Wet, Windy and Cold - Joan's - Nat Trust

Just 1 picture today. What with the weather being inclement and lack of opportunity, I had little of interest to head up the Blog. So I did a 'still-life'. Better some picture than no picture I thought.

Gordon came over as arranged with the digital projector and eventually we got it working properly from my laptop, his own being with family in Somerset. We tried it with USB connections, with scart lead, with Powerpoint, without Powerpoint and everything in between and got zilch. Then we started from scratch. Projector on first, then laptop and, at Gordon's suggestion we toggled a few keyboard 'function' buttons and eventually found that Fn plus F3 did the trick and voilá, picture projected and vanished from laptop. A good job we didn't rely on busking it at 6.30pm this evening at the Social though!

This morning we nipped over to Joan's because she has made me a couple of 'thongs' for walking sticks. I was finding that while using both hands to operate a camera, holding my stick between my knees, or leaning it against something, was not an efficient procedure. The stick would fall and be a major problem to pick up from the floor. Another bright idea! If there was a 'thong' attached to the top of the stick it could loop over my arm and leave me with both hands free. She knew instantly what was required and after measuring up and 5 minutes on her trusty machine the job was done. It works brilliantly. We discussed Victoria Wood's 'Housewife 49' at some length and agreed on it's excellence. When we saw Karen briefly this morning, she had enjoyed it too. Joan observed some stage-set errors in the house-plants, pointing out that some were not around then. The only ones I remember my parents and their friends having were Aspidistras, Mother-in-Law's tongue, and Wandering Jew (which you are probably not allowed to call that anymore). And it reminded me of my Dad taking 45 minutes to tell me what had happened on a 30 minute episode of Coronation Street. You think I'm verbose! Bless him, he was a lovely man. So gentle and sensitive.

We needed a few things in Arnold - not least the bridge-rolls from Birds Confectioners and some tins of tuna because that is our contribution to the party-fayre this evening. And Birds' little bridge-rolls are the best for the purpose. So as soon as I close the Blog we shall make them.

One day soon I intend to tell you about Police 'Conference Points' which were to allow patrolling officers to keep in touch before the days of 'personal radios'.

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

Rest Day - Housewife 49 - Shepherd's Pie

These are 2 pictures(off the net, not mine) which accompanied Victoria Wood's dramatisation of the diary of Nella Last. Nella was a housewife in Barrow during the war and kept a diary. The play was beautifully written and Victoria Wood starred in it. Stephanie Cole seen in picture 2 was also excellent, as always. It was 2 hours (commercial TV time) but fortunately we had recorded it and could zoom through the adverts.

Basically a Rest Day and the weather has been pretty foul, cold and wet but not particularly windy. This morning, after the statutory blood-test, I went to Lidl in an effort to buy some more of the tinned duck liver paté, but it had been a one-off and was no more. Then to Aldi because I'd spotted in their e-mail some clocks which receive the Rugby time signal. I've missed my weather-station where I knew that the clock was bang on accurate.

The OAG has been up to mischief again. This morning, while in the kitchen making a shepherd's pie, I looked at the kitchen clock. 11.56am, it said. "Ah ha" I thought, "I will listen to the news on the radio at 12noon". The gremlin, almost immediately, moved the clock on to 12.11pm so that I missed the news. The sod.

Everyone's culinary efforts yesterday sounded impressive and Jill's M & S joint sounded great. And all those vegetables Jill!! Sorry Bungus forgot his rice-pudding nutmeg. I'm ashamed to admit our rice-puddings these days come out of tins. And you were right, the lamb-shoulder was fatty. So while making the pie today I scraped every teeniest vestige of fat off each bit of meat before 'mullicrushing' it in my food-processor, then some tomato purée, left over yesterdays gravy, finely diced mushroom, topped with mashed potato. And, as it was going in the oven I did a tray off sliced courgettes and some more of the french shallots. Served with carrots and sugar-snap peas (prolly travelled thousands of air-miles. Sorry!) But it was nicer then yesterday. Isn't it strange?

We have the Mansfield NT's Xmas Social tomorrow evening and Gordon usually does some excellent picture work through the projector but his laptop is playing up. So he is popping over around 7pm this evening to see if mine will act as a replacement. I'm sure it will. It will be nice if Sue comes too and then she and Y can chat while we do boring computer stuff.

It was nice to have a lovely newsy e-mail from Madeline and I was pleased that she and her's are all OK. I'm sure I've missed stuff out today. But I'll catch up tomorrow.

Tarrah................

Tracy Visit - Galley - Arternoon Kip

Busy but rewarding morning in the 'galley' see Picture 1. You can't see it all because I don't possess a wideangle lens. But Bungus sent me two pictures side-by-side as a 'collage', presumably Picasa-ed and I might try that soon. He knows I'm never above filching other people's ideas.

If you are worried about what seems to be part of a carrot on the edge of the sink, relax - it's the handle of the Wilko scissors. And I didn't aim to cook it anyway.

Picture 2 is some more festive cheer. Y erected the tree this morning while I was messing about cooking. There was a major worry - she couldn't find the fairy that goes on the top! And we seem to have had her for so long, bravely suffering the top of a Xmas tree stuck up her skirt each year. She was eventually found, and I was permitted a few strands of 'lammetta'. It gets less every year because Y doesn't like it, but it wouldn't look like her tree without it. Y would favour one of the elegant white jobs like David and Helen have in their conservatory.

The shoulder-of-lamb was a great success. Served with roast potatoes. mashed potatoes ('cos TJ loves 'em), carrots, spring greens, yorkshire puddings, and some beautiful french-shallots I spotted in Lidl, lashings of rich lamb gravy (started from scratch - no granules today) and mint sauce. Followed by raspberry cheesecake, then cheese board and biscuits. Some oatie-ones and just 2 other varieties that looked interesting - all smashing. The selections - Jacobs 'Biscuits for Cheese' sort of thing, are bland and boring - in my humble opinion.

After our leisurely lunch I decided on an afternoon kip, confident in the knowledge that Tracy and her mum would find something to talk about. I didn't stay long, under an hour, and got up raring to go. So I had a chat with Tracy till she left to go over to Burton Joyce, her next stop. Then I sorted my pictures and started my blog. Early this morning I had sent some Jackie Lawson e-cards, and had a look at some forums. I spoke to David and they are all OK. But he is having trouble with blogger.comments and word verification. I hope he will persevere though because it would be lovely to have some from him. John rang and all seems well with them. Alannah has a Saturday job in John Lewis fashion. John says that the firm seem to recoup most of her wages instantly. Bless her.

Must just mention one more foodie item. A discovery in Lidl - their Paté de foie gras de Canarde. In their SUCCéS Gourmand range (the accent should be 'grave' rather than 'acute' but I don't know how to do it). It comes in a small red-labelled tin with ring pulls at each end and is quite delicious. It is unashamedly ELABORE EN FRANCE. Well worth a try, if you are a paté fan and have a Lidl.

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

Quiet Day - Strictly Come............

Decided to open with a little festive cheer. The holly bush at the gate. Always difficult to decide if it's all Derek's next door, or partially ours. Not that we are going to fall out about it. But it always seems to have more berries than the one solely in our garden. Twas ever thus ...............

Quite a cold day, temperature been down to 4C and frost is forecast for tonight. Fortunately the wind seems to have dropped. There were tornados in London which caused widespread damage. Not at Palmers Green though.

Shopping this morning and a big order at the butchers. Tracy is coming for lunch on Sunday and has asked for her customary lamb. However, it is going to be 'shoulder' rather than 'leg', and it's some years since I cooked a 'shoulder' but looking-forward because I always consider the flavour superior.

It was 'Strictly Come Dancing Tonight' which we both thoroughly enjoyed. Y voted for Mark, and he was very good. However, I voted for Matt and Lilia seen here with Tess who is one of our favourites. She is so good at the live show. aspect of things and comes across as a lovely warm-hearted northern girl

Matt wasn't bottom of the poll but I think he needs my support. He is incredibly good and it is hard to believe he is a rugby player by trade.

My vote kept him in. And Y's vote kept Mark in.

Unfortunately, little Louisa who I understand is in Eastenders went out. It came down to a 'dance-off' tie-breaker between her and Emma and Emma won, deservedly so I think.

We put a tape in for The Culture show so we have it to look forward to. Simon Scharma on Mark Rothko was quite interesting but it was a very difficult subject to deal with on the small screen. The Scharma show includes drama-documentary and there was some rather silly episode of an actor playing Scharma as a young student visiting a allery. Ah well!

Rothko's are large and you really need a large room in a gallery to get the effect. Some years ago I visited the gallery reserved forRothko at The Tate and they were extremely mpressive. My feeling though that all those examples of his work, all together, was not a wise choice.

I've tried to subdue the reds in the holly and the TV pictures, for Bungus's benefit. He does moan-on-so.

Byeee.............................

Mansfield - Wetherspoons - Casino Royale

After a few little Eastwood jobs we decided to go to The Odeon in Mansfield to see the new James Bond film, Casino Royale, which we had been looking forward to seeing.

The timing of the showing suggested lunch beforehand would be a 'good idea' so we went to The Widow Frost. A light and airy Wetherspoons at the top of Leeming Street. Picture 1. It is more of a restaurant really and Bungus prefers the more 'pubby' version down in the Market Place. The food was very good again. Y had a gammon steak and egg and the usual accompaniments, while I branched out and had a rack of BBQ'd pork ribs with coleslaw and sweet-corn. I'm glad I decided to try it 'cos it was v.tasty and tender. Y's gammon was also excellent but left her thirsty.

We needed Santa-type presents and I needed a new watch strap and we succeeded with those things. Picture 2 is looking down the hill towards the Court House and the Market Place. I had a good mooch while Y mooched M&S etc.

After lunch we went to the Cinema. Our timing was first-rate and we got 2 nice seats and the adverts and trailers were just finishing. We thought at first we were going to be troubled by paper-rustlers but once the film started on full volume there wasn't a problem. The film disappointed us slightly. Daniel Craig was excellent as Bond, Judi Dench, the Bond-girl and the villains were great, but there seemed a lot of dashing about (which was good) but, I thought, at the expense of plot and narrative. Probably the truth is that we are getting a tad too old for Bond films, preferring something a little more demanding. It was enjoyable enough but we couldn't echo the peons of praise heaped on the film.

Then home, pot of tea, Xmas cake (for me) and mess about doing odds and ends. Then it will be Strictly Come Dancing and, at 9pm, Simon Scharma on Mark Rothko.

Last night at the camera-club was good and I had lots of interesting chats to people. My 'publication success' was read out in 'notices' and I got a round of applause! The lecturer was good and very expert at his job as geologist researching the thousands of old metal-mining workings in Derbyshire. The problem was that he could have used a firm editor. I learnt more about 200yr old lead-mines than I actually need to know.

Byee.........

Burton Joyce Day - EPS tonight

When I was photographing the sunrise yesterday I needed my birthday tripod because of the low light, and the slow shutter speeds. While it was still set up, I thought what about trying for movement across the frame? This is the result. As soon as the car appeared I clicked and the camera gave it maybe a half second exposure. Ergo - 'blur suggesting movement' but I'm not sure that you can identify it as a car!

Yesterday's 'sunrise' picture has earned 16 ticks so far, in my online photomagazine. My previous highest was 7. . Before leaving these issues, I rang the Royal Photographic Society this morning with a view to rejoining. Their journals used to be so enjoyable. They welcomed me back, 'open arms' were mentioned, and they have reinstated my Licentiateship. So it's LRPS again. I make no claim to consistency in these matters.

Picture 2 is four of the glorious beech-trees on Long Lane which runs from the A614 to Ravenshead. I couldn't include more, without unsightly cars and heaps of hardcore intruding. I had taken Y to Burton Joyce because there were 'bags of things which will remain nameless' to be brought back. And I wanted a picture of these trees as a 'record-shot'.

The light wasn't perfect but OK and I actually like this time of the year when you can see through trees without those nuisance leaves blocking your view. Loads of places in Derbyshire, during the winter, have marvellous vistas where you wouldn't suspect them.

My day has been quite busy. Loads of bits of jobs. One of which was to scrub my Ikea bag, which serves as my laptop carrier. I like it because being a pale biscuitty colour I hope it doesn't give away what it contains. But it gets grubby. After I had scrubbed it I discovered that the OAG had put some papers in the outside pocket. Soaked. Now dred in the airing-cupboard and they look presentable enough. Just!

I am due to collect Y from Moor Bridge trampark later, so as to miss the horrendous traffic on the A610. And, after that, to Eastwood for the camera-club. The chap tonight is talking and exhibiting on the subject of Underground in Derbyshire's abandoned Metal Mines. Sounds fascinating.

I'll make myself abit of tea I think...............................

End of our 'Holbein to Hockney' Class - Boohoo!

Picture 1 is the sunrise this morning and the rather pretty 'flare' effect is due, I think, to it being photographed through glass. It wasn't nice enough to be out and anyway, I was till in jim-jams and dressing gown and I didn't want to frighten the paper-lady.

To return to chronological order and last night's Mansfield National Trust lecture about Bess of Hardwick. Without going OTT it was simply brilliant. A lady called Margaret Harrison, a blue badge guide (they have to take exams and things) spoke for well over an hour on the subject of Bess without notes and in such an entertaining manner. I shall never forget that Bess was "tall, with long auburn hair nearly down to her waist, slim and beautiful, with beautiful black eyes and flirty and vivacious". And Margaret reminded of this just before Bess met yet another husband, each richer than the last and usually in poor health. She went from near-penniless daughter of a lowly squire, to owning most of Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Yorkshire. Not to mention London houses and elsewhere. She started becoming rich because, being at Court and being widowed, she qualified for a grant of £50 (a lot of money in the early 16th Century).. Bess didn't spend it. Oh No! She lent it out for a year and when she got it back it had grown to £72. Bess's business acumen never went out of gear from that moment on. After the talk the lecturer showed us some slides. But we didn't really need them.

Picture 2 is an old one of my own when we were fortunate enough to catch the building with a minimum of the customary scaffolding. What bit there is, I have managed to hide more-or-less, behind the conifer on the right-edge of the picture. We'd had a tip-off from the property manageress that most of it had been taken down. Among other things Bess's initials right on the top of the 4 storey bits have needed attention. They still look great from the motorway though. Bless her - if you've got it, flaunt it, as they say.

We were pleased the lecture was so good, because Joan and Chris were there as our guests. Although it would not have been our fault if it had been awful, one does feel a sort of responsibility. Margaret Harrison is apparently on Radio Nottingham quite often and her next scheduled slot is 8.50am on Thursday, tomorrow. I stopped to thank her on our way out and in conversation she said she did "The GunPowder Plot" as one of her lectures. That would be a great one to have.

It was the last session in our 'Holbein to Hockney' today and we had to take it as a sprint from Graham Sutherland through Kitaj, Caulfield, Peter Blake (I got brownie points for knowing that Blake designed the Beatles 'Sgt Pepper' Album sleeve), to Lucien Freud, Paula Rego, Francis Bacon and others including David Hockney, Frank Auerbach and others. I heard and saw nothing to persuade me from the view that Damien Hirst, Tracey Emin et al are of little merit. I've never seen any evidence that they can draw! Picasso could finish up as weird as he wished because there are square miles of evidence that he could draw like a dream. The same goes for Freud, and Hockney and others. Even though I don't insist that Art must be painterly, I feel that the ability to draw and to design is a pre-requisite.

That's long enough on a soap-box. Tonorrow is a Burton Joyce day for Y and I've got loads of little jobs.

See ya.............

Stormy Weather - Lovely Light

These three pictures are all off the telly. All from Planet Earth which we've only just got round to watching. I know you it would be difficult to get good A3 prints from them but as illustrations they seem fine.

Picture 1 is some sort of duck - which variety escapes me but I know I haven't seen one on Moorgreen Res. Still, with global-warming one never knows.

The subject this week was Woodlands and the following 2 pictures are about the team's efforts to photograph the top of a Baobab tree. This involved a very brave camera-man going up in this semi-dirigable hot-air balloon pilotted by a maniac of a Frenchman who seemed to have little control over the contraption. The result was they crashed into the top of the Baobab and damaged the craft. It had to be repaired by local welding and sawing off part of one propeller, to balance the other. Ergo, less control even than before.

Picture 2 shows the crash into the tree-top which was obviously filmed from the ground.

Picture 3 though is the real mystery. Cynic that I am I immediately thought "Who is filming them now then?

Perhaps there was some sort of boom protruding outwards from the contraption, on which was fixed a camera.

If you look above the guy's head (the one in the blue shirt - the crazy one) the solid cylindrical bit could be such a boom.

BUT if it is, why can't we see it complete with camera in Picture 2.

Whatever the explanation, the camera-man was brave beyond the call of duty, to agree to another flight after the first disaster.

We find the 'Diaries' section at the end of each programme, explaining how the shots are obtained, quite fascinating. Some of the Arctic ones for instance, invoved sitting out on the ice in a tent for a fortnight, in temperatures which would tax a polar bear. My suspicious mind should not be taken as criticism.

The weather today has been mild but very stormy. The old barometer is showing 29. I think that is pounds per sq.inch and I've no idea what it converts to in a modern measurement. We went to Carlton Hill this afternoon so Y could have her birthday-nails serviced and I messed about in the car. The nail people are Chinese and have little English, and Y's Chinese is not quite up to it. The big decision was 'white tips' or 'naturelle' and it was finally decided that 'white tips' were what was required. Tracy does a passable Chinese accent for 'white tips', but I haven't got into including sound yet, so you must just take my word for it.

This evening it is Mansfield National Trust's monthly meeting and the subject is Bess of Hardwick. We hope it will be a good lecture plus loads of slides, because Joan and Chris are coming with us as our guests. Both have a strong interest in local history, and I think Hardwick in particular. The place always entrances us. There is always something new to learn. And we always think "I bet you would have a good evening in a pub with Bess". She was such a formidable lady.

Tell you more tomorrow........................

Y returns - The Geograph site

These 2 pictures are for my new association with Geograph, a site Lynne at the Camera Club intoduced me to. Great fun! Although I don't fully understand the system yet, one enters the 'grid ref.' for the location of the picture. Then 'moderators' decide whether to accept it as a 'Geograph' or a 'Supplemental' if at all. I will try not to bore on about this.

Up to the present they have 286,252 images covering 45.1% of Great Britain. Wherever interests you, if the 'post-code' or 'grid ref.' is available you can look at loads of pictures of there. There is an onsite map if you need to find a grid-reference for yourself .

They stress that what is wanted is 'record-shots' not works of art. This is in line with my new 'religion' (of which more later). A judicious 'crop' or maybe a tweak for 'brightness' is allowed but not the widespread use of PhotoShop. Picture 1 is from outside the Doctor's looking down on the roofs of Church Street, Eastwood. Radcliffe-on-Soar Power Station can just be seen on the skyline. And, as future historians will note, we still have telephone cables. On the way into the doctor's a beautiful Maseratti was parked outside. That will make an excellent 'record' shot for Eastood I thought, but when I came out, it had gone. Carpe diem or what?

The 'more later' of which I spake, is that I have had a 600word piece accepted by Amateur Photographer for their 'Backchat' column - about this very subject, i.e. the need for 'record shots' and that the heavily false results from image manipulation are becoming boring. Also, they pay £50. I could buy an upgrade to my PhotoShop Elements !! I speak in jest.

Picture 2 is a 'completely unretouched' photo of Eastwood Morrisons and you can't get more record-shotty that that can you? Mind - if you look on the skyine extreme left you can see the Derbyshire Hills. You have my promise that this won't become an excuse for producing boring pictures. Honest.

I collected Y from Phoenix Park Tram just after lunch and it is good to have her home. She's had a great time and her tales of Palmers Green are a joy. My 3 days involved endless messing about which, these days, I'm very good at. That and 'spending money' at which we both excel, to the extent that I think we should run courses. Bungus's Blog saga inches ever closer to a satisfactory outcome and will be a good read (his stuff usually is) when he is up-and-running.

The Test Match seems to be stuttering towards a draw. I knew I'd spoken too soon.

byeeeee..................

Messing-about Day - Wet and Windy

I think the rose is Iceberg, but not absolutely sure, and it has survived on a north-facing fence till 2nd December. In Gardeners World it came top of a popularity poll - due in my opinion to the very dry summer. The variety is old and hates wet weather, quickly becoming pock-marked and knackered. "Who isn't?....." I hear a chorus from the north of the county. I haven't done much 'photoshopping' on it just darkened a couple of obtrusive leaves and administered a firm 'crop'.

While I was in the garden I nipped round with the camera to see what we actually have still showing colour.

Picture 2 is a 'collage' of the results.

Y's 'poached egg' (bottom right and centre) seems to have borne the odd flower all the way through from last year). It is one of the plants she is very good with, getting large carpets wherever she wants, to the mild irritation of the neighbours who can't get it to go at all.

And good old Bowle's Mauve (bottom centre) certainly has never been out of flower. We've got some outside the kitchen door and it has just flowered and flowered. The winter-flowering jasmine, or 'sparrow-ville' as I think we should call it, is of course bang in season (top centre) and it is so welcome on a dull day to look out of the window and see some colour.

"..........to unawakened earth,
The trumpet of a prophecy! O, Wind.
If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?"



...............Shelley (1819)

The Culture Show was good. Ziro did a very good piece on 'designer handbags' a Mark Jacobs being the central variety. Worth over a 'grand' one can hire them for the day to cut a dash! Surely though, in Central London your mugworthiness must zoom upwards? Alastair was back and interviewed a Scottish artist, Peter Howson, whose pictures were most impressive.

The cricketers are doing very well - First Innings 551 for 6 declared. And Shane Warne 1 for 167 - Ha Ha Ha!. A bowling genius however. The aussies are fighting back though so I hope I haven't tempted providence.

I had a nice chat with David and aparently JD has read and enjoyed the Blog and wants to enter a comment. It would be lovely if he did ! We have known him since we lived at Rostellen. But everyone seems to be having difficulty with this 'word verification' function. Also, Bob seems on the point of getting a Blog of his own going. I'm looking forward to the BungusBlog so that I can leave impertinent comments thereon! And the dining room chairs at Belvoir were very red - it wasn't anything I did honest!!

Catch yer temorrer.......................

Belvoir Pt.3 - Lazy Rest Day

Blogger trouble earlier. A 'scheduled outage' - isn't american-english ugly? and I couldn't load my pictures. Anyway, it's OK now and these two I wanted to share.

Picture 1 is the dining room and the paintings either side of the arch are Reynolds-es. Whether they are good or not is a moot point because between us and the backs of the dining chairs was a barrier preventing any closer scrutiny. A very pleasant room nevertheless. Light and airy and good views over The Vale of Belvoir.

Picture 2 is of one of the pleasantest rooms we saw. A lovely atmosphere. The ladies' withdrawing-room and I bet it used to be vicious stuff seeing who could get a seat closest to the duchess.

Again, if the conversation bored one, there were lovely views over the surrounding countryside. The staff stressed that the whole castle is still used by the family (Duke and Duchess and three young children). This was borne out by four-poster beds where you could see electric-blanket leads plugged into wall-sockets and electric-kettles in unexpected places etc..

The castle has actually closed until the Spring except for this week of Xmas visits and I'm extremely glad we went because we enjoyed it so. The coach journey was just over an hour, so it didn't seem oppressive.

Simon Scharma's Power of Art last night was on the subject of Picasso's 'Guernica'. I recorded it because Y wanted to see it too, and I shall watch it again with her. This evening I watched Strictly Come Dancing and voted for Matt & Lilia because their performance was not excellent this evening. But they have been so good I decided that they needed my support. If I had followed my usual practice of voting for 'the best on the night' it would have been for Emma who, for an ex Spice Girl is quite excellent.

There is a tape in the machine recording The Culture Show which I shall watch in a few minutes. Robin Hood doesn't appeal because the decision to axe Friar Tuck seems so disloyal to the outlaws of Sherwood. Then it will be a big decision as to whether or not to stop up for the Dancing results - I guess I shall have to.

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

Belvoir Pt. 2 - Y at Palmers Green

I delivered Y to Phoenix Park, for her onward journey to Palmers Green and she texted (isn't that an ugly word? alternatives please?) me a few minutes ago to say she arrived safely. The traffic this morning was no problem at all and we were travelling at exactly the same time as usual. Funny 'innit? Then, on the way back, I did a little shopping, got some cash and had my hair cut. So, when Y returns, she will not be able to say that I 'look seedy'. Mind you, apart from the odd occasion in uniform, smart is not a look I have ever been able to achieve. Nor aspired to come-to-that! Smart is for creeps in my book. However, having said that, John always looks very smart, but he has the height and shape for it.

Picture 1 is the Holbein portrait of Henry V111 and a very fine portrait it is too. If you look at the top of the frame you will see where the picture-light is - in a very unhelpful place because, if one stands in front of the painting, the head is invisible due to glare. This why I had to stand sideways-on, and I've spent much time this morning 'photoshopping' the burnt-out highlights away. You can make up your own minds as to its provenance when you enlarge it. For the benefit of new blog-readers, clicking on a picture will enlarge it, and then if a little magnifying-glass icon appears, click again and it will become even bigger.

When I first saw the tapestry - Picture 2 - my first thought, disrespectfully, was "Am I bovvered? Do I look as if I'm bovvered?"

The Catherine Tate shoolgirl character has much to answer for. Catherine Tate is so talented and her humour is carrying on from Billy Connolly and Victoria Wood in that it stems from astute observation of life. The Grandma character is one of our favourites. Her language is appalling and cannot be quoted in a 'family journal' but, strangely enough doesn't offend. Likewise with her Midlands couple who are way to the right of Alf Garnett and so accurately portrayed. And the suburban mum and her two children are priceless. We are very lucky that such talented people as the author emerge.

I treated Rachel's cyclamen to 10mins TLC this morning and the plant now looks good for another few weeks. No dead or overcrowded leaves, no past-it flowers or seed-heads and a thorough soaking. Plus a move to a shadier windowsill. I've never actually kitchen-tested the theory but they are after all a woodland variety and probably don't really enjoy a sunny spot.

The light is failing already (3.30pm) so I think I'll go for a nap. If I go and lie-down after dark I generally think I've gone to bed properly and sleep till the early hours.

Byeee...................................

Belvoir Castle - Eastwood Photographic

Just a short blog to establish a date-line. It's past 11pm and we have had a busy day, which I will tell you more about later. It was, as I announced yesterday, National Trust Mansfield's Xmas trip. This year to Belvoir. We had a great time even though it was windy and bitterly cold on top of that hill. But a Piper to greet us and then inside to log-fires took the edge off it. There is some peculiar quality to the heat from an open-fire, particularly log-burning, that central heating can never quite match. These fires were so effective you didn't suffer from the warm-front, cold-back syndrome. And you don't get a magic smell from radiators.

It was lovely to see our chums and Jean had, yet again, organised things so well. It was a 51seater coach and we had 50 people and even Jean couldn't be expected to produce her customary hot sunny day in November. We chatted to lots of people and towards the end of the visit, Sue and Gordon joined us at a table in the restaurant, which was nice.

Just a tip! If you receive conflicting invites to a Xmas meal from two Duchesses - Rutland at Belvoir and Devonshire at Chatsworth - go for the Chatsworth one 'cos the turkey is nicer. The Belvoir turkey had that unmistable twang of being sliced and then reheated and the tinned broad-beans that accompanied it were abit bullet-like. And at £10.85 a throw !!

The Art Gallery alone though made the whole visit worthwhile. There is a magnificent portrait of Henry V111 by Holbein. Apparently the RA support the claim and it certainly looked kosher, even though the background was abit same-y. The intricacy of the brushwork shouted 'Holbein' but, strangely enough, it hadn't been loaned to the current Holbein Exhibition. The attendant wasn't sure why, and it didn't look fragile or anything. I shall try to publish my photo of it tomorrow. It needs a little work because, try as I might, I couldn't find a position where the overframe illumination didn't cause glare. There was also a quite beautiful Laura Knight portrait hung right up in the top left hand corner of a wall. Y muchly impressed the attendant by saying "Ooo, there's a Dame Laura Knight".

Our visit coincided with the visit of a load of school-kids and our first thought was "Oh dear!" Then we quickly changed our minds when we discovered that they had come to sing Xmas songs from one of the galleries. Looking beautiful in their school uniform of maroon tops, white shirts and grey skirts/trousers, and they sounded incredible. Standing there listening, and warmed by a log-fire with that hot-pine aroma I thought "I shall never think curmudgeonly thoughts ever again."

The journey back was uneventful, with a lovely dramatic sunset and Y's raffle was, yet again, a great success. She had the bright idea of selling the tickets on the outward journey (which enabled us, with Connie's help to fold all the tickets at leisure) and then it was drawn just before we set off to come home. She made a few pence short of £40 which, with Gordon being there, she was able to hand straight over. Y is brilliant at selling raffle-tickets. She once managed in a pub, to sell a £1's worth to a bloke who was nothing at all to do with our party (not on purpose!). When she went over and offered him his money back he declined saying "Well, it's a good cause". People brought some super stuff for future raffles, because the Xmas Social is in the 'offing' and that is very resource-hungry.

We reached home around 5.15pm which gave us plenty of time for a pot of tea, and Y made me a super cheese & lettuce sandwich (a favourite) before I set off for the Camera Club. It was very interesting again. A beginner's competition, judged by Rob Palmer whose comments were very astute. Rob and I have been friends for many years. He took me off-guard slightly by publicly seeking my opinion on one aspect of one of the pictures. He obviously didn't mean to embarrass me but I could almost hear the accumulated thought "Who is this guy?" because, of course, it is only my fourth time back in fifteen years.

Further pictures next Blog...........................

1st RAW Experiment - Holbein to Hockney

First experiments with RAW files this morning. I read the blurb for Picasa 2 and it does say one can open them to work on. And it seems one can. But to do anything other than a simple crop there seems a reluctance to allow one to open the image in PhotoShop. For instance, in Picture 1 (from the opposite kerb looking up towards Hill Top) there was some annoying and unsightly foliage which had to go. I managed to clone it out but I can't remember how. Then one has to 'save as JPEG'. But a lot of detail and subtlety is retained.

Picture 2 is from almost the same spot but looking at the trees rather than between them. One of the problems with RAW is that it produces very large files, because none of the information that the camera has seen is edited, as in JPEG. Both of these are 2mb+ and they took a long time to upload. For Blog purposes it isn't an experiment I shall repeat. A4 prints maybe, but certainly not for web-use. I hope they don't cause similar problems at your end.

Enough of that. Wednesday of course, is our Holbein to Hockney day. We set off early because I needed Maplins for an jack-to-socket earphones extension and I also wanted to replace my single ear-piece which I sometimes use in bed. Lying on it with it still in my ear has wrecked the existing one.

Maplins had both, and I also noticed that they have weather-stations with a clock which receive a signal from Rugby and are obviously always bang-on. I have really missed my old one, which I also managed to wreck by pressing too many buttons at once. So, a potential crimble-prezzie there I thought. Y nipped in the next door Aldi for milk and bits and pronounced it a lovely store. Wide aisles and very clean and well cared for.

Y needed to go to Bromley House Library and Waterstones so we agreed to meet at the Mechanics. I drove straight round and as there was some lovely light I took a couple of pictures which I will probably use tomorrow. I particularly wanted a well-lit shot of the old Victoria Station clock-tower which unfortunately now has an awful mutli-storey set of flats behind it. However, now I am getting more nimble with PhotoShop I might actually er..............................

The class was great. We polished off Sickert, moved onto Steer and then to the First World War and the war-artists. Smartly through Vorticism to Dame Laura Knight, Gwen and Augustus John and one of our members kindly drew averyone's attention to an exhibition including the above, at the Djanogly Art Gallery in the University Campus. We shall certainly visit that. Another day-out to look forward to. Speaking of which - tomorrow is National Trust Mansfield's annual Xmas trip. This year to Belvoir Castle - setting off from Walkden Street at 10am. It will be lovely to see everyone and have our customary good time and a laugh.

Tell you all about it tomorrow..................

Proper Rest Day - Sunny afternoon

It was Helen's birthday yesterday and I rang her quite early because I know they are usually up. But I got the answerphone and felt, guiltily, that I must have woken them. But Helen rang later in the morning and reassured me. The girls and Helen and David had all been together in the big bed opening cards and presents. Lovely.

Neither of the pictures today are mine. They are both from Jill's knitting Blog 'Yarnstorm' in which there are regularly some cracking images. I think the author's name is Jane and I came to that conclusion from a picture therein of a birthday cake. It doesn't seem to be a Blogger.com Blog because I couldn't find an easy access to the author's profile. Maybe it's there somewhere. Next time I look I will search more thoroughly.

Picture 1 is of a Maple in her garden, with back light from the Sun and it makes for a lovely picture.

Picture 2 is of some new fabrics for a quilt in progress. And again, as she has arranged them, they make a striking image.

Before leaving Jill queries, I want to deal with the multi-vegetable point. The tomatoes, courgettes, and steak were grilled. We are lucky with our grill because it is an eye-level job and the door opens down to a flat surface. I stuck them all under the grill at the same time and the steaks were done first so I just took them off and popped them on a plate on the flat door - which keeps things warm enough. Another invaluable utensil is a large stainless steel Prestige steamer. I know from experience that the potatoes and carrots would take half an hour and after 15minutes I dropped the brussells in. But that also, if things yield to a skewer, it can be turned down to 1, which keeps things hot without continuing to cook them. The only oventop use was the mushrooms, which I sizzle in butter first, then put in the saucepan say half a pint of water and they simmer for 10 minutes. Then I turn the gas off and only light it again when I make the gravy. Granules - unashamedly! Plates - 1min 30sec in microwave gets them nicely warm but handleable.

But the real key is that I don't do multi-tasking. If I'm in the kitchen, that is all I do. As Bungus memorably said "One thing at a time, preferably less !". Y points out that ladies Do do multi-tasking and while cooking would strip the beds, fill the washing machine, nip round and post letters, water the houseplants et al. What inferior creatures we men are?

Before leaving the Hopi woman, she did tell me something interesting. My right ear canal is narrower than the left, which no doubt explains why the right is always the first one to silt up.

Neither of us slept well. Must have been all the excitement - ha ha! We were awake at 3am and I heard Y go into the kitchen. She had made tea - but a teabag in a mug - no pot-full. I was quite disappointed. We both still arose at more or less the normal time though, because it is a Karen day. I watched the David Starkey recording in his Monarchy series, and thought it v.good. He seems to annoy many people but he knows his stuff, states his views clearly. And, as I've previously commented we are both suckers for a 'lecture with pictures'.

I have been 'computer-messing' because 2 programmes came with the Nikon and although some of it replicates programmes I aready have, I really want to see if there is aything therein about processing RAW files. Won't bore you etc........


p.s. This morning I left a 'comment' on my own Blog, to check out the 'word verification' problem. The thing seemed to work OK, but 2 points - 1. You have got to make sure that there is a 'dot' in one of the little grey circles - and 2. I noticed that, having entered the 'comment' and the 'word verification' a small yellowish box opens at the top, warning you that although the comment has been saved, it might be some time before it actually appears in the blog, or words to that effect. So, patience is a virtue etc...........

Lets hope we have a better night.....................

Short Hopi Blog - Tired Out

A very short blog today, even though I have so much to tell you. My Hopi Candles worked brilliantly in one ear but the wax in the other is so compacted that I still need to soften it with Olive Oil. At no stage has anyone told me that the oil needs to be hot, or at least the hot side of tepid. The practitioner told me to heat the bottle in hot water before using it.

She got loads of brown gunge out of one ear and hardly anything out of the bad one. Never mind, one ear is better than none. It was a lengthy procedure and it has tired me out.

The picture is of our happy sparrows who live just to the left of the patio-doors. Half the family seem to favour the winter-flowering jasmine and the other half prefer the honeysuckle. As both shrubs are extensive and intertwined at the join, the sparrows have a great time socialising and they love it when the sun comes out. As you can see, the one on the left of the picture is staring me straight in the eye as I took the photograph, but as I am safely behind glass he isn't worried at all.

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

Still Deaf - Kitchen Morning - Culture Show

Still very deaf and I mentioned it to Tracy when she rang. One of her friends had a similar problem and speaks very highly of Hopi Ear Candle treatment. A good practitioner would do the job at once rather than these weeks of delay while one squirts olive-oil in to soften the wax. The Nottingham Alternative Health Centre on Mansfield Road has a good reputation apparently and I intend to ring first thing in the morning. After my blood-test of course! Googling revealed much of interest. Not least the connection with the Hopi native-american tribe. And, as everyone knows, they could hear the Cavalry 10 miles away by listening to the ground !! I'll settle for being able to hear the telly 6' away.

Picture 1 is nothing at all to do with ear-wax. I had a 'happy' in the kitchen this morning. Leek & Potato Soup which, for no good reason that I can recall, appears in my personal recipe-book under P for Potato & Leek soup. Anyway I know where it is. The recipe is identical for Vichyssoise, which is only cold Leek & Potato - but sounds more posh. As you will see I had to rely on dried herbs because my fresh ones have finished. Except for indestructible rosemary, sage, and window-sill basil. After the soup I cooked sirloin-steak, sauté potatoes, carrots, mushrooms, brussells, and grilled tomatoes and courgettes. Looked a treat but some of the potatoes could have done with another 5 mins. For pudding we had a mandarin orange flan which Y made yesterday, with a gelatin glaze which had soaked into the sponge. Apparently it shouldn't have done that - but in fact made it more delicious. We resisted the cream. Boo Hoo!

This afternoon we watched our recording of the Culture Show and wished we hadn't bothered putting a tape in. For our taste, it was rubbish. Alastair the Art Man was missing, as was the Architecture chap and the charming black girl whose name always reminds me of Sanyo, and is such a good interviewer. Frank Kermode prattled on endlessly about horror-films, which as a genre, we both abhor. And I thought the interview with Emma Thompson would be good, but it was boooooring!

The last picture is an 'unphotoshopped' of our Ballerina rose. All I've done is 'crop' to the picture shown. The blacked-out background is a natural result of afterdark photography using the normal inbuilt flash.

I spoke to David this morning and all is well at Long Eaton. Helen seems to have recovered from her flu-ey symptoms and Sky and Brooke are OK. David has a busy week because they are being Ofsted-ed. I guess he will be glad when it's over. A charming London story. 4yr old grand-daughter was invited to the birthday party of a 4yr old boy, with whom she is in love. When asked if she had sat by him at the party she said "I wasn't fast enough".

Jill has taken on-board Bob's 'comments' tip, about preparing in Word, then pasting it in. And David also thinks it is a brainwave. I really value the 'comments' input because they add so much. Exchanged e-mails with Ray who seems to be more-or-less recovered from his pheasant-poisoning ! But busy nevertheless.

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

Wet Dawn - Deafness - Evening Sky

It rained at dawn, thereby shooting one of my pet theories down in flames. Well not really because I don't argue that it never rains at dawn, just that it seldom does. So this picture over the football field was at maybe 3.30pm. I don't need to tell you it's the football field today, because the goalposts being up gives you a clue.

The wax in my ears is much, much worse. Although I've softened it with olive-oil and tried the proprietary stuff Otex for several weeks, I'm not having much luck. The practice nurse syringed some out last week but I not due to return till 5th December by which time Y will have thrown something at me. I simply can't hear - I can't hear the microwave ding - I couldn't hear the mince sizzle as I browned it for a spagbol. I can't hear the toilet flush and the TV and Radio are completely beyond me. Philip Larkin once wrote to Barbara Pym to tell her that his hearing-aid had broken but he was going to leave it a fortnight before getting it repaired. Not that I have a hearing-aid but I don't share his view at all. I really need to hear. Even though I'm a keyboard thumper, I can't hear the keyclicks and I'm making many more than my customary number of mistakes. Ho hum! as Ray would say. The spagbol wasn't up to standard. I bought the mince from a Mansfield butcher because I was there and thought it would save a trip up the road to Redgates. Not a good idea at all. It was edible but not delicious.

Picture 2 is the evening sky at the rear of the bungalow and I think, had I waited a few more minutes, it would have 'reddened' more. Bit I needed to get on with my Blog. And there will be other red skies, won't there.

Simon Sharma on Van Gogh was very good last night. But we both wish he wouldn't show a detail from a painting, without showing the whole picture. For instance, he insisted on showing a rectangle the size of a playing card from the Sunflowers without once showing it in full. One very interesting bit which we didn't know anything about was how he used to illustrate his letters with sketches, particularly to Theo. The sketches were obviously the work of genius and Theo's continued loyal support was understandable. If anyone would like to look at them please click here. Although he was only active for 10 years he produced an incredible volume of work.

Helpful tip from Bob (via e-mail) which might help Jill with her 'comments' posting. He always prepares his stuff in 'Word' and then copy/pastes it into the 'comments' box. It matters not if he then has a problem with the 'word verification' function - he simply repeats the 'paste' bit.

Y has done tea. So I'm off......................

Wet Rest Day - Shopping - Tidying

Although there is a slight risk of the 'reds' causing Bungus to have a spasm, I wanted to share the picture. The plant is Cotoneaster horizontalis and the bit shown is about a tenth of the whole, on the A610 Kimberley ByPass. It has gone completely 'feral' and I've never seen such a bed of it. Must be global-warming !

The gremlins have been at work again. Yesterday Y bought me 2 replacement pyjama-cords from the old-fashioned haberdashers in Eastwood, having been unable to track any down in Nottingham. My view is that, if Marks & Spencers and John Lewis sell pyjamas with cords, they have a moral responsibilty to sell spares for them. But they obviously don't agree. When we got home we couldn't find them anywhere. I found them this morning; the OAG had put them in my camera-bag ! There must have been a logic.

Picture 2 is simply to show the helpful effects of Billy on my room. It isn't my intention to start to publish bedroom scenes so you can all relax. If some of the books look a little beat-up it is because they are. For instance I still use my Aunty Tot's 'Concise Oxford' circa 1922 - it seems quite the equal of the 2006 edition, and it's surprising how little has changed . Most of the definitions are word-for-word the same as our more current household one. We are well-blessed with dictionaries because as one of my retirement gifts I asked for the Times Atlas and The Shorter Oxford as an alternative to the customary whisky decanter and glasses. I still have, and use, my original Penguin Quotations Dictionary which is now heavily annotated and held together with an elastic band. It cost me 10s 6d, a considerable sum in those days.

The Camera Club was good again and there were many echos of support for my idea of an 'un-photoshopped society'. Everyone agreed with my point that in 200 years historians won't have a clue as to what we looked like, how we lived, or even how our landscapes and skies appeared to us. I accept the point that it has always gone on, in one form or another. But we have some place-mats with Nottingham scenes that really do show what the place was like.

A relief to have Jill back. And I'm glad she hadn't a cold or anything. Bungus has pointed out the difficulty with the 'word verification' function in the 'comment' system. But, of course, I don't leave comments on my own Blog. I suppose, having thought about it, it would make sense to 'comment' on a 'comment' rather than use the following days blog for any reply I may care to make.

p.s. to Ikea trip. I was charmed to be told that the paper-napkins were now on Condiment Island. It sounds like a nice place where I wouldn't mind living!!

Tarrah............................

BJ Day - Ikea bookcase - EPS night

I am not the world's tidiest man, nor the most untidy. In the field-events I guess I'm a middle-distance runner.

Picture 1, taken while sitting on my bed, shows the mess I have got into with reference books and stuff that I need frequently. I realised that a solution was necessary. Hence the trip to Ikea and the purchase of a new bookshelf. Inevitably it came as a flat-pack and it has taken me most of the day to construct. Also inevitably, when I had proudly finished it, I realised that the crucial bottom shelf was in the wrong way and showing its rough fibre-board edge to the world instead of its veneered face. The whole thing had to be deconstructed and then put back together again. The cardboard box said the whole item was called Billy. It's quite nice having furniture one can be on first-name terms with.

Picture 2 is the completed job and I put a book in it to show scale. The position shown is not where it is going to live, but I constructed the thing on the big-room floor because there is plenty of space. Of course I had 4 nails left over - always a worry. I hope I don't discover where the designer intended them to go in the middle of the night when reaching for a book.

So the disarray depicted in Picture 1 will soon be a thing of the past. Maybe !

A further slight holdup was caused by a spontaneous visit by Brian who needed someone to talk to. He has had to put his Mum in a Home and clear her house and deal with unhelpful and incompetent officialdom. He was welcome. He helped me so much computerwise in my early days that I certainly owe him one, or two. We talked cameras and computers a bit which gave his brain something different to chew on. Elderly parents are a problem that comes to us all, and I suppose it will come to our kids eventually.

The Amazon books have arrived. It's a brilliant system - it seems about 10 minutes since we ordered them. Also, Alex called and all the 'rear of the garage' problems which have been worrying Y are no problem to Alex. He can deal with the fence, the conifers, the tatty rear window, the junk etc., and he says he won't need a skip. A couple of trips with his trusty trailer.

Next job is to put a tape in for Strictlt..... then collect Y from the tram. We've decided on Moor Bridge instead of Phoenix Park in the hope that the road-traffic will be less congested. Then Camera Club. Not had a comment from Jill for some days and I hope she hasn't got this wretched cough/cold/flu that is prevalent. Maybe she's nipped off to the Carribean or somewhere.

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