Visually Basic

Lion kills mouse!!

2011-08-14T11:18:00.002Z

I've not used me trusty mouse for about a week now, that's because I've got another GIZMO.
The Apple Magic Trackpad - a device well known to Mac laptop users but now it's iMac time.
The new Lion O.S. has been designed to fully utilise the Trackpad so I had no choice :-)
Wireless (Bluetooth) and super smooth (a glass surface), it virtually replaces a mouse through gestures.

There are two front feet underneath that allow a press down to click on both right and left sides, bu these can be changed to gentle finger taps as shown below.

It's taken a few days to get used to the main gestures required but now I'm used too it the mouse feels old hat and clumsy.
I've yet to do any serious photographic work but for general daily stuff it's BRILLIANT!

A general review on YouTube :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OB7ZIgVTEN0

8.5 Hours to get the Lion!!

2011-07-21T16:55:00.003Z

Being of a cutting edge disposition, the launch of the brand new Apple operating system, Lion, yesterday, was too much to ignore. If you listen to the experts they all agree to hold off for a few days or weeks to let the Loonies iron-out the many glitches and critical problems such as "No Printer Recognition" or "Completely Wiped Out My 260 Contacts".
Apple has not provide CD's to buy this time, it's just a download only from the Apple Store - 3.8 Gb!!!!
Now, of course I'm not the only impetuous fool in this World and as a result, as I was commencing my attempt at 1500 hrs, half the American continent was just waking up along with U.K. early work leavers, excited at the prospect ,decided to try and beat me to it.
Watching paint dry became an attractive alternative - I was still observing the progress bar at 2315hrs.
I managed to just stay awake until 2330 and it FINISHED and I was invited to install.
Another progress bar appeared and declared there was 33 minutes to completion, OK that's Midnight but OK!.

Midnight and it still says 33 minutes - the progress bar had no sign of movement. That's it, It's crashed on installation, the worst possible scenario, I wish I'd never started, the existing Snow Leopard was killed and I really loved it deep down. I went to bed with thought of telephone calls in the morning and/or lugging the iMac to Meadowhall Apple shop and joining a half-mile queue of frustrated cutting edge dispositions.

Morning - plodded downstairs and found a black screen, confirming my worst fears. I prodded the space bar, more out of nostalgia than hope. I was confronted with a WONDERFUL log-in screen!!!
It even knew my name, and password - it had completely installed OS X 10.7 LION
I took back those words about Steve Job's unknown parents and muttered inside "Never in DOUBT"

Now, are me printers working??

iTunes in the Lounge!

2011-07-07T10:07:00.003Z

Having all my music CD's installed in iTunes on the iMac I've always wanted to connect to my Hi-Fi in the lounge. The prospect of running (more) cables under the floorboards was not enticing.
NEW GADGET TIME! - enter the Airport Express gizmo. This little beauty operates wirelessly on the home wi-fi and speaks directly to iTunes, all that's needed is a connection to the amplifier and to install the gizmo as another wireless access point on the system.
The amplifier connection is a 3.5mm mini jack socket which also has an optical output built in. I've tried both the analogue connection and the optical and the latter wins easily on sound quality.
. . and there's more, a very useful free app for the iPod and iPad called Remote, this gives complete remote control of iTunes whatever room you may occupy - SO - I can sit in the lounge enjoying all my music on the hi-fi from iTunes on the iMac in the study, controlling tracks and volume remotely.
Now that is a MEGA GIZMO!!

Canon 24-105 f4 L IS USM

2011-06-02T15:31:00.000Z

Whilst holidaying in Scotland, visiting the wonderful Orkney & Shetland islands, and during a brief visit to Edinburgh, I decided it was definitely time I got me a lens I've drooled over for months.
After the Japan disasters camera equipment manufactured there has been badly affected and reports of shortages worldwide were beginning to appear. That was enough excuse for me!
A visit to Jessops produced a predictable response - "Sorry and I think you'll find it's hard to find anywhere". 50 metres further down Princes Street I found Jacobs. A quick look around and there in a display cabinet was their last remaining 24-105.
The rest is history and I've completed my lens collection (for now).

Quiet Reflection

2011-05-31T19:06:00.001Z

I'm having trouble retaining the colour profiles of images obtained from Photobucket.
i.e. the sRGB profile appears to be stripped out when pasting to another website or saving back to the desktop.
This is one such image - has it retained the profile?? - YES

Family Update

2011-01-21T16:43:00.002Z

As promised here's a piccy of Frank Vincent, having a larfff.

WeatherSnoop!

2011-01-21T16:00:00.007Z

My weather station has been running about a year now and (touch head) without problems.
I decided to use an unused Windows laptop so as to run it 24/7 enabling data upload to
Weather Underground - and others. I do my daily computing on an iMac and have been wanting some method of displaying the weather data on the iMac second screen. Enter WeatherSnoop, it not only reads and transmits from weather stations but also pulls the transmitted data back for display from Weather Underground - Sorted!

WeatherSnoop

. . . and again!

2010-11-09T11:30:00.002Z

iPad - it had to happen!!

Yes, Yes I know - not waiting 'till second generation, no camera, etc etc - but I DON'T CARE.

It's flippin' gorgeous and I don't want a camera (being a rare non-Facebook member and social hermit type). I think this little baby will take over the World in the next year or so (after the camera is added in G2 for the rest of the World).

Apparently it's outsold the iPhone on its debut in spite of early critics prophesying a low take-up.

I invested in the 32Gb model and it swallowed all my music (9.7 days) without a gulp.

The web browsing experience is worth the purchase alone along with keeping a family tree of nearly 3500 with the lovely Reunion software.

New apps are appearing all the time and the Commercial sector is showing a lot of interest to replace laptops.

Gizmo Time Again!

2010-10-22T13:30:00.005Z

My anniversary of birth has just past by again and amongst the usual (mostly rude) cards I received a present from my only son. He obviously knows of my weakness for all things Gizmo and, much to my delight, presented me with a HELICOPTER!!.

Flying indoor micro IR Heli's (y'see I'm already into the jargon) is an acquired art which you have to learn - and it takes a little time - more than 5 minutes. SO after repeatedly crashing and crushing the poor thing I finished up with a poorly heli with a loose sprocket that won't stay attached.

I'm now well fired-up on micro heli flying so, of course had to supplement my collection and am the proud owner of a X-Heli Thunder jobby. These micro Helicopters are controlled not by radio but infra-red operating on several channels to guide the flight in both forward, back and sideways directions. The practice is now more controlled and careful and, so far, without terminal mechanical injury.

Thank you, my son, for introducing me to yet another of my many Gizmo hobbies!

. . . . sorry dear!

A cult classic from 1992

2010-09-15T15:10:00.004Z

By way of celebration of my Grandson (below) I've added what is now considered a cult movie from 1992, filmed entirely by Frank Vincent's mum (formerly known as my daughter) whilst visiting her parents.

I'm a Grandad - It's official

2010-09-15T14:35:00.005Z

My only daughter has presented the world with a new inhabitant, a boy (I resisted the "little" description as all babies are diminutive) with a pair of very noble Christian names - Frank and Vincent. They originate from the Great Grandfathers of said infant and a very good choice.

The scan (above) was, of course, taken somewhat earlier in the proceedings but I'm sure it will not be the last image of Frank Vincent to grace these portals. Congratulations to Mum & Dad!!!

We're a Microgenerator!

2010-08-07T13:37:00.011Z

Illustration courtesy of Homepower Magazine

The Solar PV installation is now up and running. The system was tested for a week or so by A Shade Greener then the scaffolding removed.

On a bright, sunny day we can knock out about 2.5-3.2 KW in the middle of the day and even in cloudy conditions it covers our normal consumption of 500-700 Watts.

We're getting used to operating power-hungry equipment like the washing machine and dishwasher in the middle of the day instead of overnight on timers - years of Economy 7 training!

The output from the panels is displayed on an OWL energy monitor - it can become addictive if the weather is variable, watching the KW being pumped into the house. Gloomy days now are low in our popularity stakes but a bit of sunshine brings the joy only known to Microgeneration households!

See Wikipedia for enlightenment.

The monitor clips to the roof panels AC feed to the house consumer unit, and transmits a wireless signal to the display unit. We have another similar display that shows total power taken by the house, so we can tell if the solar panels are producing enough at any one time and also if we are exporting to the national grid if an excess is generated.

Solar Update

2010-07-03T10:21:00.002Z

Well we're back on track for the installation - 13th July, although they've already amended that from an earlier date due to the shipment of panels being delayed by a typhoon in the Indian Ocean!

My neighbour already has his scaffolding up and we've both had isolating switches fitted yesterday.

Rain, Rain, Rain - but we need it!

2010-06-08T12:31:00.008Z

It's been raining for what seems days!, but after a very dry Spring the garden's gulping it down.

The Satellite radar shows the rain queuing up to the west so it looks like lasting most of today.

When I say we need it, it's not just for the garden -
Most of the human body is made up of water, H2O, with cells consisting of 65-90% water by weight. Therefore, it isn't surprising that most of a human body's mass is oxygen. Carbon, the basic unit for organic molecules, comes in second. 99% of the mass of the human body is made up of just six elements: oxygen, carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, calcium, and phosphorus.
Oxygen (65%)
Carbon (18%)
Hydrogen (10%)
Nitrogen (3%)
Calcium (1.5%)
Phosphorus (1.0%)
Potassium (0.35%)
Sulphur (0.25%)
Sodium (0.15%)
Magnesium (0.05%)
Copper, Zinc, Selenium, Molybdenum, Fluorine, Chlorine, Iodine, Manganese, Cobalt, Iron (0.70%)
Lithium, Strontium, Aluminum, Silicon, Lead, Vanadium, Arsenic, Bromine (trace amounts)

Not many people know that!

Scrap That!

2010-05-01T07:47:00.004Z

My estimate of solar panels being installed in a couple of weeks was a tad optimistic.
It seem that we are not on the Land Registry and A Shade Greener won't install without a LR reference. I'm now up to the armpits in the necessary forms, deeds and phone calls required to satisfy the LR enough to provide the goods.
The reason we aren't registered is because, having lived in this house for about 27 years, the need hasn't arisen, as in the case of a house sale, since the LR became compulsory in Bassetlaw in 1986.
It'll probably be mid-Winter when we're finally generating from gloomy skies :-(

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPod Touch

We're Going Solar!

2010-04-23T15:23:00.012Z

In about 2 weeks we should have a roof full of PV solar panels. They are being provided FREE by a local company called A Shade Greener. The Governments new Feed In Tariffs (FITS) are at the heart of A Shade Greener's existence.

http://www.fitariffs.co.uk/FITs/quick/

They use your roof space for their solar panels and claim the tariffs (presently about 41.3p per KWh). The power generated is free to us for the 25 year agreement period and after that they become our property. It should be said that A Shade Greener only operate around Yorkshire and parts of Notts/Lincs and Humberside.
They have had a huge response but say that a large proportion of submissions dont meet all the criteria - the main one being a large South facing roof.

http://www.ashadegreener.co.uk/
Watch this space for further developments!
As a spinoff and another Gizmo application, I run an energy meter kindly provided free by Eon and below is a readout of the power consumption - which will be interesting once the panels are fitted. It should also be noted that we use a tad more than the average consumer as I have to power all my electric gadgets and gizmos!

Lovely Day!

2010-03-02T19:12:00.001Z

After the dullest, coldest, longest Winter I can remember, today was magic!
Spent the morning in the garden tidying the paths and patio. The sky was a cloudless blue and everything was still and quiet. About 1100 hrs 3 Buzzards drifted over high in the sky, calling and playing.
I enjoyed a beer in the sun . . ah!! retirement :-)

Local PWX's

2010-02-06T13:16:00.012Z

Personal weather stations local to me (and a few commercial ones too) using the Weather Underground site (Wunderground) - that's me centre right.

The uploaded data can be found here for station INOTTING18

I also use the Citizens Weather Observer Program (CWOP) site here station desig.DW4509. This is mainly based in the USA but has a number of stations around the World.

Weather Alert!

2010-01-16T11:18:00.007Z

It's new Gizmo time again!, doesn't seem long since the last one :-(

I have an interest in all things Weather, I think it's part of the English psyche.

My kids bought me a weather station about 5 years ago and, whilst it works fine and I use it daily, it doesn't give me the full weather picture. To monitor wind and rainfall requires a somewhat more substantial unit - hence me new Gizmo!

The La Crosse WS2350 Weather Station fits the bill, it includes all the outdoor bits for wind and rain measurement AND the ability to talk to my iMac computer and transfer data, a gizmo freak's dream!

Naturally, I have to invest in some new software to gather all this interesting data.

Running an iMac computer, whilst it's the undisputed Roll-Royce of desktops, it does limit the choice of software for niche applications such as this.

I looked at the three main contenders - the most popular was a cobbled-up version of the Windows edition :-( , but I settled on Lightsoft Weather Centre (LWC).

The communication from weather station unit to computer can be tricky as these units output a serial signal which has to be transposed into USB for all modern computers. A serial/USB (Heath Robinson brand) lead was supplied and, after finding a suitable driver to download, it worked fine!

The screen display is shown below:

It naturally follows that I'm now seriously happy in heavy rain or dangerous gusts of wind knowing that my charts will be enhanced by the peaks and troughs of our lovely British weather!

See Weather data from my station at the foot of this page!

I'm Tanked Up!

2010-01-11T12:20:00.009Z

I've had an interest in Tropical fish since teenage years and have owned at least one tank ever since, I reached my piscatorial peak when a spare bedroom was turned into a fish room and 6 large tanks occupied one complete wallspace. A leak whilst away finally saw the room return to it's original use.

Since then I've dabbled with Discus - a difficult but beautiful Amazonian species, run a marine reef tank for a year or two before my conscience regarding the plundering of scarce natural resources lead me to convert the reef tank into a 40 gallon freshwater job.That one tank is still here after about 15 years - but now I have another:

A Fluval Edge!!

A very modern and controversial design - being a small glass cube filled entirely with 5 gallons of water except for a small opening in the top to allow filtered water to be circulated.

The size of this tank - Nano in fishkeeping jargon - only allows a few small fish to be kept as the golden rule is 1cm of fish per litre of water.

I have six White Cloud Mountain Minnows (Tanichthys albonubes) flashing around in it at present.

The very good filter system (an Aquaclear 100) was cycled for 17 days using ammonia before the introduction of the fish. This builds up the bacteria colonies necessary to deal with the natural waste products produced by the fish and plants.

So far everything is running well and the fish are lively and eating everything.

Thanks to my dear wife for a very nice Christmas Gift!

I'm a Pensioner - It's Official

2009-11-16T11:35:00.007Z

I received my first State Pension payment last week, a feat unknown to the male Simpson line.

My Dad needed another 3 years, his father, Henry, managed 64, Robert reached 58, and John just scraped 50. So that makes me the oldest in 218 years (John was born in 1791)

I don't know whether to feel proud or senile.

Stirling Castle Simplified!

2009-10-31T13:22:00.002Z

_MG_1539-Simplify.jpg
Originally uploaded by seejayess

This Post has been sent directly from Flickr. The photo was published from a new facility in Lightroom 3 Beta which has just been issued for testing - it connects directly with Flickr and post the image along with any comments - so I'm testing!
The image was tweaked in Topaz Simplify (hence the title), which is a Lightroom plugin that enables an image to be manipulated in many ways - including "arty" effects like pencil sketch and watercolour effects.

I'm hoping that the finalised issue of Lightroom 3 will have other Publishing facilities to sites like Photobucket.

From My Bed

2009-09-24T07:39:00.001Z

Just found a new app. for my iPod for Blogger.
Lying in bed on a Thursday morning sipping green tea with the sun streaming in - everything a bloke could wish for!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPod Touch

Living in the Conservatory!!

2009-06-13T18:41:00.002Z

The kitchen is a re-plastered box. A facility that was the hub of the house has gone away for three weeks.
Imagine it (if you can). Every spare bit of space in the house crammed with kitchen content. The constant use of only two cups, plates, bowls and knives & forks repeatedly washed and dried in the downstairs loo. Breakfast in a conservatory already bulging with plants now supplemented with an ejected gas cooker, part of the previous worktop perched on the dining table serving as the new hub of meal activity. The luxury of a dinner at the local Brewer's Fare is the highlight of the week.
Sleep deprivation on a gargantuan scale - tradesmen arriving at silly times like 8-30 in the morning ( a time unknown to me since retirement eons ago), the repeated hourly tea mashing ceremony to satisfy their thirst coupled with the new experience of Smooth FM accompanied by the occasional, loud warbleings of the fame-starved plumber/electrician/gas fitter.
The end of June can't come soon enough!

Snow!! - like it used to be

2009-02-06T12:14:00.004Z

Here in sunny Carlton we don't get snow, or at least we haven't had a decent drop since moving here in '83.
This brings the memories of my Sheffield childhood back, late nights in the dark sledging down main road hills without any traffic, chilblains and steaming socks in front of a coal fire.
The kids round here under the age of 6 won't have seen anything like this and are out in force making huge snowballs and being a nuisance to old folk who resent not having a sledge anymore :-(

Terror Bite!

2009-01-28T20:08:00.003Z

My seemingly reliable Maxtor One-Touch 750 Gb backup drive has ceased to be.

A customer enters a pet shop.

Mr. Praline: 'Ello, I wish to register a complaint.

(The owner does not respond.)

Mr. Praline: 'Ello, Miss?

Owner: What do you mean "miss"?

Mr. Praline: I'm sorry, I have a cold. I wish to make a complaint!

Owner: We're closin' for lunch.

Mr. Praline: Never mind that, my lad. I wish to complain about this parrot what I purchased not half an hour ago from this very boutique.

Owner: Oh yes, the, uh, the Norwegian Blue...What's,uh...What's wrong with it?

Mr. Praline: I'll tell you what's wrong with it, my lad. 'E's dead, that's what's wrong with it!

Owner: No, no, 'e's uh,...he's resting.

Mr. Praline: Look, matey, I know a dead parrot when I see one, and I'm looking at one right now.

Owner: No no he's not dead, he's, he's restin'! Remarkable bird, the Norwegian Blue, idn'it, ay? Beautiful plumage!

Mr. Praline: The plumage don't enter into it. It's stone dead.

Owner: Nononono, no, no! 'E's resting!

Mr. Praline: All right then, if he's restin', I'll wake him up! (shouting at the cage) 'Ello, Mister Polly Parrot! I've got a lovely fresh cuttle fish for you if you
show...

(owner hits the cage)

Owner: There, he moved!

Mr. Praline: No, he didn't, that was you hitting the cage!

Owner: I never!!

Mr. Praline: Yes, you did!

Owner: I never, never did anything...

Mr. Praline: (yelling and hitting the cage repeatedly) 'ELLO POLLY!!!!! Testing! Testing! Testing! Testing! This is your nine o'clock alarm call!

(Takes parrot out of the cage and thumps its head on the counter. Throws it up in the air and watches it plummet to the floor.)

Mr. Praline: Now that's what I call a dead parrot.

Owner: No, no.....No, 'e's stunned!

Mr. Praline: STUNNED?!?

Owner: Yeah! You stunned him, just as he was wakin' up! Norwegian Blues stun easily, major.

Mr. Praline: Um...now look...now look, mate, I've definitely 'ad enough of this. That parrot is definitely deceased, and when I purchased it not 'alf an hour
ago, you assured me that its total lack of movement was due to it bein' tired and shagged out following a prolonged squawk.

Owner: Well, he's...he's, ah...probably pining for the fjords.

Mr. Praline: PININ' for the FJORDS?!?!?!? What kind of talk is that?, look, why did he fall flat on his back the moment I got 'im home?

Owner: The Norwegian Blue prefers keepin' on it's back! Remarkable bird, id'nit, squire? Lovely plumage!

Mr. Praline: Look, I took the liberty of examining that parrot when I got it home, and I discovered the only reason that it had been sitting on its perch in the
first place was that it had been NAILED there.

(pause)

Owner: Well, o'course it was nailed there! If I hadn't nailed that bird down, it would have nuzzled up to those bars, bent 'em apart with its beak, and
VOOM! Feeweeweewee!

Mr. Praline: "VOOM"?!? Mate, this bird wouldn't "voom" if you put four million volts through it! 'E's bleedin' demised!

Owner: No no! 'E's pining!

Mr. Praline: 'E's not pinin'! 'E's passed on! This parrot is no more! He has ceased to be! 'E's expired and gone to meet 'is maker! 'E's a stiff! Bereft of life, 'e
rests in peace! If you hadn't nailed 'im to the perch 'e'd be pushing up the daisies! 'Is metabolic processes are now 'istory! 'E's off the twig! 'E's kicked the
bucket, 'e's shuffled off 'is mortal coil, run down the curtain and joined the bleedin' choir invisibile!! THIS IS AN EX-PARROT!!

(pause)

Owner: Well, I'd better replace it, then. (he takes a quick peek behind the counter) Sorry squire, I've had a look 'round the back of the shop, and uh,
we're right out of parrots.

Mr. Praline: I see. I see, I get the picture.

Owner: I got a slug.

(pause)

Mr. Praline: Pray, does it talk?

Owner: Nnnnot really.

Mr. Praline: WELL IT'S HARDLY A BLOODY REPLACEMENT, IS IT?!!???!!?

Owner: N-no, I guess not. (gets ashamed, looks at his feet)

Mr. Praline: Well.

(pause)

Owner: (quietly) D'you.... d'you want to come back to my place?

Mr. Praline: (looks around) Yeah, all right, sure.

So . . . . naturally I've had to replace it to satisfy the Wonderful Apple Time Machine that resides on the iMac.

It's successor is the Iomega Minimax 1Tb external Hard Drive.

I hope it's a bit more reliable than the Maxtor!

You Knew I Would!

2009-01-06T14:55:00.005Z

I've got the Touch!, 'couldn't resist the blighter - just a little electronic marvel. Mind you, I did have the decency to wait 'till after Christmas in case somebody gave me one.

It's now steadily filling with all sorts of apps, some great, some not but it's just fun (or as Apple puts it "The Funnest iPod of all!")

As you can see below I can blog from anywhere using a neat bit of iPod software, I'm reading most of my Mail before I get out of bed along with the weather and The Independant.

In fact apart from meals and ablutions I might as well stay under the covers 'till Spring :-)

http://www.macdailynews.com/index.php/weblog/comments/8509/

Blogging from under the quilt!

2009-01-06T00:36:00.001Z

Found a nifty app to use with my new gizmo - more of that later. It allows me to text to my blog using my new IPOD TOUCH.
So I can now compose from anywhere within range of the home network, or out and about in public wi-fi areas.
Cool!
So it's after midnight and I'm in bed blogging :-).

Meercat Study

2008-12-23T17:12:00.003Z

The Meercat is a very endearing creature. In spite of being the star of many a wildlife safari on the telly, it has a capacity to always fascinate people. This particular animal was photographed at Chester Zoo and seemed totally preoccupied with skygazing. I think that he was actally on lookout duty while the rest of the family snoozed.
Canon 40D with 70-200 f4L, hand held.

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Flock Testing!

2008-12-23T15:41:00.004Z

I'm trying another web Browser - Flock. It's got some interesting attributes not least of which is its' ability to upload data such as blogs and images directly to subscribed websites.
I've successfully used it on Photobucket so now I'm trying it here.

Michelangelo's David after a recent vacation in Miami.

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Watch This!

2008-08-27T10:13:00.012Z

My Seiko self-powered gizmo watch is starting to feel it's age.

Movement of the wrist generates the power which is stored in a capacitor.

In spite of walking 100 miles a day and swinging my left arm vigourously,

I can't generate enough power to keep the blighter going overnight.

Excuse to buy another gizmo!!

Enter the Citizen Eco-Drive E3100 SOLAR POWERED gizmo watch.

Pretty Neat Eh?

I've Got A Tattoo!!

2008-08-20T13:16:00.009Z

We've just returned from Scotland having visited Glasgow and Edinburgh. The prime reason was to visit the Edinburgh Tattoo.

We were based in Glasgow at the Crowne Plaza Hotel just across the river Clyde from BBC Scotland and the Science and Imax Centres. Not having stayed in Glasgow before I was very impressed with the area around the hotel. Very modern and impressive architecture alongside some historical areas preserved from the old shipbuilding days.

The Tattoo itself proved to be a really great experience with a very international content. Edinburgh was absolutely packed with tourists from all over the world, brought together not only by the tattoo but the Edinburgh festival with all the Fringe shows

The view from our hotel looked straight down the Clyde towards the old dock area still with the shipbuilding cranes reaching for the sky

We were expecting to get a soaking at the Tattoo but the evening was dry and calm. The picture right shows the finale with the whole cast and a firework display.

The G9 is Mine!

2008-08-09T13:54:00.013Z

Yes it's Gizmo Time again!

My latest acquisition is the Canon Sureshot G9.

Canon's flagship compact that's aimed at enthusiasts (like me) and the pro market as a carry-everywhere backup to an SLR system.

I think this say's it all . . . .

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canong9/

Back From A Broad!

2008-08-04T13:33:00.011Z

Not really abroad but the Norfolk Broads. We've just spent two great weeks cruising just about the entire Norfolk broad map.

Starting in Wroxham aboard our mate Jim's boat, Forget-me-not, we navigated south through Yarmouth and spent the first week on the south side of Breydon Water. A couple of days were spent at Oulton Broad and on the Thursday evening we watched the power boat racing. This is the first time I've spent a fortnight on the Broads and I must have had about 10 such holidays over the years.

The weather was generally excellent apart from the first couple of days which were cold and windy at times.

The bird population seems to me to have increased substantially since my early years in Norfolk in the early sixties.

This can be partially explained by the thriving fish and insect numbers. All yachts and cruisers no longer discharge sewage into the water as

they did back then and, as a result, the water is much cleaner. The other factor may be that there is less river traffic now, Hire fleets are smaller and there are less of them. It's become an expensive holiday to hire a large cruiser for six or eight people now and a holiday abroad can be cheaper.

For me, it's the uniqueness of a cruising holiday that attracts, there's nothing quite like waking on a summers morning for breakfast on a beautiful stretch of river or listening to the natural sounds on a peaceful evening.

We saw Otters for the first time too, after travelling north and mooring at Neatishead staithe near Barton Broad, we were surprised to see an Otter patrolling the margins in the early morning quite unconcerned with our presence on the boat nearby. Apparently this is becoming a fairly common sight in some areas of Broadland.

The only trouble with this type of holiday is that it takes me two or three days to get used to sleeping on a boat bunk and about twice as long to get used to sleeping back home afterwards, often waking at night thinking I was still afloat. An altogether wonderful relaxing break from the rigours of retirement.

I Just Love See-Through Gizmos!

2008-03-04T16:17:00.008Z

I wish my Canon EOS40D had a transparent casing. I can't get enough of those little circuit boards and capacitors. I think it all stems from my teenage years when transistor radio kits were just coming in and you could build your own. That lovely smell of hot solder and plastic covered wiring . . . I suppose it's not really practical 'cos I've just realized that a see-through case would let the light in all the time and spoil the show altogether . . . pity.

Health Warning!!

2008-03-03T12:29:00.002Z

Following the article below I have to report a serious side-effect from playng Nintendo Wii Sports. My Significant Other has a hamstring injury from an over-enthusiastic Ten Pin Bowling session. She's now learning the art of playing without bending any knees! In the process she's become a better player than yours truly and amassed a record score of 195 whilst standing perfectly vertical . . I give up!

I may be retired, but I'm cutting edge . . .

2008-03-02T17:30:00.003Z

The Nintendo Wii is not just for teenies. I'm not a huge computer game player, I appreciate the fantastic graphics and sound now achieved in the latest software games but until now I've never felt the urge to purchase the hardware.

The unique approach by Nintendo in incorporating an interactive remote that describes its own position in space to the console and enables the player to interact with the TV screen by playing games and "sports" in a way that wasn't previously possible. The Wii Sports software provided free with the kit incorporates Ten Pin Bowling and the control provided by the remote gives a very passable impression of the real thing - bringing back memories of my youth in the bowling alleys of Sheffield. The more you practice the better you get, direction control and spin application are skills that can be developed - along with a modicum of physical exercise (just like the real thing my legs were tortured for a day or two at first). There is also a fitness section which presents you with small snippets of several physical activities and measures your input. My first efforts fully reflected my age group but I've recently improved to a 40 year old! - I'm liking Wii even more :-)

Now I've succumbed and bought my first "proper" game - Super Mario Galaxy - one of the latest from Nintendo and hailed as one of the best, time will tell if my enthusiasm is still undiminished in a month or so.

It seems the sales of Nintendo Wii units have outsold the combined efforts of Sony (Playstation) and Microsoft (X-Box) over the last few months so that must say something!

Well Wadya Know!!

2008-02-18T19:30:00.001Z

It does work so I feel a daily blog addition happening from now on :-}

Test Post from Mac Widget on desktop

2008-02-18T19:26:00.001Z

This little widget sits on my iMac desktop and contains a text window that enables me to post a blog direct - hope it works!

Talking of Big Macs

2008-01-27T18:28:00.000Z

. . i've got one!!, not the lovely squidgy-munchy thing I'm only allowed after I've just had major surgery (see below) . . but the lovely cool aluminium and glass one piece iMac super computer that Apple designed along with the iPod and iPhone.

Coming from an MS Windows world into the OS X Leopard environment is not exactly straight forward - it's probably akin to suddenly driving on the right side of the road with one hand in your pocket - tricky but you can get used to it .

One of the biggest differences, to me, is the way programmes are uninstalled. Windows demands either using the programm's uninstall utility or firing up control panel, asking it for the Add/Remove software bit then waiting 5 minutes while a list of possible uninstalls is compiled.

Lepoard doesn't mess around like that! - you just drag the offending programme executable thing, kicking and screaming, to the Trash Can , that's it!!

Another immediate impact is the boot-up time, this iMac takes 15 seconds to sit there ready with tail wagging and loyal upward stare. My previous Windows PC's allowed enough time to microwave my morning porridge and mash a cuppa even after logging in.

In my usual fashion with new technology I've bought a couple of books to ease the transition but after only 2 weeks I'm rarely referring to them.

The REALLY cool parts of BIG iMac are :

1) The wonderful 24" screen which allows digital photo manipulation the way it should be

2) The fact that all the computer guts are in the screen housing so no great box to cope with.

3) Complete quiet - can't hear any fans although there are 3 tucked inside.

4) A very cool keyboard made from one piece of aluminium with an extra USB port in each end.

5) Virus free - no antivirus checker needed - as there 'ain't any to combat :-)

Whilst the iMac sound reasonable with its built-in speakers I've added a pair of the extraordinary Creative Gigaworks T20's to bring the sound up to par.

I haven't mentioned the built-in camera and microphone, bluetooth and wi-fi (it connected to my home wireless network immediately) so although it's fairly large and heavy I can put it in any room and use internet facilities by just plugging (the single plug) in.

I'm a Mac convert already

A Tale Of Two Bypasses

2007-07-10T17:15:00.002Z

Today I've returned from Sheffield's Northern General Hospital after spending a week there having a double heart bypass graft. The experience has left me with a deep admiration for the care and professionalism of our much maligned N.H.S.- apart from one particular subject - FOOD.
The Northern General provided me with new culinary experiences, probably top of the list is for the first time in my life I experienced the real fear of starvation. This was propagated by several consecutive days of eating next to nothing!
I realise that the anaesthetic process suppresses the appetite for a day or so but I know mine had returned when the morning cornflakes took on a gastronomic aura.
Meals were organised in advanced by filling in a tick-box list for the next day's lunch and evening meals.
Anything hot arrived incognito - being securely hidden from the eager feeder's view until the very last minute by a plastic lid, a cunning device allowing the provider to be away and out of (polite volume) earshot across the ward. Cold items usually sandwiches or salads were either packed in label-obscuring plastic boxes or, in the case of a salad, hidden beneath a mound of lettuce leaves.
I sampled the "Egg" salad. Beneath the near-impenetrable leaves was the following:
1 tomato cut in half, 4 slices of cucumber and 5 slices of a very small hard-boiled egg (only 3 of which had any signs of a yolk). That was it! I just longed for a spot of simple salad cream or a little grated carrot to stir a glimmer of interest.
My ward-mates shared these experiences with the same horror. Barry's 2 piece lemon sponge trapped inside a lidded pot that clung to it's miserable life by piece{A} being so hard as to provide gavel duty when someone auctioned off an edible rarity and piece {B} steadfastly refusing to leave the nest in spite of prising with the (grubby) cutlery. A pot of soup eagerly awaited by Ray (who hadn't eaten for 2 days) was fridge-cold. Try a beef sandwich, one slice of bread /one thin slice of reformed beef /one slice of bread. Vegetable curry and rice, bear in mind here that the ward was hot enough to reduce a Flora pack to liquid in 5 minutes, consisted of a glutinous mound of diced veg starting to crust over which was so hot (chemically) as to take what little breath was available coupled with a heap of rice dry enough to totally dehydrate the fittest patient in half an hour.
By the 5th night of my 6 I was having not only food nightmares in my very limited sleep sessions, but could think of nothing else during waking hours. I watched all the cookery programs on the TV with the firm belief I would never live long enough to enjoy a decent meal again.
Toast was to be my saviour. It was served before bedtime every night with butter/jam along with a cuppa. On the sixth night the waiting was unbearable. I had hideous thoughts that for some reason it wouldn't arrive - a bread strike, a work to rule in the kitchens, don't serve toast on a Monday because it offends some remote Afghan hill tribe, whatever.
Imagine my relief when that familiar trundling sound was heard and the now universal clapping and cheering got nearer and nearer. I had 6 slices that night.
During the food delerium periods I had a repeated fantasy of devouring a Big Mac and fries in the car park of the Worksop Branch on my way home. I believed then and still now that this kept what little sanity I had left.
It's about 8 hours since we made that little diversion down the Worksop Bypass to McDonalds and consumed what I now consider the finest meal of my life, (can't remember the last time I had one)
Moral, take salad cream, sandwich pickle and cutlery and enjoy your bypasses!

p.s. 30/04/2009
I'm fine now and mentally able to point you in this direction for further delights in the hospital food category: here

Global Warming Arrives!!

2007-02-05T11:10:00.000Z

These photographs were taken on February 2nd 2007 in Carlton Wood, right behind our house. They show a group of three Rose-ringed parakeets settled in the trees. To my knowledge this is the first sighting of these birds in the area (unless you know different). They stayed all day and were seen in the area until sundown.
These parakeets are fairly sedentary so I hope they stay around and perhaps breed here!

The Rose-ringed Parakeet (Psittacula krameri), also known as the Ring-necked Parakeet, is a gregarious tropical parakeet species that is popular as a pet. Its scientific name commemorates the Austrian naturalist Wilhelm Heinrich Kramer.
Ring-necked parakeets are long-lived, and nest in holes in trees. There is no record of their presence impacting on native birds, but the RSPB is monitoring areas where these birds have settled
In the wild, Rose-ringed Parakeets usually feed on buds, fruits, vegetables, nuts, berries and seeds. Wild flocks also fly several miles to forage in farmlands and orchards causing extensive damage
Ring-necked Parakeets first bred in England 1969.
The smooth, non-glossy white eggs are about 30 mm by 23 mm. The female incubates the eggs by herself. After the young hatch, they are fed by both parents.
The European populations became established during the mid to late 20th Century from introduced and escaped birds. There are two main population centres in Britain: the largest is based around south London, Surrey and Berkshire, and by 2005 consisted of many thousands of birds. A smaller population occurs around Margate and Ramsgate, Kent. Elsewhere in Britain, smaller feral populations have established from time to time (e.g., at Studland, Dorset).
They are slowly spreading from their southern stronghold and are now seen as far north as Sheffield and Leeds; a pair nested and possibly bred in Sheffield in 2003
The Rose-ringed Parakeet is considered one of the best talking parakeets and can learn a vocabulary of up to 250 words. The speech clarity can be pretty amazing and they have a habit of practising until perfect and then shocking their owners with an accurately uttered word. Now these birds come in many mutations, including the common green, blue, grey among many other colours.

My DVD Collection

2006-12-27T12:11:00.000Z

I've been collecting DVD's since the medium was launched,
but judging by other online collections I've a long way to
go before it can be described as large. See it HERE .

Fractal Doodling

2006-12-24T15:27:00.000Z

Fractals are a fascinating (for me at least) subject and the patterns that can be generated are wonderful shapes and colours. Free software such as Tierazon Fractals and interesting websites like http://www.fractalarts.com - a few of my doodles follow:

I've got a new PC!!

2006-12-11T12:46:00.000Z

I've had a wireless gateway for nearly a year now and only just got the thing to work wirelessly. Having two desktop pc's (one upstairs and t'other down) which are on a wired network, I thought an early Crizzy prezzy would be in order to replace an ageing laptop running Windows ME , with a shiny new wireless-enabled job. Not being one to take snap decisions I'd sorted it in half an hour online. PC World had a Compaq Presario 6133 with £100 off. That was last friday 8/12 and it's taken me a while to get the wireless bit working and the other pc's plugged into the new router, but here I am WIRELESS at last in the conservatory typing this note. The new notebook has the AMD Turion 64 X2 dual core chip and is ready for Windows Vista in the new year. In fact I should get a free upgrade! if the enclosed leaflet is true
(update 28/3/07 - received the upgrade today, having read of trouble with drivers etc. I'm holding off installing it)

40 Years Ago!

2006-11-18T20:36:00.000Z

It was 40 years ago, we were on holiday in Norfolk in a rented cottage - a really old thatched affair that had all the proper trimming. Whitewashed walls and a lovely apple orchard. It was walking distance from Barton Broad and Neatishead village, Admiral Horatio Nelson spent time here in his youth. His sister rented Barton Broad, and Horatio visited her when on leave from the navy. (Tradition has it that he once lost a chain and locket in these waters.)
Anyway, my (then) girlfriend Lorraine and my cousin David and his wife Deirdre and her mum and dad and I spent a week in this quiet corner of Norfolk. A spot of fishing on Barton - rising at silly hours of the morning and rowing out on the Broad with the mist still swirling and everyone tucked in their bunks on the moored boats. I don't recall anyone catching anything memorable but the peace and tranquility was enough!
The picture is Lorraine fast asleep in the cottage after the early risings took their toll! Surprisingly, she's still with me after 40 years!

I've got (another) new camera!

2006-09-23T19:06:00.000Z

Now that compact digital cameras with a decent pixel count are
available at reasonable prices – I’ve got another.
My first, a Panasonic) was only 0.75 MP (magapixels) about 7 years ago and it was expensive by today’s prices.
Next came a 2 MP Kyocera that was ok for printing up to 6x4 or so and was an unusual camcorder style

Then a Nikon Coolpix 3700 with 3.2 MP – a tiny thing that was very pocketable.

All the while my “serious” photography involved Canon SLR film cameras and later a digital EOS 300D with 6.3 MP. The quality of digital photography from the larger sensor size of an SLR was not achievable with the much smaller sensor of the compact.

The latest acquisition is a Fujifilm Finepix E900. This has a 9 MP sensor and, whilst not the size of an SLR sensor, it will easily print an A3 with very satisfactory quality,

This one now allows full manual exposure control along with all the features expected in an SLR. It also shoots RAW mode files which allows a lot of post editing and refinement.

A Week on the Norfolk Broads

2006-06-11T16:42:00.000Z

Our "Tender Behind"

2006-06-11T16:35:00.000Z

Yacht under construction in the Hunters yard at Ludham.

2006-06-11T16:29:00.000Z

Bundles of thatching reeds

2006-06-11T16:26:00.000Z

Back to Nature - Womack Water

2006-06-11T16:24:00.000Z

Moored at Howe Hill

2006-06-11T16:22:00.000Z

The Forget-Me-Not

2006-06-11T16:17:00.000Z

This is Cap'n Jim writing the ships log aboard the Forget-Me-not

A Week on the Norfolk Broads

2006-06-11T15:57:00.000Z

The one and only sunset from a week on the Broads during the last week of May. Very cold and windy with occasional torrential rain.
This was at Womack Water where we moored overnight.

New PC

2005-12-27T15:37:00.000Z

Just testing a new PC which is networked downstairs and uses the other as a common internet connection. Also stuck a Toshiba 320 Gig hard drive on it as it only has 80.
It’s a Packard Bell bought cheaply from PC World as the box only with a 3 Ghtz Pentium 4 and 256 Mb memory – to upgrade later!
This note from MS Word using the Blogger plugin.

Norfolk Break

2005-11-01T21:55:00.000Z

Took a few days down on the north Norfolk coast last week (Tues-Fri). Stayed in the Lifeboat Inn at Thorneham for our third visit in 4 years. Weather was brilliant for October with thursday being like a summers day! The photo bottom left is a lovely strech of deserted coast between Thorneham and Wells. It was totally quiet and teemed with wildlife - notably Lesser Egrets and a Marsh Harrier.The image of the old boat wreck was taken on last years' visit and is still there. We visited Hunstanton again, as last year, when I took the seascape (top)after a spot of "unsettled" weather.

Mr Gates's Browser

2005-10-19T09:27:00.000Z

Although it seems Microsoft is slowly taking over the world, I think that most of it's application software is pretty decent, if a little bloated at times. Non-Microsoft web browsers are a good chance to loosen Bill's stranglehold a touch, and I've used Firefox and Avant Browser (which I preferred) until yesterday.
I'm now an Opera fan. I didn't realise what a following this thing had until I subscribed to its'community. There's even a blog site and photo galleries, you can copy your Blogger blog across as well.
Opera is also very customable(?) with score of skins avilable, uploaded by the loyal followers. An interesting addition (download) is the "Voice". Voice can read paragraphs of text and you can easily browse to other sites with voice commands. So I'll be spending some time with the Opera fraternity feeling a little more comfortable that WHG doesn't quite yet run my entire life!

It's My Birthday

2005-10-17T13:58:00.000Z

..........and just to celebrate, I'll remind meself what I was like at the age of about 8. That's me with Dad and we're looking at the view from the top of Box Hill - a local beauty spot in Surrey. We used to go from Sheffield and visit my Auntie Mary & Uncle Frank who lived there. So that photo was taken about 1952.
Wish I'd kept that snake belt - It'd fetch a fortune on Ebay!

2005-10-15T15:50:00.000Z

Here's another looking down Derwent Water

A Picasa Test

2005-10-15T15:27:00.000Z

Hey......that's impressive! I've just installed Picasa software (Google) and it scanned all me PC for images, grouped them by date and displayed them in the groups. Just hit the "Blog This " button and it uploads piccies straight onto here after a log-in.
You can run slide shows, edit images, burn Cd's, search, sort and do all sorts of wonderful things.......... and it's freeee!

The image is from a recent trip to The Lake District and this is Derwentwater near Keswick, not much sun but that didn't matter.

The Chesterfield Canal

2005-10-09T17:21:00.000Z

CHESTERFIELD CANAL. from "Priestley's Navigable Rivers and Canals"
11 George III. Cap. 7.5, Royal Assent 28th March, 1771.
THIS canal commences in the tideway of the Trent, at Stockwith, in Nottinghamshire, near to the place where the navigable River Idle falls into it, about four miles below Gainsborough. Its course is nearly west for six miles, passing round to the north of Gringley Beacon, whence it pursues a southerly course, to East Retford; thence, westward, by Worksop, to Shire Oaks, where it enters the county of York; when passing south of the village of Wales, and entering Derbyshire, it proceeds, in a southerly course, along the east bank of the River Rother, through a country abounding in coal, to Chesterfield, where it terminates. Its length is forty-six miles. From the Trent to Worksop it is twenty-four miles, with a rise of 250 feet; from thence, to the summit, at the tunnel near Harthill, nine miles, with a rise of 85 feet, being a total rise of 335 feet From the summit to Chesterfield, the distance is thirteen miles, with a fall of 45 feet. The number of locks is sixty-five. Between Wales and Harthill there is a tunnel two thousand eight hundred and fifty yards in length; it is in width 9¼ feet, and 12 feet high. Near Gringley Beacon is another tunnel one hundred and fifty-three yards in length. Between the long tunnel and Chesterfield, many individuals have laid down private railways, for the purpose of transporting the production of the mines and iron-works in that district.
This navigation was projected by Mr. Brindley, in 1769, but before any application was made to parliament for authority to carry it into execution, Mr. Grundy was directed to view the intended line of canal, upon which he reported in August, 1770. His proposal was to carry the line of canal from Stockwith, in nearly a straight course, to Bawtry, and from thence, by Scrooby, Blyth, and Carlton, and to join Brindley's line at the Shire Oaks.
Mr. Brindley's estimate was £94,908, 17s. and the length, according to the original plan made by Mr. Varley, is forty-four miles, six furlongs and eight chains and a half, and Grundy's estimate, by his proposed alteration, is £71,479, 6s. 9½d. being less by £23,429, 10s. 2½d. and shorter by nearly five miles and a half; yet, notwithstanding the apparent advantages of Grundy's line, such confidence had the proposed company in Brindley's designs, that they applied to parliament and obtained an act to enable them to carry his scheme into execution; it is entitled, 'An Act for making a navigable Cut or Canal from Chesterfield, in the county of Derby, through or near Worksop and Retford, to join the River Trent, at or near Stockwith, in the county of Nottingham.' The proprietors, at the time the act was obtained, consisted of one hundred and seventy-four persons, amongst whom were the Most Noble the Dukes of Devonshire and Newcastle, Lord Scarsdale, the Dean of York, and Sir Cecil Wray, Bart. who were incorporated by the name of" The Company of Proprietors of the Canal Navigation from Chesterfield to the River Trent," and empowered to raise among themselves the sum of £100,000, in one thousand shares of £100 each, for the purpose of carrying the same into execution, but the canal was not to be begun until the whole sum was raised; and in case the above sum was insufficient, they might raise among themselves, or by the admission of new subscribers, or by mortgage of the rates and duties, the additional sum of £50,000. The work to be managed by a committee, under the control of the general assembly. The act, which is very long, contains many clauses for the protection of private property; particularly such as belong to the Dukes of Norfolk and Leeds, and Lord Byron. Immediately on the passing of the act, the works were commenced, under the direction of Mr. Brindley, and so continued until his death, in September, 1772, when they were conducted and finished by Mr. Henshall, his brother-in-law, in 1776. From the Trent to Retford, the canal is constructed for vessels of fifty to sixty tons burthen; the remaining portion is for such as carry about twenty tons only.

RATES OF TONNAGE AND WHARFAGE.
Lime 1d per Ton, per Mile.
Coal, Lead, Timber, Stone, and all other Goods, Wares and Merchandize 1½d ditto ditto.
Soap, Ashes, Salt, Salt-scrow, Foul Salt, and Grey Salt, Soot, Bone-dust, Pigeons' Dung, Rape or Cole Seed Dust, to be used for the manuring of Lands of any Persons, whose Lands shall be Cut through by this Canal, such Lands being in any Township through which it passes, and Rags or Tanners' Bark ½d ditto ditto.
EXEMPTION FROM TOLL.
Hay, and Corn in the Straw, not sold, but to be laid up in the Outhouses of the Owner; Small Rubbish or Waste Stones, Gravel and Sand for the repair of Roads, (not being Turnpike) in any Township through which the Canal passes, and which shall not be carried more than Five Miles.
Dung, Soil, Marl, Ashes of Coal and Turf, for the Improvement of Lands lying in any Township through which the Canal will pass, and belonging to Persons whose Lands may be taken for the Canal, provided these excepted Articles do not pass a Lock, except when the Water is running over the Gauge or Niche of the Lock.
If any Iron, Iron-stone, Coals, Lime for the Improvement of Lands, or other Goods whatsoever, remain on the Wharfs longer than Twenty-four Hours, then such additional Rate to be paid as may be agreed upon.
Fifty Feet of Round, or Forty Feet of Square Oak, Ash, or Elm Timber, or Fifty Feet of Fir, or Deal, Balk, Poplar, and other Timber Wood, shall be deemed One Ton.
A Ton of Coal or Limestone to be Twenty-two Hundred Weight of One Hundred and Twelve Pounds each.
Vessels under Twenty Tons not to pass Locks without leave unless they pay for that Weight.
RATE,
To be received by any Lord of the Manor or Owner of Land who may erect Wharfs.
For every description of Goods or Merchandize for a period less than Six Days 3 per Ton.

Up to the year 1789, the whole of the works had cost about £152,400, and the following is a statemeat of the income and expenditure of that year:-
INCOME AND EXPENDITURE.
£.s.d.
The Gross Income in that Year, was £8,320. 9s. 6d
Expenditure, which included Interest to the Amount of £2,670, exclusive of Arrears £5,540 9s. 3d.
Nett Income £2,780 0s. 3d.
Upon which a Dividend of One per Cent. only was paid, amounting to £990.
A tolerable idea of the traffic upon this canal, at that period, (forty years ago) may be formed, from the following return of tonnage made by the proprietors, in 1789.
RETURN OF TONNAGE.
Tons.

Coal 42,379½
Lead 3,862¼
Lime 3,955¼
Corn 4,366¼
Stone 7,569¾
Iron 1,554½
Timber 3,444¼
Sundries 7,180¼
tot. 74,312 Tons
Upon which the Duties and wharfage amounted to £8,303 9s. 6d.
Sixteen years after this period the proprietors divided six per cent, and the undertaking has been gradually improving.
The chief objects of this canal are the export of coal, lime, and lead from Derbyshire, and, of the produce of the iron furnaces in the neighbourhood of Chesterfield; and corn, deals, timber, groceries, &c. on the other hand, are conveyed into the county of Derby.

Whitsunday Pie Lock

2005-10-09T16:19:00.000Z

Whitsunday Pie Lock is the highest wide lock on the Chesterfield Canal
This lock was said to have got its name because a local woman baked a huge pie one Whit Sunday for the navvies who had just completed the lock. However, some recently discovered maps spoil this good old story by showing a Whitsunday Pie field. The maps were drawn centuries before the canal existed!

Walk RRC 188 - Retford/Hayton

2005-10-09T16:10:00.000Z

Enjoyed an interesting walk from Retford to Hayton and back along the Chesterfield Canal. Six miles total, stopping at the Boat Inn for lunch alongside the canal and another swift half at the Gate Inn on the way back. Eleven in the group plus two dogs (Bob's). Set off at 10:45 and finished around 15:15. Weather sunny and breezy.

Tomorrow's Walk

2005-10-08T17:56:00.000Z

RRC 188 Route for
tomorrow - starts
at the Hop Pole Inn
(bottom left)

2005-10-08T16:56:00.000Z

Today - grey and raining, tomorrow walking with the monthly RRC group - our turn to lead - Retford & Hayton, from "Rambles in North Nottinghamshire" p.76. Total length 6 miles, about 1/3 of which is by the Chesterfield Canal. Map ref SK 720818. Weather forecast is fine and sunny! Might bring a piccy or 2 back to post.

Just signed up on Flickr

2005-10-07T13:15:00.000Z

Hey!! it worked............
Well there's no stopping this bloke now, linked to Flickr so I can spend the winter evenings uploading zillions of totally gob-smacking images to win all those accolades from admiring Bloggers world-wide. Although having sifted through some Flickr stuff there's a bit of competition out there. Any way I can't stop too long here as me other half has given me a list to complete before I can enjoy any more monitor-gaping.

Flickr

2005-10-07T13:09:00.000Z

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

2005-10-06T18:56:00.000Z

Just testing the picture uploading - this is me playing Fantasy Snooker. The image was created in Bryce software - except for me face!

It's my first time..!

2005-10-06T16:22:00.000Z

Had a hell of a fight to get on here - that Mr Blogger wouldn't allow about 543 of my suggestions before we agreed. The site name came from severe frustration after gazing around the room for inspiration, and there on the shelf was a set of training CD's for Visual Basic, Mr Blogger let me have that without a fight.
I've also set up my first website this week at www.seejayessphotography.co.uk which seemed to take far less effort!
I've been inspired to start up here from accidently stumbling across my daughter's site - The Electric Biscuit - a name which also suggests that she went 3 rounds with that Blogger bloke. I have no idea how this will develop so I'll just let things hang loose and go with the flow..