Category: photography

Exchange & Mart – 18 March 2025

Posted on by Zogman

Bought a lens on Friday. Sold it back on Tuesday.

It was a very poor quality lens that I could have updated using an app I’ve had for years, but it wasn’t worth the money or the time it would have taken me to do the upgrade. I wish now that I’d have kept the original that I sold at a loss a few years ago. However, I do have an equally good lens with less artefacts for a little bit more. Winners and losers, that’s what life is about.

We drove in to Glasgow to do the exchange. Scamp suggested parking at Cowcaddens carpark. From there, she could go for a coffee and a cake in Waterstones while I went to do the handover. The exchange only took a few minutes and then I was back on Sauchiehall Street and heading for a Flat White and a cake while Scamp was almost finished.

Drove home, but I didn’t feel all that great. Feeling dizzy and aching all over. It felt that I had picked up Scamp’s cold. A vitamin-c tablet and a couple of paracetamol sorted things. Then Scamp’s suggestion (demand) that I have a wee snooze in the afternoon seemed to hit the mark.

She woke me a few hours later with a cup of tea and I realised I’d caught myself snoring on the bed, after I’d been criticising other people for doing the same thing. Of course, I was ill and the other person was only snoring. There is a difference!

I took my second lot of pills and Vit-C and went for a quick walk round St Mo’s and got at least one good shot of the late afternoon sun shining through the trees and that made PoD. By the time I got home Jackie was almost in Glasgow and I was ’encouraged’ to allow her to take the bus back to Cumbersheugh.

Scamp made her delicious Prawn & Pea Risotto for dinner tonight and as usual it was perfect. As she says, it’s one of the few dishes I’ll eat with loads of lemon in it.

Tomorrow the ladies might be going for a walk around The Fort, but it won’t be an early rise, I’m sure.

 

Another sunny day – 17 March 2025

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Scamp suggested we go out for lunch somewhere today. I agreed.

We drove out past Stirling to The Smiddy, not the seedy wee pub in Cumbersheugh, but the cafe / deli / restaurant near Doune. We go there quite often and the food is always good, especially the ‘specials’. I had a Venison Burger with all the trimmings and delicious chips. Scamp had Posh Fish Pie. Both were lovely and tasted just as good as they looked.

We drove home via the conjoined Dobbies and Lakeland. Their adjoining shutter door was having a bad day which separated the two stores. Scamp almost got a pair of black shoes to fit her in Moshulu, but came home with a scrubbing brush from Lakeland instead. I also took a detour past B&Q to look at power drills. My old Black & Decker with its NiCad batteries just won’t hold the power these days, but then they are ancient now. I had a look, but need to have a word with Crawford to see what he recommends I should buy.

Finally back home, I took the A7iii out for a walk and tried the Samyang lens and wasn’t impressed with the results. I think it may go back. Too much colour fringing and vignettes. Maybe I can fix it with an upgrade, but I doubt it. I did get a close-up of some of the thorns of a hawthorn bush and that became PoD.

That was about it for today. Hoping for more good weather tomorrow, but Scamp wants to “do some tidying up”. That doesn’t sound much like fun!

Here, there and everywhere – 15 March 2025

Posted on by Zogman

A day for cramming loads of things in.

Started out this morning watching the first qualifying for this year’s F1 GP in Australia.

Next, I was heading for Glasgow to pick up my new lens. Thought I should look for some Paracetamol capsules and Ibuprofen for Scamp instead. Some raspberries for her wouldn’t go amiss too. I don’t know what’s wrong this year, but paracetamol, and ibuprofen are quite hard to come by. Maybe there is a ‘bug’ going the rounds and everyone is stocking up on them, but raspberries? Why are they so difficult to come by? All of a sudden there are no raspberries nor strawberries to be found. Just to contradict myself, there were a few trays of strawberries today. Lots of those strange, naked looking white strawberries too. I just drove back home with the meds and my fruit for Scamp.

After a frugal lunch of bread and cheese, we both set off looking for a suitable vase to hold the bouquets flowers we’d accrued over the last few days. Locally first, then further afield to Falkirk until Scamp found the vase she was looking for. I must admit the vases of flowers in the living room give the room a totally different look.

We drove home after that and I decided I’d just enough time to take the train in to Glasgow to pick up my new lens. Scamp didn’t want to come, she was happier to rest up for a while.

Long story short, I drove to Croy station, got the train to Glasgow and walked from Queen Street station up Bath Street to WEX and picked up the Samyang 18mm f2.8 lens. Then it was back down Sauchiehall Street to the city centre, stopping on the way to photograph the demise of the 02 ABC building. Glasgow was buzzing today. Groups of folk, mainly young folk sitting outside enjoying a pint or two in the late afternoon sun while the more mature Glaswegians were heading for home on the bus or the train. It did feel like spring!

Just managed to get on the Alloa train and retrieved my car from the carpark then drove home.

The lens seemed to be fine. No scratches nor scrapes on it, so I took it to St Mo’s to take some photos of the setting sun from the top of the BMX track. Checked them at home and they looked fine. I’m hoping to do a more detailed check tomorrow if the weather permits.

PoD was the partial demolition of the O2 ABC building in Sauchiehall Street with the ill fated Art School in the background.

More lens testing if the weather behaves tomorrow, and the possibility of the first F1 GP of 2025 later.

Another sunny morning – 14 March 2025

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A sunny morning that deserved a walk or something active, but instead we stayed home and just enjoyed the sunshine.

Scamp had woken with a stinker of a cold. I had had some business in the village but was given a list of medicines we needed in the house, but Benylin Original was high on the list for Scamp. I managed to source the Benylin easily, but Paracetamol and Ibuprofen were more problematic. However I had found a couple of the meds and that meant I wasn’t going home empty handed.

Back home, I found the final photos I needed to finalise the Order of Service booklet and sent them off through the ether to the Funeral director. She got back to me fairly quickly, confirming that everything had been received. That meant my work was done. The photos for the screening were with the funeral people, as were the Order of Service photos.

Meanwhile Scamp cleared the bed and was ready to rotate the mattress. A monthly process where we either rotate the mattress of we flip fit over. It weighs half a ton, so the word ‘flip’ is rather flippant for turning over such a heavy load!

We decided we deserved a day out for lunch, and after some discussion, settled on The Riverhouse in Stirling. We drove to find that the carpark was completely full, not even a space to squeeze a little BMX bike far less a car. We couldn’t think where else we’d find a decent restaurant on a Friday afternoon, so we drove home.

I went for a walk in St Mo’s and got a nice bit of ‘Bokeh’ (out of focus highlights) with the sun setting behind some Gorse flowers. That easily made PoD.

I made a mess of the pizza I’d bought on the way home, forgetting to put it on a tray in the oven which led to the centre of the pizza falling through onto the empty tray beneath. Some days I just can’t do anything right!

The Benylin and the paracetamol plus the ibuprofen seemed to work on Scamp’s cough and her cold, I’m glad to say.

I’m hoping to pick up my new lens tomorrow. Scamp’s looking for a new vase for her flowers. Maybe we can achieve both. That would be nice!

Out on the town – 12 March 2025

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Just Alex and I, out for a photo walk.

We met at the Buchanan Bus Station as normal and went for a coffee in Nero. We must have sat talking about last week for over an hour. Certainly long enough for Alex’s coffee to get cold, but he didn’t want another one. Once I’d unburdened myself and answered his questions, we walked down a sunny Buchanan Street and zig-zagged down to Argyle Street where Alex wanted to get a new set of strings for his guitar.

On the way I got a photo of two old (ish) ladies, one-finger typing into their phones. I know I should be careful with the ‘Old’ word, I’m in the male category of that age group now too! Anyway, when I got home I was pleased to see the photos had turned out well and one of them became PoD. Photographing strangers is a photo technique I’ve learned from Alex. It can be a really interesting way to use a camera … as long as you don’t get caught.

Getting back to the Photo Walk, we walked back along Argyle Street and crossed over to head for Paesano, the only pizza shop Alex would go to. Pizzas were lovely as usual and another hour had passed in catching up chat. I suggested we have a day away in Dundee some time and get some photos of the V&A. Alex agreed that it might be good in the warmer weather, when the days were longer. I’m not sure he’s completely sold on the idea.

When we’d been talking in Nero, Alex had mentioned he fancied a walk up Sauchiehall Street, just to see how the renovations were going. However, we’d gone down Buchanan Street instead. He said it was probably muscle memory, because we ofter walk down that hill to go to St Enoch’s. Whatever the reason, we went for that walk up Sauchiehall Street then. I wanted to look for a book I’d seen advertised on the ‘net, but wasn’t due to hit the shelves until tomorrow. While Alex went for a wander round the books, I found the book I was looking for “Paperboy”. Out a day early. I used the book token Scamp had given me back in January to buy it. Thank you Scamp.

Another coffee and a long blether later we were ready to hit the road back to the bus station when Alex noticed that the time was fast approaching 5pm.

We said our goodbyes and went to our buses. I just got on mine and almost got to my seat when the bus reversed out of the stance. Perfect timing.

That was a good day. PoD was the shot of the two ladies struggling with the technological challenge of mobile phones.

Tomorrow we are meeting the Celebrant to finalise the remaining details for next week. Hopefully the meeting will go well.

 

A day in the garden – 9 March 2025

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A dull, misty start to a day that was supposed to have sunshine from Morning to Night. It did eventually get itself in gear and let the sun shine in.

Scamp was busy today in the garden and I was enlisted to prune the Schoolgirl rose at the front door and also to cut back Alec’s Red the rose that has grown in almost every house we’ve lived in. Scamp is wary of pruning it for fear of going too far. To be honest, so am I. It’s a very elderly rose now and the flowers are great heavy blooms, but every spring I tend to err on the side of safety and although I know it will be better for the plant if I cut it back severely, I’m always wary. So it was today, although it did get a good haircut.

Scamp spent a lot of time, teasing out weeds from her array of plant pots, while all the time looking for fresh growth from the perennial plants. She did find a few, then she brought her garden table into the kitchen and did some potting up of a collection of some little plug plants. Tiny little things in conical tubes about the same diameter as a 10p. They seem to be making good growth. Finally I lifted my latest bargain, an orchid in a glass jar. It was looking a bit sorry for itself and I soon saw why. Although it looked very pretty, and I’d been watering it once every two weeks, the actual plant was in a tiny little plastic tub and was as dry as a bone. It’s now been watered properly and I’ve removed all the damp compost and allowed it to dry out a bit. I might remove the plant from its plastic prison and allow it spread its roots into the compost.

By the time we had both completed our tasks for the day, Scamp decided it was coffee time and I reckoned it was time to go for a walk over to St Mo’s. Thought I saw the white tail of a deer when I was over in the woods, but it disappeared too quickly for me to be sure. I did see a host of frogs, or were they toads? I’m never sure about them, and it was one of those shots that made PoD.

Spoke to Jamie and gave him a better explanation of the last week, now that the fog of confusion is lifting. Heard about his latest purchase, an Apple iPhone 16 no less. He seems to be happier with it than I am at present. I hope he gets good use from it.

Tomorrow we’re hoping to see the money man in Falkirk.

Good Friends – 8 March 2025

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Crawford & Nancy came visiting today.

Just after the early hour of 10.15am! We’re not used to such early rises, but they did bring cakes!

They were doing what all good friends do, they were showing support. We sat and talked about June, Paul, Shona and Ian. We listened to the antics of their grandkids and made all the right noises. We complained about all our aches and pains and what we could do about them. It was a strange morning, but a welcome one too. Living life in the ’New Normal’. Later in the morning we got a message from Hazy. Asking after Scamp and just making contact. It really is good to have the support of family and friends. Sometimes we just take them for granted and we shouldn’t.

We are still in the Shoe Hunt, so in the afternoon we drove in to Stirling for a change of scenery and also to see if any of the shoe would fit the dainty feet of the princess. They didn’t. We went back to Waitrose where we’d parked and took a basket rather than a trolley. It seemed a logical way to get the shopping we needed without getting too much. It worked, except we still got more than we’d intended and I felt my arms were getting longer with every jar or bottle we put in the basket!

PoD was a photo of a ‘Ghost Sign’ we saw in Stirling. A ghost sign is usually an advertising sign above a shop or building that has been badly damaged by wind and weather. We saw this one over a shop in Stirling. When did you last see a three digit phone number?

We drove home and received an email from Paul with more information about the funeral. We agreed to meet him at his house. He had done a fair bit of work during the week. So far:

  • We now have a date and time to meet the Celebrant.
  • We have the codes for the streaming of the funeral.
  • There have been a lot of problems with getting the death certificate as I outlined a couple of days ago, but it should be in Paul’s hands on Monday or Tuesday.
  • Scamp and Jackie have agreed a tea for after the funeral.
  • The Docherty family are providing the flowers.
  • Music for the Entrance, Reflection and Exit from Daldowie are almost complete.
  • The photos have almost all been scanned, or assembled.

All in all, we are in a better place than we were a few days ago.

No plans for tomorrow yet.

Shopping for shoes – 7 March 2025

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Scamp decided she needed new shoes.

Not the “Strappy, Cappy low shoes” that Frida Wolfe wrote about in her poem, but black shoes with a heel. Except, either the shoes weren’t high enough or they were too high or worst of all, she couldn’t find any in her size. I told her she just needed to get bigger feet, but that was met with a cold stare.

Eventually she gave up and we went for a lunch, a scone each with a weak coffee in JL. She then went looking at the dresses in JL while I perused the ‘toy shop’. That means, the pre-loved tech stuff. What other people call ‘second hand’ without finding anything I couldn’t live without.

I did find an opportunity to grab a photo or two in Buchanan Galleries. A dangerous game to play as the guards delight in telling you “You can’t take photos here.” To which I will one day reply: “Too late mate I’ve taken it and uploaded it to the World Wide Web. It will be winging its way across the Interweb as we speak and your face will be on every billboard in the world.” I didn’t, of course, but it would have been good to say “Where is the notice that says I can’t?” There are no notices.
A mono photo of a wee man sitting in the hall became PoD. His head and his hat will be “winging its way …” you get the gist!

I took some photos of crocuses in the garden, but the wee man won the day.

That was about it for today. It almost felt like a ’normal’ day for a while.

Tomorrow we are expecting visitors in the morning.

A meeting of minds – 5 March 2025

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We met the interested parties in Tesco for coffee today.

We were discussing the plans for June’s funeral. Margaret phoned Scamp to ask where we were, because they were waiting in Costa. Then Scamp reminded her that she had told us it was to be at Tesco. That maybe ‘put her gas at a peep’ as my mum would have said. Scamp, Jackie and I had been prepared for a fight, but as a result, it never happened.

The group was Ian, Jackie, Margaret, Paul, Scamp, Shona and myself (listed alphabetically for fairness!). Everyone offered suggestions to the group with Paul and Shona as adjudicators.

The upshot of the meeting was that:

  • We had some photos of June to use in a short display
  • Paul wants to do a short ad hoc speech about his mum
  • Jackie would probably write a talk and if she wasn’t comfortable with it, I’d be ready to take over.

We left it at that and have a meeting planned with the funeral directors tomorrow.

We drove over to The Kelpies because Jackie had never seen them in real life. It turned out to be an awful day as far as the weather was concerned. Heavy rain showers driven along on a gusty east wind. However we did get a walk around the mighty beasts and I think that brightened Scamp’s day. The size of the sculptures impressed Jackie. We finished with another cuppa and a scone paid for by Jackie.

Later, at home I was delegated to go to the chip shop for fish suppers. A successful day with some of the pressure removed. Jackie goes back home tomorrow and is intending to return in a couple of days.

PoD was a slightly different view of a Kelpie,

Hopefully the weather will be better tomorrow.

It feels like Spring (White Rabbits x3) – 1 March 2025

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Well, it didn’t feel like Spring when we were driving through a drizzle all the way to Brookfield for today’s dance class.

Thankfully when we came out again, the rain had gone and the sun was attempting to shine.

In between, we had a Midnight Jive to heat us up, because the Brookfield Politburo apparently thought 3ºc was warm enough for anyone!

Sufficiently warmed up, we were into the annoying October Waltz, even though it wasn’t October. I find it the worst waltz I’ve had the misfortune to attempt. It just seems so … “Clunky” is the only word I can use. It just doesn’t seem to flow and I was happier once it had gone back into its box, until the next time one of the teachers says “Oh, we haven’t done the October Waltz for a while.” There’s a reason for that I’d say.

Next was Tango and we struggled with that for a while, but it did get better after we got help from Jane. I think I could manage that one, given some effort on my part. Scamp helped by pulling me in the right direction and whispering the instructions in my ear.

We did Mambo Marina to finish with, but two fairly new dancers were left standing in the corner of the room looking bewildered while the teachers danced with a couple of ladies who knew the dance. That doesn’t seem like a dance class to me. Just a little bit of help would have put them on the right track. We had attempted to help the pair just over a week ago when they came to a Tea Dance we go to, but the teachers really need to TEACH. That’s what they are getting nearly twenty quid for every week!

After that we were allowed to go home. To go home with half a dozen eggs from one of the dance class who seem to be bringing eggs ever week or so. It’s very nice of them, the eggs come from a neighbour of theirs, and being free range, they do taste good.

Drove home through the normal tangle of cars and I chose the slow lane today. I really should have done the M74/M73 route which is longer, but faster overall.

I took a couple of lenses with the A7iii over to St Mo’s in the afternoon, once the sun was shining brightly and got a couple of photos. PoD went to a cloudscape with the setting sun just visible. I came home via Golden Bowl with Chicken Chop Suey and Fried Rice for Scamp and a Special Chow Mein for me. Nice to be walking home in the last of the day’s sun.

I almost forgot to mention, we thought the house was being torn apart in the morning or maybe broken into, but it was just the NLC house clearing mob tearing out everything they could find from the house next door. It seemed that Angela, who lived there after Betty (if you pair remember her) had done a ’moonlight’ without telling anyone. Strange woman. Now we wonder who we’ll get in her place.

Tomorrow we may go for a walk if the weather plays nice.