They have several plants, front and rear, and all have done very well. Like Helen's Runner Beans which she was worried about at the beginning of the year because they looked a little weak and straggly. I reassured her that plants where the sought-after product is the seeds, often seem to do better if a little judicious underfeeding etc., is practised. They seem to think 'Oh Hoh - things not looking too good, better produce lots of seeds'. Just a theory.

When we went to see them we took the girls a garden-bird poster that had arrived in the Daily Mail. It was colourful and attractive and the very next morning they had been out in the garden bird-spotting. Hope we don't turn them into twitchers.

It was good that Madeline (our meterological correspondent) was able to name the phenomena of the iridescent clouds. The links she posted are well worth a look, particularly the second one, the illustration for which is truly beautiful. Our Brinsley iridescent clouds are obviously no match for those in Western Argentina - but I bet our Morrisons is better.

Jill our erstwhile 'baltic correspondent' has haired off on another mission, to Malta this time and I feel sure that 'words and pictures' will arrive in due course.

More stuff installed on my Fujitsu. Things like CCleaner, Stickies, Macfee Site Adisor, which I consider essential, and a Spy Sweeper which came with it................

Hello Folks - Back On Air

Very pleased to be back and it will need several 'blogs' to bring everyone up-to-date. The details would be boring but the hard drive on the old lappy finally gave up and this is posted via my new Fujitsu notebook. Don't understand all the technical stuff but suffice it to say that 'it goes like a rat up a drain pipe'. It has taken me 4 hours to install all my toolbars, AVG, Firefox, Picasa et al. The pictures uploaded without pain and the old problems might have been the kit rather than 'blogger'. I've now got AVG instead of Norton (to which I shall give a wide-berth from now on).

There was a prob. retrieving my data and I wish I had followed Ray's advice re 'Mozy' because, although I've safely got my old My Pictures, and My Documents, it is going to take ages to download them all and I might just leave them on disc, knowing they are available if necessary. Family photos and things were on Picasa WebAlbums anyway and I've checked that I can access them. Similarly, it was a great relief to be able to work out how to open my Blog Dashboard and create a new post.

We are not lucky enough to have a 'meteorological correspondent who can explain picture 1. These little bits in the sky just before sunset have always fascinated me (the sun is out-of-frame left). They are not quite rainbows and there must be a name for them.

Picture 2 is a special request from Miles who wanted to see his train-set on the Blog. So here it is and I am sure he will be pleased with it. Steve took the photo on the Nikon, to save me from struggling with the stairs.

Thanks to Bungus for 'nipping into the station' to post a holding message. It is just a relief that he didn't find it necessary to make it play sombre music.

Bye for now.................

James Turrell - Light Installations

After this I really will leave Yorkshire Sculpture Park I promise. I must be boring the pants off some readers. The James Turrell light-installations have already been mentioned but this one, The Deer Shelter, is a permanent fixture in a building in the park. There is a square hole in the roof through which one gazes at the sky. The white square on the right is the sunlight shining through onto the side wall.

This Bungus picture makes the set-up clearer because he found that by lying flat on his back in the far corner of the room he could include this glimpse of a tree.

I decided against trying it because once down I would have had a job getting up again.

On the first day the Deer Shelter had little appeal because the sky was uniformly grey. And, would you believe, on the second day the sky was uniformly blue. There were little clouds, but miles away and not moving. We had hoped to sit there, because it is a very restful and contemplative experience, and wait until a cheery little white cloud drifted slowly across the space. But it was not to be, although a sky-lover like myself could have sat there for hours just checking on the intensity of the blue. Madeline is a fellow sky-lover and she would have appreciated the experience.

Today is a normal Burton Joyce day for Y and my only input has been her delivery to the tram and collecting her just after 6pm. We are having a simple jacket-potato and salad for main meal because it really is quite warm. In fact very warm - just checked with Google and it's 28C in Nottingham. Ray is helping me sort my memory out with Crucial because when I tried it I could get so far and then got 'unable to........' messages. They are the bane of computer beginners' lives.

Y came back with some super photos from Palmers Green and I printed her some yesterday. That little Casio is still pretty good because in those of Elli in her shool-dress before that all important first day, you can see the tiny blue/white check very clearly.

Back to flowers, skies, ill-health and menus from tomorrow - honest!

That will have to wait because Radiogandy will be 'off-air' for a few days. Lappy going in for memory upgrade..............

Ta Ta!!.....................

Almost the end of the YSP pictures

I have decided to accept advice (see previous comments) and publish this. As photography was banned in the Longside Gallery, and they had approved the picture for my own personal use, it concerned me that someone with less scruples might purloin it and use it for gain. But, as was astutely pointed out by Bungus, if someone wanted to do that they could simply do what I did and photograph it from outside. This Reclining Youth with a Split Apple is larger than life size and really needs to be seen. All Kenny Hunter's figures from contemporary life are painstakingly made using traditional sculptural methods. The reflections in the glass window, of the grass and trees and fields behind almost add a dimension (in the opinion of Jan Wells, the Press and Marketing Manager at YSP). One can't quite see the split apple - he has half in each hand - but I rate the figure as the equal of any classical sculpture. In fact better than most !

Rather than push my luck with pictures (the uploading thereof) today I have decided to publish just the one. Perhaps I have been overloading poor old 'blogger'. And I am pleased that those already published have given people pleasure.

The weather is much cooler and there is a strong breeze. We have lots of roses which have drawn their second wind so to speak and the garden is quite full of colour. When I went out to the bin last night I thought that it won't be long until we have a frost - traditional of course for Goose Fair early next month. Next computer job is to sort out via Crucial what additional memory I can fit and then get it fitted. Next clearing up job is to get a Scrap Man to give me a price for all the aluminium from the caravan, which at the moment is a nuisance in the garage.

Byeeee...........

A few more YSP pictures

I have uploaded this head by Dame Elisabeth Frink on the right-hand side deliberately. It seemed better composition-wise, to have the piece looking towards the text rather than having turned his back on it.

Not everyone is such a Frink fan but the first one I saw was, I think, called Bullet and I guess I saw it in the National Gallery in the 1960s. It was so beautiful and powerful that I was an immediate convert. If I won the 'Lottery' I would buy a Frink straightaway. But it is unlikely because I don't do the lottery.

In my online camera magazine the picture won praise, but someone said they didn't like the highlights. It is a valid point. But I wanted to bring out in a two-dimensional representation that it IS a bronze and not a drawing

On the left is one of the pieces on display in the corridor of the Visitors' Centre and makes a delightful Bungus picture, particularly so through glass.

The artist had a display cabinet devoted to her work which is created from driftwood and found objects. They were all beautiful and expensive. But that's the way of the world I suppose. William Morris's dictum was that you should have nothing in your house unless it is beautiful or useful - preferably both.

The final picture today is by Glaswegian Sculptor Kenny Hunter and his exhibition is at the Longside Gallery which is miles away across the valley. My 'blue-badge' allowed me drive there and it was well worth it. There is a shuttle-bus for visitors but the helpful YSP staff directed us in the car. Some of Hunter's work is abstract/modern and some is realistic. This lamb for instance is outside the gallery and looks back across the valley to the YSP buildings and college. I infinitely prefer it to 'Monarch of The Glen', which, apart from being chocolate-boxy has always seemed to me to have fascist overtones. Hunter's Lamb is the absolute opposite and I wouldn't be at all surprised if the artist intended that connection to be made. Photography inside the gallery was forbidden but a super piece called 'Reclining Youth with a Split Apple' so took my fancy that I photographed it from outside with a most pleasing result. Due to the 'ban' I emailled YSP and attached a copy of the photograph which they thought was lovely and the reflections in the glass 'added a new dimension'. They thought that, provided I wasn't going to sell it or anything it was OK. Can't make my mind up whether to Blog it or not.............

Just spoken to David and although he obviously still has a lot of pain he doesn't complain and sounds quite perky. When he came back from the Hospital, Brooke was in the kitchen with her head down; when asked what was the matter? she said tearfully "I don't know if I can give my Daddy a snuggle" bless her. Sky was also a little tearful but both have been so helpful at picking things up etc. Poor Helen must be getting tired out with all the driving to do and all the other things in the house to do. But she is such a resourceful and hard-working girl, she will manage one way or another.

The picture problem was eventually solved by uploading the pictures to Walagata (the image hosting site) and then using the URL method of putting them in the Blog. Don't ask why a straightforward download doesn't work. 'Cos I don' know.

That's all for today folks...............

Yorkshire Sculpture Park mostly

Bob's and my weekend jaunt to the Sculpture Park worked out excellently. Apart from minor glitches like 'which side of the motorway is our Travelodge on?' National Trust chairman Peter would tell you that that was eminently forseeable. He has named me 'Graham The Navigator' and it isn't due to ageing - I was just as bad when I was travelling about the country in my job. I once hired a taxi to drive from one city-location to another while I followed in my car. Such are the benefits of being on expenses. No matter. We had a great time - a veritable photo-fest. And so much stimulating art to savour.

The working title for this picture is 'Bungus confronts Henry Moore'

The Travelodge was fine, at the rear of a Moto services. Basic, clean, well-equipped and Bob got us a great bargain with a room-rate of £25. The full rate is £49. and they managed to put us in adjoining rooms on the ground floor. All Travelodges apparently are either at airports or motorway service areas and this one was really handy for where we needed to be. We ate there a couple of times, and the breakfast bacon-sandwiches were in fact, very good.

YSB itself is simplicity itself to find. Bob was in charge of 'route' and even I didn't get lost on the way there. We arrived within minutes of our ETA and they had saved me an electric scooter which was very useful on the first day. There was plenty to occupy us for two days. On the second day I took my time, and managed to walk (with frequent stops) - which wasn't a problem 'cos there was so much to look at and enjoy. We were both tired by the end of each day, but what the hell?

This Barbara Hepworth was amazing (one of several of hers) and one really needs the surroundings to appreciate work like this. And to be able to walk up close, around, and then back abit. The whole park is 500acres of mixed parkland, hillside and woodland plus of course a lake - but I didn't get that far. We allowed 2 days and didn't see everything by any means. The light-installations in the underground gallery were stimulating. Until now I have only seen such things on the TV when one has won an award but, in real life, these were so good. It is too difficult to describe them - they need seeing; it's as simple as that.

Not every single exhibit appealed to my taste but this Henry Moore 'reclining figure' certainly did. To savour the piece, one has to see it in situ, gazing over the valley towards the distant hillside - the figure that is, not the viewer. Great art is so memorable. The number of children with their parents, was surprising. And they were happy and contented. Not fractious and bored as you would half expect. But they can run about and touch things and explore. Perhaps art-loving parents rear well-behaved kids. Now, there's a topic for a doctorate!

My new Nikon was a joy and I am delighted with the quality of the images. And they were taken on 'auto-everything'. The more demanding bits will follow in due course, but there are so many buttons and the manual is necessary for me to understand each one. Y and I have been in our regular telephone contact and she reports having a most enjoyable time. She will be tired (but happy) when she returns and I am looking forward to seeing her Casio pictures' some of which will be of an MA art exhibition by the husband of one of Debra's friends.

Just a few more piccies of YSB tomorrow and then back to normal..............

A Rest Day - Sort of

Pinker pinks, redder reds and much crisper definition. The latter quality may not be immediately apparent from these pictures because to persuade them to upload it was necessary to lower the pixel count again. It is much easier to ask Picasa to 'resize' them rather than to keep changing the quality setting on the camera.

We've had a restful Rest Day and apart from nipping up to Eastwood Library to return overdue books and visit the Hospice Book Shop we've just been quiet. It was a Y day meals-wise and we thoroughly enjoyed our food. I won't bore Tracy by 'blogging' the menus though.

David managed some sleep and Y said he would probably appreciate a rest rather than us dashing over and tiring him out. I'm sure she is right. Had a good chat to him on the phone and confirmed that, unfortunately, he won't be recovered enough for Y's birthday "White Water Rafting". Seriously, it is something she has always wanted to do and she has nearly a full raft of 8. My role is limited to 'official photographer' - thank God.

I continued to learn more about my new 'boy's toy' and managed to find on the net a 30 page tutorial which will keep me busy. My feeling is that I shall be able to cope, at a basic level at least, with some of the photo-opportunities at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park where Bob and I are due to arrive tomorrow lunchtime. We plan to go back for a second day on Sunday and from all the info. there seems plenty ro retain our interest.

It follows that Radiogandy will be 'off air' for a day or two. So my absence should not cause any apprehension amongst readers that The City Hospital has demanded my presence again. No blood-test till Tuesday anyway - which is damned convenient. An email from Jill arrived for Y who whipped off a reply in seconds.!

Byeeee............

Nikon Pictures - David's Collar Bone

This is just a stormy sky about lunchtime and not important. But David rang and the poor lad has had a fall from his bike. A contributory factor apparently was one those blasted road-humps on the way to School yesterday. He has broken his collar bone in two places and went to Casualty last night and to the Fracture Clinic this morning where they have put his arm in a sling. But the broken bits are just 'sloshing about' he says. It will take about 6 weeks to heal and he can't drive or anything. We will go over and offer comfort as soon as poss. but he assures me that he is OK.

After the stormy sky we had thunder. It sounded like it did the other night - as if someone was trying to get in through the front door. Must be the prevailing wind. And then we had the rain.

And then the rain stopped and we had this lovely afternoon, even if everything was soaking. Y says that it rained very heavily at Burton Joyce too, at around the same time. Dropping her at the Tram and then picking her up this evening worked well again and we both enjoyed our Chicken salad. We both love the wild rocket which still seems to be 'in' - it is so peppery and refreshing.

These pictures by the way are the first with my new camera. It is a super piece of equipment but I haven't even reached first base yet. A lovely lens and the colours, particularly the reds (which weren't good on the Casio) and in fact the whole tonal range. I've already made one discovery - it produces pictures whose pixel count is far too high for the Blog (3500x2500 roughly) and to get them to load I have had to reduce them. It should produce great prints, but I so rarely print these days. A trawl through the handbook to discover how to reduce it, is called for.

Ah well. Hope D has a reasonable night. Must be difficult to get comfortable.....

Nottingham Trip - Dead Man's Chest

A real escapists' morning out in the big city. We decided to go and see The Pirates of the Caribbean - Dead Man's Chest. Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightly and lots of other famous faces. Johnny Depp was fabulous and although one might not think so, he is in fact an extremely good actor. We saw him as J. M. Barrie in 'Finding Neverland' and were impressed. such a different role from Captain Jack Sparrow. Orlando Bloom was OK without being exceptional and Keira Knightly did a good 'pout'. She was actually very good as well as being beautiful, and again, such a different role from 'Pride and Prejudice'. I had a little difficulty following the story but, as one critic said "What story ?" A jolly good romp and scary in places. One scene made Y nearly jump out of her seat - it was like Magwitch appearing from behind the gravestone.

Finally weakening over the camera issue, I strode purposefully into Jessops and bought a Nikon D80 Digital SLR. I had to take the Paymaster General with me though, because I can never remember the PIN number for my Mastercard. So far I've taken the camera out of its packaging, charged the battery and tried to work out where everything is. It took me nearly 2 years to get to grips with my Casio Compact - I shudder to think how long this one will take. Be good fun though. A voyage of discovery. Pete knew the Elvis title and Y remembered it too. It was Just Can't help believin and the word wasn't dove it was glove.

The pictures at the top probably won't magnify well because they aren't many pixels and came from Google Images.

Better than nothing though......................

Trip to Arnold - another lovely day

Obviously the misty mornings appeal to spiders too! And they quite like the old artichoke heads but what on earth do they expect to catch during the night and the early morning? But I'm not a spider and they doubtless know spider-business best. Also I wish I could remember the title of the Elvis track which contains the words 'a trace of misty morning' and 'like a dove.........' I bet if Ray happens to read this he will know. I've never known him stumped for song titles much more obscure than this.

This is Iron Bridge again and the swans on the Severn were most attractive. There won't be any details left in the plumage because, if I had exposed for the swans the surrounding foliage would have been black. The view is from the side of the only museum we had time to visit and, as I said yesterday, there is so much to see we have definitely promised ourselves a re-visit. Maybe a night or two B&B even though the rates, as I suppose you would expect, are extortionate.

The last picture is from almost the same spot looking in the opposite direction up The Severn towards the coal-fired power-station. Be reassured that the stuff emitting from the cooling towers is water vapour and not coal smoke. Their reflection in the water seems quite attractive. And again my trusty Casio has managed to retain detail in the sky without completely obscuring the foliage.

That is about it for our National Trust Day and we thoroughly enjoyed it.

Today we nipped over to Arnold to see Joan for lunch and to have a browse through bookshops, charity shops, W. H. Smiths etc., and of course Wilko. Every town should have a Wilko - it should be legislated for in Town Planning regulations. We needed Astonish (recommended by Sandra for cleaning aluminium cookware) and of course, we found it - together with clear plastic A4 wallets, brown envelopes and other things which I can't remember.

We took Joan to The Tree Tops for lunch because I think we all prefer it the The Travellers' Rest. Won't bore you with the details except that I had liver & onions which I love and Y hates so we never have it at home.....................

Misty Morning - Iron Bridge - Attingham

It had completely slipped my mind that on Sunday, we were due to go on a Mansfield Chapter National Trust outing, the last of the season. The location was to be Attingham Park in Shropshire with a couple of hours at Iron Bridge before lunch. We got up to this super misty morning. The trees and hedge on the other side of the football pitch looked so romantic I was tempted to burst into a version of the Elvis song. But Y told me many years ago that she couldn't cope with the singing and dancing first thing in the morning.

The coach-driver was Chris again, which added to our enjoyment of the trip as, not only is he an excellent driver but his 'chat' and 'information' is first rate. This time he was accompanied by Hannah, a sort of courier, who kept us all well supplied with tea etc., and everything from chilled wine and lager to hot soup. It was obvious by 10am that, as the sun strengthened, the mist would vanish. And it did. By the time we arrived at Iron Bridge the weather was glorious. Many years since we had visited and we were struck by how pleasant and interesting it is. Now a World Heritage site, which it thoroughly deserves as the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution; there are ten museums of which we only had time to briefly visit one. It goes without saying that we found time for a delicious coffee and a cake before reboarding the coach.
Attingham Park from the outside was a normal Regency stately home and a picture of the frontage would hold little interest, so I thought that this of one side of the entrance steps would give a flavour of the whole. The interior was fascinating. Lord Berwick had liked a painter Sir John Philip Hackert who specialised in Claude type landscapes. Unfortunately Hackert was not 'of the first rank' and we could not share his lordship's enthusiasm. Two Angelica Kaufman's almost rescued the situation. Angelica Kaufman was the first lady member of the Royal Academy and thoroughly justified her elevation. There were however, almost hidden away, some drawings and water-colours by the architect John Nash which were quite outstanding. The restaurant was good and we both enjoyed our meals.

The journey home was uneventful and Chris stopped in a quiet lay-by so that Y could deal with the raffle and I had my usual stub-folding duty - helped by two ladies whose results were much neater than mine. Perhaps raffle-ticket folding is a lady-thing. By the time we reached Mansfield I was suffering and done-for, hence the mini-blog. Had a blood-test this morning and the clinic have just rung. 2.8 and don't need another test till Tuesday 19th. Great !! Nothing clashes with the Sculpture Park visit.................

National Trust Day out - Super day.

Sorry I forgot to mention in my last Blog post that we were going on one of our National Trust trips. Just got back and can't face blogging ce soire as we linguists say. Full Blog with pictures tomorrow.

Sunday Rest Day - Still warm

The production of a 'collage' appealed and I thought this one could be called "Tour of the borders".

Mostly common flowers, but top-left is some clovery leafed stuff which we've never known the name of, and the ladybird, right-hand column 2 down deserved having her picture taken. Devouring green fly as she was.

Rest Day today and quite lovely weather. 21C and a gentle easterly breeze. It is getting chilly and misty in the mornings though, with quite heavy dews - not to mention it being much darker. It won't be long to all our Scorpio birthdays and the clocks going on. Oh dear.

It was basically a Y chef day today and we had a lovely meat pie and plenty of veg, including some baby courgettes, which are an indulgence and we've decided at long last that we prefer sugar-snap peas to mangetout. Being flexible, I had made an apple pie/flan (just a pie without a lid on is what I mean) with the Bramley apples from Bob. No water, some sugar, ground cinnamon, stopped boiling before mushy, transferred to pastry-case, semi caramelised the sugar syrup and poured it over, sprinkled very lightly with dark muscavado and high oven for 10 minutes till pastry started to brown, as did the sugar. Lovely ! I was going to take a photo but we had eaten half of it before I remembered.

John rang yesterday evening and everything seems fine with everybody. Laura in Rome, Philip's firm have offered him a flat in lieu of a pay-rise and Alannah is getting on with her A-levels. John needed lots of reassuring about my blood-levels and health in general. But what can I say?

I think I'll make us a pot of tea ..............................

Beautiful Day - Outing to Ollerton

This empty table is at the back of The Snooty Fox at Ollerton, where we went with Bob and Sandra for lunch. Although the table was empty with a lovely riverside aspect, we ate indoors. At this time of year flies and worse seem determined to share one's dinner. And a very nice carvery meal it was too. It was really nice that Sandra could join us and we also met Stephanie again after a gap of many years. Basically, Yvonne and I fancied a run out because it was a glorious day 20+C and blue sky and just a waft of breeze. A typical late-summer English day. I ought to find a quote but it's getting late.

We delivered some stuff - the allspice berries, the particularly mean looking weed-burner and some art odds & ends. Bob is welcome to use them or find a good home etc., because we are still clearing things out.

Before we set off the clinic rang and changed my warfarin dosage again. Another blood-test on Monday. Ho hum! Good job the planned Yorkshire Sculpture Park visit is Saturday and Sunday because both the clinic and the surgery are shut at weekends!

Bungus sent us home with apples, homegrown tomatoes and we stopped en route to buy Victoria plums and Damsons. The plums are fine (already sampled) and we both love stewed damsons and claggy custard. In the supermarkets, if you ever see them, damsons are incredibly pricy and this farmer sold me 2 kgms for £1. I had asked for 2 lbs but there he was with his scales and kilogram weights. Some people are so law-abiding. We managed to find the new Mansfield bypass route home and it does cut off a lot of town driving. And much quicker.


This Daddy Long-Legs (crane fly I know, but Daddy Long Legs is better) has taken up residence on the wall in my loo, at the side of the cistern.

I couldn't bring myself to whack him/her with the magazine I had in my hand, so I took his/her photograph instead.

The life span of crane flies is not known to me but it hasn't moved a muscle in 12 hours. Not even the elegantly bent rear leg.

Ho hum! Live and let live..................