Category: Uncategorized

The day dawned, as 2014 did with rain battering the windows and a dryness in my mouth, due to too much Aberlour last night.  One look outside told us that there would be no New Year Day walk today.

Happy New Year everyone.  The weather can only get better.

I was digging around looking for older tech – 35mm slides and even 126 format slides if anyone remembers them.  Anyway, I came across this 32Mb, yes kiddies Mb, not Gb, Sony Memory Stick.  It fitted in my F707, possibly the most advanced camera of its age.  Sadly, it was emasculated by Sony to appease the moral minority.  Such a pity as it was a camera with enormous potential.  If none of the above makes sense, Google “F707 Infra-red” and be amazed at the petty minded, litigious minded corporations.

Never did find the 35mm or the 126 format slides, but did get my hands on a Kodak Instamatic 233.  Possible the subject of another ‘old tech’ shot.

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Why does Google or WordPress or Firefox or whoever, think that Hogmanay should be mahogany?  It was a typical 31st of December with dull, dull, dull and drizzly rain.  Spent the day browsing B&Q for a new kitchen light and then survived the crowds in Tesco.  I hadn’t realised the shop would be shut for a month and I’d need to stock up on all the provisions we’d need for the next year in one shopping expedition but that’s what everyone else seemed to be doing.

Decided on the Tio Pepe bottle as my Picture of the Day, and then thought I’d experiment with the extended ISO settings available in the D7000.  I’ve hardly gone above ISO 3200 since I got the camera, but found out tonight that ISO 10000 gives extremely useful images.

A Christmas present from my son’s in-laws, I’d forgotten all about the wee Tio Pepe man with his hat at a jaunty angle and his guitar. A blast from the past, and also a bottle of alcohol. What better image for Hogmanay? A happy and healthy new year to all my readers and viewers.

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A cold, but thankfully, not freezing day.  Managed to get out for a walk to a frozen St Mo’s to feed the ducks naw, seagulls.  Poor old ducks didn’t have a look in.  The shitehawks got everything.  Then I spent the rest of the day wrestling with Mac OSX  10.8 trying to get iTunes to sync my calendar with my iPhone (I detest that lower case ‘i’ by the way.  Another of Apple’s little foibles.).  Finally got the bastards to sync by instituting iCloud (there it is again.  What’s wrong with upper case?)

And he looked and he saw and he said “I (upper case, take note Apple) AM a swan”

Swan in St Mo’s pond.

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Gear in transit.  Initiating left bank to final.  Landing gets tricky when the pond is icebound.

Doing the Coot step.  It’s a bit like the goose step, but with smaller birds, and steps.

We left Hazy’s at just after 0900 hours this morning and after eight and a bit hours we arrived back home.  No ruby slippers, no Toto and no offence, Mrs Hazy, but there’s no place like home.  However, despite the length of the journey, it was quite painless.  Thanks to Mr D’ dropping us off just in time to catch the first train.  Arriving at Vauxhall (still love those futuristic buildings) just in time to catch the tube to KX and no queues at the station!  Three fun filled days.  Thank you guys.  You know who you are!

Waiting for a train platform to be posted at London Kings Cross Station.  I liked the radiating shadows created by the sun shining in the open doorway.  If I had had more time I would have taken another shot using the Oly, but I was dragged away to watch for our own train details to be posted.

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A cold day down in London, but a bright one.  Delivered my Secret Santa and then lunch at Neil’s parents.

Orchid
This one sits on my daughter’s kitchen window sill.  I caught it this morning with the sun shining on it.  I had intended the photo showing the whole plant, but sometimes less is more.

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We went in to Epsom today on a lunchtime raiding visit to get some food. Met some interesting people like the poor man who wanted to cross the road BEFORE everyone else.  “EIther move or get out the way”.  The road was clear so I walked but kept him in my peripheral vision.  When we got to the other side I deliberately crossed right in front of him, making him change direction and tip over his drag-along case.  I said “Sorry, I didn’t hear you say ‘please'”.  I didn’t hear what he said ;-). Politeness costs nothing, however, the lack of it can cost you time and a loss of face.

This reminded me of a gigantic rubik cube or a 3D OXO grid, made from perspex.  It’s actually a window wall of a building and is made from glass and steel.  Very open and airy.  Modern lines without being antiseptically clean.  It would have been good to photograph the view from that inside that window structure too.  Maybe another time.

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An early start.  Taxi through the morning fog into Glasgow Airport and then off to Lundinium to visit the family.  Pretty faultless flight with an excellent bump-free landing.  Picked up at the airport by our son-in-law and whizzed through byroads and shortcuts to avoid the dreaded M25.  Strangely it’s colder down in London than it was in Scotland.

We hadn’t picked the best seat for photography, but to be honest, we were pleased just to get a seat and be on our way south.  We had some lovely views climbing out of fogbound Glasgow.  Strange to see the fog so localised around Glasgow and the Clyde.

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It’s a Christmas tradition, or has been for the last five or so years that we go for a walk around the big pond (Real name  Broadwood Loch AKA the big pond) on Christmas Day.  Today was cold and I was still feeling a bit fragile after my recent stomach bug, but I bundled up well and off we went.  Couldn’t believe how mild it was once we were out.  In the shadow areas it was cool, but not really cold.  Such a surprise and the sky was blue!  I know that ‘up above the clouds there is always a blue sky‘ so said Turin Brakes and it’s true.  However, here in Scotland, we always expect grey skies and are rarely disappointed.  Today was an exception, but it was Christmas Day!

First up were the gulls.  They are always there at the outfall of the pond.  They rarely seem to feed there, just congregate, preen and practice their landings.  Oh yes, and they crap a lot too.  I can understand that part.

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Further round there’s a little stony island which used to house a swan colony.  Now it seems to be overtaken by cormorants.  These birds seem to be taking over many of our inland waters.  Years ago they were only (rarely) seen on the coasts.  Comments by email or the comment box.  I found them difficult to photograph because they look completely black unless the light is favourable.  Did I mention that photography is all about the light?

Finally, half way round I spotted this group of plants growing on a fence post.  Now I’d just have passed by if it wasn’t for the contre-jour light illuminating the greenery.  Did I mention that photography is all about the light?  Oh yes, I just did!

All the shots taken with the Nikon D7000 and the Tamron 18-200 lens.  Not the sharpest lens I’ve ever owned, but one of the most versatile.  Until I can afford better, it will do just fine.

… Finally.

Don’t look too closely Hazel, none of them are yours!

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Not had the best three days in the world, but hopefully, fingers crossed, wood touched, I’m on the mend. So this is just a quick catchup as I’ve only been doing the minimal amount of photos just to keep the 365 up to date.

Nobody sits on this seat because of the tentacles.

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Knitted Christmas Pudding.  Knitting doesn’t get tougher than this.

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At least the weather is looking better.  Managed out for an hour in the fresh air which was a bonus.
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