October 2016 – My Photo Blog

Signed Off – 31 October 2016

Posted on October 31, 2016 by Zogman

After a fairly lazy morning I was gearing myself up for what might be the final visit to the physio. I needn’t have worried. After a bit of prodding and stretching he declared me fit to go out and push my shoulder to its furthest extent. To go where no shoulder has gone before. He did, however stab half a dozen needles in just to warn it (and me) that if we didn’t behave, there would be more prodding, stretching and stabbing to be done. I find it hard to explain how I feel. I’ve gained nothing from the exercises, but I’ve lost all the pain associated with the injury. I think that’s the bit that’s hard to explain. It’s the lack of something rather than a gain, although it is a gain, I’ve gained the ability to make my arm move, painlessly, in ways that it hasn’t in about a year. I’ve been set free from the pain.

In the afternoon, I went for a walk over Cumbernauld Fields to sketch Cumbernauld House. The house was under the governance of CDC (Cumbernauld Doesn’t Care) when we first moved here. After that it was taken over by NLC who almost immediately sold it to the highest bidder. Now it’s been converted to a host of executive apartments. Such a shame, but not surprising from the despicable NLC. That said, I chose part of Cumbernauld House as my final Inktober sketch. Technically it’s nowhere nearly as good as the Venetian Mask (my favourite), it’s a fair representation of the house. I’m going to miss Inktober. Admittedly I will now have more hours in my day, but sketching now has a place in my life. I’m glad I completed all 31 of the sketches, all in ink, and most in a bound sketchbook.

Kizomba is bucking the trend for dancing in the STUC. It’s becoming a Man’s dance. More often than not, there are more men than women in the class. Very strange. It’s becoming a bit more technical, especially with footwork, but I’m still hanging in there, kept in check by the very tolerant and patient Scamp and Irene V. I blunder through more steps than I’ve ever encountered in Salsa, but it’s still enjoyable. If it wasn’t I wouldn’t have signed my name on the sheet to say I was interested in a Level 2 class.

Salsa was another example of Jamie Gal’s zany and, at times, absolutely mental imagination. Who would have thought of issuing all of us, leaders and followers with glowsticks and then turning all the lights off in the STUC then dancing a rueda. Meanwhile there were sweets, lollies, chocolates an oranges to sustain us. Very Halloween. Thank you again Jamie Gal for your insane imagination.

Tomorrow? Glasgow? Maybe.

Nurse again – 30 October 2016

Posted on October 30, 2016November 2, 2016 by Zogman

Not a bad day, plenty of sunshine and no wind to speak of. Not exactly blistering heat, but good for the time of year.

Scamp took to her bed in the afternoon feeling sick. It was the sensible thing to do and now she’s back downstairs watching another exciting F1 GP, this one from Mexico. Well, actually she’s playing Gummy drop – it’s definitely more exciting than the race. She can’t pin the sickness down to anything she’s eaten, it could just be the tail end of the cold she’s working out of her system.

That gave me the opportunity to practise my nursing skills again, but it was mainly restricted to making her ’white tea’ as Sim’s dad called it when he was here – hot water to you. I did think I could take her pulse or her blood pressure, but decide it was best to leave her be. I could be taking this nursie thing too far.

Later in the afternoon, the patient declared herself feeling better and suggested I go out and get some photos in what was left of the good light. That’s what got me the three photos above. I liked the shot of the beads of water on the spider web and also the spines on the thin branch. Mr Grey is always there, he’s just too far away to get a decent sharp shot. He knows he’s safe there and I presume there is a good food source near that rock.

Today’s Inktober sketch is probably the weakest so far. It started out in Isometric projection (Google it), very unrealistic, but at least the proportions were right. Then I changed it to put in some perspective and that looked a bit better. Shading was rushed and very untidy as a result. Tomorrow is the last one for this year in Inktober, but I’m definitely going to continue as long as my nerve and the pens hold out! I can always buy more pens, of course.

The Ba’s Burst – 29 October 2016

Posted on October 29, 2016October 30, 2016 by Zogman

I heard that today in the congested and now quite tacky shopping centre in Dunfermline. While Scamp was off looking for bargains in Debenhams, I was trying to get my iPhone to burst into life with no success and I overheard a snippet of conversation between two blokes. One asked the other why he was in town today and his pal replied that he’d offered to take his wife for a walk in the country, but ; “If there’s no shops then the ba’s burst.” I liked that way of saying that there was no point in taking the conversation any further.

Previous to this we had walked through Pittencrieff Park which for once was almost empty of people. Loads of squirrels though and a few dogs intent on chasing them, but not too many people. It was very dull and damp and not conducive to a walk in the park, so I don’t really blame the folk for staying in the warm. We went into the warm of the glasshouse and I got a few flower photos. Now flooers used to be a sign of failure to get a decent photo, but these flooers were beautiful living blooms and gave the possibility of creating a shot. I notice a lot of American photogs talk about ‘making’ a photo rather than ‘taking’ a photo. I think it was Ansel Adams who started using that term many years ago and to be honest, how many times do we simply ‘take’ a shot? More often than not we ‘make’ or ‘create’ the shot either by post-processing or by posing the subject the way we want them or it to be seen. These were ‘made’ photos of flowers.

Previous again, we had chosen to bus to Dunfermline today after yesterday’s long drive out west. It’s a relaxing run across country to the middle east and out into Fife and one I don’t mind doing on the bus, especially as this is a real express with very few stops. However, the driver had forgotten to switch off his microphone and we were treated to all the squeaks and rumbles from the springs in his seat, at least I hope it was from his seat. We were also given a chance to hear the bloke behind’s choice of music through his less than effective noise cancelling headphones. Worst two things about Public Transport are the Public and the Transport. I know I’ve said that before, but I thought it sounded so good, it was worth repeating 🙂

Today is day 29 in Inktober and today’s sketch of Pittencrieff House was done in the open air again. The house was built by Sir Alexander Clerk of Pittencrieff as a simple laird’s house with two stories and an attic around 1635.
Drawing the windows was a nightmare as no two windows are the same size and no two windows line up with each other. Only the attic windows share a top line. Not surprising given the age of the building.

I did get the iPhone started again while we were having a cup of tea each before heading for the bus home. After holding down the home and power button for about 10 seconds, it grumbled into life. I still don’t know why it went in the huff. Maybe “the ba’ was burst”.

My web host apologises for the later arrival of this blog. Apparently there were issues with the server last night and the admins were looking into it. It’s a bit like when there’s a hole in the road and the council are looking into it. They’re looking into it, they’re not doing anything about it, just looking. Well, I’m looking too. I’m looking for a new web host.

The Wild West – 28 October 2016

Posted on October 28, 2016October 28, 2016 by Zogman

Today we drove in to Glasgow.

We couldn’t get parked and it was such a great day, we drove out of Glasgow again and headed west along the M8. We just kept heading west until we reached Gourock. Along the way I took a wrong turning and that’s how we reached Largs. (Confused yet? You should be)

Largs is the gateway to Millport across the wild ocean, well, across the Clyde estuary, but that’s not where we parked. We parked in Largs and wandered around this metropolis. It didn’t take long. Largs has a great butchers, a great fishmongers and a couple of good restaurants. Not that we’re foodies or anything! It also is the gateway to Millport, but I’ve covered that. We had lunch at the restaurant we went to last time Bean & Leaf. Neither of us could remember what we had last time, but we agreed that it had been excellent. This time Scamp had a Cajun Chicken Burger. Served with hand cut chips. I had a burger with everything. Everything in this context was a Handmade Scotch meat burger with Barwhey’s cheddar, crispy Ayrshire bacon, fried onion, pickled gherkins & salsa. Served with hand cut chips. Now that’s a mouthful and no mistake. The food took a while to come, but I remember being told on one of the Royal Caribbean ships that it takes 20mins to cook a real burger properly. Tell that to Micky D’s.

After lunch Scamp went to investigate a couple of shops and I started my sketch which was to be Nardini’s Cafe. Nardini’s is one of the places you must go to when you’re in Largs. The other is the ferry to Millport, but I think I mentioned that earlier. We didn’t go to Nardini’s this time, but we have been there a few times. The frontage is pure Art Deco. All rectangular columns with rebates in a colour scheme of black on white. Very stylish and any changes that have been made to it over the years have been in that same Art Deco vein. An icon.
I think I did it justice in the sketch and was quite pleased with it. I’m beginning to like drawing with the Derwent Graphik 0.1mm pen. I’m thinking about buying a 0.05mm pen too – SuperFine.

The rest of the day’s pictures were taken around the front at Largs.

The Ice Cream shop sign was a phone-grab.
The car was a superb Lotus, tweaked with a custom curve in Lightroom, then dunked in Photoshop to block out the numberplate.
The Hotel was another grab shot, this time with the camera. This run-down building was on the front, and looked as if it was ready for the bulldozers. The woman hurrying by was a lucky.
The sailingboat and the windmill was another custom curve in Lightroom.

Then we went to pay for our parking. Put in the ticket and Scamp plopped in two 50p coins and a pound coin, but the pound coin didn’t register. Pressed the cancel button and the card came back, but no refund. Foolishly we put the card in again and loaded some more coins in with the same result. A bloke came along while I was phoning the help number and he tried the same thing, but with the same result. Now there were six people waiting for the engineer to come and sort the problem. Luckily he wasn’t long and solved the problem. It looks like a couple of Scamp’s home made 50p coins had jammed in the machine borking it. She really must be more careful with her quality control. Anyway, problem solved and we were on our way.

We headed north and passed through Gourock (see, we did go there) and crossed the Erskine bridge to avoid the inevitable queues on the M8, into the biggest traffic jam I’ve seen in a long time. Drove at an average of 20mph all the way home. All in all, a lovely day. The weather was simply superb. Not wall to wall sunshine, but lots of sun and some blue sky. There was a great sunset forming behind us as we were heading home, but I knew the traffic would only get worse if we lingered to see it and to be honest, we’d had the best of the day. Only one thing was missing. We didn’t go to Millport. Maybe next time.

Another dull day – 27 October 2016

Posted on October 27, 2016October 28, 2016 by Zogman

The furthest we got today was a dull run almost to Slamannan. Tomorrow the weather must get better surely.

Tomorrow hopefully we’re going to Glasgow. Just to do some window shopping, not that we really need any new windows, but anything is better than sitting around looking out of them – windows that is. There’s just nothing to inspire us to get off our backsides and go out.

I did go for a walk to St Mo’s in the rain and the photos show just how inspiring that was. Even Inktober was a last minute shot with nothing to recommend it other than it was an ink sketch done on the day in question.

Tomorrow, the world. Promise.

Just a Wednesday – 26 October 2016

Posted on October 26, 2016October 26, 2016 by Zogman

Some days are interesting, some days are not. Today was not. We had a few loose end to tie up today and we got them done. Scamp was feeling better, or she said she was feeling better. Photography was covered with a walk in the wind and the rain along the Luggie and I got a fairly decent shot of the wee falls upstream from where I usually go. I had to take the shots in between chasing two dogs who wanted to be in the photo. It’s an ok shot, but nothing spectacular.

We drove in to Glasgow tonight and did manage to catch the last 20 minutes or so of the beginners class, a minor miracle in itself as when we entered the motorway the CITRAC signs were telling us that it would take 51 minutes to reach the airport. On a good day it takes 17 minutes. Apparently Rangers were playing at Ibrox and the road was full of mad Gers fans. After a few ‘long roads for shortcuts’ we did manage to reach the STUC building in just under an hour. That was forty minutes more than our journey back home, an hour and a half later, after half a beginners class and our own Wednesday class. I think they should ban football during the week, or on Salsa days anyway. We weren’t the worst by far. Poor Roy S took 2 and a half hours to get there from Alloa. Having said that, Alloa is on the outer reaches of the galaxy.

Today’s Inktober is a sliced up apple. The knife is an old bone handled one that, I think came from Scamp’s mum. The handle recently broke and rather than throw it out, I glued it with Epoxy resin. Old traditional bone handle repaired with modern adhesive. I like that. We’ve both found that we’re using the old bone handled knives more than their plastic or stainless steel handled modern counterparts. The old knives have a much better feel to them and a lot more character.

Maybe going to Glasgow tomorrow, but we’re driving in. I think the bus journeys with all the sneezers and coughers is what’s given Scamp the cold. I don’t want it, and I want her to get over her dose as well. I might even get some architectural drawing done into the bargain. Who knows? (Question mark or not??)

Nursing – 25 October 2016

Posted on October 25, 2016October 25, 2016 by Zogman

It could have been my chosen career, but I chose a different path. That, by itself saved the populace from a bad case of genocide. Scamp has the cold and I’ve been doing my best be head cook and bottle washer.

As part of the nursing program, I was also the driver who took us to Costa Robroyston for a cup of brown water and a spot of Costa lunch. Can’t say I was any more impressed with the coffee, but served as a skinny cappuccino, it’s almost palatable. Hark at me, “Skinny Cappuccino” no less! Quite the man about town.

After we came back I went out to get some photos and maybe, just maybe, a sketch. The sketch didn’t happen, what I did do was get some photos of underpasses, of which we have quite a few here, to sketch from the computer later. It’s a bit of a cop out, but it sounded feasible. I took the shots and they looked ok. I took some spiders’ pictures too in St Mo’s. They seemed quite pleased that I was showing an interest in their web building and posed happily while I snapped away. Mr Grey was sulking in the cold water of St Mo’s pond. Do birds have nerve endings in their feet, I wonder. I also wonder if there should have been a question mark at the end of the previous sentence. That’s the sort of thing that I would know if I had been paying attention in English back in Larkhall Academy, but I didn’t and I don’t, know that is. Strangely, my English teacher was a Mr Grey too! I took this Mr Grey’s photo because of the reflection in the murky waters of the pond.

While I was taking my research photos of underpasses for the proposed sketch (it didn’t happen either), I turned a corner and almost bumped into a guy lurking in the darkness of the underpass. At first I was a bit concerned, then I realised he was just a schoolboy, presumably from St Mo’s, also presumably ‘dogging it’. In other words he was ‘bunking off’ school. What we, in the trade, called a ‘school refuser’ and what the pupils called a ‘dogger’. That has nothing at all to do with dogs and also nothing to do with secluded carparks after dark. Or so I’ve been told!! Ahem, I’ve also been told that when one is in a hole one should stop digging, so I’m laying the spade down now. Anyway, I marched through the underpass and got the shot from the opposite side once the boy had scuttled away in the general direction of the school. He obviously hadn’t, to quote Guy Garvey, “perfected that simian stroll”. What he should have done was amble on in the general direction of the school with that look that said “It’s alright mate, I’m just on my way back from an appointment with my dentist / my doctor / my social worker” (delete as appropriate). Instead he just looked like he was a rabbit caught in the headlights. Maybe it was the first time he’d done it. Maybe he had a good reason. Maybe he’s on the path to become a repeat offender. That made me think of another musical reference: “Razzle in my Pocket” – Ian Dury. Listen and you’ll see what I mean.

Anyway, photos took and still no sketch for the day, because the underpasses hadn’t fired my imagination. Also, I don’t like sketching from photos now. They seem to lack the vitality of sketching from life. After washing up, I took a cup of good coffee upstairs to read while Scamp was watching her Tuesday soap, and there it was, today’s sketch. It’s a bit cheeky to title it as the First Coffee. It was hardly the first coffee of the day as I’d had my Sudoku Cup at about 11am and you can’t count Costa brown water. It was the last cup of the day though and, like the spiders, it posed very patiently for me. It wasn’t even cold when I’d finished. Success. Just in case you’re interested the paper is 110gsm Fabriano Sketch and pen is a Micron 0.3 with a bit of shading from a pale grey brush pen.

Tomorrow? It depends on how Scamp is feeling. Maybe the gym for me, but we’ll wait and see how the invalid is.

A better planned Monday – 24 October 2016

Posted on October 24, 2016October 24, 2016 by Zogman

Mondays are busy days, frantic sometimes and the only way to get everything done and keep sane it to plan the day beforehand.

Morning was bright and colourful with the sun shining through the leaves. I imagine leaves get thinner and more translucent in autumn. I’d guess it’s because the sugars and starches are being drawn away from them into the trunk of the tree. Anyway, the colours were really striking this morning. I had my usual coffee while I finished today’s ‘Easy’ Sudoku. For once, it was easy. They’re not always like that.

After lunch, and while Scamp’s ‘Gems’ group were in practising, I went out to get some photos and hopefully a sketch too. I’d planned to go to Auchinstarry and sketch some of the barges in the marina, but instead I went to Colzium park in Kilsyth. Scamp and I used to go there for a walk on Sunday mornings. We haven’t been there for a long time, maybe it’s time we went back again. I didn’t come for the walk this time, just to sketch the house. It’s an old house, dating from the early 19th century. It’s owned by NLC now which means it’s closed most of the time, a great shame as it has great potential.

I settled on a seat to start the sketch and was getting to grips with it and also getting used to sketching in public. Then a wee man who had been sitting admiring the view over Kilsyth and also keeping an eye on me came over and asked if I was ‘Doin’ a picture” I told him I was and he asked if I he could have a look. This is the first time anyone has spoken to me when I was drawing and it was a bit disconcerting, but the sketch wasn’t looking too bad, so I said “Of course you can.” After casting his critical eye over it he asked me if I was going to make it bigger. I suppose he thought this was just a ‘rough sketch’ and here was me thinking it was looking quite good. I told him that this was the finished article. He seemed bemused by this and asked why I was doing it. Now, how do you explain Inktober to a stranger, especially to someone who doesn’t draw? Luckily I didn’t have to explain because he started a new tack. “You’re no’ fae Kilsyth are you?” He said. I told him no, I was from distant Cumbersheugh. He dismissed that great New Town with a “Hmmph” and after a few other bits of small talk he was off home and I’d survived my first unasked for critique.

I liked the slo-mo shot of the burn coming down the wee falls. I also liked the swanhead on the old curling pond. Most of all I was quite happy with my finished sketch of Colzium House. Were will tomorrow’s sketch be from? I don’t know, but tonight before going to Kizomba and Salsa, I had processed the pictures and loaded the successful ones to Flickr. I’d also posted today’s Inktober sketch. All that was left after dancing was to write the blog. That’s almost done and it’s just 11pm. That’s what happens when you plan your day.

Clicking the Coconuts again – 23 October 2016

Posted on October 23, 2016October 23, 2016 by Zogman

The day started with a bright sunny morning and we decided to go out somewhere interesting. No wandering around the shops and no long bus journeys. Somewhere I might get some foties and a sketch done and where Scamp could get tea and a scone.

We settled on either Castle Campbell or Doune Castle. Both would fit the specification, I thought. As driver, I chose Doune. We’d been there a few weeks ago and I like the building.

Unfortunately, the weather was deteriorating the nearer we got to Doune and there was a bit of drizzle in the wind when we got to the castle. However, we were there and it looked like we were sharing the drizzle with the whole of the Forth valley, which meant that Castle Campbell would be suffering in the rain too.

While I set up my sketching position in the corner of the courtyard to draw the entrance at the diagonally opposite corner, Scamp went for a walk through the inside of the castle. My first attempt wasn’t all I’d hoped for, so I changed position and started again and that is what you see for today’s Inktober. Perspective is a bit ropey in places and the proportions aren’t totally correct, but it was much better than the first attempt – you’ll have to take my word for it.

By the time I was finished, Scamp had returned from her investigation of the inner rooms of the castle and it was getting a bit cold. That’s when I realised that Doune Castle didn’t have a tea room. Bummer. Not to worry, we settled on a quick trip to Dobbies at Stirling and coffee and a scone there. As it happened, Dobbies was mobbed. All the Sunday Drivers were there, ’Grey Hairs’ one and all. “Do you want a meringue or a scone, oh look at the size of the sausage rolls, is that lemon drizzle cake, make up your mind, it that a jam doughnut … “ All without taking a breath. Every one of them was the same and every one of them was in the queue in front of me. However, I found the scones, loaded my tray. Got the tea and coffee, paid and then found Scamps table while the Living Dead were still choosing which of the cakes they’d have. They’re probably still there.

I’d grabbed a couple of ‘banker’ shots earlier in the morning. Just photos of Stuckies (Starlings to you) squabbling over the peanuts hanging on the rowan tree outside the kitchen window. I also got some shots of the Wallace Monument from Dobbies by poking the lens of my camera through the chainlink fence. The tower had looked beautiful as we were driving down from Doune, but by the time we got the Dobbies, the light on the building had gone and the outlook was far more gloomy, almost sinister. I still took the shot, thinking it would look good in mono.

That was it for the day. More rain on the way home, so perhaps yesterday’s rain had come down the road from Perth after all. Oh well, the morning had been good.

Tomorrow’s Monday. The busy day. My intention is to be better organized and get things done early. We’ll see.

A day of two halves – 22 October 2016

Posted on October 22, 2016October 22, 2016 by Zogman

Left home on a bright sunny morning heading for Perth to get essential supplies of tea and coffee. Scamp was going to a Christmas musical with her aunt. A Christmas musical in October? Really, that’s just a wee bit ridiculous. Yesterday at the Art Galleries I saw my first Christmas tree this year. Too early, people!

Most of the journey to Perth was fine with great visibility but about ten minutes out of the city the mist came down. After that the heavens opened up to dump gallons of rain on me. Well, it felt like it was all just on me, but I suppose others were getting wet too. It stayed like that for the two hours I stayed in the Fair City. I’d had enough. I had my coffee beans, my tea leaves and a piece of cheese as a bonus. Home was calling. When I drove back down the road, at exactly the same place where the rain had started, the rain almost stopped. The rest of the drive was in the dry and when I got home, I got out of the car into sunshine. I presume the gardens in Perth need the rain.

A roll ’n’ sausage improved my state of mind as it always does. Went for a walk to St Mo’s with the Nikon to get some photos. There wasn’t much to see, but lots of little fungi and those big ones too. The flowers in the wildflower garden are a joy to behold. Thankfully the gardeners haven’t cut them down with their usual unthinking efficiency. At least, not yet.

Dinner tonight, once Scamp arrived back was courtesy of Golden Bowl. Chicken Chop Suey and Fried Rice times two. Delicious as usual.

I couldn’t settle on a subject for tonight’s Inktober drawing and then I found it, sitting right in front of me. What better subject on a Saturday night than a bottle of beer? Difficult because of the symmetry of the bottle and also because glass is difficult to render in pen, I find. I did use a bit of brushwork to even out the glaze, but other than that it was just pen work. Quite happy with it.

Tomorrow? Who knows. Possibly a walk if the rain stays away in Perth and doesn’t travel down south, but other than that I’m open to suggestions. Hoping to get some sketching done outside.