Moving Day

I've been meaning to do this for ages but today was the day....wor::site has now officially moved to Meanwhile, at the coast...

Not that it'll necessarily mean more regular posting of course........

Sarah's Final Show

Sarah's Final Show, originally uploaded by moclaydon.

A trip to sunny (!) Hartlepool to see Sarah's final degree show.....all I can say is 'well done that girl!!' (the rest of Hartlepool couldn't be decribed as photogenic so we just did the rounds of the many 'pound' shops....we got some bargains!) Then back to Newcastle for a bedouin feast at the Flatbread Cafe. I'm stuffed..........

EDIT.....link to her moment of fame in the Hartlepool Mail

Poking puddles

poking puddles, originally uploaded by moclaydon.

You just can't beat a good stick!
Some pics from the bread-run.....I took the scenic route......

Skool's out for summer!

Skool's out for summer!, originally uploaded by moclaydon.

Busy old week, it was the last week of term and the 'Interdisciplinary Project' for a lot of our 2nd years.....this was some of them after their final presentations, still looking smart (they're expected to dress for the part) and very, very relieved it's all over....as was I! I've cracked open a celebratory bottle....and I'm guessing they'll be well on their way to alcoholic oblivion at the student union drinkathon by now.....happy days!

Knotty problem

Knotty problem, originally uploaded by moclaydon.

I got the 'estimate' through for the early retirement deal on Friday so today it's decision time.....do I sign on the dotted line to be considered or not? Now I've seen the figures in black and white it looks do-able, in fact quite attractive.....there's also a let-out clause in that I can say 'no thanks, changed my mind, so call me fickle' up until when and if I'm offered it. But there's the fact that if I DO sign I've actually already made my mind up I want to go and I'll be REALLY miffed if they don't make the offer.....as I said, knotty problem! Musical interlude..........

Here's Jonny!!

Here's Johnny, originally uploaded by moclaydon.

The nephew at his homecoming parade in Edinburgh this morning.....I'm amazed it's anywhere near in focus, those 3rd Rifles move at a helluva lick! Welcome home Jonny!!

There's a few more on Flickr

Random cat with 3 dandelions

Random cat with 3 dandelions, originally uploaded by moclaydon.

Actually not so random, this is one of the senior cat's best buddies, they have a shared basking spot under the front garden hedge. Still ailing, seems like it's an infection on an imploded filling that's causing the problem, nasty feverish dreams last night when the painkillers wore off.....don't want to talk about it because I can't get a dental appointment till next week.......

SO.....MOVING SWIFTLY ON TO OTHER STUFF.......

A couple of arty farty free software downloads for your delectation

'Alchemy is an open drawing project aimed at exploring how we can sketch, draw, and create on computers in new ways. Alchemy isn’t software for creating finished artwork, but rather a sketching environment that focuses on the absolute initial stage of the creation process. Experimental in nature, Alchemy lets you brainstorm visually to explore an expanded range of ideas and possibilities in a serendipitous way.' You can even create art by talking into your microphone......haven't tried that yet though!
Versions available for Mac, Windows and Linux

MyPaint is 'a fast and easy open-source graphics application for digital painters. It lets you focus on the art instead of the program. You work on your canvas with minimum distractions, bringing up the interface only when you need it.' Versions available for Windows and Linux

Last link of the day.....I came across this interesting photography blog yesterday

They say '500 photographers is a weblog that posts 5 active photographers a week for 100 weeks. The photographers can be from any discipline within the photographic range, but they have to be worth looking at and have a certain level of quality. When we get to number 500, we will have a deep database of great photographers.' Today's post was for No 25.......worth a click and a bookmark maybe!

STOP PRESS.....BONUS LINK.....Almost forgot to post this one......Seeing as it's the day after election day, this is as close as I'm going to get to any political comment except to say it's suitably depressing.....just watch out for the soma spray people.....

Click to download mp3s of Side 1 and Side 2

Gratuitous quote.......

"No shoving there now!" shouted the Deputy Sub-Bursar in a fury. He slammed down the lid of his cash-box. "I shall stop the distribution unless I have good behaviour" 

The Deltas muttered, jostled each other a little, and then were still. The threat had been effective. Deprivation of Soma - appalling thought! 

"That's better'" said the young man, and re-opened his cash box.

......not that I'm a pessimistic old git......what me?......nah, no way!

It looks like how I feel....

sanctuary, originally uploaded by moclaydon.

....a bit green and tarnished, definitely battered and feeling it's age......had a stormer of a headache this morning but I'm on the mend, just feeling a bit 'vacant' with the aftermath of the megadeath pain-killers. This is another one from yesterday, it's the Sanctuary Knocker on the front door of Durham Cathedral (there's a few more on Flickr)

OTHER STUFF

A historical timewaster a la bayeux tapestry, create a multiframe story using a library of drag-and-drop embroidered 'bits' (no needlework skills required!) and amaze your friends with your errudition......it kept me occupied for a good 10 minutes!
Link to the Historic Tale Construction Kit

It's a long way down

It's a long way down, originally uploaded by moclaydon.

This could maybe be my last site visit.....today it was the roof spaces of Durham Cathedral, it's one of those annual affairs......but I'm thinking VERY seriously about an early retirement deal currently on the cards, while all the time trying hard not to build my hopes up in case it doesn't happen!

Eyes bigger than our bellies.....again!

Eyes bigger than our bellies.....again!, originally uploaded by moclaydon.

And this wasn't even all of it.....now I think I need a bit of a lie-down.....

Reflections

Reflections, originally uploaded by moclaydon.

Jon's laid a guilt trip on me 'at the other place'.....I admit I've been a bad, bad girl blogwise and I promise I'll do better! (thanks for the prod Jon, I needed it!) So this is an emergency pic that has nothing to do with anything much except to act as a new starting point.....more later!

Down the market

notsquare, originally uploaded by moclaydon.

And OMG......I didn't crop it square! Another lovely day....that's 3 in a row now, wonder whether it'll last over the weekend? (won't hold my breath maybe) Some more market shots to follow, nothing special but the light was nice.....

An old one

mosely street, originally uploaded by moclaydon.

This is Mosley St, Newcastle,  the first street in the UK to be lit by electric light.....I made a half-hearted attempt at sorting out my old pics tonight, but obviously I didn't get far, I took this one mid January!!

Nearer my god to thee

View from the office window this morning....across the way is the Newcastle Unitarian Church, probably the last Art Deco building erected around here (all original interiors, pagan caretaker, almost sure he's the chap in the middle!).....this is a shot of a bit of the roof. Hey, it's Thursday, I'm braindead, don't expect miracles!

Sunday market

sunday market, originally uploaded by moclaydon.

A nice trip to the Sunday market with the firstborn (I bought 6 mouse-gnawed, water-stained books with an average age of 100 for a fiver, Sarah bought a vintage Ringtons coffee tin and a splendidly grotesque vase thingy in the shape of a hollowed-out siamese cat.....result!) followed by a cider-fuelled tapas lunch and an afternoon visit to Mum/Grandma to mull over old photos and eat shortbread.....not good for anything much now except the couch and a pair of loose trousers......

PS.....the truth isn't always out there, don't take no rubber nickels!

Tunnel vision

highlevelwalkway2, originally uploaded by moclaydon.

What's the world coming to, I ask you......this picture is 10 days old! (I really must get my act together, blame it on the bloody weather......or something!)......it's the High Level Bridge and that guy on the left was singing to himself......I moved out of the way sharpish.

OTHER STUFF

This one's for my Ma, sis and bro-in-law who actually 'lived the dream'

 

"Moscow-Vladivostok: virtual journey on Google Maps

The great Trans Siberian Railway, the pride of Russia, goes across two continents, 12 regions and 87 cities. The joint project of Google and the Russian Railways lets you take a trip along the famous route and see Baikal, Khekhtsirsky range, Barguzin mountains, Yenisei river and many other picturesque places of Russia without leaving your house. During the trip, you can enjoy Russian classic literature, brilliant images and fascinating stories about the most attractive sites on the route."

It's in real time......apparently 9 days worth, though I can't swear to it.....I recommend the Russian radio station or the 'rumble of wheels' as your traveling soundtrack.....
(you can join the train anywhere on the map, you don't have to do the full trip!)

Climb aboard here, don't forget your sandwiches!

And talking of timewasting.......

 

There's a nice point-and-click game here

Late night thoughts.....

......as in when you forgot to throw some stuff in the washing machine for tomorrow.....

.....why, oh why, don't I have a few of those green boilersuits with lapels and one of those sheepskin jackets.....though maybe I'll pass on the cap........
(and don't even ASK why I happen to have this shot about my person!)

Sunday already

Not sure where Saturday went to!

I'm not a huge fan of February.....it's neither nowt nor summat if you know what I mean, with winter hanging on by it's fingernails and spring not quite on the horizon. Plus, I've got sciatica so I'm feeling a bit grumpy (that would be an undestatement!) Having said that it was lovely down on the seafront this morning, still damned chilly though!

OTHER STUFF

Came across this site on Friday that looks like it might be fun for all you photographers out there.... "Noticings are interesting things that you stumble across when out and about. You play Noticings by uploading your photos to Flickr, tagged with 'noticings' and geotagged with where they were taken. Each turn is a day, and at 3pm GMT every day photos from the previous day are imported from Flickr and the scores calculated. Noticings aren't very transient things, like people, and you should only take one photo of each thing you spot."
Link to noticings

Another photography-based link for snappers on the move. I loved this because it's such a simple idea that actually works, a light tent made from 3 sheets of paper and some paper clips......

Find the instructions here

Then there's this online drawing application that runs in any browser.....really quite impressive, shame I can't draw!

Link to Sketchpad

Better get those dishes washed.........

Y'know meetings?

replace handset, originally uploaded by moclaydon.

......enough said!

New and Old

Sage Tyne Bridge, originally uploaded by moclaydon.

Taken from the roof of the Newcastle Castle Keep whilst hyperventilating a bit, OK a lot.....I don't have a wonderful head for heights! Site visit this afternoon....playing at being a building surveyor again.....lots of (very boring unless you're heavily into stonework restoration techniques) photos with the odd snatched shot while no-one was looking. This is the Sage Music Centre in the background with the Tyne Bridge on the right. Not a bad Monday!

Alimentary my dear Watson

gate, originally uploaded by moclaydon.

A rather nice, self-indulgent sort of day today with Sarah (aka the firstborn)....top notch scran at a tapas restaurant (the name of which escapes me) then, suitably stuffed, off to the cinema to see Sherlock Holmes. Now being a bit of a traditionalist (Basil Rathbone is my hero!) I was a bit worried about how Guy Ritchie would tackle it.....but I have to say I was impressed, the sets were amazing as were the special effects, there was just the right amount of humour and Victorian England (and Holmes) were suitably/authentically grubby throughout, so a 'highly recommended' from me, I'll definitely be going to see the next one (apparently already in production) when it comes out. The bad news is, I've got a day of housework on the cards tomorrow......sigh!

Internal void

internal void, originally uploaded by moclaydon.

.....ooer, that sounds bad......not really!
I hit a bit of a brick wall with technology over the last couple of weeks, no real reason, it just happened. IT problems at work meant I was working with a limping (that would be an understatement, think 'turn it off and start again, try to forget the 2 hours of work you just lost' stuff) PC, then later wrestling with an emergency back-up Mac set up for somebody else (so saving stuff somewhere I could find it again was almost impossible) To cap it all I haven't been able to get into my email a/c for over a week.....say no more.....
Anywhoo....this is a shot from a site visit today....Gibson St Baths.....nice and grungy.....smelly even.....but I'm easily pleased!

No.....not the Med!

not the med, originally uploaded by moclaydon.

BUT, maybe that's what I need, I've got a sneaking suspicion that I might have a dose of SAD....terminal grumpiness, ultimate lethargy and a yearning for anything other than what I happen to have....think I need to buy one of those lamps! Took this pic yesterday on a bit of a sunshiny wander round town, it's the roofline of a semi-derelict building just north of the Tyne Bridge, part of a conservation area (Grainger Town), so let's just call it the Hanging Gardens of Pilgrim St....they won't be pulling it down anytime soon......that's a good thing.

with chips........

....and before you ask it's an elderly lens from an ancient, retired epidioscope that I use as a magnifying glass (rescued from a skip years ago), it's incredibly heavy and the 2" thick lens has a corroded brass housing and I love it to bits, chips and all!
Another boring day at work, nothing else to report..........

Market closing prices

market closing time, originally uploaded by moclaydon.

Had to hit the shops on the way home from work today, took a short cut through the Grainger Market which was all but closed for business for the day. A lot of the overhead lights were out but the lights from the odd open stall cast some nice shadows on the tiled floor.....I'm easily pleased! In other news I've had the most boring day at work for a long time......my pc has been hit by a trojan invasion and is keeling over under the pressure.....lots of backing up of all those essential work files and apart from that zero achieved. Net result, a thoroughly grumpy Mo, I may take to the bottle!!

Rear View

rearview, originally uploaded by moclaydon.

Not a whole lot of photography going on today. Actually, not a whole load of anything going on today except keeping warm. It's official.....the white stuff has definitely lost it's quirky charm!

Triple 5star kitty

triple5starkitty, originally uploaded by moclaydon.

Sorry folks, it's another kitten shot, been stuck in the house all day and my brain hurts. Good as it gets I'm afraid! Can someone turn off the snow and icy stuff?

Blocked up

Godda cold in by dose....all blocked up and feeling sorry for myself. Made the mistake of going into work on Monday morning and I've been regretting it ever since.....although 27.5 hours sleep in the last 36 HAS made a difference, I'm definitely on the mend! More later.....