I have decided that Bungus's advice re snaps is sound i.e. use current stuff and drop in the occasional Rhenish picture. Guest pictures are welcomed but, although I can't promise publication, I try to use them if they fit in or look exceptionally good.Picture 1 is such a case. The hand-painted glasses are by Bungus's daughter Stephanie and the photographic 'Collage' is by Bungus.
The nifty little text tool in Picasa 3 is a gem. You don't need to faff about making a copy without the text. If you need to remove the writing, all you do is open the file, open the text tool and click 'clear all'. Presto ! a refurbished virgin photo appears without text.
This morning, at my request, Y had left me a note to change a bulb in one of the dining-room overhead lights (if we don't write things down they don't get done) so, at a suitable juncture, I decided to get the steps and do the job. However, the Old Age Gremlins intervened and when I got as far as the table, I found I was carrying the ironing board instead of the steps. Ah well !
As our holiday was "The Castles of The Rhine" a picture of perhaps the most important 'Schloss' of all was inescapable.
The snap is of the
'European Union Parliament Building'
as seen from our canal-cruiser.
Obviously I didn't notice it at the time but I love the captain's rolled umbrella reflected in the windscreen, of the boat . Perhaps Nelson had one on the quarter-deck of HMS Victory. Google tells me that the weather at Trafalgar, apart from a fine period for the actual battle, was wet and stormy so perhaps a brolly would have come in handy. On the other hand .......
Picture 3 was taken during our WoW and is of an interesting building at Dale Abbey. The left hand half of the building is All Saints Church, hence the gravestones, and the half on the right is now a private house.
Apparently, during its history, the house bit was once the Blue Bell Inn. To access the Inn one needed to enter the Church and turn smartly right ! What a cunning idea. Please click here to read all about it.
Sepia seemed to suit the mood and it also disguises how bad the weather was. Dark and wet. Also, I know Jill will enjoy it !
I had a fun day messing about with my pictures, and Elements 7, which seems to have most of what I am likely to need. Reg will be interested to learn that it has a 'clarity' button and enjoys the advantage of speed. Also I can open JPEGS as if they are RAW files. I think that Elements 7, plus my beloved Picasa 3, will be plenty for my simple needs and I have, of course, should I need it, a fuller programme on my laptop.
Still trying to master my new mobile phone and this morning, before chucking it's box in the bin, I discovered under the main tray a Nokia-user disc which seems likely to repay close scrutiny.
This evening I cooked battered haddock, chips and peas for Tracy. We sat at the table, which she prefers, and for pudding she enjoyed my genuine German smelly socks cheese with biscuits.
Tomorrow Y is off to Palmers Green to see Debra, Andy and the girls. And while down there, on the Monday, she aims to meet up with Jill which will be fun. Obviously it all depends whether or not Jill is well enough following her dentistry et al.
All I intend to do is rest and mess about. Following my very low blood-pressure, and blood-thinning medication, I have been suffering from coughing up blood and dizziness. Ah the joys of ones seventies !
Comments
bungus ....... Nice point about your relative Angus ! He must undoubtedly be one of the Aberdeen Angus family. Sam used to tell me that "the corner cut of the aitch bone" from a grass-fed Aberdeen Angus (hung for at least 4 weeks) was the finest beef joint known to man. Pricey though, because there is only one of them per beast.
Re The Rams. Even I remember Raich Carter and Jackie Stamps.
I didn't find Tom Stoppard's "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead" boring at all. And he is an excellent source of quotes.
Quotation time ......... You can't argue with this now - can you ?
"It is not hard to understand modern art. If it hangs on a wall it's a painting, and if you can walk around it it's a sculpture"
6 comments:
DIARY
The hedge/boundary has reared up again.
End of November is the time by which the court order demands that nasty neighbour reduce height of last 3 remaining trees. But an email from the council indicates that he has raised the matter of the boundary dispute, inferring that my claims over the line of the boundary suggest that (some of) the trees were on our land all the time and that the council should not, therefore, have ordered him to deal with them. Interesting.
At least it has saved me worrying over whether or not to stir things up by telling the council that he has not obeyed the court order (I am sure as I can be that will be the position on 1 Dec).
Having finished her course of antibiotics, and because of a visit by her sister (and bro-in-law) but in spite of obvious discomfort, Sandra spent most of yesterday out of bed, until 9.00 pm.
I went out with Emma unsuccessfully seeking bluestalks.
BLOG COMMENT
Having asked many times, Sandra once wrote me a note asking me to wash the kitchen ceiling. Three years later when the note was brown and crackly, she threw it away.
I hope that you discovered your error BEFORE climbing onto the ironing board.
A few weeks ago, in Netto, I saw a man carrying an ironing board. As he passed me a vision came to my mind causing me to guffaw (a strange word but the most apt until another is invented). He looked at me enquiringly.
“I’m sorry,” I said, “but I thought you were going surfing.”
His look said it all – ‘demented old fella’.
The 'European Union Parliament Building' looks imposing.
The captain (esp with umbrella) looks like a novice allowed to drive a motor launch on the Broads.
Like the sepia snap.
I presumed it was originally a RC church with the pub attached until I read the link which says that the situation did not prevail before the dissolution.
Are you coping with Picasa 3? I am still running it alongside Picasa 2 to sort out the anomalies.
I think I would be throwing the phone, rather than its box, into the bin !
Hope Jill is fit enough to meet Yvonne. Please send my love and best wishes.
Sorry to hear about your 'bloody misfortunes' illustrating an aspect of yesterday’s quote.
Re The Rams:
I remember seeing Peter Doherty score with a Maradona ‘Hand of God’ – also the crowd jeering ‘Mard-arse Carter’ as Raich played out three quarters of a game holding his face after a collision. It transpired that he had a broken cheek bone. He later became a successful manager of the Stags, of course.
I should explain that I only got as far as the end of Sc 1 of "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead" before giving up. I would be quite prepared to see it performed and laugh continuously.
Good quote.
I liked the following so I thought I would share it.
An itinerant evangelist was walking by the river when he met a rather sad looking fellow.
“Good morning, my man. Have you seen Jesus?”
“No,” said the man.
The preacher led the man to the river, got him to kneel, dunked his head in the water, brought him to the surface and once more asked “Did you see Jesus?”
“No,” spluttered the man.
So the preacher repeated the treatment several more times and each time the reply was in the negative.
Eventually, after yet another dunking, the preacher brought him to the surface and once more asked “Did you see Jesus?”
“No,” said the man, “but are you sure this is where he fell in?”.
That';s odd, I left a long comment yesterday, which hasn't appeared....I remember mentioning the lovely curvy roofs, and saying that I don't usually look at roofs, but enjoy a nice bit of brickwork.
And that Delia Smith has a new book out, Frugal Food, which is a reprint of her 1970 one with lovely pictures, I have the original (very battered and well-used, price 70p. no pictures). And that I have ordered a new book by that game old explorer, Dervla Murphy, her travels across/around Cuba by train and other public transport. Shall be interested to read what the old Irish Lefty says about life there!
Don't remember what else I said.....those pearls of wisdom have gone for good.....
Bungus, I am sorry to hear that nasty neighbour/boundary dispute is happening again. Does Sandra get upset about it, or does she manage to rise above it. I hope the latter, especially as she seems to be getting better - but not rushing about too much I hope.
Sepia photo - looked like a schoolhouse to me, till I saw the grave-stones! Interesting building though.
The blue glass, I haven't a clue how you would go about making it, do you do the embellishments separately and stick (?) them on to glass, or if the whole thing is made in one. Daughter does stained glass, I know how you do that, perhaps the glasses are done like that?
I do like the idea of the captain with his brolly - prepared for any emergency......
A belated welcome back, RG, and welcome, too, to the interesting snaps from your sojourn. Whilst in Strasbourg many years ago I went to the European Parliament building hoping to have a look around. My reasoning was that it's funded by (some of) my money so I should be able to have a look at it. Oh no! Not without an invite from whoever was my MEP. I wonder who my current MEP is?
Incy wincy is now is Spain. Huh! Fancy leaving behind this glorious weather.
I see the Stags made a glorious exit from the Setanta Shield at the hands of York City (who else?) at the Kit Kat Stadium. Give me a break! Can we get drawn against some other team sometime, please? Big match tomorrow at Saltergate when Chesterfield face a shock FA Cup exit.
Thought we would have had mention of Barak Obama and Lewis Hamilton. Didn't they do well?
Elaine took her son and his girlfriend on a tour of Derbyshire yesterday, and came home with a couple of beef pies from Bakewell. We ate them last night and jolly good they were too; lots of meat and lovely pastry. I can't remember the last time I had a pie but I'm looking forward to having another. We did agree, though, to leave it about a year before we ate the next one, mainly becuase of the "Who ate all the pies?" song. Tonight we're having an English Breakfast - well, who says it's got to be eaten in the morning?
Fireworks have just started outside the window and the dogs have gone into hiding; maybe they have Catholic ancestors?
Rob
A belated welcome back, RG, and welcome, too, to the interesting snaps from your sojourn. Whilst in Strasbourg many years ago I went to the European Parliament building hoping to have a look around. My reasoning was that it's funded by (some of) my money so I should be able to have a look at it. Oh no! Not without an invite from whoever was my MEP. I wonder who my current MEP is?
Incy wincy is now is Spain. Huh! Fancy leaving behind this glorious weather.
I see the Stags made a glorious exit from the Setanta Shield at the hands of York City (who else?) at the Kit Kat Stadium. Give me a break! Can we get drawn against some other team sometime, please? Big match tomorrow at Saltergate when Chesterfield face a shock FA Cup exit.
Thought we would have had mention of Barak Obama and Lewis Hamilton. Didn't they do well?
Elaine took her son and his girlfriend on a tour of Derbyshire yesterday, and came home with a couple of beef pies from Bakewell. We ate them last night and jolly good they were too; lots of meat and lovely pastry. I can't remember the last time I had a pie but I'm looking forward to having another. We did agree, though, to leave it about a year before we ate the next one, mainly becuase of the "Who ate all the pies?" song. Tonight we're having an English Breakfast - well, who says it's got to be eaten in the morning?
Fireworks have just started outside the window and the dogs have gone into hiding; maybe they have Catholic ancestors?
Rob
Your picture of Dale Abbey church. I have some pictures that I took ihnside the church a few years ago when it was fairly easy to get the key. There is also the Hermit's cave on the hillside just above the church. That area has quite a history because there used to be blast furnaces close by and there is still Furnace Pond Farm only a few hundred yards away. Iron ore from the area was the start of iron melting at Stanton.
JBW
The tombstones on RG's picture are all stood vertically, Health and Safety must have been at them. I will try and find a similar picture with them as they were leaning a different angles I have looked in last years archive but its before then so I will have to search.
We have walked to the hermits cave on a number of occasions. Last week on BBC Midlands,John Holmes did the walk and showed pictures inside the Hermits cave. The TV light clearly picked out a crucifix caved in the wall apparently done by the Hermit in the 12th Century. Next time we go (soon) we must take a torch and look for ourselves. Sorry RG but your wheels would have to be fitted with tracks and a step climbing device, but we will bring you some pics back. The hermit was, it is said, a baker from Derby.
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