At last, the winter inertia is gradually diminishing. This was prompted in part by an unexpected invitation from Germany to visit for exploratory talks. This came totally out of the blue and was due to the host remembering me from a 2006 event.
With the book "A View from the Lodge" now printed and Mr James the author actively pursuing sales, attention turns to "Dark Seeds 3AM" by Mrs Lowry which is close to completion, following talks with the cover photographer and designer of Perfect Yellow.
A message left on the New Scientist group of LinkedIn requested mentors for US High School science projects. One of these was in the area of molecular biology, an area in which I have considerable experience. Contact with the student resulted in a favourable response and i now await the project initiation.
A casual internet search on certain technology matters revealed a dramatic change in accessibility and cost-effectiveness in certain areas. This has led to the exploration of a new venture which I am researching further assiduously.
Sadly, Hermione Triops is now deceased. Triops, like all arthropods, grow by repeated shedding of old skin and expanding before the new skin hardens. Hermione had a small amount of old skin was not shed, around her tail after one moult. The subsequent moult proved laborious because the old remnant made it impossible to fully shed the next skin. I did attempt microsurgery which did remove most of the old shell, but the tail was now so constricted that food waste could not be ejected and after two days, Hermione passed away.
Sad though this incident is, the different forums on the internet suggest that moults are a known crisis point, leading to premature death.
I have set up a new hatch of Triops two days ago but have yet to see any sign of life.
The headlines are currently dominated by the holing and capsizing of an Italian cruise ship, the impugned conduct of the captain during the emergency and the continued search for the missing passengers, numbering 20 or so.
Showing posts with label people. Show all posts
Showing posts with label people. Show all posts
Thursday, 19 January 2012
Friday, 30 December 2011
December in brief
- Alan James' book, “A View from the Lodge” published and printed.
- Contrast to the financial meeting in London – photography and filming of the public sector demonstrations in Cambridge see http://miltoncontact.blogspot.com/2011/12/nine-points-learnt-photographing.html.
- Three trips to Hereford and back – family related. I used the opportunity to take a better set of all the available stained glass at Worcester Cathedral and spent time editing the images.
- Also climbed up the Malvern's British Camp and Worcester Beacon with the SLR and tripod to try some panoramic views – images still to be edited.
- Completed the total recreation of the company brochure for Jos-Reinigung Nord - http://issuu.com/miltoncontact/docs/jos-procedure-by-juengst.
- Personal accounts and most of Company accounts done.
- Timing totally out for my most recent speech at Toastmasters – need to tackle for 2012.
- Had fun with Chinese Brush Painting, creating Robins and Holly for a video Christmas Card http://miltoncontact.blogspot.com/2011/12/why-do-robin-holly-feature-at-christmas.html. Originally initiated by a request by Ms Mix in Germany for an e-mail Christmas Card.
- Saddened to hear of death of Gregor Scholz who visited the UK earlier this year and whom I acccompanied in London – article at http://miltoncontact.blogspot.com/2011/12/cheers-to-gregor-scholz-farewell.html.
- Saw a program about living fossils – Triops. Was so captivated, bought a kit to hatch at home and am currently nurturing a small specimen of Triops longicaudatus in a tank.
- Had a lovely Christmas with the family.
Friday, 18 November 2011
Networking in person to learning more about Google+
Sunrise, and I was Nordic walking across the Jane Coston Bridge to the St John'sInnovation centre for a meeting of Mrs Garwoods Business Breakfast Network. A reasonable turnout for an 8am start, with familiar and new faces. Apart from business exchanges, the topics ranged from tropical fish (initiated by realistic tattoos) to breaking the glass ceiling for women.
A walk back home for a short break before departing for HBN, starting with the first committee meeting with Mr Foster, our new chairperson. I am now responsible for the newsletters and have written two, one a week, to date which have been favourable received. As an added hook, they include a soap based on business networking “Passionate Networking”.
Mr Downing returned to HBN after a three year absence in the follow on HBN networking. This opportunity was afforded by the fact that Gridsure, the company that he had been working for, had been sold outright, with the immediate loss of all staff, to Cryptocard, a major player in the field of card security.
As there was no tutorcloud meeting today, I gave Mr Wishart a lift back to his house where I profited from his greater experience with Google+, learning some additional tips and tricks. At last the start of the weekend.
A walk back home for a short break before departing for HBN, starting with the first committee meeting with Mr Foster, our new chairperson. I am now responsible for the newsletters and have written two, one a week, to date which have been favourable received. As an added hook, they include a soap based on business networking “Passionate Networking”.
Mr Downing returned to HBN after a three year absence in the follow on HBN networking. This opportunity was afforded by the fact that Gridsure, the company that he had been working for, had been sold outright, with the immediate loss of all staff, to Cryptocard, a major player in the field of card security.
As there was no tutorcloud meeting today, I gave Mr Wishart a lift back to his house where I profited from his greater experience with Google+, learning some additional tips and tricks. At last the start of the weekend.
Friday, 14 October 2011
Radio, Ely Cathedral, an ethereal chorister and angels
Last Friday, Radio Cambridgeshire's Andie Harper Show invited listeners to join them at Ely Cathedral, with the option of a tour of part of the cathedral not usually open to visitors. Since this was a first come first served offer, I jumped at the chance and phoned in to book a space.
So I arrived today at the cathedral with camera and tripod in hand. The shows presenter Mr Harper and close support Mrs Carman, Mr Williamson & Mr Dee soon appeared with radio technicians and paraphernalia. A band of loyal listeners joined the group and the Cathedral helpers plied us with coffee, tea and biscuits as the show began.
The acoustics of the Ely Cathedral are such that the radio interviews themselves took on a slightly hallowed air. At 10am we went to visit the Prior Crauden's Chapel with Mr Dee as the live interviewer and Mrs Carman as his minder whilst we listeners got to know each other in conversation.
Our guide to the Chapel was the historically well informed Cathedral Guide Mr Shank. He led us up the tight little staircase into the small first floor chapel. It had survived the reformation remarkably well, only losing the mediaeval stained glass as so many religious establishments did. However, the Victorian replacement was a very vibrant light featuring St Andrew (Sanctus Andreas), St Philip, St Paul, St Thomas and St Simon.
The chapel also had the shadowy remnants of a wall painting of the crucifiction – very difficult to make out. However, the real gem was the mediaeval tiled floor, where a large panel featured Adam and Eve at the moment of temptation, surrounded by lions (or should that be leopards) and a recognisable deer.
Another of the show's facebook friends, Mr Redhead, was also there with his SLR and we alternated views and photographs. After the tour of the chapel we both bought tickets for a tour of the West Tower to take advantage of the views.
Our septuagenarian guide Mr Sallows took us on an informative and humorously commentated tour that included the 288 steps to the top of the tower. We started out as a party of six and arrived on top as a party of five. At this altitude, the wind was fair whistling past us as we peered through the towers crenelations, photographing the map-like landscape and architectural model buildings with minuscule figures spread below us.
After the tour, I had a baked potato lunch and drink in the cathedral refectory, with the sound of a military wedding in the choir of the chapel being broadcast in the background.
Refreshed I wandered back to the Octagon space, looking for suitable photographic subjects. The sun, which had decided to hide itself in broken cloud whilst we were up the tower, now resumed full power, such that the south facing stained glass windows glowed in brilliant colours. I was taken by the depiction of the Tower of Babel and photographed that first.
Then suddenly, as part of the wedding, the ethereal voice of a chorister lifted to the accompaniment of the organ with a rendition of Ave Maria, followed by Bach's Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring.
The light coming through the South Transept light shone on simple modern grey fabric seats arranged in rows, imbuing then with subtle colours and glows. The wooden seats in the nave also took on dappled shades giving some striking photographic effects.
Many photograph the Octagon, as I have done in the past. The decorated vaulting around it often disappears into the shadows and yet is in itself beautifully decorated if viewed with a longer exposure.
The vaulting photographs lead me across to the South Transept to use the telephoto lens and capture some of the Angels arranged along the beams. Their faces were sometimes serious, sometime comical and at their feet the beams ended in more grotesque faces, including a remarkable likeness of Princess Leia during her twin bun phase.
The battery on my camera was running low as I took the last shots before leaving the Ship of the Fens, to wind my way back home via a diversion to Over.
A selection of photos here: Ely Cathedral with Andie Harper Show.
So I arrived today at the cathedral with camera and tripod in hand. The shows presenter Mr Harper and close support Mrs Carman, Mr Williamson & Mr Dee soon appeared with radio technicians and paraphernalia. A band of loyal listeners joined the group and the Cathedral helpers plied us with coffee, tea and biscuits as the show began.
The acoustics of the Ely Cathedral are such that the radio interviews themselves took on a slightly hallowed air. At 10am we went to visit the Prior Crauden's Chapel with Mr Dee as the live interviewer and Mrs Carman as his minder whilst we listeners got to know each other in conversation.
Our guide to the Chapel was the historically well informed Cathedral Guide Mr Shank. He led us up the tight little staircase into the small first floor chapel. It had survived the reformation remarkably well, only losing the mediaeval stained glass as so many religious establishments did. However, the Victorian replacement was a very vibrant light featuring St Andrew (Sanctus Andreas), St Philip, St Paul, St Thomas and St Simon.
The chapel also had the shadowy remnants of a wall painting of the crucifiction – very difficult to make out. However, the real gem was the mediaeval tiled floor, where a large panel featured Adam and Eve at the moment of temptation, surrounded by lions (or should that be leopards) and a recognisable deer.
Another of the show's facebook friends, Mr Redhead, was also there with his SLR and we alternated views and photographs. After the tour of the chapel we both bought tickets for a tour of the West Tower to take advantage of the views.
Our septuagenarian guide Mr Sallows took us on an informative and humorously commentated tour that included the 288 steps to the top of the tower. We started out as a party of six and arrived on top as a party of five. At this altitude, the wind was fair whistling past us as we peered through the towers crenelations, photographing the map-like landscape and architectural model buildings with minuscule figures spread below us.
After the tour, I had a baked potato lunch and drink in the cathedral refectory, with the sound of a military wedding in the choir of the chapel being broadcast in the background.
Refreshed I wandered back to the Octagon space, looking for suitable photographic subjects. The sun, which had decided to hide itself in broken cloud whilst we were up the tower, now resumed full power, such that the south facing stained glass windows glowed in brilliant colours. I was taken by the depiction of the Tower of Babel and photographed that first.
Then suddenly, as part of the wedding, the ethereal voice of a chorister lifted to the accompaniment of the organ with a rendition of Ave Maria, followed by Bach's Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring.
The light coming through the South Transept light shone on simple modern grey fabric seats arranged in rows, imbuing then with subtle colours and glows. The wooden seats in the nave also took on dappled shades giving some striking photographic effects.
Many photograph the Octagon, as I have done in the past. The decorated vaulting around it often disappears into the shadows and yet is in itself beautifully decorated if viewed with a longer exposure.
The vaulting photographs lead me across to the South Transept to use the telephoto lens and capture some of the Angels arranged along the beams. Their faces were sometimes serious, sometime comical and at their feet the beams ended in more grotesque faces, including a remarkable likeness of Princess Leia during her twin bun phase.
The battery on my camera was running low as I took the last shots before leaving the Ship of the Fens, to wind my way back home via a diversion to Over.
A selection of photos here: Ely Cathedral with Andie Harper Show.
Monday, 10 October 2011
Three weeks of Tweets, Blogs, Interviews, Travel and a new PC
I give in. I will never catch up the past three hectic weeks.
A relative's need for assistance with a new central heating installation meant a journey to the cathedral city of Hereford. This time, there was no opportunity for photography. Instead, I returned to the Point4 centre run by the RNIB on a daily basis, because of the cafe with its free WiFi. I was able to at least keep up with work both on Ms Lowry's book editing and the press release for the German restorators. Tweeting about the facilities in between led to a chance meeting with the Marketing manager and an interesting conversation that in itself led on to a blog article (Blindness - disability or different life style?).
Returning to Cambridge, there was an opportunity for a longer interview on Huntingdon Community Radio, with its founder Bill Hensley, on the Sunday. Being part of a program where the interview extended over 40 minutes with breaks for music and snatched sips of tea was a more relaxed experience. A wider range of topics including HBN, Toastmasters, publishing and local authors was covered. I was able to speak more slowly and clearly as there was not the feeling of telescoped time prevalent in a short few minute interview.
The following week, I managed to get a last minute booking with the joint Inspired Group and Business Club charity event, a motivations talk by Evelyn Glennie. It was a rewarding interlude to the catchup and mundane work inbetween. I remembered Ms Glennie for her percussion performances. Her talk gave a much deeper insight into the determination and acumen she had to create a multifaceted career for herself that defied pigeon-holing as explained in the article “Who is Dame Evelyn Glennie?”.
The weekend was the beginning of four days of travel, with two days travelling to another Cathedral City, Lincoln, and back for a social call on Miss T. The evening included shadow games with the lights on the Cathedral. The next day began with a small cruise on the Foss Bank in the mellow Sunday sunshine before a lunch at the top of the hill and return back to Cambridge.
On Monday, I went to pick up a small van to help take University clobber to Lancaster and returned with a much larger one. This meant that the two hundred plus mile journey transported a considerably more air than luggage, but it was a comfortable ride to the city and back, again over two days.
Before leaving for the final university year, Mr T. had, on my request and with much prior consultation and deliberation, constructed a new desktop PC from bespoke purchased parts. I held off till the weekend before beginning the transition from the existing PC to the new one. The task included a dual strategy, ensuring that existing files were backed up and then beginning the transfer. I spent most of Saturday alone esuring that I had a complete e-mail record from 2004 to the Friday to export and then import onto the new PC.
Today, Monday, the new PC went live, beginning with the first e-mail download and replies. There was a glitch in sending that was resolved by a call to Mr Beal – a pesky little tick box in the account settings had not been ticked. Drove to Mr Beals afterwards on Cambridge Open Studios website business. The evening included the installation of most of the important programs that I expected to use in the near future. Then, in turn, it was the all important precaution of conducting the very first back-up of the new PC.
Returning to Cambridge, there was an opportunity for a longer interview on Huntingdon Community Radio, with its founder Bill Hensley, on the Sunday. Being part of a program where the interview extended over 40 minutes with breaks for music and snatched sips of tea was a more relaxed experience. A wider range of topics including HBN, Toastmasters, publishing and local authors was covered. I was able to speak more slowly and clearly as there was not the feeling of telescoped time prevalent in a short few minute interview.
The following week, I managed to get a last minute booking with the joint Inspired Group and Business Club charity event, a motivations talk by Evelyn Glennie. It was a rewarding interlude to the catchup and mundane work inbetween. I remembered Ms Glennie for her percussion performances. Her talk gave a much deeper insight into the determination and acumen she had to create a multifaceted career for herself that defied pigeon-holing as explained in the article “Who is Dame Evelyn Glennie?”.
The weekend was the beginning of four days of travel, with two days travelling to another Cathedral City, Lincoln, and back for a social call on Miss T. The evening included shadow games with the lights on the Cathedral. The next day began with a small cruise on the Foss Bank in the mellow Sunday sunshine before a lunch at the top of the hill and return back to Cambridge.
On Monday, I went to pick up a small van to help take University clobber to Lancaster and returned with a much larger one. This meant that the two hundred plus mile journey transported a considerably more air than luggage, but it was a comfortable ride to the city and back, again over two days.
Before leaving for the final university year, Mr T. had, on my request and with much prior consultation and deliberation, constructed a new desktop PC from bespoke purchased parts. I held off till the weekend before beginning the transition from the existing PC to the new one. The task included a dual strategy, ensuring that existing files were backed up and then beginning the transfer. I spent most of Saturday alone esuring that I had a complete e-mail record from 2004 to the Friday to export and then import onto the new PC.
Today, Monday, the new PC went live, beginning with the first e-mail download and replies. There was a glitch in sending that was resolved by a call to Mr Beal – a pesky little tick box in the account settings had not been ticked. Drove to Mr Beals afterwards on Cambridge Open Studios website business. The evening included the installation of most of the important programs that I expected to use in the near future. Then, in turn, it was the all important precaution of conducting the very first back-up of the new PC.
Friday, 7 October 2011
Fri, 16th Sep.: Farewell to Mrs Buck
Sadly a long time friend, Mrs Buck, is departing for Qatar. The sadness is also tinged with envy, as she will be enjoying sunshine and decent winter temperatures.
She was holding a farewell morning in Frankie and Benny's in Huntingdon, so I donned my Arabic headgear from Egypt and met her and the other friends dropping in for an hour in the morning to say our farewells.
The visit had to be short as it was then off to the HBN Committee meeting, followed by networking and the Tutorcloud meeting.
In the evening, wrote a blog article on Making shopping in Luxor an enjoyable experience. A positive counterpoint to the horrendous hawking we were otherwise subjected to.
She was holding a farewell morning in Frankie and Benny's in Huntingdon, so I donned my Arabic headgear from Egypt and met her and the other friends dropping in for an hour in the morning to say our farewells.
The visit had to be short as it was then off to the HBN Committee meeting, followed by networking and the Tutorcloud meeting.
In the evening, wrote a blog article on Making shopping in Luxor an enjoyable experience. A positive counterpoint to the horrendous hawking we were otherwise subjected to.
Sat, 10th Sep.: On imodium and Stourbridge Fair
Digestive disruption continues, so finally succumbed and took two imodium tablets which seemed to have the right effect.
Imodium is a trade name for the active ingredient, Loperamide, originally developed by Janssen Pharmaceuticals. It is an opiate that does not cross the blood/brain barrier and therefore does not cause the same effect as other opiates. Acting on receptors in the intestines, it reduces the activity of the longitudinal muscles and increases that of the circular muscles. As a result, material is held for a longer time, allowing more water to be removed. However, whilst useful for mild diarrhoea, it has no benefit with cholera, shigella or campylobacter infections.
Mrs Hales-Tooke dropped by in the morning to pick up a box of her book “The Lost Priory”, in preparation for her sales table at the Stourbridge Fair today. We therefore decided to go to the fair for the first time since living in Cambridge. Stourbridge fair now fills a small field around the Leper Chapel off Newmarket Road. There were stalls giving information about historical groups, beekeepers selling beeswax candles and honey, a story teller enthralling children and of course Mrs Hales-Tooke, selling her cards and books. Many dressed up in mediaeval clothes and with the sun breaking through, the Capriol Society dancers performed mediaeval dances to the applause of the surrounding spectators.
Apparently, Stourbridge Fair used to be the largest of it's kind in Europe, originating from a special dispensation by King John in 1199 to hold a three day fair at the Leper Chapel in aid of the lepers. It rose to a peak in the 1500 and 1600s, it income becoming a battle ground between town and gown, then with increasing technology and canalisation, it declined in the eighteenth century and finally ceased in 1933. However, it was recently revived (probably 2004 according to Wikipedia) and Mrs Hales-Tooke had been participating for a number of years, successfully selling her books and cards there.
The evening spent stitching panorama sequences using Hugin. News developing about Egyptian protests in Cairo outside Israeli embassy in response to the earlier killing of Egyptian policeman in a raid chasing terrorists. The television pictures are of a new wall being torn down and the consulate offices being raided and trashed.
Mrs Hales-Tooke dropped by in the morning to pick up a box of her book “The Lost Priory”, in preparation for her sales table at the Stourbridge Fair today. We therefore decided to go to the fair for the first time since living in Cambridge. Stourbridge fair now fills a small field around the Leper Chapel off Newmarket Road. There were stalls giving information about historical groups, beekeepers selling beeswax candles and honey, a story teller enthralling children and of course Mrs Hales-Tooke, selling her cards and books. Many dressed up in mediaeval clothes and with the sun breaking through, the Capriol Society dancers performed mediaeval dances to the applause of the surrounding spectators.
Apparently, Stourbridge Fair used to be the largest of it's kind in Europe, originating from a special dispensation by King John in 1199 to hold a three day fair at the Leper Chapel in aid of the lepers. It rose to a peak in the 1500 and 1600s, it income becoming a battle ground between town and gown, then with increasing technology and canalisation, it declined in the eighteenth century and finally ceased in 1933. However, it was recently revived (probably 2004 according to Wikipedia) and Mrs Hales-Tooke had been participating for a number of years, successfully selling her books and cards there.
The evening spent stitching panorama sequences using Hugin. News developing about Egyptian protests in Cairo outside Israeli embassy in response to the earlier killing of Egyptian policeman in a raid chasing terrorists. The television pictures are of a new wall being torn down and the consulate offices being raided and trashed.
Fri, 9th Sep.: Back to QR Codes
Braved the computer to check the accumulated e-mails of the past week, seeking out the most urgent to respond to.
Saved by driving to the Friday HBN meeting, dressed in my galabeya, but without the headdress. Good turnout. For the first time see the usually imperturbable Mr W quietly fuming at the way he had been treated by another business. Group very supportive.
Travelled back with Mr Wishart to view the banner which I had designed as there were anticipated problems with one of the QR codes, one combined with an image. The original design worked on screen and when printed on paper, however, when printed on the banner material, it worked with my QR code reader but was very erratic with Mr Wishart's. Based on the technology underlying the QR codes, we thought that perhaps the problem was due to the lower contrast at one of the three key squares used by the QR software to recognise the orientation of the two dimensional code. Experiments with small strips of white sticky paper found a solution that worked without impinging on the impact of the design.
Spent the evening editing the 1000+ photographs taken in Egypt.
Saved by driving to the Friday HBN meeting, dressed in my galabeya, but without the headdress. Good turnout. For the first time see the usually imperturbable Mr W quietly fuming at the way he had been treated by another business. Group very supportive.
Travelled back with Mr Wishart to view the banner which I had designed as there were anticipated problems with one of the QR codes, one combined with an image. The original design worked on screen and when printed on paper, however, when printed on the banner material, it worked with my QR code reader but was very erratic with Mr Wishart's. Based on the technology underlying the QR codes, we thought that perhaps the problem was due to the lower contrast at one of the three key squares used by the QR software to recognise the orientation of the two dimensional code. Experiments with small strips of white sticky paper found a solution that worked without impinging on the impact of the design.
Spent the evening editing the 1000+ photographs taken in Egypt.
Sunday, 28 August 2011
Hedgetrimming gets out of hand
Today is the last “look after neighbours chicken day”, sadly without a last complimentary laid egg.
Our neighbour, Mr H. dropped by to quickly trim his hedge on our side of the garden this afternoon and was overtaken by the consequences of his helpful nature. Part of the hedge was overshadowed by a large elderberry. The initial idea was to trim off the obstructing branches. However, it appeared far more logical to remove the multi-stemmed and unwanted Elderberry in full. This in turn revealed the overhanging branches of a neighbours shrub. We finished the whole job two hours after begin and filled two large green bins with the chopped foliage and branches.
The news from Libya is of the National Transitional Council asserting its control over Tripoli, with the rebels gradually making their way to Sirt. Evidence was emerging of atrocities committed by the retreating old regime, with massacres of prisoners and deaths of hospital patients. The rebels themselves have also committed some of their own executions according to the Daily Mail reporter on scene.
Our neighbour, Mr H. dropped by to quickly trim his hedge on our side of the garden this afternoon and was overtaken by the consequences of his helpful nature. Part of the hedge was overshadowed by a large elderberry. The initial idea was to trim off the obstructing branches. However, it appeared far more logical to remove the multi-stemmed and unwanted Elderberry in full. This in turn revealed the overhanging branches of a neighbours shrub. We finished the whole job two hours after begin and filled two large green bins with the chopped foliage and branches.
The news from Libya is of the National Transitional Council asserting its control over Tripoli, with the rebels gradually making their way to Sirt. Evidence was emerging of atrocities committed by the retreating old regime, with massacres of prisoners and deaths of hospital patients. The rebels themselves have also committed some of their own executions according to the Daily Mail reporter on scene.
Saturday, 27 August 2011
Shopping for Egypt and dancing with Venom
After writing my diary last night, I spent a couple of more hours dealing with a document conversion of a brochure for one fellow HBN member and with finalising Mr Wishart's banner. Finally tumbled into bed at 4am.
With the neighbours letting out the chicken which I am looking after for another neighbour first thing in the morning, a lie in was permitted. Late morning, Mrs T, Ms T and I took the Park and Ride into Cambridge to purchase some last minute items for the Egypt trip. The need was on the one hand for a medium sized suitcase and on the other for bags that could be used as hand luggage, without being too heavy prior to packing.
Protection of my balding head from North African sun and my modesty by the pool was also ensured by a new wide brimmed hat and a pair of swimming/water shorts.
The P&R bus back was quite full, so I found myself sitting next to a young lady who had obviously been hoping to avoid the fate of a stranger sitting next to her. We studiously ignored one another for a while until, unable to resist any longer, I started to engage her in conversation. It gradually emerged that I was sitting next to a member of a contemporary and/or street dance group, Venom, who had come a close second in the youth section of the national XXL Street Dance Championships a couple of weeks ago! Intelligent, with a broad string of qualifications and hoping to pursue her schooling at a quality 6th form college, she had the ambition and passion to continue with dance. Back home I tried to find out a bit more about this dance movement and found it growing successfully within the UK after having hopped across the pond from the United States.
With the neighbours letting out the chicken which I am looking after for another neighbour first thing in the morning, a lie in was permitted. Late morning, Mrs T, Ms T and I took the Park and Ride into Cambridge to purchase some last minute items for the Egypt trip. The need was on the one hand for a medium sized suitcase and on the other for bags that could be used as hand luggage, without being too heavy prior to packing.
Protection of my balding head from North African sun and my modesty by the pool was also ensured by a new wide brimmed hat and a pair of swimming/water shorts.
The P&R bus back was quite full, so I found myself sitting next to a young lady who had obviously been hoping to avoid the fate of a stranger sitting next to her. We studiously ignored one another for a while until, unable to resist any longer, I started to engage her in conversation. It gradually emerged that I was sitting next to a member of a contemporary and/or street dance group, Venom, who had come a close second in the youth section of the national XXL Street Dance Championships a couple of weeks ago! Intelligent, with a broad string of qualifications and hoping to pursue her schooling at a quality 6th form college, she had the ambition and passion to continue with dance. Back home I tried to find out a bit more about this dance movement and found it growing successfully within the UK after having hopped across the pond from the United States.
Tuesday, 23 August 2011
Identifying Stentor on a snail's shell
Received first feedback on the draft press release for the NRW delegation – we sought approval from our various hosts. Some changes required, including a revision of the original title which had been emasculated by the suggested revision. Sighed, accepted my lot and made the changes, then sent on to Ms Luetje and Mr Juengst to keep them informed. Still have another permission/edit outstanding to be mailed to me.
The mood was enlivened by the arrival of Ms Fleming and Mr Snoswell with a pond sample containing small ramshorn snails with strange green goo at the central depression of their whorls. I had been intrigued by the photos on Ms Fleming's Facebook post, which tantalisingly lacked sufficient detail for clear identification. We soon had the stereo-microscope out and were chasing the snails in a petri dish as they threatened to zoom out of view at 6x to 20x magnification.
I attached my camcorder to the microscope and made some recordings which we then replayed on a larger television screen, with identification guides on hand. We soon established that the green matter comprised colonies of Stentor polymorphus, which absorb chlorella as symbionts. The vase shaped organisms, with their cilia rimmed apertures, were oblivious to the movement of both the snail and the petri dish.
I edited a short video with a range of clips. Mr Heker called in via Skype on another matter and was roped in to help with the audio editing via shared screen! The video was uploaded to YouTube and also embedded in a short blog article which was subsequently submitted to Micscape, an online microscopy magazine.
The rest of the afternoon was a return to continuing the manuscript review begun yesterday.
The evenings news is is full of the Libyan rebels storming Gaddaffi's compound, a key target in Tripoli. No sign of the colonel or his sons though.
The mood was enlivened by the arrival of Ms Fleming and Mr Snoswell with a pond sample containing small ramshorn snails with strange green goo at the central depression of their whorls. I had been intrigued by the photos on Ms Fleming's Facebook post, which tantalisingly lacked sufficient detail for clear identification. We soon had the stereo-microscope out and were chasing the snails in a petri dish as they threatened to zoom out of view at 6x to 20x magnification.
I attached my camcorder to the microscope and made some recordings which we then replayed on a larger television screen, with identification guides on hand. We soon established that the green matter comprised colonies of Stentor polymorphus, which absorb chlorella as symbionts. The vase shaped organisms, with their cilia rimmed apertures, were oblivious to the movement of both the snail and the petri dish.
I edited a short video with a range of clips. Mr Heker called in via Skype on another matter and was roped in to help with the audio editing via shared screen! The video was uploaded to YouTube and also embedded in a short blog article which was subsequently submitted to Micscape, an online microscopy magazine.
The rest of the afternoon was a return to continuing the manuscript review begun yesterday.
The evenings news is is full of the Libyan rebels storming Gaddaffi's compound, a key target in Tripoli. No sign of the colonel or his sons though.
Wednesday, 17 August 2011
A visit to the dentist and purchasing Kevlar bicycle tyres
Staggered out of bed at 6:30am to get ready for a dental appointment. Mrs T and I caught the Number 9 bus at 8am, which actually arrived punctually. This being the summer school holidays, the traffic into the city was relatively quick. After a walk across Parker's Piece, I arrived half an hour early but fortunately had my Kindle with me.
The ever friendly Ms Kenny, gently anaesthetised my left inferior alveolar nerve in order to repair two fillings on the rear lower molars. Ironically, the drilling was painless, it was the clamp around the teeth prior to applying the filling that caused pain as it had to be pushed right down onto the gum. Fortunately, the trial was soon over and I departed with a numb lower jaw and lip.
I met up with Ms T. at the railway station and we then made our way into town to purchase some Egyptian Pounds from Marks & Spencer, the relevant office being situated just around the corner from the ladies lingerie. We then went our separate ways.
Having missed the next bus to Milton, I had time to spare and sought out some new outer tyres for my bicycle. In particular, I was looking for Schwalbe Kevlar tyres that are much more resistant to punctures. The stall at Cambridge Market had a pair at a cool £35 each, so I walked further up towards Hill's Road to Howe's Cycles, where the same tyres were only £22 each.
On the way back to the bus stop, I purchased a maple syrup and walnut icecream and felt my spirits lifted at last after the lingering effects of the dental treatment.
Returning home, I spent an hour before lunch replacing the tyres on my bicycle.
For the afternoon, I completed the proofreading of the scientific article begun yesterday, a task that took another 3 hours.
The ever friendly Ms Kenny, gently anaesthetised my left inferior alveolar nerve in order to repair two fillings on the rear lower molars. Ironically, the drilling was painless, it was the clamp around the teeth prior to applying the filling that caused pain as it had to be pushed right down onto the gum. Fortunately, the trial was soon over and I departed with a numb lower jaw and lip.
I met up with Ms T. at the railway station and we then made our way into town to purchase some Egyptian Pounds from Marks & Spencer, the relevant office being situated just around the corner from the ladies lingerie. We then went our separate ways.
Having missed the next bus to Milton, I had time to spare and sought out some new outer tyres for my bicycle. In particular, I was looking for Schwalbe Kevlar tyres that are much more resistant to punctures. The stall at Cambridge Market had a pair at a cool £35 each, so I walked further up towards Hill's Road to Howe's Cycles, where the same tyres were only £22 each.
On the way back to the bus stop, I purchased a maple syrup and walnut icecream and felt my spirits lifted at last after the lingering effects of the dental treatment.
Returning home, I spent an hour before lunch replacing the tyres on my bicycle.
For the afternoon, I completed the proofreading of the scientific article begun yesterday, a task that took another 3 hours.
Monday, 8 August 2011
Contrasting peaceful and safe London with rioting hotspots
The early morning start in the bathroom was interrupted by a mobile message informing me that the German delegates were stuck in their airport with a plane cancelled. Fortunately, by the time I was dressed, they had been able to board an alternative plane and so I found my self catching the five to eight bus to Waterbeach to travel to London on the train.
With the ticket machine not working, I had the pleasure of being served by a real ticket inspector whilst catching up with the i newspaper on the night's riots.
The underground announcements mentioned that Brixton station on the Victoria line was closed and when I sat down in the Cafe Grana in St James Park station, I found myself next to a television camera crew from ITN, taking a break before travelling on to Scotland Yard – apparently there had been problems in Brixton and a minor incident in Oxford Circus too.
The Herrn Juengst, Noll, Zawierucha and Koenig, with Ms Luetje arrived soon afterwards before we went to their first meeting with the National Trust at their London Offices in St Anne's Gate. A fascinating presentation and synergies in terms of information exchange and the possibility of cross border training.
Our next appointment was in a London Square with an architect responsible for the planning of a major façade renovation. The differences between project management in the UK and in Germany were illustrated and much useful advice obtained.
In the background there was the sound of a demonstration taking place, though it sounded like the peaceful shouting of slogans, distorted by the wind and unintelligible. I found out later that it was the Burma Campaign UK outside the German Embassy, in protest of Germany blocking the European Union's support for the establishment of a UN Burma inquiry.
Afterwards we had a tour of the actual work site, clambering up the scaffolding to view the top of the building, where plaster was coming away from the brickwork and the bricks themselves were disintegrating as well as in part being mortared with Thames mud. An interesting conundrum as the usual requirement for renovation of a listed building is replacement of like with like.
The German party had to make its way back to catch an evening flight from the airport. We parted at Hyde Park tube station as I forewent the delights of a crowded tube at rush hour and decided to wander in the direction of Kings Cross Station on foot, three miles away.
I was distracted in St James Park by one of the bike hire places as I attempted to hire a bicycle. Unfortunately, the unlocking code given could not be punched in as the number keys had been damaged, so I continued on foot.
Coming out onto Piccadilly, the noise of a passing police van with sirens howling and the more frequent presence of police on patrol made itself noticed. I diverted to one of the parallel back-streets with the thought of visiting Paxton and Whitfield for some Blue Stilton but the shop was being renovated, two workman taking a tea break when I glanced through the slightly ajar door.
From Piccadilly circus, I drifted into Chinatown, which was bustling with visitors and Chinese, accompanied by the tempting scent of oriental food wafting from some of the vendors.
Back on track briefly, I then wandered into Covent Garden, the streets were busy with tourists and sight seers and the suited visitors to the pubs spilling out onto the streets. By now it was just after 6pm, so I gave in and took the tube back to Kings Cross.
There was sufficient time to buy a tea and a sour-dough baguette with Mozzarella, rocket and tomatoes before catching the Kings Lynn train from Platform 4, garnering one of the last seats by a table.
Later that evening, the news was full of the troubles that had spread like wildfire to other parts of the capital – a major shop burning in Croyden, and trouble in Hackney and Peckham. Cars set alight in Lewisham and looting in Clapham. Flames in Woolwich. A separate incident had ignited in Birmingham.
Added to that, shares continued to tumble as the financial markets are still in turmoil.
With the ticket machine not working, I had the pleasure of being served by a real ticket inspector whilst catching up with the i newspaper on the night's riots.
The underground announcements mentioned that Brixton station on the Victoria line was closed and when I sat down in the Cafe Grana in St James Park station, I found myself next to a television camera crew from ITN, taking a break before travelling on to Scotland Yard – apparently there had been problems in Brixton and a minor incident in Oxford Circus too.
The Herrn Juengst, Noll, Zawierucha and Koenig, with Ms Luetje arrived soon afterwards before we went to their first meeting with the National Trust at their London Offices in St Anne's Gate. A fascinating presentation and synergies in terms of information exchange and the possibility of cross border training.
Our next appointment was in a London Square with an architect responsible for the planning of a major façade renovation. The differences between project management in the UK and in Germany were illustrated and much useful advice obtained.
In the background there was the sound of a demonstration taking place, though it sounded like the peaceful shouting of slogans, distorted by the wind and unintelligible. I found out later that it was the Burma Campaign UK outside the German Embassy, in protest of Germany blocking the European Union's support for the establishment of a UN Burma inquiry.
Afterwards we had a tour of the actual work site, clambering up the scaffolding to view the top of the building, where plaster was coming away from the brickwork and the bricks themselves were disintegrating as well as in part being mortared with Thames mud. An interesting conundrum as the usual requirement for renovation of a listed building is replacement of like with like.
The German party had to make its way back to catch an evening flight from the airport. We parted at Hyde Park tube station as I forewent the delights of a crowded tube at rush hour and decided to wander in the direction of Kings Cross Station on foot, three miles away.
I was distracted in St James Park by one of the bike hire places as I attempted to hire a bicycle. Unfortunately, the unlocking code given could not be punched in as the number keys had been damaged, so I continued on foot.
Coming out onto Piccadilly, the noise of a passing police van with sirens howling and the more frequent presence of police on patrol made itself noticed. I diverted to one of the parallel back-streets with the thought of visiting Paxton and Whitfield for some Blue Stilton but the shop was being renovated, two workman taking a tea break when I glanced through the slightly ajar door.
From Piccadilly circus, I drifted into Chinatown, which was bustling with visitors and Chinese, accompanied by the tempting scent of oriental food wafting from some of the vendors.
Back on track briefly, I then wandered into Covent Garden, the streets were busy with tourists and sight seers and the suited visitors to the pubs spilling out onto the streets. By now it was just after 6pm, so I gave in and took the tube back to Kings Cross.
There was sufficient time to buy a tea and a sour-dough baguette with Mozzarella, rocket and tomatoes before catching the Kings Lynn train from Platform 4, garnering one of the last seats by a table.
Later that evening, the news was full of the troubles that had spread like wildfire to other parts of the capital – a major shop burning in Croyden, and trouble in Hackney and Peckham. Cars set alight in Lewisham and looting in Clapham. Flames in Woolwich. A separate incident had ignited in Birmingham.
Added to that, shares continued to tumble as the financial markets are still in turmoil.
Sunday, 7 August 2011
Presenting the speech “Write it down”
Wednesday, 3rd August: Continued with the two themes of writing the final report for a project (in German) and preparation for the Huntingdonshire Speakers speech tonight.
By lunchtime the speech “Write it down” had taken on more detail with a structure:
I've planned five visual aids; a 1000 year old quote from Sei Shonagon's “Pillow Book”, Dr McArthur's book “Ka Sefofane”, One of Mr Heker's technical articles, Mr Juengst's white paper and finally the Kindle with my “Your business startup: Twelve pillars of advice in brief” which has appeared published on Amazon today!
Since this talk will be given without notes, I prepared a series of visual mental cues as a skeleton to hang the talk on. The most difficult and nerve racking was learning the Sei Shonagon quote off by heart.
Not sure whether to pass around the visual aids or hold them up.
The evening was then spent at Huntingdonshire Speakers and fortunately my speech was the first. I had practiced to give it in seven minutes. In the event, I was just under a minute over. The decision to pass round the visual aids when they arose during the talk worked but might have proved distracting – next time hold them up! However, received a lot of positive feedback from all the attendees in the short written comments that are part of the Toastmasters experience. Mr Wellman evaluated my speech positively with constructive advice for the future.
Other entertaining speeches came from the two minute “Tabletopics”, based around an geographic theme, using the colours of the olympic rings to define regions to be talked about. There was a hilarious foray into the consequences of cross dressing and a passionate lament on the current economic crisis in the Eurozone by Mr Slezak.
A satisfying but exhausting end to the day.
Bought a copy of Mr Frost's autobiography, “Growing Forward” and made the mistake of beginning to read it. I continued till the end, around 3am. A fascinating youth of involvement in a strict religious group, rebellion and even breaking the law before reforming, and of love gained – and lost. All before the age of 25.
By lunchtime the speech “Write it down” had taken on more detail with a structure:
- Introduction
- Why write it down (door to the past, present and Future)
- Where to write it down (mentioning additional media)
- When (and when not) to write it down
- Call to action - “Write it down”
I've planned five visual aids; a 1000 year old quote from Sei Shonagon's “Pillow Book”, Dr McArthur's book “Ka Sefofane”, One of Mr Heker's technical articles, Mr Juengst's white paper and finally the Kindle with my “Your business startup: Twelve pillars of advice in brief” which has appeared published on Amazon today!
Since this talk will be given without notes, I prepared a series of visual mental cues as a skeleton to hang the talk on. The most difficult and nerve racking was learning the Sei Shonagon quote off by heart.
Not sure whether to pass around the visual aids or hold them up.
The evening was then spent at Huntingdonshire Speakers and fortunately my speech was the first. I had practiced to give it in seven minutes. In the event, I was just under a minute over. The decision to pass round the visual aids when they arose during the talk worked but might have proved distracting – next time hold them up! However, received a lot of positive feedback from all the attendees in the short written comments that are part of the Toastmasters experience. Mr Wellman evaluated my speech positively with constructive advice for the future.
Other entertaining speeches came from the two minute “Tabletopics”, based around an geographic theme, using the colours of the olympic rings to define regions to be talked about. There was a hilarious foray into the consequences of cross dressing and a passionate lament on the current economic crisis in the Eurozone by Mr Slezak.
A satisfying but exhausting end to the day.
Bought a copy of Mr Frost's autobiography, “Growing Forward” and made the mistake of beginning to read it. I continued till the end, around 3am. A fascinating youth of involvement in a strict religious group, rebellion and even breaking the law before reforming, and of love gained – and lost. All before the age of 25.
Planning a Speech
Tuesday, 2nd August: There were two main items to consider today. The first was continuation of writing a final report for a project. I had a long Skype conversation with Ms Schmidt in Berlin regarding advice on a translation she had undertaken; in return, she provided some useful information at short notice on her efforts as part of the project fo which the report is being written.
Second, I have decided to do talk 3 out of the Public Relations manual, the Persuasive Speech. The objective is to give a presentation with at least one visual aid, that will persuade the audience to take an action.
I've decided on the title “Write it down”, with the objective of persuading the audience that there is a real benefit to them in recording their experiences and expertise with a view to sharing it with others.
Writing down bullet points, the rough structure is likely to be:
Still mulling over the details in my mind.
Second, I have decided to do talk 3 out of the Public Relations manual, the Persuasive Speech. The objective is to give a presentation with at least one visual aid, that will persuade the audience to take an action.
I've decided on the title “Write it down”, with the objective of persuading the audience that there is a real benefit to them in recording their experiences and expertise with a view to sharing it with others.
Writing down bullet points, the rough structure is likely to be:
- Why you should write it down
- What you can write down
- When to write it down
Still mulling over the details in my mind.
Business visitors for lunch
Monday, 25th July: Herr Juengst and Herr Noll came to Meerbusch for an informal business related visit. They had been part of a previous NRW delegation to the UK and were following up with another visit, coming to London on the 8th August. I had initiated the meeting as it is always a pleasure when previous visitors to the UK actually follow up on potential business.
We covered some aspects that might be of assistance to them and then enjoyed a Schnitzel at the only nearby Pension that was open on a Monday.
That evening, photographed my German grandfather's typed diary text. This had been originally transcribed from handwritten notes into a word-processor document by my oldest uncle, printed and sent to family members. However, the original digital files had been lost. In my publishing role, I was interested in seeing if it was possible to recreate the digital version for future use. Mr T turned the pages (over 300) whilst Mrs T read through the notes, finding mention of herself as a child and chuckling at her fathers perception of her as a headstrong girl.
We covered some aspects that might be of assistance to them and then enjoyed a Schnitzel at the only nearby Pension that was open on a Monday.
That evening, photographed my German grandfather's typed diary text. This had been originally transcribed from handwritten notes into a word-processor document by my oldest uncle, printed and sent to family members. However, the original digital files had been lost. In my publishing role, I was interested in seeing if it was possible to recreate the digital version for future use. Mr T turned the pages (over 300) whilst Mrs T read through the notes, finding mention of herself as a child and chuckling at her fathers perception of her as a headstrong girl.
On over-fit septuagenarians
Wednesday, 20th July: A gentle start to the day before beginning to update my computer here in Germany, which took till early aftenoon. Then it was off to collect Mr T from the railway station in Oppum, returning from a family visit to my sister and her children.
Mrs T dragooned me into accompanying her and two other of her friends to a water exercise class for the rheumatoid at a swimming pool in the nearby town of Krefeld. Forty five minutes of vigorous exercise later left me pleasantly fatigued and amazed at the stamina of septuagenarians.
Confirmed the final details for tomorrows travel and visit to Mr Heker, to discuss a forthcoming business trip to the UK.
Mrs T dragooned me into accompanying her and two other of her friends to a water exercise class for the rheumatoid at a swimming pool in the nearby town of Krefeld. Forty five minutes of vigorous exercise later left me pleasantly fatigued and amazed at the stamina of septuagenarians.
Confirmed the final details for tomorrows travel and visit to Mr Heker, to discuss a forthcoming business trip to the UK.
Wednesday, 13 July 2011
Authors and unsuccessful panoramas
I had agreed to meet author Ms Lowry at the Country Park Cafe, however, with the upper rooms reserved and the cacophony of infants downstairs, we walked over the Jane Coston bridge to the St John's Innovation Centre cafe for our talks over a cup of tea. Ms Lowry's book is progressing well, with seven of ten potential chapters completed in first draft. Even just skimming through the work so far reveals an intense personal story with some of the most disturbing experiences that she had in her early life. Currently we are on track for publication in time for the Christmas market.
Yesterdays images of the fish scales were transferred to my PC and stacked in focus triplets before attempting a stitching of the images into a panorama. This evening I played for a couple of hours with the program Hugin Panorama Creator. At first try, I cannot get a quality alignment and I will have to try again.
The rest of the day was concerned with preparing for tomorrows meeting with Mr Dodsworth in Maidenhead, to round up the last German program. Part of this was renting the automobile for the trip, a small metallic blue Toyota Aygo. With its rounded curves, it has a friendly appearance and sufficient room behind the steering wheel for my long legs. The remainder of effort went to printing out support material. The World of Computers had a small printer by HP on offer for a mere £24 and I purchased one with a view to using it as an economical mobile accessory.
Yesterdays images of the fish scales were transferred to my PC and stacked in focus triplets before attempting a stitching of the images into a panorama. This evening I played for a couple of hours with the program Hugin Panorama Creator. At first try, I cannot get a quality alignment and I will have to try again.
The rest of the day was concerned with preparing for tomorrows meeting with Mr Dodsworth in Maidenhead, to round up the last German program. Part of this was renting the automobile for the trip, a small metallic blue Toyota Aygo. With its rounded curves, it has a friendly appearance and sufficient room behind the steering wheel for my long legs. The remainder of effort went to printing out support material. The World of Computers had a small printer by HP on offer for a mere £24 and I purchased one with a view to using it as an economical mobile accessory.
Tuesday, 12 July 2011
Portraits, fish scales and Neptune's anniversary
I received an email from another German company, specialising in building conservation techniques, who had taken part in a previous delegation from NRW to Wimpole Hall and London. Information is being accummulated for a potential press article/release after their planned next visit to the UK. I responded with the suggestion that we meet up informally when I next venture to Germany in the coming week.
This afternoon, I uploaded the portrait photos of some of the Cambridge Open Studio visitors who came last weekend and made a selection for more detailed editing. There were four final pictures in all, representing a gentleman wearing a fez, two different mothers with their daughters and a father with two student daughters.
The editing was limited to optimising lighting and contrast. Then the colour saturation was carefully adjusted by increasing it slightly, altering the saturation balance to maintain a natural set of tones. I do not go in for heavy skin or other editing as would be done for a fashion model. I do remove the occasional skin spot (three in total) and in one instance, reduced the pimples on the brow of of one subjects.
Having saved the colour image, I would then convert the image into a grey-scale version, again optimising lighting and contrast for this particular medium. There is a particular beauty with grey-scale portraits, whether it is the impact of the face without the distraction of colour or the beautiful texture of wavy hair with one of the mothers.
This evening, I was acutely aware that I had been hanging onto a box by Mr Richardson from the Postal Microscopical Society that should be passed on, initially delayed by illness and the distraction of Open Studio preparation. I returned to view the slides again (having to change a 30 year old bulb when the existing one blew – the next time will require a new lighting system!).
I had seen this box probably over a decade ago and illustrated two fish scales enclosed. This time, I decided to photograph them. The first was a cycloid scale from a rainbow trout. The scale is generally ovoid with concentric rings leading to an almost central focus like the contour lines on a mountain. The second was a ctenoid scale from Dover sole. These are more rectangular with a quartered pattern. The two long sides again have contour lines. The front part of the scale that is exposed on the fish skin, is covered in rows of short spikes that elongate towards the edge of the scale. The remaining side has a series radial ribs, giving the contours traversing them a way characteristic.
Even at a mere 40 times magnification, the scales were larger than the field of view through the microscope and camera viewfinder. The trout scale was photographed in a series of three columns and three rows of overlapping photos, each location at three focal depths (edge of scale, halfway up scale and centre of scale – giving 27 pictures in total. The Sole scale was photographed in the same manner but only required two columns of three rows at three focal planes – 18 photos in total.
Stacking the focal planes and then aligning the rows and columns is a labour for another day.
The interesting anniversary today is that around the 12th July it will be the first year's anniverary of the discovery of Neptune by Johann Gottfried Galle, in neptunian years of course. Herr Galle first identified Neptune 164.79 Earth years ago in 1781. Ever since the ignominious departure of Pluto from the pantheon of planets by its derogation to planetoid, Neptune has been the eighth and outermost planet of our solar system. The Hubble space telescope took some “Anniversary pictures” of Neptune late in June, which can be seen here http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/releases/2011/19/image/a/.
This afternoon, I uploaded the portrait photos of some of the Cambridge Open Studio visitors who came last weekend and made a selection for more detailed editing. There were four final pictures in all, representing a gentleman wearing a fez, two different mothers with their daughters and a father with two student daughters.
The editing was limited to optimising lighting and contrast. Then the colour saturation was carefully adjusted by increasing it slightly, altering the saturation balance to maintain a natural set of tones. I do not go in for heavy skin or other editing as would be done for a fashion model. I do remove the occasional skin spot (three in total) and in one instance, reduced the pimples on the brow of of one subjects.
Having saved the colour image, I would then convert the image into a grey-scale version, again optimising lighting and contrast for this particular medium. There is a particular beauty with grey-scale portraits, whether it is the impact of the face without the distraction of colour or the beautiful texture of wavy hair with one of the mothers.
This evening, I was acutely aware that I had been hanging onto a box by Mr Richardson from the Postal Microscopical Society that should be passed on, initially delayed by illness and the distraction of Open Studio preparation. I returned to view the slides again (having to change a 30 year old bulb when the existing one blew – the next time will require a new lighting system!).
I had seen this box probably over a decade ago and illustrated two fish scales enclosed. This time, I decided to photograph them. The first was a cycloid scale from a rainbow trout. The scale is generally ovoid with concentric rings leading to an almost central focus like the contour lines on a mountain. The second was a ctenoid scale from Dover sole. These are more rectangular with a quartered pattern. The two long sides again have contour lines. The front part of the scale that is exposed on the fish skin, is covered in rows of short spikes that elongate towards the edge of the scale. The remaining side has a series radial ribs, giving the contours traversing them a way characteristic.
Even at a mere 40 times magnification, the scales were larger than the field of view through the microscope and camera viewfinder. The trout scale was photographed in a series of three columns and three rows of overlapping photos, each location at three focal depths (edge of scale, halfway up scale and centre of scale – giving 27 pictures in total. The Sole scale was photographed in the same manner but only required two columns of three rows at three focal planes – 18 photos in total.
Stacking the focal planes and then aligning the rows and columns is a labour for another day.
The interesting anniversary today is that around the 12th July it will be the first year's anniverary of the discovery of Neptune by Johann Gottfried Galle, in neptunian years of course. Herr Galle first identified Neptune 164.79 Earth years ago in 1781. Ever since the ignominious departure of Pluto from the pantheon of planets by its derogation to planetoid, Neptune has been the eighth and outermost planet of our solar system. The Hubble space telescope took some “Anniversary pictures” of Neptune late in June, which can be seen here http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/releases/2011/19/image/a/.
Monday, 11 July 2011
Understanding sunflower seeds
Catch-up. Filtering 100+ e-mails. A quick comment on the COS blog. Booked a hire car for busines trip later in the week. The afternoon passed quickly – yet not sure how. Mr Straus had enquired whether he could drop by with his new partner in business and life, Ms J, and arrived for a coffee and conversation in the garden.
Most notable for me today was the late and repeated Imagine television program on the Chinese artists WeiWei. His childhood as a member of a “black” family (ostracised by the cultural revolution) and living underground. Rebellion and emigration to New York. Returning to China after the Tienanmen massacre and becoming part of the new avant garde. It gave me a much better understanding of the sunflower exhibition at the Tate Modern that I visited, and also left me feeling slightly cheated, that I had not been able to walk upon the seeds, touch them, feel them, bury in them as initial visitors had been able to. I could not touch or gaze closely at an individual seed in my hand. Because of safety concerns.
Now of course I could buy 100 on e-bay at £118, but the magic has gone.
Most notable for me today was the late and repeated Imagine television program on the Chinese artists WeiWei. His childhood as a member of a “black” family (ostracised by the cultural revolution) and living underground. Rebellion and emigration to New York. Returning to China after the Tienanmen massacre and becoming part of the new avant garde. It gave me a much better understanding of the sunflower exhibition at the Tate Modern that I visited, and also left me feeling slightly cheated, that I had not been able to walk upon the seeds, touch them, feel them, bury in them as initial visitors had been able to. I could not touch or gaze closely at an individual seed in my hand. Because of safety concerns.
Now of course I could buy 100 on e-bay at £118, but the magic has gone.
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