Monday, 1st October 2007
Posted 10.52am / Listening to : Trouble - Coldplay

In the space of 24 hours I’ve successfully managed to slice through my thumb with a bread knife and lock myself out of the house. Fortunately my neighbour had a spare key and the thumb incident wasn’t as gruesome as the one a couple of years ago when I got a little frivolous with Mr. Stanley and ended up making a trip to the casualty department as a result, but still. These things always happen in threes, so I’m waiting.

A couple more negatives, seeing as it’s Monday and it’s raining and all.

I bought some rather stylish Christmas baubles so I could build on my stock portfolio. I managed to take 2, maybe 3 pictures before the blu tack they were tentatively fixed to a broom handle with decided to relinquish itself of duty and they fell onto the ceramic tiles and shattered. Not one to pass up an opportunity I took several photos of the broken decorations which I might upload under the premise of Christmas Sucks or something. I’d like to think that was the third anomaly, but since I turned the situation into a positive I remain sceptical and wait.

I also have exactly no food in the house and had to substitute my usual bowl of breakfast muesli for a handful of Thorntons chocolates. I decided to try Tesco's on-line grocery service where the food is delivered straight to your Kitchen table, thus avoiding the trauma of having to visit the supermarket. There are so many things I dislike about going to the supermarket: the queues, the microscopic parking spaces, the sub-zero air conditioning, the fact that I always buy more than I need, so on a friend's recommendation I ordered my food on-line. I just hope it arrives before lunchtime. I mean, Thornton’s do make extremely yummy chocolates but I’d rather not, thanks.

And look at me - getting all brazen and bearing a shoulder. The shame of it!

Wednesday, 26th September 2007
Posted 2.57pm / Listening to : Movie star - Stereophonics. Such a sexy, gravelly voice. Oh, my!

Tuesday, 25th September 2007
Posted 9.59am / Listening to : Walking in my shoes - Depeche Mode

There's a distinctive Autumnal chill in the air this morning. I've mentioned before that I like Autumn, purely from a photographic perspective, and since we've had such an abysmal Summer I'm more than ready for it.

I'm heading off to Worthing shortly for a follow up appointment on my root canal. (That's Worthing in Sussex, not Barbados, unfortunately.) It's about an hours drive each way and the route weaves idly through the South Downs. I have the road trip essentials sorted; plenty of music, a fully loaded mobile phone and a banana incase I get The Munchies.

There's clearly something wrong with me. Who the hell looks forward to cold weather and dental appointments?

In a further attempt to escape my comfort zone, I took some self portraits yesterday. I'm not sure if it's a vanity issue, a continuation of my fear of photographing people or sheer laziness but I rarely turn the lens inwards. Whether any of them will ever see the light of day is doubtful. I'm really not very good at flaunting myself.

Sunday, 23rd September 2007
Posted 10.27pm / Listening to : Streets of Philadelphia - Bruce Springsteen

Another one I wasn't very comfortable taking, mainly because all the hip young things were taking photos with their discrete mobile phones and I had to pull my bazooka- sized SLR out. I think the drummer clocked me.

The band are called TheiDalsans by the way. I think they have a MySpace website if you want to check them out. I happened to catch them in passing whilst out shopping a couple of weeks ago.

Thursday, 20th September 2007

I took Darcy back to the vet for a check-up today. I mummified myself in a big woolly scarf and some gloves in preparation of the cat offensive but she went into the basket no problem and I remain unscathed. The cystitis has cleared up fortunately, although he did point out some tartar on her teeth and gave me a sample of feline toothpaste and a brush to try and clean them. Right, like that's ever going to happen.

I've noticed that when I give the blog more attention, the photo site suffers. Having them exist as two separate entities isn't really working and I wonder if I should integrate the photos here and just call it a day. I rarely upload to Flickr anymore either, although that's mainly due to the fact that my account expires soon. I also contribute to several stocks sites and have a couple of domains in the ether, so something's got to give. It's not so much a time constraint, more a creative one.

Still loving the iPod - currently listening to : Chocolate by Snow Patrol. With a title like that it was bound to be a winner.

Wednesday, 19th September 2007

Don't worry, I did have the courtesy to phone BF from outside the shop before I bought it to tell him that we won't be able to afford food next month.

So, I spent half the night trying to set it up (despite the guy in the shop insisting it would be a piece of cake) and the other half downloading so-called comedy podcasts (Russell Brand, Ask A Ninja) which weren't nearly as funny as the reviews suggested and were promptly deleted. Then I re-imported a load of mp3s properly, as opposed to my usual lazy style where I don't enter the album info and therefore can't get any album art. I figured I might as well make the most of the video function and have some pretty floating pictures to go with my playlist. Very impressed with it so far and for a relatively small device it packs a mighty punch.

Saturday, 15th September 2007

I’ve decided I need an iPod. I just need one, it's as simple as that. I was shopping for a new kettle today and wandered through the music section en-route to the domestic appliances and spotted a Bose system with an iPod docked and it sounded great, even over a hoard of Saturday shoppers.

Anyway...

I took Darcy (my female cat) to the vet yesterday because she started howling after using the litter tray. Darcy looks like an angel but she’s actually The Cat From Hell. She dislikes strangers, especially men and only just about tolerates me. When I tried to get her into the basket she clambered up my arm and dug her claws into my neck leaving me with a puncture wound that stings like hell. Retribution was swift and I tried really hard not to look smug when the vet shoved a thermometer up her arse. It turns out she’s got cystits and I need to give her a pill twice daily – now that’s going to be fun.

Friday, 14th September 2007

I'm trying to move out of my comfort zone when it comes to photography. Not that this picture is risqué or anything, but I did have to battle a patch of evil stinging nettles to take it.

Thursday, 13th September 2007

I know it's getting old now but Snow Patrol's Chasing Cars just does something to me. It uplifts me, it makes me want to shout and scream and smile and sing - all at the same time. Just thought I'd mention it.

1) Anthemic brilliance.

2) A special song with haunting vocals.

3) The intro alone makes me want to learn the piano.

4) Someone described this as "a great song to pole dance to”. Not that I’ve ever indulged in that particular activity, but if I ever felt the urge then I’d be grinding what little hips I do have to this delicious ditty.

5) Let's face it, we all need it.

6) One of their best.

7) A poptastic 80's tune.

8) 20 years on and it gives me goosebumps every time.

9) Reminds me of a trip to LA many years ago. Good times.

10) The happiest little song on the planet. No debate.

11) A classic. I was given this album from my Mother when I was about 10. I've liked it for a very long time, but understood it for less.

Monday, 10th September 2007

Why is it than when I go to the hairdressers to get my dishevelled hair sorted, I spend half an hour styling it beforehand? Seriously, what's up with that? As it happens the place was shut, so I nipped into Homebase instead and spent money I didn't really have on things I didn't really need. I also hit the 1000 download mark at Shutterstock with a photo of some tulips, not one of my favourites but someone obviously liked it. And that was my Monday.

Wednesday, 5th September 2007

The kids have finally gone back to school. Hurrah! That was a long 6 weeks and as much as I adore the little guy, I'm happy to hand him back to the authorities.

I had to laugh at Alvin's Curry and Gucci description of me in a recent journal entry. I'm guessing he remembers the Volvo debacle from yonder. I don't own any Gucci and my delicate tummy can only tolerate the occasional curry these days, but it made me smile.

The one thing about having a proper job (as opposed to being self employed and duping yourself into believing you have a job) is the amount of blog fodder you can accrue each day. I had so much to write about and no time to write it, now it's the opposite.

Thursday, 23rd August 2007

Made apple pie, we did

Wednesday, 22nd August 2007

My balls are selling quite well at Shutterstock. I'm finally learning to stay one step ahead and get the holiday themed photos up early. It does feel a little odd rummaging through the Christmas decorations in the height of Summer but hey ho. Not that we're having much of a Summer here anyway. It's quite depressing actually.

Alvin sent me an apple pie recipe so I can make good use of those Bramley apples down there. We've had a lot of windfalls recently and rather than let them rot and end up as wasp fodder, I'm going to try my hand at baking. I'm not proud of the fact that I'm crap at baking and I'm even less proud of the fact that I totally cheated and bought some shortcrust pastry from the chiller cabinet in Tesco rather than making my own. Best not to over exert oneself.

Friday, 10th August 2007

The older I get the more I distrust the familiar doctrine that age brings wisdom

It’s 23 degrees and I’m sitting in the garden under the dappled shade of my Bramley apple tree, the tinkling of the wind chimes just about stopping me from nodding off. Heaven.

Yesterday morning I woke up with a stiff neck and noticed several lumps on the back of my head and on my boobs. This morning I could barely get out of bed because my knees ached so much, so I made an appointment with the Doctor. I have a viral infection that’s caused my lymph nodes to swell and some associated arthritis which, he assured me, was only temporary and would go as soon as the infection cleared. Crap! A 30 something with lumpy boobs and stiff joints – Gentlemen, please form an orderly queue.

Anyway, enough. The sunshine is making me feel a whole lot better.

I’m trying to make the new 5D earn it’s keep and have uploaded some more photos to the stock agencies but I've had several rejected. My acceptance ratio for iStock is 70.10%, Dreamstime is 68.8% and Shutterstock only 64%. At the moment the daily stock income just about finances my Innocent strawberry & banana smoothie obsession so I obviously need to work a little harder. 

Anyway, it's Joe's Birthday party tomorrow (he turned 5 on Sunday) and I have to arrange cakes and goodie bags so as much as I'd love to sit here all day, I'd better not.

Thursday, 26th July 2007

Some of the first shots taken with my new 5D. It's a great camera, although it does have it's flaws. The LCD is a little on the warm side; not a major problem as I usually shoot RAW but it's a niggle nonetheless. All the zoom lenses that I have, including the new L lens, vignette at f/4 at the wide angle end. Nothing that can't be fixed in Photoshop but I'd rather I didn't have to. Still, a very nice camera and I'm loving the full frame censor.

Off to Dorset tomorrow - catch you later.

Wednesday, 18th July 2007

We're not here for a long time, we're here for a good time

So I changed my mind about getting the macro lens and bought a Canon EOS 5D and a Canon 24-105 f/4 L IS USM instead. I try not to do things by half.

Friday, 13th July 2007

I've been window shopping for a macro lens that doubles as a portrait lens because a) it's my Birthday soon and b) because I'm worth it. I literally spent hours reading reviews on the net and finally decided that the Canon EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro was the kiddie. It's a true 1:1 macro and it'll make fly poo look like Everest. Upon closer inspection I noticed that it's not compatible with my camera. It'll work on most other Canon DSLRs but not the 10D. Talk about being ostracized. I paid good money for that camera and Canon have seemingly washed their hands of it now.  Maybe I bought a dud and shouldn't even consider a lens for a camera that's clearly obsolete.

Oh well, as least we've finally got rid of the Beckhams. That's something, I suppose.

Tuesday, 3rd July 2007

God, I’ve had a crap week and it’s only Tuesday. It all started when I tried to have a cup of coffee in Debenhams and almost immediately I’d paid for it the fire alarm went off because some half wit in the Kitchen burnt the fucking toast so the entire mall had to be evacuated. The muster point outside had no shelter and England happened to be experiencing some freakish tropical downpour at the time and I (along with several hundred others) got soaked. I decided to cut my losses and run. Later that day, after collecting Joe from School, I popped into town again and went into Nero to get my caffeine fix.  I picked up their oversized impossible-to-grip-with-human-fingers cup and promptly spilt the contents all over my lap. The waitress, seeing my distress, bought some towels, a sympathetic smile and a fresh cup which I miraculously managed to drink in it’s entirety without further incident. Later that day I dropped my camera and took a chunk out of the lens. I’ve been fleeced twice on Ebay and had to open disputes for items that haven’t arrived and this morning I woke up with a sore throat.

Oh, and the slugs have eaten all my runner beans. The bastards.  

Monday, 11th June 2007

OK, I’ve given myself a little bit of a break over Olly and I no longer hate myself quite as much as I did last week. I still dislike myself intensely, but I’m working on it. I picked up his ashes today and settled the bill and the smell of the place had me welling up again. They really need an escape route for the bereaved.

 Anyway, moving swiftly on.

Joe has a newfound fascination with his genitalia and Star Wars.  I’m not even going to try and analyse the willy thing so…Star Wars. I just don’t get it. I’m pretty sure I’ve seen the whole trilogy and I definitely remember seeing the Phantom Menace at the cinema. I remember arriving late and you could almost hear the collective sigh of disgust from the die-hard star wars fans as we crept in after the opening credits had rolled. Infact, I think we missed the first 10 minutes of the movie actually which didn’t really matter because, having since seen the film in it’s entirety, I’m still totally clueless. If anyone would like to leave a condensed version of the story in my comments that would be just dandy.  

Wednesday, 30th May 2007

My beautiful cat was put to sleep yesterday. It was the hardest thing I've ever had to do.

Rest in peace, sweet Olly.
June 1993 - May 2007