Bills Posts

I read a piece in a paper saying that people were getting upset that our members of parliament were being given priority passes that would allow them to jump the queue, along with four guests. I almost feel sorry for them, it not quite. Surely some better system could have been devised, say for example at the end of the laying in state, workers who have been involved and who won’t have had a chance to pay their respects. I’m not saying that’s the solution but surely something less contentious could have been devised? Just saying, that’s all.

What does that have to do with being out for a walk? Not a lot, but it does relate to my thoughts about the purpose4 for the existence of this blog. I think that first paragraph is one of the very few overtly politically related entries I’ve made. I stay away from things like that because I’m not really that confident about getting involved in really contentious issues. Usually that’s because I feel I don’t have enough knowledge & information to form a cogent argument around my view.

Gilbert White was a naturalist who lived in Selborne in the 18th century. He is famous for his book The Natural History of Selborne. Gilbert white lived about 30 miles from us. The house is open to the public, and I am putting off buying his book until we are able to visit his house. What does that have to do with me writing about controversies or being out for a walk?

Actually, for me there is a link; Gilbert white was a naturalist, and I like nature, that could be more of a focus for me; no, no I don’t think I’m going to be a naturalist. But the link between Gilbert White and political controversies is research.

Research is my biggest area of weakness, I do not by far do enough of it, for everything I am interested in. There are a number of areas in which I am interested So, Research then? I need to think about that.

Here’s a link to Lee’s wiki page; https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=Lee+Miller&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-gb&client=safari

In summary, Lee Miller was found by Vogue, and became a famous model in the 1920’s It’s worth reading her full story, she had a talent for photography, and became a wartime photographer. And so to the exhibition.

The exhibition was housed in Newman’s Gallery, Petworth. Only about 20 miles from us. It was quite a pleasant trip driving to Petworth, across the South downs, lovely rolling countryside.

New lands Gallery is an 18th century town house in the middle of Petworth. Each room contained a brief explanatory narrative and a number of picture, ten or so, and in a couple of rooms prints of Picasso’s pictures with whom she had a strong relationship over many years.

Who am I to comment on the quality of pictures taken by a world famous photographer? But, I had the distinct feeling of “anybody could have taken these pictures”. I didn’t think there was anything spectacular about exposure, other than it was of course correct and she was there and nobody else took them.

Lee Miller became famous as a war photographer, it was her pictures that brought home the horrors of the Nazi’s acts at Dachau. There were just a few of these, only three or four in the exhibition. They were upsetting.

I gained impression of a bohemian life style that I associate with artists from the early 20th century. whether it was like that in reality, I don’t know. I did buy a book; the lives of Lee Miller which I will add to my reading list.

This is the first professional photographic exhibition that I have been to. I put it amongst my artistic experiences as one that I very much wish to repeat.

After the exhibition, we went to a local pub for lunch, which was very nice. We stopped on the way back at a viewing point which was lovely, and do you know? I didn’t take any pictures. Really?

The Economist had an article about writing non-fiction. the article recommended a number of books and an essay by George Orwell. The essay “Politics and the English Language” is freely available on the Orwell Foundation Website; https://www.orwellfoundation.com/the-orwell-foundation/orwell/essays-and-other-works/politics-and-the-english-language/ makes for a very interesting read.

I thought it surprising that an essay by George Orwell would be freely available. There’s quite a lot on the foundation website. This contrasts with the first book recommendation Style: lessons in clarity and grace by Joseph M Williams and Joseph Bizup, here’s a link to the Google search, the cheapest I can find is £25.00: style: lessons in clarity and grace” the first search came with £66. I was a bit surprised. Orwell would probably have viewed that as bad writing , rephrased as: I was surprised.

I’m reading a kindle book at the moment; Writing to be understood by Anne Janzer. It’s a pretty good read, it’s making me think.

We drove in to Bognor Regis. I must admit that I have been wondering when the accolade Regis was granted. The term Regis means “of the King” a Latin term. In simplistic terms, the Monarch can choose to award the status of “Regis” because the town does something that supports the crown.

Bognor gained the honour in 1929 when Bognor was used by King George V for several months to convalesce. Some parts of the town has a calmness to it. Of course Bognor Regis today is not the town of 1929. I wonder what it was really like then. I suspect that like today, it had its good parts and its bad parts. Perhaps it isn’t that different.

Central Bognor in shopping terms isn’t really that grand, but I don’t get an impression of it being run down I don’t recall any closed units. Also, there were plenty of people around and the cafes were being well used.

To me, a big draw is the 2nd hand bookshop at the railway station. It is neat and well managed and very well stocked, especially with Science fiction, railway, photography and astronomy books. The proprietor has an “ology” section, he could do with a bigger philosophy section. I always enjoy visiting.

Spent a little bit of time here today. It really is a very serene area, stuffed with wildlife. I must admit I haven’t seen much today. We just sat there, soaking in the sun, and relishing the peace. Not even the planes passing overhead disturbed us.

Now, there’s a thing – wildlife photography. I’d like to get in on that, but the equipment, the cost, the patience, the time all of it means that it’s not an area that I am go to go anywhere near. If there is a picture that I get with the capability that I have now that turns out to be anywhere near good then fair enough.

I’m reading the current issue of B&W Photography. South America seems to be a very popular place for photographers. It’s understandabe the pictures are very good.

One of the featured photographers, Lee Miller has a big exhibition on at the gallery next to Petworth House. I think I might try and get there as it isn’t too far from us. She’s interesting because she covered many different genres. Plus, she had a (I think platonic) relationship with Picasso. Just the pictures in B&W are enough to make me want to visit the exhibition.

Every issue of B&W that I read introduces me to new photographers, I enjoy looking at all of the pictures and reading some of the story behind them. It highlights to me how much there is in the world to see, and relatively how little opportunity there is to see it,

I bought my iPad around the beginning of 2019. I bought the case at the same time. I liked the case, it was slim and light and comfortable, and the keyboard worked really well.

Over the last month or so, I have had a bit of a problem with it. It has started falling to bits and just occasionally a key would stick. Time to buy a new one. The price of apple cases is not cheap!!

I bought the cheapest ipad case compatible with mine off of Amazon. It works but is not as good as the original case although, the keypad is backlit which I like, but the keyboard is not integral to the case, which I very much don’t like.

I have decided that if I haven’t learned to love the case by Christmas time, I will have to buy an apple one. Trouble is I have almost become determined not to like this case. Oh well, time will tell.

I think I knew that at some time during my life I would write those words. Today is a sad day. I can’t think of any other person who, for more than my life has so utterly dedicated their life to the service of the people.

If you were born – where were you when the Berlin Wall fell?

What were you doing when you heard about 9/11?

These are events that had an impact on my life, just two events out of the many that affected the world.

Today, I can add a sad third event.

Bless you Ma’am, thank you for your service. Time to rest.

Almost in parallel to when I started this blog, I was also writing on my Facebook time line. Generally the Facebook post was more like a diary than anything. This blog really got going as a result of my wishing to “just write” it would give me an opportunity to explore topics and write material that was different to my FB posts.

For some reason, I have been a bit neglectful of Facebook. I had started off quite enthusiastically with the Fantasy Holiday that I had planned a part of this years Walk1000 exercise. It always seems to happen as I get close to the end, almost a a case of losing interest.

As a result of the neglect, some of the more recent blog posts could be looked at a diary entries. Not on, I really do want to keep them separate.

A couple of posts ago, I offered my Blog readers a really feeble post (I’m aware that a number of people follow this blog. Do you really read me? – i know some do, I hope you don’t get fed up with me. Anyhow, in that feeble post I talk about reflecting on the blog. I’m reading a book on my Kindle, it’s about writing non-fiction. Unsurprisingly, parts of the book deal with the audience for the writing. What audience am I aiming at? I can’t really define it just yet.

I also have a problem with content, apart from some rubbish posts such as the one a couple of days do I write about nothing consistently. But,since this blog is for me, does it all really matter?

I think that if I ever wanted to have a really focussed blog, I’d start a second one. I haven’t done that.

I subscribe to the notifications issued by The Queens Harbour Master. Several weeks ago QHM issued a notice that dredging activity would be taking place in Haslar Marina. It was due to start about now. They’ve been at it for a couple of days now.

Taken this morning, this picture shows two of three ships, the barge closest to us is full of the dredged material, There was a chap on the bridge drinking a mug of tea, preparing to take the barge out to the spill area, which I think is beyond the Nab Tower.

Mary Mouse, the green light ship in the distance, is due to be moved as part of the dredging activity. The lightship, which is a rather nice restaurant (which I am really pleased survived Covid) has been where it is since we moved to Gosport.

Every morning this week, I arrive at the WaveGuard expecting to see it gone. A sufficiently unusual occurrence that I want to record it. I’d like to be there when they move the ship, but I have no idea when that will be. Perhaps I should read QHM’s notice again. That might tell me.