Burton Joyce for Y - Camera Club for Me

Two Rembrant portraits today. And if you are wondering why, it is all to do with the Lidl's Saskia Sparkling Water that we both like best.

Much better than Perrier or Ashbourne or Malvern or anywhere in between. Being an Ashbourne lad I can tell you that there aint no spring in Ahbourne, just the Henmore Brook which I wouldn't drink from. Carbonated water used to be a by-product of the Nestlés factory - perhaps that is where it 'springs' from.

Apparently the Lidl stuff comes from the Saskia Spring in Loningen. I've tried to find an 'o' with an umlaut, but failed.

Anyway, to get to the point, Rembrant's wife was Saskia who acted as his model in many paintings. And whenever I get a bottle out of the fridge I think of Rembrant's wife. Picture 1 is an actual portrait of the good lady. As with all Rembrant's work it is full of human understanding and sympathy.

And it was while 'surfing' for Picture 1 that I came across Picture 2. Another Rembrant which I have loved for years without having actually seen it. It hangs in The Hermitage, St. Peters Burg, of course, so perhaps one day when the house-move is done with. I used the picture many years ago in an article entitled 'Less is More' which was published. Naturally I accepted my indebtedness to Mies van der Rohe for the title. I wrote to The Hermitage asking permission to reproduce it and had a most courteous letter granting me such; so long as I published an attribution to them, which I was delighted to do.

My use of the picture was in an attempt to persuade photographers that it isn't really necessary in a portrait to have the eyes well defined and with 'catch lights' in them (as Judges are constantly telling them).

The portrait, of Jeremiah Becker is as powerful as they come, in my opinion, and as you can see the eyes are completely shaded by the hat. Again, it is full of human understanding and warmth. I am sure that Mnsr Becker would have been delighted with it.

I am also indebted to Rembrant for the following quote -

"Old age is a hindrance to creativity but cannot crush my youthful spirit."
Rembrant

We will all go along with that my old lad !

More routine matters now. Y is over at Burton Joyce and I shall collect her from the tram just after 6pm. I shall put her a jacket potato in the oven, one of her favourites (potato that is, not oven). And then I'm off to the Camera Club. Tonight is not a competition but, at the beginning of the season we had to draw a subject out of the hat and mine was 'Atmosphere'. Prints are not necessary, so I have put eight pictures that I think fit the title,on a CD. Should be a fun evening. And, as it isn't to be judged, I shan't be able to disagree with anyone.

David's computer seems to have restored itself to full health, as they often do, and he sent me this picture of Molly and Laura please click and out of consideration of Y's feelings I have provided a link rather than the actual picture.
Think I'll have a quick kip. Set me up for tonight..

Lovely Spring Day - Need I say More

Some Flowering Currant at night, with flash. It is a nice effect in my opinion.

The shrub looks so attractive at this time of year but, as I think I warned people last year, don't cut some and put it indoors in a vase. Unless you happen to like the smell of cat pee!

Our potential purchasers arrived on time and said all the right things. Y was of the opinion that Mrs Viewer was very enamoured. Lets hope so.

Another pleasant surprise was that my £50 cheque arrived from IPC Media for my AmPhot article. I think it's the first bt of writing I've actually been paid money for since my short story The Book Reviver was published. Perhaps I'm starting afresh. My beloved note-book is always to hand because if I had a bright idea and didn't write it down straight away the OAGs would spirit it away.

For lunch we had the parsnip and sweet potato soup, with a fresh crusty roll, and Y shares my high opinion of it. The only difference from the recipe I published was that, not having a leek to hand I used an onion.

Picture 2 is a facsimile of Blake's original The Tyger. And I'm quite sure that Bungus was well aware that that is how Blake spelt it. If he had wanted to write 'Tiger' he would have done. Bungus, I remember, didn't like Hopkins spelling of 'brinded'cow' either. But poets are poets.

Karen bless her, has been and mowed the lawns and although the grass wasn't really long or anything, the look is much smarter. She also went round the edges and sorted bits out with a spade where they were protruding.

You will all be able to read now in Bob's comment on yesterday's Blog the performance he as had with the hedge between them and the neighbour. I sincerely hope that everything comes to a satisfactory conclusion. In Y's view the neighbour is a nutter in respect of whom great care should be exercised. I am reassured that he gave Bob the Vsign - so much more tolerable than a shotgun. At his request I have blogged nothing about the problem earlier because it didn't seem either wise or appropriate.

David sent me a lovely picture of the mice and I will probably 'blog' it in due course. Or perhaps a 'link' to it would be better bearing in mind Y's phobia about the creatures.

My weight loss is proceeding steadily, with the Orlistat, and I don't aim for a dramatic loss anyway, because one always seems to put it back on again. Perhaps 2 lbs a week would be about right.

Nobody minds penguins do they ?

Springlike but chilly - 5C - cool West wind

Didn't want to leave yesterday's dawn without showing you a picture at about the same time, perhaps a few minutes later, but looking North.

The red is solely due to the reflected light. I've left in the telephone cables and TV aerials because it looks genuine. And, following my recent diatribe in Amateur Photographer, I could do little else !

It will be nice to have Y back this evening and hear all the Palmers Green news. Stangely enough a card she had addressed to Debra, clearly written, correct in every respect and with the proper postcode was returned this morning by the Royal Mail marked "No such address exists".

She will also be interested to learn that we have some more house-viewers, at 10.30am tomorrow morning. Fortunately the house looks pretty good because this morning was Karen's morning and everywhere is clean and well hoovered.

Picture 2 is another gem I discovered in one of my charity shops for a £1. I'm finding it 'unputdownable'. But I've found this before with books allegedly for children.

Maybe it says a lot about my actual stage of mental development! We once toyed with the idea, many years ago, of tropical fish and scoured the library for something. I eventually found a book I could understand and said to Y "this is exactly what we are looking for". Then I read a paragraph which said "if one of your fish dies, you must get an adult to remove it from the tank".

I still took it out though and read it cover to cover with great interest.

As I've no doubt said before, I've never really progressed from Rupert Bear Annuals, and I do still like books with pictures in. Mind; I suppose I could quote in my defence a certain facility with The Telegraph Crossword - cryptic model of course, you have to know the answers to the other one rather than work 'em out.

Can't leave the anthology without a quote can I?

"The Sun doth arise,
and make happy the skies;
The merry bells ring
To welcome the Spring;
The blackbird and thrush,
The birds of the bush
Sing louder around
To the bells' cheerful sound."

Guess who wrote it. ...? OK. I'll tell. .William Blake. And he was a helluva' poet wasn't he? If he had made no other contribution to English Literature than 'Tyger Tyger burning Bright' ........and where would the Women's Institute be without Jerusalem?

I'm sure I shall bore everybody's pants off with endless jingles for the next few weeks.

Madeline sorted me out with my 'Gmail skins' and smileys. And I really like my new-look g-mail plus now the facility to insert pictures into the body of the text, and irritate people with animated emoticons.

Catch you tomorrow...............

Another colourful Sunrise - Still Mild

Another lovely sunrise. Perhaps a little too vivid for some people's taste but that's how it was ! Being a seasoned observer of dawns (comes from working nights outside for so long) I have noticed that these colours only remain extant for a few minutes at most and occur quite a while before the sun actually rises.

As soon as I woke up I could see it was going to be dramatic so > Nikon on tripod> adjustments made> out onto front porch with mug of tea> click, click, click....... and this was the best so the rest went into the big delete button receptacle in space. I know some laggards would rather linger in bed but, as the corporal used to shout as he enetered the barrack room at 6am - "hands off c**ks hands on socks". Mind you, I'm always at my best in the mornings and think "I've been spared for another night; I'd better get on with the day and enjoy it". Having said all that I do sympathise with those who don't like mornings. Particularly Monday mornings.

Then I had a leisurely start. Only 2 rounds of toast and marmite and the Telegraph. Nearly finished the crossword, and I guess I will finish it tonight after my subconscious has had a day to cogitate on the clues.

I went over to Boughton to take Bungus the cheese-boards, all 4 sets. Sandra has a mind to use them for 'pyrography' at the Workshop and they seem ideal. When I got home I did some more messing about and spent a little time on my 'lappy'. Since my stupidity with opening the 'you have won a laptop' link I seem to be getting an inordinate amount of Spam. Also my spy Sweeper found 2 spy-cookies which I have duly quarantined. Teach me not to be such a SOB in future.

Picture 2 is some Forsythia which I photographed after dark. I love the way the flash blacks out the background. Saves photoshop tinkering time and looks much more natural. TJ rang, which she always does when her Mum is away, to make sure I'm OK. She is such a considerate girl.

My 'parsnip & sweet potato soup' is surprisingly good. Recipe Here. It says it is sweet and you would expect it to be, but I didn't find it so. I shall value Y's opinion tomorrow.

We have been using 'Timate' potatoes which are a variety I haven't encountered before. They seem good and I wonder if anyone else has come across them?

Smashing quote just arrived on my Google Homepage. Epicurus (Greek Philosopher circa 300BC) said :-

"Wealth consists not of having great possessions but of having few wants".

I'll go along with that.

.....Shan't be long before I'm off...........

Long Eaton - Minton Tiles - Soup

I thoroughly enjoyed my Long Eaton visit and managed to arrive just as Brooke was leaving for her party. And Helen was soon back from dropping her off, as she was confident enough to be there by herself.

She has 'emerged' so much since starting School. Her reading is so good - Stage 8 and soon to be a 'free reader' which means she can be allowed to read anything rather than the prescribed level books. Some of her classmates are only Stage 2. Wow ! They are both voracious readers and Sky is a competent e-mail person too. She told me how well the 'sculptures' project had gone.

I wanted to 'blog' a picture of a section of their hall-floor with its gorgeous Victorian tiles. Not being an expert on the Minton pattern book I can't really utter but if anyone is.......... ??? They shout 'genuine' and 'quality' at you and it would be awful to cover them up.

Thank God Y wasn't with me because I was then introduced to Molly and Laura (lets just hope it isn't Laurence) and they seemed happy c0ntented mice.

Picture 2 shows them out to play on Helen's lap, sensibly covered with a tea-towel. I have some of them with Sky but they are a little blurry. Not gaussian though !

Again, it was a lovely Spring morning and the hedgerows and everything seem to be changing by the hour let alone the day. Spreading green and hosts of golden daffodils, Wordsworth would be pleased to note. I really need to publish 6 pictures a day rather than my statutory 2, to keep uptodate with sunrises/sunsets iunteresting events etc.. It would actually be possible now that Google have increased one's blogger capacity. That firm never stand still. All one's blogged pictures are now stored automatically in a folder in one's Picasa Web Albums (which also has had its storage capacity increased). It's good to know that the pictures one has uploaded are stored online in Google's big computer up there in the sky, so you don't lose them via a system failure of your own.

Talking of which I had to tell Sky how stupid Grandads can be. I'd opened a link from somewhere quite reputable, bbc.co.uk., I think and there was a flashing ad. saying that, as I was the 100,000th visitor, I had won a Toshiba Laptop and yes, I clicked, and entered my e-mail address. Then I found that to qualify I had to join loads of book-clubs whereupon I decided to leave it and withdraw. But it wouldn't go away. In the end I did a 'system restore' to yesterday which seems to have settled it. When I've finished my blog I aim to do a thorough Spyware sweep and quarantine any nasty cookies I may have acquired. Sky was one jump ahead throughout the story and I picked up the clear impression that she would have sussed it way before I did.

One learns something every day. Until I saw it in my online Etymology Dictionary I hadn't stopped to realise that Magna Carta means 'great charter'. So obvious I suppose but I had never thought it. A bit like 'wildfire' which until a few years ago I always took just to mean very fast; I hadn't worked out that it meant that something spread like 'wild fire'. Strange thing the human brain - or lack of it !

Just a note about the barometer. I 'wiki-ed' the question and discovered that the average pressure at sea-level is 1013.25 millibars or 29.921 inches; so our 30.2 yesterday was a little high but nothing excessive.

This evening I plan to make some leftover veg. soup. And, would you believe, I've found a recipe which uses parsnip, sweet potato, and celery............. You will be kept informed.

.....Catch you tomorrow.

Y safely off - Mild - Springlike Day

Picture 1 is a bronze by Taddeo circa 1590 in Rome and is currently on exhibition in Maastricht.

The picture arrived today in my ArtDaily online Newspaper. As soon as I saw it I thought "that is the effect I was trying to achieve". But I failed. However, the fact that I had done my sculpture pictures a few days ago does show that I wasn't plagiarising the idea.

Jill and Bungus are both right in that the images seemed to float about and maybe the blur was a little severe.

Re Jill's other point about my Orlistat. She is quite right to wonder about the possibility of an alternative route, if the fat bypasses the gut !! There isn't one is there? I didn't choose my words carefully enough. The drug causes the fat not to be absorbed by the gut; that is how it works and I won't go into detail about where it emerges.

We all sympathise with her son-in-law but hope that perhaps, the modern 'procedure' is better than the old one. Mine, and I think Sandra's too, was called a spinal decompression and it involved cutting away the piece of 'disc' which was pressing on the nerve. In my case my body created much internal scar tissue afterwards, which resulted in even more pressure on the nerve. Followed by numb foot and leg and loss of muscular control. Hence 'wheel chair'. And I'm still suffering. Perhaps best not show him, or your daughter, this blog entry Jill. Anyway, I'm sure you coped fine with the grannying.

Picture 2 is just a few more crocuses before they all finish. Spring is upon us. Thorn bushes have that characteristic leaf green showing, there's loads of blossom, and we've actually got flowering-currant breaking colour. And the dawn chorus is now at almost full decibel level. Since Jill's dictum I've been pretty strong on Blackbird/Thrush and I can recognise a Robin. We have one that sits on a certain branch and I can see his beak moving.

The barometer level is 30.2inches, indicating between 'fair' and 'dry'. I know the measurement these days is in different units. But whatever they measure it in I don't understand its implications.

I discovered today, by chance that the word 'Taser' used by the Police to immobilise threatening people is a derivative of Tam Swift's Electric Rifle, a fictitious weapon. I bet somebody loved inventing that. A visit to Long Eaton is my plane for tomorrow morning to see David and family. Helen tells me that Brooke will be away at a party from 10.30am. I suppose it's when they start going to parties at 10.30pm that the worries really start.

....I hope she had a good time. Sleep tight

Start of Rest Days - Y off to PG tomorrow

Picture 1 is Eastwood Parish Church which is almost next door to the Doctor's and the lighting appealed. Also, of course, the strong diagonal provided by the foliage line. I have chosen not to 'clone out' the telephone cable because I don't think it is at all obtrusive.

The 'Orlistat' doesn't seem to be causing me any unpleasant side effects and together with a more sensible diet, I am hopeful. The drug isn't an appetite depressant as such; it works by causing fat to bypass the gut so its essential that one takes it during or shortly after a meal. Watch this space !

Dr Latimer was as always, understanding, reassuring and ' sound as a pound'.

We shall certainly miss her when we move.

My pictures at Eastwood didn't fair very well yesterday evening. The judge obviously isn't at all interested in Sculpture, thinking that the pictures were photographs of someone's hobby. So 'eat your hearts out' Moore, Frink and Hepworth et al ! He did however make the completely sound point that Picture 4, of the Elizabeth Frink head, didn't fit in with the rest of the panel. That I fully accept.

It certainly isn't worth becoming 'uptight' about the judgements passed on my pictures. They give me pleasure or I wouldn't keep doing them.


Picture 2 is a 'Gerald' concentrating on his 'snap' as Nottinghamshire Miners, and Policemen for that matter, call their away-from-home refreshments. In the Police Force this is usually shortened to 'Refs'. I know the chaffinch picture isn't all that sharp but it is a record.

We haven't yet watched the programme about Global Warming which, according to the Telegraph review, does a good job of demolishing the mythology. Apparently scientists have noticed that the Sun's activities are different now from recent years and haven't been like this for centuries. Suprise Surprise! It won't make any difference to the 'man made global warming' lobby though because there is far too much money involved.

I look to Matt to sort them out.

Little bit of current information - Lidl have introduced a choice of smaller trolleys. The existing ones were enormous and steep sided an Y had difficulty retrieving things to put them on the conveyer belt.

....... Sleep tight folks.

Slimming - BJ Day - Camera Club

Before leaving the subject of The Market Square I thought another picture of the water-feature might interest.

Having had another look while sorting this photograph I think it might grow on me. Sure enough it will be a draw for hooligans but so long as it is just revels - I suppose OK. And it is rather beautiful - 'innit ? Fascinating piece of public art ? Perhaps the two Balfour Beatty men, one with camera, built it or designed it, or both. I shall find out more about it I think.

The picture was taken on the trusty old Casio. It is handy having a shirt pocket camera and one is far less obtrusive than with a great big DSLR. Interestingly enough, from my magazine, security staff are happy about compacts but suspicious of DSLR pro-looking cameras.

A couple of days ago in the Telegraph, Matt had his dagger out again. And just to show I can still mix metaphors with the best of them, he has the ability to hit more than one target with the same arrow.

I do wish however that we had a different centre-pages cartoonist. Often I "don't get it" and Y doesn't either. Maybe it's just us.

Yesterday I saw the doctor to ask about losing weight. I really must because, as Y points out, if I could shed 6 stone moving about, getting in and out of the car and a myriad of other functions would be so much easier and less breathlessness-inducing. The doctor agreed and has prescribed me 'Orlistat' which she says is helpful. I intend to 'google' the drug and see what it is all about.

It is nearly 5pm and still a lovely afternoon. Doesn't get dark till 6pm-ish and it is getting light about 6.30am-ish. So we must be approaching the spring equinox.

.....I can't find a 'smiley' with a plate of Ryvitas.

Venice Continues - Prints for EPS

These are my pictures for the Camera Club tomorrow evening. The competition is for a panel of 4 prints on a theme, or demonstrating the same technique. All were taken in the Yorkshire Sculpture Park which was a smashing boys' own photo-jaunt which Bungus and I both thoroughly enjoyed.

Now these have been heavily photoshopped. I selected each image, separated it from its background which, after some adjustments for lighting and colour tone, I gave the gaussian blur treatment. They are no longer actually photographs I suppose, just pictures of other people's creations. No real apology for that though, because so is a picture of a building or a steam train. But they appeal to me and Y likes them too. n.b. If you click on each image you will get an enlargement, and they are 4 separate images, not all joined together.

This afternoon was the Venice Class, and good again. We covered Veronese and Tintoretto and the painting of the ceiling of the Doge's Palace. There must have been centuries of stiff necks for tourists. But not for the artists because the paintings are on canvas which was then glued to the ceiling. I didn't know that! There is such a lot to learn. While I was there Y went to the Theatre Royal with Sylvia to see 42nd Street. Y loves 'tap' and of course so much of the music is so memorable.

They 'lunched' at Petit Paris, which is always nice and I ate at The Mechanics. I opted out of a big stodgy meal and they have started to serve a very attractive plate of 4 little triangular sandwiches - mixed (2 brown, 2 white and I had a ham, egg and cress, cheese, and salmon with a tiny salad garnish). Plus of course a J2O. All delicious.

Tomorrow is BJ day for Y (sounds like a question on our quizz sheet doesn't it?) and for me it's mounting prints, transport runs and EPS in the evening. Nice to be busy though !

....Closing early because I need an early night.

Lovely Day - Nearly Spring - Reflected Sunrise

Not pretty pictures today. More to do with scientific exploration. The question has been raised about the peculiarity of red skies in the East at sunset, and in the West at sunrise.

My first reaction was to suspect light pollution but I now think that if the sky conditions are suitable, reflection is the explanation. The Pictures (completely undoctored) show dawn this morning. The first picture is looking due West and picture 2 is looking due East. Number 2 was taken less than a minute after 1, just enough time to disable the burglar alarm and go into the TV room. It is hard to believe that 1 is a product of 2. But I am quite satisfied now that it is reflection and not pollution.

I'm sure that the 'meteorologists' among will say "Knew all that already" but I'm still on a learning curve.

My diary turned up. The OAG had hidden it in a most inaccessible place behind the shelves in my bedroom and it could only be recovered by Y on her hands and knees. She's better at it than me. But wait till I've shed 6 stones ! I think it is a symptom of old age that, if you get down on the floor for something you have a quick look round to see if there is anything else you can do while you are down there.

Our National Trust lecture this evening is about Brodsworth Hall about which we know very little. Might google it if I have time. So long as there are slides, preferably on a digital projector !

My cookery venture today was some chicken broth which involved me chopping up some chicken really small. I had previously soaked overnight some 'broth mix' from Lidl which contained - Pearly Barley (as Jill calls it), Red Lentils, Yellow Split Peas, Green Split Peas, and Marrowfat Peas. The packet was completely devoid of instructions about quantities and I over-catered, not allowing sufficiently for the 'swell factor'. It was therefore, what one could call 'hearty'. Eminently edible though with fresh continental cobs. I had a Kaiser Cob and Y had a seeded French job. And we shall have it again tomorrow. Can't be that fattening !

.. More fruit, less bread, smaller plates - and we shall be as slim as this sunflower.

Busy Monday - Nat Trust - Nottingham

This morning was a National Trust Mansfield Chapter Committee meeting in Mansfield. It was really nice to see everyone and we shall be seeing them all again tomorrow evening because it is the first Tuesday in the month.

After that we nipped down Nottingham to take books back and I needed some satin finish paper from Jessops for my pictures on Thursday night. It is the '4 on the same theme' and my entry is to be 4 from Yorkshire Sculpture Park and they are looking good.

The pictures here are of The Square, work is proceeding and I managed a peep through the fence. Having had experience of policing The Square, albeit many years ago, I could tell them with absolute certainty that this water feature is going to be trouble. The section in Picture 1 is the flat bit, with water sort of oozing out of the sides.

Picture 2 is the other end of the flat bit where water cascades over the top. Neither end is to be fenced off and will be completely accessible. Just pleased that I won't be responsible for policing it at 2am.

I know people will point out that there were fountains before but they were surrounded by walls, even if shallow, and people did used to enjoy high-jinks in them from time to time. But these seem fundamentally different. There is nothing separating the sloping slabs leading down to the water from the surrounding walking area. Broken limbs and claims for damages seem almost certain.

We had lunch in St Peters and I declined the doorstop sandwiches in favour of the more slimming soup. I have decided I must lose some weight because Y is quite right to point out that I would move about more easily and be less breathless. Y has been on cookhouse fatigue today and did us a lovely chicken curry and rice for evening meal.

I must just comment on yesterday's comments. I appreciate Bungus not doubting my integrity when I said the 'sky' hadn't been interferred with. Because it hadn't. On my Nikon there are two settings - normal and more vivid - I admit that I had the camera set to more vivid. But what came out was an accurate representation of the sky as it was. When I looked out of my bedroom window the new piece of fence, facing the sun, looked as if it was on fire. Hence the rush for the camera. But not the slghtest bit of interference took place.

So there .....

Busy Day for Weekend Off - 10C

A truly dramatic sunrise. Browning would have loved it. This colour only lasted for about 30 seconds and a minute earlier, which prompted the dash for the camera, it had been even more vivid. And it is unphotoshopped ! I am anti faked-skies anyway, they always look so false, however crafty the manipulater has been. My skill at recognising such is now approaching my erstwhile unerring eye for a Leica prime. If you zoomed in on the above, if it had been doctored, you would see fringing etc., down at pixel level, particularly round the foliage and the skyline.

Enough of this frippery. Our house-viewers arrived promptly at 11am and had a good look round. They were younger than we had expected and with a young girl. All the right things were said but, as I noted yesterday, we aren't going to get excited. The we prepared lunch for Tracy's visit. At her request - sausage and mash, which we had with purple-sprouting brocolli (not my own unfortunately but delicious) carrots, and I mashed swede/turnip in with the potato. I also made my ever-popular onion sauce. Y and I worked together in the kitchen which was nice, because of time constraints. Simply followed by a cheese board and coffee.

David and I had a lovely chat and we are so pleased that Helen seems OK at the moment. Yesterday they went to White Post Farm and bought the girls mice as pets. When I rang Brooke had already cleaned hers out. Promises were made for them to be well hidden when Y visits because of her aversion to them. With girls they no doubt will be, if it were boys they would appear 'accidentally' to whoops of delight!.

The OAGs have been back. I tidied my room prior to the house-viewers and when I went back at mid-day the OAG had taken the opportunity to make off with my diary. Where can he/she have put it ?

Picture 2 is a carved-head by Bungus, which I have wanted to Blog for some time. His permission has been obtained. The head always reminds me of General de Gaulle and is I think impressive. Elisabeth Frink had better watch out !

While on the subject it gives me pleasure to announce Bungus's invitation to a Notts C.C. Garden-Party (our local Buck House equiv.) for his services to the local community. He says he has only written a gossip column for the community newspaper - but I know he has done much more. He has made trouble for councillers, upset civic dignatories and been a thorn in the side of the pretentious for as long as I can remember - so his reward is fully justified.

The red sky this morning was quite right in its shepherd's warning. It has hissed down all day, as Ray would say. Before it really became heavy I managed to replenish the bird feeders and had hardly got back to the house before they were attacking them. The long-tailed tits which were so nervous now go straight for the fat-balls which I wouldn't have thought would suit them. Steven is off on is Rorke's Drift adventure tomorrow and I hope he comes back with some interesting photographs. TJ is still working 'all the hours G sends etc....' and I don't know about John. He was going to e-mail me with Philip's new address and phone number but they haven't arrived yet.

National Trust Committee meeting in the morning, and we really need to go down Nottingham. Books back to Brommers, stuff need from Jessops for prints on Thursday etc., etc.

...Hope everyone gets a little sun.....

Pleasant March day - Chilly but no wind

This purple crocus on the edge of the crowd of yellow ones appealed to me. There always has to be one rebel I suppose - standing at the back heckling.

The garden pictures, from this garden anyway, may come to an end. Soon we hope because there will be a new garden to get excited about.

On my way back from Wentworth the Est. Agent left a message on my mobile. A potential purchaser and his wife want to view on Sunday morning and they aren't in a chain but in rented accommodation, eager to move. We won't get too excited though 'eh?

I shall keep dropping bits in, about my PowerPoint Course, but I really did enjoy it and I learned so much. Our final project was to prepare a five slide presentation about our CV and current interests. And demonstrate a selection of the techniques we had mastered. A difficult task and the result, please click here, was inevitably bitty and jarry. But I wanted you to see it. I'm not a proud chap and I'm not Martin Scorsese either. The reason for the limit on the number of slides was because all members of the class had to present his/her presentation and there were time problems. BTW there were lots of interesting people, including a retired bobby from Sheffield who, in addition to his brief CV covered his role as a cricket-fan and umpire. We were able to reminisce about 'trying door handles' in the 50s. It is quite impossible for someone who isn't or wasn't a copper to pretend to be, when talking to a real policeman.

In class fortunately, we seemed to escape the 'class bore' 'the idiot' 'the excessive question asker' and 'the show off'. They must all have emigrated to WEA !

Picture 2 is a Wentworth Duck for whose benefit I have given the background the 'gaussian blur' treatment. It is so obviously faked that I think it's OK. Much preferable to the planks and builders rubble with which he was originally surrounded.

Smashing 'comments' especially Jill about birdsong. I loved the Browning quote and I shall know now how to sort the thrush from the blackbird. In the introduction to my collection of Browning it says-

"The love of a wide expanse, of the open sky and the wind, a keen eye for effects of light and colour, especially for the transformations worked by dawn and sunset.........these characteristics he has in common with Shelley"

I didn't realise that I was in such illustrious company. Mind you, I can do without the wind.

This morning I had a computer problem. My paid-for AVG and firewall, said it had had it and I was 'at risk' because my licence had expired. Perhas the computer shop only paid for a free trial period or something. Anyway I solved it by uninstalling what was left of it and I then installed AVG free, which everybody seems happy with anyway.

....Y is i/c catering today. I'm off to see what I've got for me tea !

Anniversary Issue - Back from Wentworth - Cold

This is the view from the Dining Room at Wentworth Castle where Northern College is housed and, as you can see, there is extensive work going on.

But the courses continue more or less unscathed. There was much rain but several sunny patches redeemed things and all of our activity was indoors.

The course was first rate and I have learnt so much. Our tutor was of the

"tell 'em what you are going to tell 'em - tell 'em - and then tell 'em what you've told 'em' School.

I was far from the runt of the class. Over the past few years I have learned such a lot about computers I was actually able to help other people. PowerPoint is a very pleasant programme to use and Mr Gates is to be complimented on it - I left feeling that I could now put on a fairly sophisticated presentation without making an ass of myself. And that was what it was all about.

You will see from Picture 2 that I was housed in what looks rather like a student cell. But at least I had it to myself and the disabled facilities in the bathroom were a boon. As it was a disabled room I was a little surprised that the bed was so low. Very narrow, hard and difficult to get up from and I needed to lever myself up using 'to hand' furniture. But I honestly don't want to sound as if I'm moaning because I'm not. The food was adequately 'institutionalised' and designed for the appetites of the hungry young, but it was fine.

When I have done the finishing touches to one of my very brief presentations I will have Walagata host it and then, armed with a URL, I will be able to give you all a 'link' to it here on the Blog. It will only be around 6 frames, lasting in all, less than a minute and so won't give you download problems. Even for Madeline on 'dial up', because Broadband doesn't penetrate into her part of Wales.

I've unpacked but plan an early night because I have been missing-out on afternoon naps, and I did have the drive to contend with. Not that there were problems because there were'nt. More tomorrow. Thanks to my regular 'commenters'. Loved the stuff about the dawn chorus Jill. Ain't you clever to be able to identify the song of so many birds. After a blackbird I'm usually guessing. Even then I'm more confident if I can see it perched on a branch with its beak moving !

.....Fancy t'blog being a year old.

Before Sun-up - Bird Song - Packing

Thought you would like the sparrows and a goldfinch.

One seldom sees 'spadgers' as they are called round here, featuring in wildlife photography. Not considered exotic or interesting enough I 'spose. But to me they are adorable birds, friendly, not too aggressive and more than welcome in our winter-jasmine hedge. Yesterday I saw a lady-blackbird going into that hedge, with a beakful of nesting material. I hope they all get on well together.

The early morning bird song has begun to be quite noticeable. Not yet a fully blown 'dawn chorus' though. Bird populations vary a lot. Both Jill and Madeline have reported woodpeckers in their gardens and Madeline has jays - and I've not seen one for several years. I will fight back the temptation to show you my great tits, because Steven would convulse with laughter.

Yesterday's Blog wasn't missing due to 'matters photographic' as Bungus suggested, but because we had been out all day. Y for 'hair' and getting her nail fixed at the chinese place then lunch out with Joan (we went to The Travellers Rest - expensive but super food and ambience) followed by mini-shopping then I had my packing to do.

I called in to the Hospice book shop again and fortunately they hadn't sold the Film Review Annual for 1947. In fact they had two copies so I bought both for a £1. The pictures are incredible. James Mason looking very handsome and villainous and Jean Simmons described as a promising newcomer. I'm glad I acquired both copies because if any regular blog reader would like one I am willing to send it.

......Catch you all later. Take care.

7C - Sunny/windy Day - Barometer rising

Picture 1 is from a book Y has from Bromley House of unbelievable pictures from orbiting satellites. This is the Lena River delta in Russia which runs for 2,800 miles before pouring into the Arctic.

When I first saw it I thought it was a painting by Gustav Klimt that I didn't know.

My photo of it doesn't really do it justice. I can't attribute it to a photographer because unless someone is sitting up there looking out of the window and armed with a digital Hasselblad I assume it is all done automatically. Prolly with mirrors ! I know Richard Branson is going to offer space flights, bless him, but I personally have no wish to go. Every generation sees massive change don't they ? My grandma's name was Arabella, shortened by my grandad to Belle and my Dad used to tell a lovely story of grandad arriving home and saying - "They've done it Belle - 60 miles in the hour" - a Railway train I've always assumed. Perhaps one of our 'transport correspondents' could help us with more details, the year etc.?

Picture 2 is much easier to explain.

I liked this crocus with the sun shining through the petals. So I isolated it, made a 'selection' of it in PS Elements and then subjected the background to 'gaussian blur'. All it purports to be is a nice picture which was fun to do. It has so obviously been 'manipulated' and I'm not trying to fool anybody into believing that the photograph is 'as it was'. I think there is a subtle difference and I don't consider this sort of work to be against my self-imposed ethical code. Comments would be most welcome.

Quick shop this morning - some lovely fresh Pain de Campagne with which I made sandwiches for lunch. Y had ham with a garnish of nuts and grapes, while I had cheddar and lettuce with an antipasti garnish.

For evening meal Y is doing a steak and mushroom pie, with loads of veg and I suspect, a cherry scone to follow. With, of course, lashings of mugs of tea. While in Lidl I picked up a packet of Rooibos (Redbush)Tea. I understand it isn't actually 'tea' but seeds from South Africa. What I do know is Precious Ramotswe of No 1 Detective Agency drinks it all the time.

This afternoon the lady from our chosen Estate Agents came to take some photographs and she seemed very thorough. Fortunately the sun was shining brightly so the place should look attractive. Already some colour from the bulbs, and of course, from now till July the garden just improves. And from then on there's the dahlias and loads of other stuff. I'm not going to tempt providence this time by saying we don't expect to see the raspberries in full production, but lets just hope 'eh.

Dame Helen Mirren won an Oscar for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth the Second in the film. She got her 'thank you' speech just right, no faux tears, no over-gush. And she very nicely said that it was The Queen as a person who was actually being honoured, not her. Ah well !

....Off for me dinner now. Catch you tomorrow......