9C - Brommers - Serenissima !

This is a shot of the interior of Bromley House Subscription Library, our private club in the centre of town. And alhough I haven't been for some years (stairs problem) I was made so welcome and taken through into the office to meet the new librarian.

When I joined 20+ years ago the membership was restricted to 380 and you had to wait for someone to leave or die. The latter was the most likely. Then you had to provide 2 references, 1 from an existing member, and if you were approved you were allowed to buy ONE share in the library, for £30 and then you were in! We've loved it ever since. And I coped with the stairs, albeit slowly, and thoughtfully a large comfy chair has been sited halfway up. All the windows at the top of the picture overlook the Market Square and I wanted a picture for Brian. When I saw his prints from the glass negatives, circa the turn of the century (the last one that is, not the one we have just traversed) they looked as if the photographer had been either in Bromley House itself, or very close. When we meet tomorrow we shall be able to see. I'll warn you in advance "they are better photographs than mine!" It will be interesting to have a close look at roof lines, and the older buildings, to see what has survived.

The picture has been converted to black & white for ease of comparison.

Obviously the Council House is a different one but if you imagine the current one without the tower and dome, it occupies roughly the same sort of space.

There just isn't enough hours in the day is there? While I was messing-about at Brommers Y went to Lakeland to get Sky a book-chair. Unfortunately they were a Xmas item and had sold out almost immediately. The assistant helpfully checked on the net and found two in their Chester store. Y said she would have both of them, but a telephone call to that branch revealed they had just sold them! The assistant said to try again, perhaps in Setember. I decided to drop Sky a note to explain, because I don't want to be 'a grandad who doesn't keep promises' and checked first with Helen if Sky can cope with joined up writing? She is only just 8 and a month after all, but her mum said she was v.good with joined-up but preferred it upright rather than sloping.

After Bromley House it was round the corner to The New Mechanics for lunch, followed by our new WEA class about Venice. Same tutor as 'Holbein to Hockney' and within 20 minutes we were captivated. Especially when he said it was a breeze to fly from East Midlands and accommodation was cheap. He plans to cover the architecture, music and theatre as well as the Art. I know abit about the art but zilch about the rest. He started with a tour of Venice, courtesy of Canaletto. And sitting in my new position, facing the screen, I have been promoted to forward/back - button-operator on the projector A new career is opening out before me. I knew 2007 would be the year. A wise decision to get there early because we got just the seats we wanted.

The home via Morrisons for fresh bread. The sourdough bloomer is a joy. I know how to bake sourdough bread, but life is too short. A welcome sit-down when we got home and then loads of cups of tea and Y made me a superdooper sandwich with the bread and some haslet, with a salad garnish.

...Didn't manage to load Y's MP3 but I will tomorrow or Friday. See ya.

Visit Joan - MP3 - Griddled Chicken

Two pictures from our flying visit of yesterday.

Picture 1 is Cineworld (a haunt of ours) which is where the Forman building used to be. The Forman building housed The Evening Post and was beautiful stone which unfortunately had to be demolished to allow this complex. To be fair, as modern buildings often are, this looks attractive to us and certainly doesn't disgrace the town. When it is all lit up at night it looks good.

The building the black car is driving round is The Theatre Royal and The Royal Concert Hall is further round the corner on the same side. This is where the tram is so handy for us. The theatre-square stop is about 70 yards off picture left and we can do 'play', concert' or 'pictures' without having to park a car or walk more than a few yards.

Picture 2 is 'The Bell' just off Old Market Square and some readers may recall a mention, after we had the National Trust talk abouty The Castle. The pub is alleged to be older than 'The Trip to Jerusalem' which has always claimed the 'oldest Inn in the country' title. The Bell has always been a good pub, with good beer and good food, and live jazz at the weekends.

A few yards up to the right is Bromley House Subscription Library which we both love and where Y gets books. The stairs are an off-put for me. Lovely stairs though, recently restored and to which we donated the price of a baluster. Just the one!

This morning we decided we must go sick-visiting because Joan is really suffering. She has had this cold for about 3 weeks and she can't move it off her chest. Rambling on Hadrian's Wall and sleeping in a rambler's bunk-house in January perhaps wasn't such a good idea. And poor Jill still suffering, condition untouched by Buttercup Syrup. By the way, our anonymous 'commenter' who advised Jill about the ceefax route to subtitles was in fact none other than our own Bungus who had forgotten to sign-off properly. And we thought we had acquired a new, intelligent, reader!

This afternoon was spent downloading some of Y's favourite CD's onto the computer, for onward transmission to her new MP3 player, which we would like to have up-and-running for our N.Wales holiday, which we are looking forward to excitedly (that may well be a 'split-infinitive' but I've forgotten what they look like).

Dame Helen Mirren did very well in the BAFTAs and won two golden globes. Strangely enough both were 'Queen roles'. The TV drama Elizabeth 1 and Elizabeth 2 in the film. Both thoroughly well deserved.

Evening meal I did griddled chicken (we like the tram-lines on the the pieces), mashed potatoes, griddled courgettes, carrots and brussels. The brussels seem excellent this year, and we lke to eat seasonal food whenever although it isn't an item of faith.

.... Y will have her MP3 player on stream by tomorrow. Which is bytheway, the first day of our WEA -Venice course at the New Mechanics. Must get there early to 'cogs' the best seats.

95% - Nottingham Trip - 9°C

The Matt cartoon is a couple of days old but I wanted to put it in. Super joke ! If this relentless pressure about global-warming continues we shall all soon feel guilty just sitting in our cars let alone drive a 4 x 4. They are too high up for me anyway, without running boards.

I am 95% recovered and my walking was so much better again this morning. Like the reverse of the "calm before the storm". The words "mountain goat" don't quite sum up the situation but I was so sprightly this morning we decided on a lightning trip down to our fair city. I'm not even in my 'gunslinger stance" which usually follows a bad attack.

Y wanted to take books back to Bromley House and I wanted Jessops or some camera shop, to buy a polariser filter. Jessops had one to fit my camera, a pro-version of the necessary bit of glass and I thought "Oh good" and went to get out my credit card. £161.99p they wanted, so I quickly pushed my credit card back into its slot in my wallet. I've seen them on the 'net' for £17.50p which I think is more than enough. The other camera shop Jacobs had the cheapest version; they didn't have one at all.

We met up at St Peter's Church Hall, so that I could have a doorstop sandwich while Y settled for a cheese scone. Both were lovely. The place was very busy again and quite full circa 12.30-ish. But it is full of nice inoffensive people like us i.e. old and middle class.

I was pleased to see the tree, see Picture 2, in the churchyard with strong healthy buds which was a promising harbinger of spring.

My Dad used to say he had found that, if he lived to see the Spring he was alright for the rest of the year. Strange, but I knew where he was coming from.

Didn't go by tram this morning because the City Council has massively improved town-centre parking for blue-badge holders. We parked on Angel Row but there was plenty of space on St. Peter's Gate itself. There are other pictures with which I shall regale you over the next couple of days. Re Jill's query about the definitive difference between a 'stew' and a 'casserole', I honestly dont think that, in England at least, there is one. I suspect people think that casserole sounds posh and stew sounds common. I think I shall call such a dish a 'stew' if we are eating it and a 'casserole' if we have guests.

As regular readers will notice, we had a 'comment' from 'annonymous' yesterday. Whoever he/she is made the good contribution for Jill's benefit as to how to get subtitles for TV shows. She probably knows anyway but "Thanks" and please in future, don't be coy about your identity. You are obviously not a 'spammer' so welcome aboard.

.....Depending how I get on at the Hospital, 4.15pm appointment, I will be back later, or tomorrow.

p.s. 10pm. All clear from the Urology department and Mr. Mann (what a lovely name) doesn't need to see me again. At least one bit of me is working OK then.

Continued improvement - Casserole again

Y saw some long-tailed tits on the cherry blossom tree yesterday and this morning they paid a quick call to the bird feeders. But, by the time I had a camera they had gone. Not to return.

But I like this blackbird actually in the act of eating an ornamental rowan berry. I'm very pleased for their sakes that the berries stayed on in all that wind. The sight reminded me of a line from Wallace Stevens -

"Among seven snowy mountains the only thing that moved was the eye of a blackbird...."

I have no doubt misquoted him badly, but that was the gist. We had the beef stew again today and as so often, it tasted even better second day. As I had the 'makings' I did a tray of baked veg. again and, as per Delia added what we had. Some Charlotte potatoes, mushrooms, and peppers, to go with the celeriac, shallots, and butternut squash.

Had a lovely find whilst out surfing this morning, early on while the waves were high. It is a daily Art newspaper, and full of all sorts of goodies. Macafee siteadvisor pronounces it as safe. please click . I've already forwarded it to Bungus because I think he might like it. But, if anyone else likes it too, please feel free to forward it on. Increased readership will always please the authors.

This afternoon Y spotted this lovely programme on BBC 1 "Rolf on Art" and it charted his career all the way from childhood and by the time he was 8 you could see his talent. At 15 he had a self-portrait accepted in one of Autralia's major galleries. His thumbnail pen and ink sketches of teachers and fellow pupils were so good. Interviews with his family and friends and when he was living in Earls Court were first rate.

There was nice coverage of his early TV shows in UK and great clips of the enormous paintings he used to do, with a 4" decorating brush in about 10 minutes. And, of course, his hit songs "tie my kangaroo down sport" and "did you think I would leave you dying".

He is 76 now, and came across as so lively, still very talented and keen on his art - and such a thoroughly great bloke. I hope it is repeated, for the benefit of anyone who missed it - and anyway, I would like to watch it again.

Had a nice chat to David and I'm so pleased to hear that Helen has had a better two days. As we were talking a was looking out at a nice sunnt morning and thinking David and Helen will soon be planning their caravan trips. And I had no sooner thought it than David said it. All the good places get booked up very early but I'm sure they will find somewhere that is up to the mark.

I have to go to the Hospital tomorrow for a very minor procedure and I've told Y she needn't bother to come with me, so we aren't quite sure what the day will hold.

.....Bye for now.

Much recovered - tablets, hot-pad, rest

Pleased to be able to report improvement. Loads of tablets, hot-pad, changing between 'standing up' - 'sitting-down' - 'lying-down' - standing up' again, about every ten minutes. Or thats how it seemed yesterday. Plus, of course, lots of TLC from Y, and the occasional "Poor darling" and I feel OK.

I was allowed my statutory 'playtime' in the kitchen this morning and decided on beef-casserole, or stew as we used to call it. A lb and a half of excellent shin from Peter (little more than 2 level tbspn of trimmed off waste) plenty winter veg. and it turned out first rate.

Had a nice chat to Steve and he acknowledges he owes me a £1 bet, over who was the author of some software. But I shan't take his £1 because I was 100% certain of the answer. It has been a life-rule only to take winnings when there was some doubt about the issue. If you absolutely KNOW you are right, it seems too much like theft to accept somebody's money.

Picture 2 is included because I did it for a photographic forum, where there had been discussion about a very expensive Nikon lens with which it is possible to selectively focus and blur the rest.

Henry's portrait was published to demonstrate how easy it is to achieve a similar result in Picasa, with just a couple of clicks. Didn't go down too well and it was pointed out that the actual lens had other facets too. I replied that at my age I was into cheap (if slipshod) solutions.

Bob rang to see how I was, which was very thoughtful of him.

"Watchman, how goes the night?" -

(Shakespeare) but I'm not sure which play. You can look it up yourselves.

We also had a call from Tim Drapers who are taking us to Llandudno to say we would be picked up at 8.50am. Lovely time of the day and we shan't get the feeling we are setting off in the middle of the night. It will be well light. And isn't it great that it is now noticeably lighter? It gets to 4.30pm before dusk falls.

Nice sandwich again to look forward to, but I don't think there is a 6pm news on BBC1 on a Saturday to go with it. There is aways BBC 24 though, which we quite like. By the way, I had a good letter from the BBC dealing with my complaint about the 'execution' and they made excellent points. I was also referred to BBC 24 editor's blog, in which he had discussed the pros & cons in some depth and explained his thought-processes. Everybody is at it ! David tells me that a whole quarter of people who use the internet now run blogs ! I somehow sensed this would happen and am pleased that I was an early starter.

.... This is me tomorrow. Well - perhaps the day after...............

Rest Day (enforced) - Suffering

I won't dwell on it but I'm not 100% today. Can't walk for fear of falling over - ankles like the bottoms of pit-props - painful and I daren't risk more Dihydrocodeine. Ho Hum as Ray says.

Basically in good spirits though and glad I've got my 'lappy' which fits in with where I want to be, rather than me with it.

All my Royal Photographic Society stuff arrived this morning, addressed to 'me' LRPS. What a lovely present from Y. The magazines are beautiful, classily designed and presented and so sniff-worthy! Y says she wants to renew it for me each year, which will be a super annual prezzie.

There are several events I intend to go to. One in February is close by at Ravenshead, so I've promptly booked, and the buffet-lunch.

Anyway, first things first, no new pictures for today so I've used two from my archives. Picture 1 was an unbelievably photo-genic door in a very old Chapel on Caldey Island. I nearly missed it because there were steps down, but Y said I should make the effort, and I'm glad I did. Most of the dramatic colour effects were due to the in-camera flash on the old Casio. We would love to have known more about the wall-markings but there wasn't anyone to ask.

Picture 2 was from the Criccieth holiday. It's the beach on the far-side of the Castle in the late-evening sun.

Not much wrong with the old Casio in my opinion and I'm so glad I didn't rush into disposing of it when the Nikon arrived. There is still a strong case for the shirt-pocket camera! It is nice to be lucky enough to have both.

Before I leave matters photographic, last night's camera club event is worth a mention. The lecturer was a slide-photographer from the Bakewell Club and was, in my opinion, excellent. It was interesting to see that some of his slides from the 1950s had 'travelled well' while some had deteriorated. His Kodak slide-film seemed to have fared best. The quality of his work was good and he was not obsessed with photoshopped skies etc.

We had fish, chips, and peas for lunch. Traditional Friday. And I made it into the kitchen in the face of Y's protests. I parked myself on the high stool and enjoyed doing it. Y is shortly going to make a sandwich for tea, which we will enjoy during the 6pm TV News - So we can see what crisis the government has lurched into today.

Nice e-mail from Madeline which I shall reply to promptly. But she sounds OK anyway and 'the station' sends its best wishes to Jill with the hope that she is continuing to improve. It was a relief to know that Buttercup Syrup has reached Chiswick. And I know the book she mentioned as being by Deric. If it is the right one, I think is second name is Longden.

John rang to say that the 'missing' Xmas card and cheque had finally turned up. A relief to know that even though we had stopped the original one and sent him another.

This is me mentally, but my legs won't follow....

Burton Joyce Day - Camera Club

I suppose 1 aconite and 1 snowdrop is at least a start. But certainly not early. Last year the first few made an appearance on January 7th.

And in the circular bed around a tree, where there are usually lots, none have showed up yet. Not to worry. They will.

Not sure whether or not we shall go to see them at Hodsock Priory this year. They seem to have made it very expensive and, being cynical, once you have seen a load of snowdrops together ............ It's best when you chance on some unexpectedly. As Emerson said "If you go outside to look at the moon, it becomes tinsel......"

Picture 2 is a carry over from yesterday's baked vegetable photographs. Celeriac must be one of the world's ugliest vegetables. But, then again, when you study it closely it becomes beautiful. Like a weird landscape.

Many of our older readers will remember the actress Jill Bennet, superficially ugly but, when you had seen her enough, she became quite beautiful. Not that I am comparing Jill in anyway with a celeriac top. I don't want one of her erstwhile fans coming round with a shotgun.

Nice to have our own Jill back, albeit still suffering. Y swears by Buttercup Syrup for coughs. Don't know if its virtues have reached as far down south as Chiswick though.

This morning, as I was taking Y to Phoenix Park tram the rain was torrential, and I was so pleased with my new wiper-blades. Steve at the garage had thoughfully put the front one which was still OK, on the rear window, because it was longer than the existing one. It now clears an additional 2 inches of surface which provides a much better view. Everything was better, the steering, the brakes (particularly the handbrake) and the 'clutch'. I kow it's an automatic but the take-up is much smoother. Brinsley Garages aren't cheap, but they do an excellent job.

The Home Office are still in a mess with the people convicted of serious offences abroad. According to The Telegraph, the junior minister who yesterday on TV disclaimed all knowledge, was written to about the problem by ACPO a month ago, and she replied to their letter.

Iraq is in a mess and Bush is to send more troops, as if ........... I don't often quote from the Bible but Hosea v111.7 strikes a chord:-

"For they have sown the wind, and shall reap the whirlwind"

Enough soapbox for today. .. .... Sleep tight !

Baked Winter Veg - Car Service - Windy 8C

Decided on Pork Chops today, with Baked winter veg (a la Delia) Green beans, a little stuffing for me, and apple sauce for Y. The ingredients were sweet-potato, butternut squash, carrots, celariac, and swede (or turnip as we Derbyshire lads always called it).

And French Shallots (eschalon) which I originally left off my chopping-board picture. So, with the magic of PhotoShop and the reference-book on my book-chair, I have inserted them middle-top. This sort of tinkering, i.e. for a specific purpose, seems entirely legitimate. It is completely different from putting two people who've never even visited the USA, in front of the White House for an alleged holiday photo. Or substituting a pretty sky for a drab one and pretending that's how it was.

Picture 2 is how the veg. looked before going in the oven and, as I was riding the PS sleigh, I inserted one of the finished meals.

The Delia recipe is (as always) very forgiving. For instance at the end of her list of ingredients she says "use whatever you've got" Part of the process is to put the veg. in a plastic bag with olive-oil and herbs, to give them a good shake. And, if you are entertaining you can do that bit up to 2 days before, which is very handy.

Good old Delia! say we aged Jamie Olivers. I took to her many years ago when she was a mere 'slip of a girl'. She was on the telly doing a dish which needed grated cheese. She grated the cheese into a bowl ad then put her hand up the inside of the grater to get out the remaining few flakes. "A real cook" I thought and "A girl after my own heart".

Santa brought me a posh kitchen timer, a Salter which you can set for up to 90 minutes. The 1hr max on the old one used to annoy me, plus its feeble little squeek when it went off. But today I was glad I hadn't thrown the old one away, for differential timing. It's good to have 'two-timers' - so long as no-one accuses me of being one.

The weather is supposed to be unseasonally mild but the wind-chill actor is making it really cold. Y braved it and went out in the garden cutting back, because the council are still collecting garden rubbish. Y's sensible theory is that, while they are collecting it, she might as well fill the appropriate bin. Broxtowe Council are quite exceptionally good and deserve praise rather than the brickbats councils usually attract.

The car went in for service and needed wiper-blades, spark plugs, and a newe tyre which had an unfixable nail embedded in it. They delivered it back home for me and I could tell, just by backing down the drive and into the garage how much better it is for the attention.

Just before I leave you I ust comment on a yesterday's 'comment'. How could anyone dislike Rolf Harris? He has always been a great entertainer and, in my view, a talented artist. Y and I both rated his portrait of The Queen as so much warmer and telling than most of such.

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

National Trust Committee Meeting - Morrisons

This erysium - bowles mauve
has had flowers on for almost a full year.

I'm not sure now whether it is 'early' or 'late' but, brave thing that it is, as you can see it looks fit and well and there are flowerbuds waiting to open.

Even that hard hoar frost, as you can see, failed to disturb its 'cool'. If you think some flowers are missing in the picture on the left, they aren't, it's just a different bush. The one on the right showed the frost better.

Picture 3 appealed because I was taken with the stripes. All were from different sources. The document box was Ikea, the book-chair was Lakeland, and the mug, was Aldi's mug department. It always reminds me of the picture one gets when one decides to 'defragment' a hard disc.

This morning was Mansfield Nat. Trust Committee meeting at Connie's. Although I wasn't involved - I sat and read in another room, I could hear peals of laughter so I knew it was going well.

The weather was atrocious again. Extremely windy, with driving rain, and unseasonally mild at 13/14c all over the country. What a state we are in. I know you can't blame the government for the weather but I can't remember a time when we have been so badly governed. So many things are in such a mess ! The latest today is that people have been convicted of Murders, Rapes, and Paedophile offences abroad. The countries concerned have sent the appropriate files and no-one at the Home Office has done anything about them. Not placed them on sex-offenders registers and things and the Home Office minister admitted that she had no idea if they were working in Schools, where they were living et al. She said there would be an 'enquiry' which she couldn't prejudge ! The only thing you can be certain of is that no-one will resign. Ho hum.

Anyway, I should be keeping a low profile because I made a right pig's ear of parking at Connie's. I tried to back into a space so as to leave Peter room to park next to me. Result was I was so close to the edge of the garden Y couldn't get out and I had to drive forward again. I then succeeded in occupying two spaces instead of one.

When we left we decided to do our shopping at Mansfield Morrisons. Much nicer then the Eastwood version and we decided to have lunch there. Good decision because it was lovely - and such a big shop.

On a lighter but no less serious note now. Can anyone, perhaps our ergonomics correspondent, explain the following. You are wearing heavy shoes and sit down so your body weight is supported by the chair. Your feet are supported by the floor. Why then do your shoes still feel heavy?.........

See you tomorrow.............

Y returns - Weather atrocious - Bull on the line

Another Brinsley sunrise and I thought I would build on the success Ha Ha! of my Power Station Panorama, and do another panorama. It isn't a pain, and it is like being equipped with a very wide-angle lens, without the distortion they produce.

Went for my blood-test and it was a debacle. It was a new phlebotomist and she tried 5 times to draw blood and failed. I suppose she has to learn and she wasn't doing it on purpose. In the end she had to fetch Helen (who has now reached the dizzy heights of Nurse Practitioner and wears civvies). It took Helen just 20 seconds to get a phial full! I'll need to wear a long-sleeved shirt for a day or two until the bruising fades. I await the inevitable call from the clinic to find out if it's stable or not.

Picture 2 is the same power-station as yesterday, but shot from Eastwood with the benefit of my 70-300mm Tamron at full tilt. I think it is only the little bit on the sky-line behind the tree at extreme right. The tall chimney I suspect, is closer. You wouldn't believe it is 14miles away though.

I then went to Aldi because, from their e-mail, they have some odour-fixing candles, at 99p rather Lakeland's £3 plus. I just picked 4 pretty coloured ones, not realising till I got home that they are colour-coded. By sheer luck I had brought one for cooking smells and one for what they coyly call bathroom smells. I have an anti-nicotine, and an anti-dog spare . As no-one in the family either smokes or keep dogs I thought I was stuck with them. But Bungus has stepped into the breach and will take both.

Y returned to Phoenix Park spot on the suggested time. This was surprising because there had been a major hold up on the main line. I've heard of snow & ice, and leaves on the rails but this was a 'Bull on the Line'. ounds like a Johnny Cash record doesn't it?

It is nice to have her home. I'm cooking sausage & mash wth brussells, leeks and carrots - one of her favourites. And as another nice surprise Janice (the village tote-lady) arrived to tell us we had won - yet again! £3.25. It is almost becoming embarassing because we have only just had our £5 each Xmas vouchers.

.....Time to start the meal. Catch you tomorrow.

11C - Long Eaton - Power Station

After ringing David this morning it was decided that I nip over to Long Eaton to see them all. And to take the posters Y had obtained from the Telegraph and their copy of Our Island Story. Lovely posters they are too. Seafish, shells, trees and things. It was good to share coffee and see Sky and Brooke, and Helen and David of course. Brooke has a school-project about toys of yesteryear and I remembered a little wooden figure which used to have a cork on the bottom and my Dad used as a beerbottle stopper. Then the cork broke off and I was given the little wooden chap to play with. After the 'project' I've told her she can keep it.

It is amazing what your genes carry. Brooke came into the conservatory with a little green hessian-type bag over her shoulder. I admired it and Helen said "Oh she loves bags". They have been a lifetime love of mine too. I said "and little notebooks" producing two from different pockets. Apparently Brooke also is very keen on little notebooks !

On the way to Long Eaton I had noticed the power-station doing its stuff and fancied a picture so David directed me a mile or so towards Sawley where a good view is available. I actually found Picture 1 down a lane leading to the Marina. Unfortunately by the time I got there the clouds of steam had been much dissipated by the wind. Ah well - such is life.

Picture 2 is of Sawley Church, a very pleasing looking structure. On neither occasion was the weather as nice as it looks. In fact it was quite dismal and spotting with rain. So, I have 'brightened' and 'improved' a little. In neither case so as to spoil the 'feel' of either.

Neither looks very sharp. Which is a much bigger problem and I have'nt yet sussed out why.

I was on the Amateur Photography forums a while ago and was able to give a chap a list of instructions as to how to produce a JPEG of a Print Screen. He had sorted me out with a Capture NX problem so it was a pleasure to offer a little back in return.

... Helen is a bit under the weather and Brooke had recently had a high temperature due to tonsilitis. Genes again. David was a chronic sufferer plus adenoids. Lets hope everyone soon feels better.

"Busy doin' nuthin" - experiments

Just the one picture today, an interior panorama. For filing purposes I've labelled it 'Kitchen-Pan'. I had wondered about such a project and it is possible, although not easy. It was difficult to get the exposures to match because the Panorama programme rejected several efforts saying it couldn't find 'matching features' in the shots I wanted to stitch. Ha! the advantages of the 'delete' button in digital cameras. But there we are, the kitchen 'as is'. Had Y been at home I would have had to tidy up and clear the sink of dirty pots first. But I am a creature of impulse.

While supermarket shopping this morning there was this grumpy old man (about my age !) behind me at the checkout and being rude to his sweet and gentle wife. He made no effort to help her move things from the trolley to the conveyor belt and offered nothing but sarcasm. He finally stumped off, past me, with the words "I'm going to get a paper". After I had paid and was loading my bags, he came back, with The Sun. Should I attach any significance to this?

Nice text from Tracy checking on my welfare. So thoughtful she is. Also, a pleasant 'welcome letter' from the Regional Organiser of the RPS together with their recent newsletters. And exchanged lovely phone calls with Y who is having a great time grannying.

Last night I slept really well - 10pm-ish to 6.40am. And I've had a nap this afternoon. I know from experience that you can't store sleep, but a couple of bad nights now won't concern me. Ankles still swollen and I start my blood-testing saga again on Monday. My INR level will be interesting! Just so long as I don't have to be admitted again.

.....Do you ever feel locked into things?

The Weekend approacheth - Y grannying

A couple of days ago I wondered if anyone collected old 'coat-hangers' (I put that in quotes because I didn't want pedantry about 'something on which to hang an old coat). Bungus suggested a quick google. This chap turned up together with his website. Please click.

Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be a readily available group-term for collectors. Perhaps a 'rail' or a 'suspension' of coat-hanger collectors would do. I leave it to imaginations more fertile than mine.

My interest had been sparked because, in my wardrobe, I have several of great age, i.e. I grew up with them. And one of them at least did its National Service (early fifties) in Germany and returned safely without being stolen.

And the strangest thing is, the one he is holding is almost identical to one of mine. His says "Equal to a Fine Liqueur" . Mine says, more verbosely (of course) "The Equivalent of a Fine Liqueur".

But obviously out of the same stable. Ha Ha!

As one gets older, one can become preoccupied with trivia like this, without worrying about time being wasted.

To return to more mundane matters. Y caught the train to London OK and later rang to say she had arrived safely at Palmers Green. She had discovered she could travel first class for £3 more, and did so. She had apprehensions though that it would be full of noisy business men on mobiles and laptops, as against her normal seat in the mobile free carriage. The entire train of course is now 'non-smoking' and has been for some years which suits her fine.

I've done my usual messing-about but managed time to call in and see Brian. He agreed with me that the lecturer at EPS last night was excellent fun but that his 'skies' were too 'loud'. People don't seem to realise that really jazzed-up skies result in very two-dimensional pictures. Due to the absence of any tonal recession to give depth. Still it is very much a matter of personal choice and my comments shouldn't give the impression that I didn't thoroughly enjoy his pictures and his super sense of humour. Because I did, and so did Brian.

....Catch you tomorrow.

Burton Joyce - Camera Club

Two pictures, not really faked, but in No.1 the moon was hopelessly over-exposed, to get any detail at all into the sky.

Then I took another and deliberately under-exposed by 2 stops in order to get some detail in the moon.

Picture 2 is a result of merging the two together and a little smudging of cloud over the rim so it doesn't look too artificial.

It will be a matter of opinion as to whether or not it works but there is a night-shot competition coming up at t'club and I don't want to be without an picture to enter.

Just to return very briefly to the 'execution'and Bungus's point about the lynching of Mussolini and some works of art. Surely the point is that Mussolini hanging from a lampost (an image I remember well from the time) was actually a lynching and didn't pretend to be the outcome of 'due process of law'.

I think I veer Madeline's way because there have been, and still are, many evil men who we do nothing about. Pinochet was a prime example. But he didn't have much oil.

Nikon Capture NX is a brilliant programme and I can see it replacing PhotoShop as the industry standard. You don't have to bother with 'selections' and 'layers' etc., and it does a super job with its 'control points'. I won't bore you with details because I realise it is a 'minority sport'.

With the additional memory (1.5GB) my laptop positively speeds through things. "Rats up drainpipes" and "s**t off a shovel" spring to mind.

Y was delivered to Phoenix Park tram this morning and I've tried to spend a few hours lying down. Not due to idleness but because my ankles look like moon-boots again. It reduced them a little. I just can't miss out on my Camera Club. In between everything else, I went shopping after dropping Y off, and this afternoon I've cooked a spag-bol for this evening. A tasting was satisfactory, even though I have no fresh herbs except a little basil. Seed-sowing seems to be called for again.

Although the internet tells me it's 11C in Nottingham, Brinsley feels much colder than that. There's still a very strong breeze so I guess it is wind-chill.

...Keep smiling. Catch you tomorrow....

Nat.Trust - Rainworth - Mansfield

In chronological order - roughly. As you will see from Picture 1 (see bottom left) my 'December Sunrise' made it to the Gallery in Brian's Shop. A high honour indeed when you see the quality of the others. He asked if it would be OK ? and, of course, I was delighted. Some passing customer might offer him a couple of quid for it !

Yesterday evening was Mansfield National Trust and the lecture on Nottingham Castle was very interesting and it has given us a lot of things to look out for next time we go to Nottingham. One fascinating fact is that The Bell Hotel in the town centre is older than The Trip to Jerusalem which always claims to be the oldest Inn in the country. And this isn't someone's unfounded allegation, it comes from dating the timbers. He had some amazing slides of old pictures. Apparently the Trent has changed course several times and Trent Bridge has been in different locations. But there are some v. old parts remaining where it is now. All-in-all a throughly enjoyable evening even though the lecture hall was abit chilly. I gallantly offered Y my coat to wrap round her legs (quite Raleigh-ish I thought) but she declined. It was nice to see everyone and Gordon had done the Newsletter with details of all the Outings and The Weekend away so we promptly filled in the application forms. I posted it to Jean first thing this a.m. We don't want to be missing out on any trips, now do we?

I set off for Mansfield quite early and left Y to enjoy a busy day at home, sorting out her photos and journal etc., and generally pleasing herself.

My trip to Mansfield included an assortment of little jobs. 'Lappy' to Rainworth, 2 hours in the Libray (always a pleasure) - and I sussed out how to access my Blog from one of The Library's computer-terminals. So I left two 'comments' on yesterday's 'comments' mainly to check it out. A trawl through shelves which interest me yielded 2 uptodate books - one never issued and one issued just once.

Then to The Widow Frost for lunch. Picture 2 shows a wobbly Bungus approaching with drinks. Not wanting to use the flash in public; I stood the camera unobtrusively on the table and used the self-timer. The camera produced quite a lengthy exposure hence the sharp surroundings and the figure blurred by movement. And Bob's legs are not as short as they seem - he is down a step !

After a good meal and excellent coffee we went in search of slippers and a ferule for my monopod. Both ventures were successful and, knowing how to shop upmarket, I got the slippers in Jonathon James. They were 'top bracket' at £4.99p. The ferule came from the key-cutting shop because I knew they sold them. Bob brought us some exquisite ripe Stilton which I later had for tea.

Then it was a matter of collecting my laptop and travelling home - couldn't resist stopping on the way to try it out. And Nikon Capture NX seemed a lot faster and everything else was fine and speedy. I'm getting through my 30day free trial of the programme rather too quickly. I've only got 14 days left.

I've probably forgotten something. Not to worry. There's always tomorrow..........

Warmer - Nottingham - Tram

Quick 'blog' called for due to going down Nottingham this morning and then Mansfield National Trust due this evening. And we've got to eat sometime!

Just one more Elvaston Country Park picture for your opinions? It looks completely 'pseud' to me as if some gentry person decided to simulate a ruin. Although you can see the edge of the lake through it, it doesn't actually lead from or to anything.

There might be an Elvaston Country Park expert lurking somewhere.

You different views of Saddam, his execution, and Riverbend's Blog are very interesting. One thing in his favour of course was that he kept a very wary eye on Iran. But I won't go on. I don't consider that Riverbend ever rants, and I don't blame her at all for carrying a knife. Of course we don't know if her account is always accurate - but to me all her writing carries a strong whiff of authenticity. And I've read a lot of witness statements in my time.

My lappy goes in tomorrow for even more memory and by the evening I shall have 1.5GB which should make my photo-processing a whizz. Bungus and I plan to meet for lunch while it is being done, and Y can't decide whether to accompany me or meet Joan.

.. Sometimes it is difficult to know what to do. Catch you tomorrow.

Happy New Year to Everyone

The evening at Derek and Betty's was enjoyable even though everyone banged-on a bit about holidays and cruises. Maybe we suffered through not drinking alcohol and the fact that in the near future we have only planned our Llandudno trip.

But don't let me knock it because the food was gorgeous and it is nice to be among friends who really do not want us to move house. We saw the new year in and then walked the 30 yards home, made a pot of tea and then bed.

As I hope Picture 1 shows, it was a wild and stormy night and I practised my low-light photography - through the bedroom window I hasten to say. Y slept well but I didn't. It must have been too much excitement.

Picture 2. I don't know how I managed to miss this great Matt cartoon over Xmas but I did. Fortunately Brian e-mailed it to me and I decided to use it even though it is a few days old.

On a much darker note, Riverbend posted her blog on 31st December please click and she is well worth reading about Saddam's actual execution. She actually called it a 'lynching' and I can't fault her. Her coverage of what was and what wasn't said is of course most valuable in view of her laguage skills. And what CNN and BBC seem to have omitted.

To use a cliché (and why not?) - more power to her elbow. Blogs like her's are very important. Mine is just a light daily journal of no real significance but 'Baghdad Burning' is an important 21st century document and requires great courage. It is rewarding for me, and Madeline, that 'radiogandy' had the humble pleasure of mentioning it and 'posting' a link.

Re the blog comments about children and TV - David is right to point out that his 8yrs and 6yrs children are nowhere near being TV addicts and don't have bedroon TVs. And they happily do loads and loads of constructive, creative things. But Jill and Bungus are probably quite correct with regard to many households where it is an easy way to occupy the little blighters.

Mansfield National Trust tomorrow evening. The subject of the lecture is Nottingham Castle so we are looking forward.

p.s. The Telegraph has been satisfactorily restrained in its 'execution' coverage. No grisly pictures, front page or elsewhere. Even in The Daily Mail, Max Hastings (who I always consider still to be a Telegraph person) says "far from being the dignified conduct of justice, this sordid display of mob vengeance..........." Ho Hum as Ray would say.

......Not to worry. The sun will shine and Spring will come.