wor::site

Moving Day

2010-06-24T14:37:00.000+01:00

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

2010-06-05T21:22:00.002+01:00

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

2010-05-31T15:08:00.002+01:00

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!

2010-05-28T17:53:00.001+01:00

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

2010-05-16T13:09:00.003+01:00

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!!

2010-05-08T16:00:00.003+01:00

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

2010-05-07T12:53:00.014+01:00

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....

2010-05-06T15:56:00.004+01:00

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

2010-05-05T21:18:00.002+01:00

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!

2010-05-02T18:39:00.002+01:00

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

2010-05-02T11:43:00.001+01:00

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

2010-03-05T18:25:00.003Z

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

2010-03-02T21:38:00.002Z

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

2010-02-25T23:18:00.000Z

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

2010-02-21T19:46:00.003Z

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

2010-02-17T20:20:00.002Z

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.....

2010-02-15T23:27:00.002Z

......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

2010-02-14T11:33:00.003Z

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?

2010-02-09T23:17:00.001Z

replace handset, originally uploaded by moclaydon.

......enough said!

New and Old

2010-02-08T22:44:00.001Z

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

2010-02-06T20:18:00.001Z

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

2010-02-01T22:30:00.001Z

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!

2010-01-19T22:03:00.001Z

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........

2010-01-13T19:42:00.000Z

....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

2010-01-12T18:39:00.001Z

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

2010-01-09T20:37:00.001Z

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

2010-01-07T21:07:00.001Z

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

2010-01-06T09:47:00.000Z

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.....

Christmas 2

2009-12-31T19:56:00.003Z

Picked up the new compact camera today.....at last, a camera that really WILL fit in a pocket! Needless to say I haven't read the manual yet, but I charged the battery and took a picture of one of the kittens in a plastic bag guarding a box of cheese.....

.....well, it's a start!

HAPPY NEW YEAR FOLKS!!

Feeling off-colour

2009-12-29T12:46:00.000Z

Think I'm coming down with a festive cold....it's an afternoon on the couch for me, going out this morning was maybe a mistake! Oh, and it's looking like more snow..........bah, humbug......

Playing catch-up

2009-12-26T11:32:00.000Z

Thank goodness for paper clips.....a minor kitchen catastrophe averted yesterday when 'something got blocked' while Chris and Nick were cooking Christmas lunch

I'm still in the recovery position........

Just to prove I'm still in the land of the living.....

2009-12-23T20:46:00.000Z

.....and I haven't broken the camera.....

Early morning trip into the big city, this would have been taken at about 9.00am and the crowds were already gathering for another shop-till-you-drop session.....I did what I had to then came home knackered. Achieved zero this afternoon. The plan for tonight is do the bare minimum of the stuff I should have done/be doing then have an early night....I'll worry about what I haven't done tomorrow!

One from yesterday

2009-12-20T11:08:00.001Z

early saturday winter beach, originally uploaded by moclaydon.

Not sure where the time went yesterday!
Probably more later when the house has been converted into Santa's Grotto.......

Santa came early

2009-12-18T18:46:00.000Z

Oh yes, we know how to do a proper office party round here.....Toblerones all round this afternoon when Santa turned up with his little helper....

.....and he stuck around long enough to drain a bottle of Chardonnay before hiccuping off to his sleigh. Then we had a few drinkies......

Yippee....2 weeks holiday....now,where's that bottle of port......cheers!!

Graphic adventure

2009-12-17T20:06:00.003Z

Graphic adventure, originally uploaded by moclaydon.

It was a photograph once....honest! But I've been faffing about with it after I found this video tutorial on which it's loosely based (proof positive I can't follow Photoshop recipes any more than I can stick to the foody variety!) Don't care, I had fun!

Busy day today with lots of student hand-ins, last minute disasters and zero possibilites for the exercise of free will. One day to go!

Gotta dash

2009-12-16T20:26:00.001Z

Gotta dash, originally uploaded by moclaydon.

Only time for a quick pic tonight.....the huge list of emails I owe needs tackling before it gets any worse and I'm consumed with guilt.......

Low-Res Day.....

2009-12-15T22:54:00.000Z

.....and a Low-Res shot, but with BIG shoes.
3 days to go.......................................

Buildings in Use.....or then again, maybe not...

2009-12-14T21:53:00.000Z

Busy day....a (not very good) shot of some of the action of the 'Buildings in Use' final poster presentation that's eaten up most of the day. Just in case you're interested, the brief is for groups of Building Surveying students to find new, innovative and financially viable uses for an existing down-at-heel local building. This year it was the Gibson Street Baths.....a gently decaying Victorian (ex) swimming pool/public baths/wash house a few hundred yards away from the campus. The boys and girls did some impressive work, but the bad news is there were great ideas there that'll unfortunately probably never get acted upon by the semi-fictional client.....no names, no pack drill!

Jeez.....that was serious stuff, not sure what happened there (think I definitely need a holiday!) I know, how about building your own snowflake, that sounds a bit fluffy with a seasonal twist.......

.....you can snip your own here without all that nasty mess on the carpet. I've already done one so it's an early bath for me! Roll on Friday!

A perfect gift for the kiddiwinkles.....

2009-12-13T20:22:00.001Z

.....but read that caption under the photograph and it's a wonder some of them survived to tell the tale! From 'Gifts you can make yourself' (undated but it looks like late 40's from the illustrations) Didn't get out much today.....oh, you guessed!

TODAY'S SEASONAL SHENNANIGANS

Here's Fanny Cradock doing it with mincemeat, it truly brightened a dull afternoon.....watch out for the final sumptuous, mouth-watering table display. Top find Sarah!

bum issued by.....

2009-12-12T17:33:00.001Z

....H.O. Wills...........no comment except to say I've hardly been over the doors all day and sometimes you have to work with what you happen to have on the kitchen table!

OTHER STUFF.....

Some alternative Christmas music.....very alternative.....but I like it!

"Cigar Box Nation offers our own gift of music to you. This album is free for everyone this Christmas...just go ahead and download. We've compiled almost one hour of holiday music played on cigar box guitars, ukuleles, dulcimers and more. Please spread the word (and holiday cheer)! May the world ring with the awesome sounds of cigar box guitars this Christmas." Download it here

(sample track on the next link......)

This is just a screengrab from UMapper (the original plan was for an embedded map, but Blogger didn't like their code, and I haven't got time to work out why) so here's the link to my very first map (which is rubbish, but if you click on the '2' you'll find the audio file promised above!). You'll guess you can add your own photos and audio, even make your own map-based game, there's some video tutorials here if you fancy checking it out and doing a photo tour of YOUR block.

Shepherds pie/lots of veg/large pot of tea/couch, vintage videos and cuddly blanket here I come!

Tomorrow......

2009-12-11T20:26:00.001Z

Tomorrow, originally uploaded by moclaydon.

.....I'll probably work out what this list said I should be doing/buying this weekend.

Tonight....
.....I'll probably spend the rest of the evening snoozing on the couch missing whatever happens to be on the box!

Synthetic

2009-12-10T21:30:00.004Z

synthetic plants, originally uploaded by moclaydon.

Let me tell you, those plants aren't real.....they're truly nasty pretend plants that the uni should be ashamed of. The building you can see through the window used to be a chemical factory (no really!) but when I was a student here it was the place where we did 'Liberal Studies' on a Wednesday afternoon.....with bare boards, clouds of dust and mousetraps in every corner if I remember rightly! These days they're bijou flatlets that students definitely can't afford to rent, the building was sold off years ago to fund some campus redevelopment plan or other. And only the facade remains, they're standard 'little boxes' behind those gracious windows.

Good news....
Today I picked up my 'long service award', 20 years of sterling service apparently

Bad news....
it works out at only marginally more than 19p per week......

The Hole Day 3

2009-12-09T12:57:00.002Z

The Hole Day 3, originally uploaded by moclaydon.

Not sure whether I'm going to have time later, so a lunchtime quickie it is. This chap has been down this hole (which he started to dig at about 8 o'clock on Monday morning) for the best part of 3 days. What a life huh?

Nearly the same....

2009-12-08T19:55:00.002Z

Nearly the same, originally uploaded by moclaydon.

....as yesterday, except a bit later and slightly to the left. As you can probably guess, I didn't make it off-campus today, at least not until it was dark.........a bit of a noisily nothing day really

I rather like this one....'love is patient', it's mesmerising.....click and you'll see what I mean

And lastly a bit of annoyingly 'stick-in-your-head' christmas music......don't worry, you don't HAVE to click......

Get Your Own Free Hypster.com Playlist.

Sunrise over City Campus East

2009-12-07T18:28:00.002Z

Sunrise over City Campus East, originally uploaded by moclaydon.

But I have to admit it was probably the best weather we had all day! I hate Mondays....but you've probably gathered that....

Think I'll indulge in a bit of BetaMaX Xmas later...........

Making tracks

2009-12-06T20:59:00.002Z

Making tracks, originally uploaded by moclaydon.

Unfortunately I missed all the action.....story of my life really!

XMAS BONUS LINK OF THE DAY.....

Lets just assume you have a small, but perfectly formed, gift to wrap this christmas (and access to a colour printer).....there's a shedload (as in180!) of downloadable pdf papers here

Cats-in-the-box

2009-12-05T20:21:00.000Z

If you could read the label it says 'From: Paw to your Door' and it contained a couple of upmarket cat litter trays delivered during the week (now I DO hope you've already had your tea, otherwise that's probably too much information)......but the diddy puddy tats are blocking any moves towards removal of the box from the premises....someone, read 'boy-in-the-attic', might have to do it at the dead of night while they're locked in mortal combat with the senior cat and therefore otherwise engaged.

TODAY'S TOP FIND ON THE KITCHEN TABLE...

John Peel, 'The Christmas Songs that Santa Claus Forgot'.....I really can't remember where I got this or when it was originally broadcast (possibly 1992?) but it's 2 hours's worth of alternative Christmas listening that always somehow works in a way that Slade's 'Here it is, Merry Chistmas' and Cliff's 'Mistletoe and Wine' doesn't, so that HAS to be a plus. It comes complete with JP's inter-track chat and news bulletins. I've put the single mp3 file on SendSpace just in case you think the 200mb plus download might be worth it (I think the link will stay 'live' for about a month without a download, so get it while it's fresh!).....it worked for me, I've NEARLY got a shopping list!

Link to download

Welcome to the house of fun.....

2009-12-04T21:29:00.002Z

.....aka Friday! Met up with the firstborn in downtown Whitley Bay at teatime for the opening of the annual French/Northumbrian farmers xmas market, we were just in time for a bit of surreal carol singing and some (definitely, and I speak from a life-long experience) non-alcoholic mulled wine....the French marketeers appeared to be drinking different stuff from under the table and laughing a lot, but I can't imagine why........

I got the call I've been waiting for all week at lunchtime....the Lab Xmas tree was 'erect' and 'live'. This year I decided it was time to record it in all it's glory and give it the media attention it deserves.....enjoy it's hypnotic power! (HEALTH WARNING....it's been known to make grown men weep!)

Mostly from yesterday

2009-12-03T19:21:00.001Z

I had a computer-free evening last night.....very novel! (no particular reason except I felt as if I'd been staring at a flickering screen all day and needed a bit of a break) The above piccy was taken while on a quick trip to the local public library at lunchtime.....you need a good head for heights when you're browsing the vintage books like these ones.....

"Charles Booth's Inquiry into the Life and Labour of the People in London, undertaken between 1886 and 1903 was one of several surveys of working class life carried out in the 19th century. It is the only survey for which the original notes and data have survived and therefore provides a unique insight into the development of the philosophy and methodology of social investigation in the United Kingdom." There's an online archive (including maps) here if you fancy dipping in.

OTHER STUFF

A couple of photography links....

Liu Bolin
Hiding in the City No.17 (No.2 of People's Policeman), 2006

Amazing stuff, unfortunately the images are quite small, must have a look for some bigger ones later.

Then I came across this site today that looks promising

Pictory

they say....
"Pictory is a showcase for people around the world to document their lives and cultures. Anyone can submit one large, captioned image to each of Pictory’s editorial themes. I’m editor, designer, and founder Laura Brunow Miner, and I will select a few dozen of the best items from each theme to appear in each showcase."

There's a "taster" to view and some categories open for new submissions.

Lastly the frivolous xmas link Elf Yourself. Upload up to 5 pictures of your friends (or enemies, it's even better with your enemies!) and watch them cavort. The granddaughter will probably kill me for this......

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Frankenstein's lab

2009-12-01T21:39:00.001Z

I got a chance to view the mysterious 'Molecular Beams' lab under the stairs at work today, long defunct and being cleared out to make room for yet more building work and renovations. There were lots of strange, dusty bits of kit destined for the skip, puddles of water and and signs saying 'Beware LASERS' in BIG letters.....it was a bit spooky to be honest, quite glad I wasn't down there on my own!

So I've been making Imp's delicious soup tonight.....but of course I had to make some changes (partly due to not having some of the ingredients, and partly because I just can't stick to a recipe no matter how hard I try!) So the leek and the red onion was replaced with a large onion roughly chopped, the chick peas replaced with red kidney beans, and the chilli replaced with a heaped teaspoonful of smoked paprika, oh and I added a tablespoon or so of smoked sesame oil at the end.....otherwise it was exactly the same! AND it was/is delicious!

The boy-in-the-attic tells me he needs to reboot the router thingie, I'll post this now just in case it all goes pear-shaped!

LATER....it went slightly pear-shaped......

Seeing as its now December 1st I thought I'd try posting a daily 'seasonal' link.....ah yes, famous last words, don't hold me to it!
Background listening might be a good place to start....

Wet Monday

2009-11-30T20:39:00.000Z

Well at least that's Monday nearly out of the way.....bleak weather with sleety showers and a really cold wind. Went out at lunchtime (got wet twice) and had to fight my way through the Xmas shoppers bristling with bags and umbrellas, rather wish I hadn't bothered to be honest. Tell you what, I was really glad to get home, put the kettle on and turn the heating up a notch tonight. Ho hum, onwards and upwards!

Post and run

2009-11-28T20:41:00.001Z

Saturday seafront, originally uploaded by moclaydon.

Bit of a nothing day doing lots of things domestic.....the high point was probably buying some new tea towels.....

Now I need a couple of hours lounging on the couch in front of the box.....

Xmas cafe society

2009-11-27T21:52:00.002Z

Xmas cafe society, originally uploaded by moclaydon.

Hooray it's Friday! In fact, not a lot to say except for 'Hooray it's Friday'!

No....can't leave it there, doesn't feel right.....here's some popcorn recipes......
popcorn recipes

Have a great one!

Sunny for some

2009-11-26T21:21:00.000Z

Of course what you can't see is the pile of woollies and coats on the ground by their feet!

Feeling a bit under the weather tonight, y'know...the sneezy/croaky/headachey variety, so it's going to be an early night with a double lemsip for me I think. The-boy-in-the-attic has it tougher though, he's somewhere out in the middle of the North Sea on the way back from a DFDS mini-cruise to Amsterdam.....apparently it's a bit rough out there. He rang me at work this morning (while still on the way there) when they were marrooned offshore and trying to get a pilot aboard....at that point he was all for spending a month's salary on a flight home and could I find out prices. But obviously he's found inner reserves of strength (or just decided it was a ridiculously expensive option) and is now aboard again for another sleepless night. But the whole affair reminded me of a website that might appeal to the inner anorak in you just begging to be let out.........

MarineTraffic.com is a GoogleMaps mash-up that plots (worldwide) live data from ships GPS systems....and that blue line on the piccy above plots the boyos meandering progress over the last 24 hours or so....I won't bore you with tonnage and wind speeds......

Nighty night!

More Christmas market

2009-11-25T22:53:00.004Z

More Christmas market, originally uploaded by moclaydon.

Just woken up.....I had one of those mandatory 'Equality and Diversity' session/workshops this afternoon, a 'tick the boxes, everyone has to do it' affairs that somehow leaves you with more questions after than before, but with a deep, underlying feeling that common sense went out of the window some time ago. But back to reality....this was the market just before I bolted down into the metro station at home time.

ONE OTHER THING....

............I think I want to be a beatnik!

Confronting double demons

2009-11-24T22:20:00.002Z

monochrome xmas lights, originally uploaded by moclaydon.

As in 'night shot' and 'b&w', both of which scare me. Given my complete lack of camera knowledge and a definitely shaky hand, it's always going to be a case of making a synthetic silk purse out of a sow's ear.....but seeing as the dark nights are drawing in I'll give it an occasional go. Actually took this one last night.....but it was better than tonight's attempts!

OTHER STUFF

Crappy Cat.....one of those interactive/not quite a game/but definitely a timewaster thingies (hint: Crappy Cat likes booze!)

Only click here if you think you might take an infantile delight in adorning that smug face with a silly moustache....Tuesday's are sometimes like that I find

From Normandy

2009-11-23T20:45:00.002Z

From Normandy, originally uploaded by moclaydon.

The continental Christmas market opened today in Newcastle (it lasts a fortnight) and the open-air food stalls were doing a roaring trade when I came home from work....everything from german sausages (may give them a miss till next week, still suffering from a pork overload after Berlin!) to paella, belgian doughnuts and waffles to kangaroo burgers and crocodile steaks (OK, so maybe not exactly european.....but we push boundaries in the North!)

I realised too late that I'd missed a trick last night when I posted the 'Taxi' shot....in fact I forgot why I'd taken it in the first place. It was all down to a dreadful pun and an excuse to post a vintage video. I'll post the video and leave you to work out the tenuous connections! (think alternatives for taxi!)

Taxi!

2009-11-22T19:44:00.000Z

Just a quickie.....a weekend of zero photographic endeavour and lots of mooching around (not always a bad thing!) I'm just about to move the primary mooching location from the kitchen to the front room couch for a bit of mindless box-goggling...catch up time tomorrow night!

Hooray it's Friday!!

2009-11-20T19:58:00.000Z

At last.....it's the end of a long, busy week.....y'know I'm absolutely knackered (and that would be the polite, technical term).....I'm planning on a long, deep, steamy bath, a couple of glasses of port and an earlyish night tonight.....oh yes, I know how to live! Above is a tiny bit of a snatched shot on the way home.....that small person was absolutely engrossed by the window display, with nose and hands pressed up against the glass, kids still love Xmas....fact!

OTHER STUFF......

I'm not sure what you'd describe this as....game, artwork, poetry, social commentary?....

Evidence of Everything Exploding is probably all of these and more. And there's more of the same here if you feel the urge to explore.

Are We Alone says.....

"Could there be life-forms on worlds far beyond the bounds of Earth?

The search for life as we don’t know it begins with understanding life as we do.

From amoebas to androids to antimatter, Are We Alone? weaves together humor and compelling interviews into themed programs about the biggest ideas in evolutionary biology, genetics, paleontology, technology, and physics – as well as cosmology and astronomy.

Are you a doubting Thomas? You’ll have plenty of company as we separate science from pseudoscience and the facts from the phony in Skeptic Check, our monthly look at critical thinking."

You can find their podcast archive (and there's lots of them!) here

Have a great weekend folks.....I'm off to run that bath!

Here be architects

2009-11-19T21:56:00.003Z

There's yet another accreditation exercise in progress at the moment..... it's a never-ending process. This time it's a couple of the Architectural courses under scrutiny, one of them is a revisit after one of those marginal 'must do better in minor respects' (that puncture so many fragile egos) reports a few months ago. Let's just say that tensions are running high, architects as a species aren't known for taking the low blood pressure option.....But me, I'm keeping my head well below the parapet except to take the odd random shot of the action while the troops are otherwise engaged!

OTHER STUFF

Myoats is one of those online drawing tools where you can literally waste hours.....sophisticated controls, nice downloadable results....above is a 'here's one I made earlier to try it out', but other folks have done so much better!

REVISIT.....Little Nemo in Slumberland

Surreal comic strip by Winsor McCay from the early years of the 20th Century. The above image is just the half-sized scan.....there's a link to the full-sized version when, and if, you click on that link up there. Currently no less than 420 of them online, and the number keeps rising!

Think it's nearly time for bed..........

Belated birthday greetings to Mickey Mouse....

2009-11-19T09:26:00.000Z

.....who made his first screen appearance in 'Steamboat Willie' 81 years ago yesterday.

Fag break friends

2009-11-18T20:00:00.000Z

Now I don't usually do straight-on, 'say-cheese-for-the-camera', portrait shots.....but I like this one for their lovely, smiley eyes! On the left we have N (one of the grounds staff who keep all the the green bits on campus in order and looking good), and on the right is P (an Ozzie project manager from the Estates Dept with a penchant for small cigars)

OTHER STUFF

You can read the stories behind iconic images at Iconic Photos, it's only been going a few months but there's some gems. Worth a click.

The Beatles Never Broke Up......apparently!
(listen online or zip download available)

And finally some 'point-and-clicky' action.....

You can play the free demo levels of Machinarium here ( from the makers of Samarost 1 and 2) Wonderful graphics as ever!

Might not get a chance later....

2009-11-17T15:24:00.001Z

Gate Reflections, originally uploaded by moclaydon.

.....so I'll do it now. Just a random street shot taken at lunchtime....at least it was sunny.

window dressing

2009-11-16T21:29:00.001Z

window dressing, originally uploaded by moclaydon.

Imagine the scene.....me trudging towards the metro station (if you've ever seen Fritz Lang's Metropolis I would be one of the half-speed drudges with hunched shoulders coming out of the lift) when I spotted a couple of vivacious workers who actually seemed to be enjoying being at work at 5pm on a Monday (and I was so gobsmacked I cut off their feet.....sorry girls!) Roll on Friday!

We cooperated fully.....

2009-11-15T16:46:00.000Z

....and we didn't need to be told twice, it wasn't stripping off weather today! Just back from a blow-out Sunday lunch at the local pub with Sarah, Hails and Daizy....it was disgustingly good and the portions were huge. I'm off to find a baggier pair of jeans and then a little zizz on the couch seems in order..........

ʎʇʇıʞ ʎʇʇıʞ ǝɹǝɥ

2009-11-13T19:39:00.002Z

Impromptu day off today (woke up....thought 'need to wash my hair/don't have any clean clothes/REALLY need another hours sleep/nothing important happening)... I should probably feel a lot more guilty than I do, but y'know life's too short.Very little achieved except staring at the kitchen walls (not a pretty sight), listening to radio4 and being plagued by manic kittens (above seen 'in semi-repose', a rare sighting!) Until I hit the 'Publish Post' button I'm not sure whether the upside-down text in the subject line will work (if it does you can do the same here, type in your text and copy-and-paste the result, oh yes......hours of fun for all the family!)

Speaking of listening to Radio4.....here's a segment (with a bit of local NE interest) from Womans Hour today (you chaps can switch off unless you're heavily into knitting!) I'll be watching out for the exhibition when it gets a bit closer to home, and what a great idea for 'Art' funding.....(thinks: wonder whether they could use that half-knitted jumper I started in the 80's, maybe turn into the back-end of that bike?)

Maybe it's the time of year but I'm bored with my desktop wallpaper. Now usually I head over to Vladstudio or A walk through Durham Township (in both cases it's a short browse, a right-click and sorted) BUT I happened upon this online app today......

There's a BIG library of here's-one-I-made-earlier 'elements' and backgrounds that you can combine/alter....on the other hand you can work from scratch if you're feeling creative....just perfect for the deep, dark nights of winter!

Get creative and download your desktop work of art here

WARNING.....I've been poking about in cupboards tonight (not always a wise move), if it's a bad weather day tomorrow expect illustrated vintage dance steps/dressmaking patterns for victorian underwear/possibly the odd ancient map.....who knows?

In the dark

2009-11-12T20:43:00.000Z

The boy in the attic is still in full-on download mode....this post may take some time. Thought I'd try another couple of 'nightime in the city' shots tonight on the way home from work....mixed success. If I'm honest I prefer this hopelessly blurred one.....

(just so you know what it is.....lots of rain, cafe chairs under some particularly lurid lights, chap with a big bag, lime green shop awning, motion blur courtesy someone with an umbrella bumping into me just as I pressed the shutter...every picture tells a story!)

This track seems to fit the bill....

OTHER STUFF....

It's no secret that I love vintage images, don't know why, I just do...so Shorpy is a regular stop-off point, it's packed with thousands of hi-definition images (predominently from the US) But why 'Shorpy' you ask? It's named after "Shorpy Higginbotham, a 'greaser' on the tipple at Bessie Mine, of the Sloss-Sheffield Steel and Iron Co. in Alabama. Said he was 14 years old, but it is doubtful. Carries two heavy pails of grease, and is often in danger of being run over by the coal cars." And that's Shorpy up there.....I can't help but wonder what cards the rest of life dealt him.

Wasn't sure whether to post this one....it's an alternative to 'the other place', works on the same basis (one post allowed a day, but because it's based in the US their 'day' starts at GMT -6), easy sign-up, with much the same features.....and it seems friendly (I posted a pic just to try it out, whoohoo, 2 comments so far!)

Interestingly they say "Is this site limited to photography?
No! We have been waiting for some creative people to come along with a neat idea we haven't thought of. A drawing a day? A poem a day? A news clip a day? We would be interested to see anything you can think of!"

Link to ShutterCal.....just in case any of you malcontents (you know who you are!) decide to give it a whirl.

And another photography link just because I rather like underpasses........

Laura Lean ' A project photographing the South Kensington tunnel that links the underground station with a number of museums.' (don't panic.....it's only 15 images!)

Roger Wilko, over and out!

Oh come all ye faithful......

2009-11-11T20:44:00.000Z

A sure sign that Xmas is on the horizon, Fenwicks, a local department store has unveiled their animated festive window display, this year complete with carols belting out from 8 in the morning until yawn time....I love Xmas but just not yet!

Just time for one link tonight (the boy in the attic is apparently downloading the internet tonight, he's magnanimously agreed to turn off his downloads for a few minutes to let me post!).....it's an online game with nice graphics and cool music that I haven't managed to play yet (for reasons see above!)

About....

"Little Wheel is the story of a world of self-sufficient robots. Everything runs like clockwork until one day when a mishap at the power core shuts down the entire civilization. After ten thousand years of rusting, a chance lightning strike restores power to one small hero, who sets out to start everything back up again.

Little Wheel is played entirely with the mouse, and the design could not be friendlier. There's no hunting for pixels or hot-spots, as things you can interact with are highlighted by a gray circle. Instead of collecting seemingly random items and rubbing them against everything to see if it advances the story, most puzzles in the game are solved simply by choosing to click these interactive areas in their correct order."

Play Little Wheel

Hitting the wall

2009-11-10T21:14:00.000Z

I'm still here....honest!! I was suffering culture shock over the weekend (but lots of sleeping sensibly balanced with copious amounts of alcohol got me through it) then it was back to work on Monday for the 'stewards inquiry' into what went wrong on the fieldtrip.....don't get me wrong, there were no recriminations or any unpleasantness, just having to go through everything bad that happened yet again, this time with the Dean and School Registrar. A word to the wise, never EVER stay at the Amaryl City-Hotel if you happen to be in Berlin, they're down-and-out crooks! (note to Paul and Irene.....it wasn't just the ant infestation, there was more.....oh yes, so much more!) I think it's the first time I've come home thinking 'do I really want to do that again next year?' (probably will though....I'm a sucker for punishment, ask anyone!)

OTHER STUFF.....

You can find some lovely animated 3D vintage Japanese stereoviews here at Pink Tentacle, and the original images here on Flickr (with lots more) Definitely worth a couple of clicks!

Silly stuff to do with your pics.....

can be found here

Rather long pause there, one of the ~~effing~~ darling kittens walked over the keyboard, thought everything so far had disappeared into the ether....

I always come back from Berlin with more questions than I went out with.....found this sound and video archive at the BBC that might just get dipped into sometime soon.

Got here

2009-11-01T17:18:00.000Z

The 'other place' will just have to be back blips....just spent the last hour trying to upload this image (it's only 339kb but no go there and bloody ages here) I suspect the hotel throttles the traffic! Anyway, successful journey, left East Midlands in a torrential downpour expecting to land in the same, only colder but no....lovely day, just a bit on the misty side. Fab walk down to the Tiergarten and as far as The Winged Victory then back through the park via the Zoo.....not in, but along the canal bank which it abuts. Just time for a quick shower and change then we're out for a beer (or three) and a meal. Praying for good weather tomorrow, we're doing the long walk from AlexanderPlatz to Potsdamer Platz with multiple diversions...we may have to come up with a cunning plan if it's tipping it down....

Nearly there

2009-10-31T15:18:00.000Z

Just about done.....the laptop's on charge and I don't THINK I've forgotten anything vital so I'm taking a comfort break before a bit of a snooze on the couch...it'll be a long night (taxi booked for 1.30am then coach to East Midlands airport for a 9.30 flight....ouch!) Fingers crossed that the hotel really does have wifi access, got caught out last year (different hotel) when their 'internet access' turned out to be a single, supremely beige, geriatric pc in the foyer. I've had real problems with Blogger this afternoon, the connection keeps timing out, so message for Paul and Irene....I'll drop you a text when I get there (including a mugshot so you know who to avoid till Thursday....see you then, and safe journey!)

A bit early for Halloween

2009-10-30T22:13:00.000Z

It's the same every year, I say I won't but I just can't resist listening.....the original 1938, Orson Welles version of 'The War of the Worlds' that caused a bit of a stir when it was first broadcast.

But if you want to try out a few alternative versions there's lots here....obviously I'm not alone!

Dr Concrete

2009-10-30T15:49:00.001Z

Dr Concrete, originally uploaded by moclaydon.

Trying out the 'Blog This' feature in Flickr....nifty!

PS....the problem with kittens....

2009-10-29T23:14:00.000Z

.....lovely but.........

RIP Norman Painting

2009-10-29T21:46:00.000Z

"The Archers" ("an everyday story of country folk") has been an almost continuous radio essential in my life, sometimes I've fallen by the wayside, but I've always come back!.....we're of an age, the pilot episode went out a little less than a year before I was born and regular broadcasts started on Jan 1st 1951. So sad news today that Norman Painting, the longest serving cast member who played Phil Archer, there from the very first episode as juvenile lead, died aged 85. The above pic is of AN ACTUAL REAL-LIFE ARCHERS SCRIPT, sold for charity a few years ago by Tim Bentinck (who plays his son David)....I bought a few, they made great Xmas presents for other family addicts! In the studio recording only 2 days ago, he'll be sadly missed.

Another thing sadly missed.....

"The Berlin Reunion" which happened early in October, dammit!
"a several-day performance by France's Royal de Luxe street theatre company titled "The Berlin Reunion". Part of the celebrations of the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, the Reunion show featured two massive marionettes, the Big Giant, a deep-sea diver, and his niece, the Little Giantess. The storyline of the performance has the two separated by a wall, thrown up by "land and sea monsters". The Big Giant has just returned from a long and difficult - but successful - expedition to destroy the wall, and now the two are walking the streets of Berlin, seeking each other after many years apart."

Great pictures here at Big Picture, and a video at Vimeo.....

I really need to start writing a packing list, finding chargers/adaptors/cables/other electronics shite...and, not least, checking that the work laptop actually 'works' (sadly not a given!).....gotta dash!!!

Half day

2009-10-28T23:08:00.001Z

Taken on the way out of the (work) front door at lunchtime.....y'know I love them but I love to leave them!

Christmas Cake update....the deed is done, 2 boozy whoppers currently cooling/sobering up on the kitchen bench, they smell rather nice!!

Other stuff

The British Library has a wealth of audio goodies online here
Just a sample....it's an extract from a 'Linguaphone' recording, 'English Conversation' from 1929 (and by the way the customer in the tobacconists shop just happens to be J R R Tolkein.......yes, that would be that J R R Tolkein!)

Tonight's contender for 'classic crap film experience' has to be........

.....available for download (in 12 edge-of-your-cinema-seat-buttock-clenching-episodes) at Archive Classic Movies

Wet fruit

2009-10-27T20:38:00.000Z

The postponed-from Sunday, 3 generation Christmas cake bake is now definitely on for tomorrow afternoon...so the dried fruit is well and truly soused and smelling bloody gorgeous, but it's not wise to work out how much it actually costs to make, it's probably cheaper to go out and buy one at M&S!

The programme for the Berlin trip was finalised this morning (note to Imp and SD : and Thursday afternoon is officially 'free' if you are?) and I got my expenses in a plain brown envelope this afternoon....that makes it 'real' somehow, roll on Sunday!

A couple of assorted frivolities:
A rather nice free download if you're feeling creative, Livebrush
They say...."Livebrush is a drawing application. It employs an easy-to-use brush tool that reacts to your gesture. By combining simple motion controls with brush styles, Livebrush offers a fun and unique way to create graphics." You have to have Adobe Air installed (but that comes with the download if you haven't already got it) and there's versions for Windows, Mac and Linux

Still feeling creative? Soundation Studio looks like fun if you fancy playing with audio

It's an online app and they say:
"Soundation Studio is the web based sequencer that enables you to make music, ringtones and audio clips directly from the internet without downloading any software. This beta version includes over 400 royalty free audio loops, 9 different effects, track automation, basic loop editing, loop audition, master channel control and mix down to desktop." (not that I understand a word of that!)

And here's some recipes....no reason!
Middle Eastern Cookery

Blurry Monday

2009-10-26T20:43:00.000Z

I hate Mondays....I may have mentioned that before. Most of it passed in a blur after I woke up at about 5am raring to go....unfortunately it didn't last. Ended up snoozing on the metro on the way home after a couple of eyelid-drooping moments mid-afternoon (though luckily woke up before my stop). The question is, can I last out till about 11pm to try to rebalance the internal body clock........

The sneaky salon shot

2009-10-25T11:24:00.000Z

A sneaked shot from yesterday taken with the compact camera I rediscovered a couple of weeks ago....unfortunately it was on the 'utter crap quality' setting! But what is it about the lighting in hairdressing salons? Guaranteed to add 10 years to your age and emphasise every wrinkle, freckle, blemish and eye bag...and they charge you for the priveledge. Still, it's worth it for the entertainment value. The guy that's been cutting my hair for the last 30 odd years is a shining light in the local am dram soc (Widow Twanky in this years pantomime, perfect casting!) and was in fine voice yesterday giving us 'songs from the shows' with all the actions. We've got a 3 generation Christmas Cake Baking session this afternoon, so there may be a licking-the-bowl photo op later!

PS....Audio

2009-10-23T23:48:00.000+01:00

I've just spotted that a couple of the audio/podcast widgets on the right-hand side have suddenly stopped working....no idea why, but I can't fix them. Just in case you fancy a bit of scifi/horror/fantasy download listening pleasure here's direct links to the websites....after all, it's nearly halloween!

Escape Pod (scifi)

Pseudopod (horror)

Podcastle (fantasy)

In praise of the local rag

2009-10-23T20:29:00.002+01:00

Every Friday the (99.2% free) local rag hits the doormat with headlines like "Bus services are diverted", "Choir gains some new members at rehearsal" and (honestly, I'm not kidding!) "Residents urged to plan their funeral", but you know I wouldn't miss it for the world....it's a gripping read! Only tonight I learned that the inventor of Plasticine was born only a few miles down the road and to commemorate the fact "colourful new seats which have been made to look like moulded Plasticine (.....mmmmm, nice....can't wait!) are to be installed" in the streets of his birthplace (and before you bombard me with questions it was a certain Mr William Harbutt in 1894, so just remember that for your next pub quiz, it could be a clincher!)
That sounds like a cue for a video......

But Mr Harbutt wasn't our only famous resident....oh no, this is no cultural backwater, we're terrifically couth....Stan Laurel ~~did time~~ lived round here too and revisited the scenes of his misspent youth with Oliver Hardy in the (I'm guessing!) 30's.....I used to live about 50 yards south of where this was filmed, and the Grand Hotel is still going strong. WARNING.....slightly surrealistic, the commentary is in Italian!

Be thankfull you got the 'light' version tonight....I was going to post a picture of my (kitten-clawed) lacerated legs.....but I decided the world wasn't ready........

Quickie pic

2009-10-22T22:40:00.000+01:00

A 'through the office window' shot when the sun caught the leaves on the trees but didn't quite reach the ground.
I survived the day.....result! Enough said....bed!

Low-res rubber soles

2009-10-21T22:27:00.000+01:00

And speaking of resolution, I really must start uploading more pictures to Flickr and linking, rather than doing a low-res version to upload to blogger (old habit from when it was just the frivolous links and when there was an upper limit on total blog size....maybe there still is?) Re the shot: Like the shoes, not convinced by the dropped-crotch trousers!

Busy day on the cards tomorrow....we have an 'accreditation visit' where visiting academics (usually from competing-in-the-same-field institutions) and miscellaneous crusty worthies (wearing regulation corduroy jackets with leather elbow patches) decide whether one of our courses delivers what it says on the tin. Luckily most of what I had to do is already done, but I'm down for the 'tour of facilities' which is going to involve a slightly smarter pair of trousers (currently in the wash) and a 'bright-eyed and bushy-tailed' mindset....the latter might be a bit more challenging!

Nice video (it's from Internet.org...their embed code never seems to work for me, I'm probably doing something wrong!)

Link to Way of the Mantis

Placeholder

2009-10-20T22:31:00.000+01:00

Just one of those days....the best I've managed is copying loads of stuff from one place to another and standing up and sitting down a lot.....believe me, you really don't want to know. Tomorrow HAS to be better!

Fashion victim

2009-10-19T20:08:00.000+01:00

Looks like the trilby is the new back-turned baseball cap....remember, you saw it here first!

The cold/chest infection/whatever drags on.....I can walk, I can talk....just not at the same time. Early bed for me tonight! I bumped into one of our mature students on the way into work this morning, a lovely Irish guy called Ken....he was asking me how long I'd worked at the uni, '20 years' I gasped/wheezed while leaning against a convenient wall, 'Jaysuss woman....you'd get less for murder!'......he's got a point!

But there's always time for a few arty-farty timewasters before I dive under the duvet....

Create your own Jackson Pollock masterpiece here

Maybe be your own Picasso here

or just make pretty patterns by fiddling with the sliders here

Nintendo gurl

2009-10-17T18:17:00.001+01:00

This one's been passed by the official censor.....apparently it's blurry enough to hide her freckles and she likes the minimal selective colour on the DS screen, but she'd like me to point out in no uncertain terms that the teddy bear in the background is absolutely nothing to do with her, it's the kittens 'cuddly bed'.

Haven't played this one since Episode 1, but now there's 3....
Deep Chalk
Episode 1
Episode 2
Episode 3
It's one of those point-and-clicky affairs
Maybe later.....if I don't fall asleep ......

Mystic Mog

2009-10-17T09:15:00.001+01:00

Spent yesterday evening zizzing on the couch with the kittens, coughing and spluttering gently (me, not the kittens). And after a good night's sleep I've woken up this morning feeling lots better....which is good, because Daizy arrives at lunchtime for a sleepover...but no doubt more of that later!

All burnt out

2009-10-15T22:08:00.000+01:00

Another day of virtually zero photographic endeavour.
The cold, or whatever it is, is still simmering, I might even have to admit defeat and take the day off tomorrow, I hate being sick.....but I've bought in pills and potions that might make it easier!

But there was some good news today...the plans for the Berlin fieldtrip in a couple of weeks are starting to take shape, there's just one more day to fill with meaningful/justifiable/educational activities and then we're sorted. I'm just hoping that final empty day doesn't involve me in trying to persuade a bunch of 40+ students that creating group websites illustrating their fieldtrip experience (using German software in a computer lab at a necessarily nameless Berlin University) is a 'good' thing to do.....and that probably after they've had a heavy night on the beer. Been there, done that, got the t-shirt....no thanks, well not if I can help it anyway! I'd much rather do Berliner Unterwelten (that would be the society for exploration and documentation of subterranean architecture) and dig deep into cold-war history....but currently the court's out!

Gravel grading

2009-10-14T19:36:00.000+01:00

It's official, I've developed a steaming cold and a hacking cough overnight.....so I'm not a happy bunny. What makes it worse, I can't take any time off work....too much to do and my left-hand-man is on leave. So I only took a couple of pics today, both of them out of the office window. The other one went to 'the other place' and looks remarkably similar to the one above. I suspect he was fishing out fag ends from the gravel.....but I didn't shout down to ask.

Quick link to a musical webtoy that entertained me for a couple of minutes during my non-existent lunchtime

Link to Incredibox

Time for some serious lolling on the couch with a large pot of tea and crap on the box I think.....

Balancing act.......

2009-10-13T21:01:00.001+01:00

....as in 'Life is a...', at least that how it feels at the moment. I've spent the day pecking away at the 6 or so current jobs on my desk trying to keep just that one step ahead of the next person to come through the door and ask for the finished article, it's life on the edge, I may have to throw a tantrum or three tomorrow! The screengrab above is from a VectorPark game I MUST have posted before....but, y'know, it's worth a revisit!

Tonight's job, if I can be arsed, is starting to sort out the mountain of cds/dvds stacked on spindles (2000 plus at a vague count) scattered around the house, a miscellany of radio plays/music/films/stuff that I've accumulated over the years....but maybe I'll just open a bottle of wine instead.....

Accidents and incidents

2009-10-12T19:34:00.002+01:00

First an accidental shot taken while walking along a corridor....don't know why, but I like it! It sort of illustrates the day too, all just a bit of a blur. Bit of a disaster yesterday...the internet died on me, no idea why but it's back up-and-running again, sometimes it's just best not to ask....
Then this afternoon we had a bomb threat and were evacuated/herded to to the Uni Library Quad (it's SUCH a good idea to keep all the prospective targets together in a bunch I think!)

Conspiracy theories abound, was it the Students Union trying to boost lunchtime sales (if so it worked, it was heaving in there!) or was it an exercise testing the emergency services because of a certain minor royal who recently started at 'the other university' across the road (if they'd done it there it would have hit the headlines)....the court's still out!

Oh well, at least that's Monday out of the way!

PS.....should maybe have added this. Remember folks......be like Bert!!

Chuck-out Friday

2009-10-09T20:08:00.000+01:00

The Council has been emailed about collecting the fridge, the dishwasher, the chest of drawers (without the drawers), the vintage microwave (probably with a vintage lasagne inside, didn't check), the 2 rusty bikes, the lawnmower that hasn't seen active service for years, the wheelbarrow with a gaping hole and 2 burnt out vaccuum cleaners. But I kept the overhead projector and portable microfiche reader.....you just never know when they might come in handy! I also found a compact camera that I forgot I even had, I may take it out for a spin tomorrow. No idea who the redoubtable lady above is, but she turned up in an old photograph album that used to belong to a vague relative of my great aunt....also appearing were a lot of gents either in full highland dress or in World War 1 uniforms, I bet there were some stories there, unfortunately there's no-one left to ask what they were.

Some of the sort-out was done to the accompaniament of the Ukelele Orchestra of Great Britain, a sample for your delectation, 'I'm just a Teenage Dirtbag' like you've never heard it before.....

Now it's me for the couch and a bit of kitten communing!

It's the weekend!

2009-10-08T20:31:00.002+01:00

....you read that right, I've got the day off tomorrow! But yes, it's coat-wearing weather, can't win 'em all I suppose.....

Found this today while looking for something completely different.....it raised a smile!

Seeing as I'm now officially in 'not-at-work' mode maybe a game later might be in order....

Found at Jayisgames
They say "It is difficult to describe the gameplay of The Glean of Glob. This is a surrealist dream, or perhaps a nightmare. There are no instructions, the player must figure out what to do while interacting with the characters on the screen. Everything can be accomplished by a click of the mouse, but after that, well, perhaps you'd better see for yourself. If you are looking for a linear experience, starting at A and progressing neatly to Z, this is not the place for you. But if you are up to the challenge, and would like to experience thought-provoking artwork, then dive into the world of The Glean of Glob"
Link straight to the game

Snappier snaps.....

2009-10-07T23:05:00.000+01:00

....think I need to check out Beatrice's advice (courtesy Girl Annual No 8, pub 1960), feeling a bit lack-lustre about the 'snaps' I'm taking at the moment.....maybe I'll try a bit of B&W (something that really scares me, I might even have to read the bloody manual......but there's nothing like fear to spice up life a bit!) But Beatrice obviously knows her stuff, she says.....
"Beware of making freaks of your friends, drainpipes growing out of shoulders and heads level with 'Road blocked' signs should be avoided too. They are an embarrassment to the photographer and, of course, to the model"
.....oh bugger........maybe I should read "Looking for the ideal pet?....Why not keep a BUDGIE" or "Learning about fashion sense" (though it's probably all down to wearing a clean pair of white cotton gloves at all times) instead.

Silly video

Now to brave 'The Kitten Wall of Death", they do circuits....getting ever higher until they fall off walls, furniture, curtains...me.....

Back door....

2009-10-06T22:09:00.001+01:00

....no, not mine, the one at work. By the way the curly stemmed plant is 100% plastic and the sofas would fit in well in a budget hotel chain reception area....really can't imagine what they were thinking of! A bit of a non-day today, head down doing boring things, but I made progress with stuff that's been hanging over my head for weeks, so not all bad.

But I DID find this.....

They say....
"Create free Google Maps from your Flickr Photosets for use in your website or blog, or for sending to friend's Facebook, Twitter or your favourite website. Its quick and easy, only takes three simple steps and best of all, its free!"
....now all I need to do is to start using Flickr more and creating sets!
Link to MapFlickr

There's loads of people feeling under the weather or even downright sick at the moment, it happens every year at about this time at the uni when a whole load of foreign germs hit town. I tried to embed a great (1945) video from Archive.org (be warned, dip in there and you'll be lost for days!), but it didn't work, so here's the link instead....Coughs and Sneezes Spread Diseases

And, just as predicted, I got sucked in.....just downloaded Weird Islands (1921) in pdf, the illustrations are amazing!

I'll leave you with a song....

Room with an identity crisis

2009-10-05T22:12:00.001+01:00

Spotted on a corridor not a million miles from my office...hey, I can identify with that!

Found out last week that I'm Berlin bound for a week at the start of November on a field-trip, I'll be an ersatz Quantity Surveyor again this year (no complaints, this is year 4 so I know the ropes and the relative alcohol capacities/personal quirks of my fellow 'grown-ups'....it'll be fine as long as we don't lose any students or get arrested!) Found this rather nice/thoughtful photo essay (260 images) that I haven't got to the end of yet, but will later.

What am I looking forward to most?......the traditional first morning walk from East to West, Alexanderplatz to Potsdamerplatz via Museuminsel/Unter den Linden/Brandenburger Tor/Tiergarten.....magic!

Quick link to a great place to download (free) music if you're into the 'world' variety....
na Bula Bula

Round the doors

2009-10-04T16:59:00.000+01:00

Lovely day today, sunny but with an autumnal nip in the air. Seeing as Daizy was staying over after last night's family get-together a trip to the beach was called for....she paddled, I didn't! That's Cullercoats lifeboat station up there with the boat out for a Sunday airing. We spotted some seaweed gatherers (it's great on the garden, but rather smelly!)

Then it was off to Tynemouth Station market to meet up with the fond parents for the handover, a nice Italian meal and a browse round the stalls

All in all it's been a pretty good day!

Family affair....

2009-10-03T23:07:00.000+01:00

....as in just back from one, and decidedly squiffy. Subjects tonight are granddaughter Daizy on the left (about to inflict some sort of fiendish foot tickling torture on her victim) and her second coz Ben on the right (who doesn't seem to mind too much and is always willing to smile for the camera) Bed calls................

Communications hub

2009-10-02T22:55:00.000+01:00

From the traditional 'envelope stuffing' to the electronic.....done something like this before 'in another place', probably from the same vantage point in fact.....a lack-lustre but stupidly busy day!

I like looking at pictures....it's not a secret....and especially vintage graphics......

Check out ephemera assemblyman for a blast from the past, you won't regret it!

Now I'm brain-dead
....need pain-killers
....bed
....lots of water
....switched-off alarm clock
...............

Watching the traffic

2009-10-01T21:51:00.000+01:00

WARNING.....work-based rant follows!
Minor victory for the 'little man' (read student) to report tonight. Out of the blue at the start of the week a huge hike in student printing/plotting costs was announced (more than a 300% rise, all down to 'central services', nothing we could do about it apparently) So I did a bit of number crunching yesterday to work out how 'they' could justify it.....the short answer being they couldn't, no way! The crunched figures went to a meeting this morning and returned victorious.....I took huge pleasure in going round our labs to rip down the posters 'they' had plastered on the walls, strangely satisfying somehow, must get a life!
RANT OVER

Still feeling 'under the weather' but soldiering on (sigh), the boy-in-the-attic however has the full-blown version and is wandering round in a dispeputable dressing gown with wads of tissue stuffed up his nose....not a pretty sight!

Family History stuff.....
Apparently 'the family' has a bit of 'Living in the Workhouse' experience (drinking and gambling!), luckily there's a website to document our wild and wanton ways

But now I'm off down to Jollity Farm, stoked up with a couple of Lemsips......