Bills Posts

Why do I want to do a Video Blog (Vlog)? The thing is, I have nothing to sell; I have no particular message; my audience is anybody who wants to watch me; I enjoy using the technology, although editing is not easy, and thinking of what I want to say is a not easy either. It would appear that everything is against me. All of the pundits say just start doing it. I am almost ready to go, the last time I wrote about Vlogging (and not a lot has changed in between then and now) is that I haven’t sorted out what i want my back drop to be.

A lady, who produces a lot of vlogs on startling And running a YouTube channel is Gillian Perkins. Now, although she has some extremely good information, and I subscribe to her you tube channel, and I want my productions to be as professional as hers (a long way to go there);

I really want them to be more like:

Jack Hargreaves and

Dr. Magnus Pyke (the first guest to speak), whom I remember from the days of How? and who always impressed me both by his knowledge and his eccentricity. Is a person whom I would see myself modelling, in mannerisms and the like, he just struck me as entertaining.

I think I aspire, in my Vlogging to be like them.

The thing that is missing at the moment, is where do I want my “To the camera” bit. Technically, I’m set up for outside filming (although, I could probably do with a radio mic, but I can more than get along with what I have). I don’t think a garden shed type studio al la Jack is quite right, but I do want something that reflects me. i haven’t found it yet.

Also, I need a piece of royalty free music that I can use in my title sequence, which I don’t want to pay much for (I’m certainly not signing up to any of the sites for royalty free music – can’t afford that) so if there are any aspiring musicians out there, who are prepared to write & perform a 30 second piece along the lines of the Out of town piece and are prepared to let me have it on the understanding that if I ever start getting paid enough to live off for my vlogs, I will compensate them (under conditions to be agreed of course).

Tonight’s task for my blog, is to write about writing. It’s all very well to put in place a plan that says on Fridays, you will write about writing, but then every week, you have to think up new aspects of writing to discuss. How am I going to do this? one thing for definite, is I have to put in place some tools.

A few months ago, I reached a massive frustration point; I was having a work related problem. I use a day book in which to keep my notes. It has always been difficult to refer back to previous notes, to keep a track of things. I was browsing the internet, looking for ways to become organised. This is when I found bullet journaling. There are many different flavours of this method. I’ve gone for my own variation, which is very simple. So far though, it appears to be working.

Applying the bullet journal method is necessary for me to keep a coherent set of notes that I can use. When I make a note, I apply the method. I used it today; I’d had a thought about what to write and made a note of it. It was very quick and easy for to go back and find the thought that I had earlier.

This is the thing, to try and think of something that I can write about in two or three weeks time, and make it easy to find the memory, when I need it. Let’s find out if it works.

With today being Thursday, I have managed to get out three out of the four days this week. I have no idea what the weather is going to be doing in the morning, but if it it even raining only just a little bit, I am likely to go for a walk.

One of my activities which can be affected by the weather. During normal times I would have done a couple of RAYNET events over the last month. One that happens between Christmas and the New Year is the Purbrook Ladies 5 mile run. I’ve been on several Marshall points for this race, providing radio comms for the marshalls. I can’t remember many RAYNET activities which have been affected by the weather.

The interest in the weather for specific weather is obvious. But my interest in weather extends beyond that. My first attempt to measure rainfall was probably when I was about 9-10 years old. I’d brought a small empty jar in to school, and the rain funnel, was actually a toy rocket I had. Totally inadequate, but it did tie in with a project we had at going at the time. And, it did work, it caught rain, I can remember it as clear as a bell. I won’t of course attest as to its accuracy!

The interest in weather has never left me, I of course have a weather station, a Davis Vantage Vue, which earlier today I noticed had been blown so that it is facing in the wrong direction – not sure how that has happened, so I need to check that. The weather station itself is at least 8 years old so it is due for an upgrade. The next one I want to be able to feed to the Internet, so I can look at it whenever I want. Not sure when that will happen though.

I’ve just checked the forecast for tomorrow morning, cold and dry, so it looks like the morning walk is on. Which is good.

Once again, I find myself apologising for last nights rushed post. I don’t like doing that. I’m determined not to break the sequence.

I have to admit, I only decided to do this, as I went to write this. Then, having decided on a “Photo of the week” I don’t think I will do this every week. It seems to be a bit of a cop out to me. Like I can’t think of anything original to write about a much loved hobby that I have participated in for the better part of 40 years.

I like this picture because of the detail and the colour, the quality of light on the water, the sharpness. It’s one of those pictures where I won’t look at it in black and white.

In my early days, I did a lot of B&W, partly because it was cheaper, and partly because I could process the film myself. I remember using the Patterson tanks and the chemicals, and what a nightmare it was transferring the film from the can to the roll. More than once I took the can out of the bag to find that I hadn’t put the lid on correctly. I have to say, not an easy thing to do, putting the lid on wrong. The tanks were very good for that. I will happily confess that I so much prefer the ease of digital. Being able to look at my pictures on any of my devices as soon as I get home.

The waterfront is one of the highlights of the town. It’s always be a pleasure to walk along the promenade. There are things to see. Memories to be invoked. Memories such the monument in the foreground of the picture. This is the monument to HMS Affray a submarine that was lost in 1951, with 75 men on board. The men are listed on the monument. Every time I walk past the monument, I pause to think of them.

One of the pleasures of walking along the path is the opportunity to say hello to people. Of course the opportunity for doing that has decreased of late. It’s sad, but there you go. In the past, I would be walking along using my radio and people would stop me and ask me what I am doing. I’m always pleased to explain about being a licensed radio ham, and being on the #Breakfastclub. (I’ll need to explain that eventually). I also have what has been referred to as my “Gadget Stick”. Which, depending on the time of year, many be either a photography monopod or a tripod. I’m sure I’ve talked of this before.

It’s good to talk to people, I enjoy doing it.

OK, so these aren’t Clipper ships. Not even close to the spectacular, stylish and fast ships that plied the waves during the 19th Century. The last time I wrote about the Book Clippers – the ships that shaped the world by Daniel J Nolan which I am still reading, I indicated that I was on chapter one, and wondering if I would read Chapter 2. Well, I did. Indeed, I am on Chapter 4. Almost a quarter of the way through the book, so it looks like I’m giving it a go. What’s kept me on board?

It becomes clear that America is dominating the world in the production of Clipper ships. The Californian Gold Rush is in full flight by 1850. The race is on to get from New York to San Francisco as quickly as possible, and to do it in relative comfort and style, taking a Clipper seems the way to do it. These ships were built to look sleek and stylish but primarily for speed. Surprisingly, they relished the winds of the south, around Cape Horn. Facing gales, ice and mountainous seas were no deterrent to the captains and crew of these magnificent ships. Chapter two of the book focuses on the race from New York or Boston to California, with many ships being timed and betted upon. Though nothing of losing sail or masts, the drive always was for speed. They were masters of repair. There really was a ship called the Flying Dutchman.

Hong Kong to San Francisco was another popular route. Ships faced Typhoons and sliced through the waves. What surprises me from the story told, is how few of these ships appear to have been lost to the sea. Obviously, some were. But I have been surprised to hear about the way they approached the weather.

In 1959, eighty five clippers set off for California. The goal was to reach the other side in less than 110 days. Only six ships achieved that target. I know there are the tall ships these days. They aren’t run in the same way. I can’t imagine the lifestyle of those days.

Out for a walk today, just under four miles. That made for a (for me) not bad 23.5 miles walked this week. At the moment my morning walks are happening whilst it dark, so it is very nice at the weekend to get out for a bit. I had the thought today “It’s nice to be out in the sun” – I’m sure that’s a line from a song, but I can’t think what.

In 2019 I discovered the walk1000 scheme. I think it was through getting the Country Walking magazine as a subscription for Christmas. The target is to walk 1000 miles in a year. That means walking 2.78 miles every day. There were some days when for what ever reason (mainly chuckling it down) I wouldn’t go for a walk. Luckily I was able to clock up the 1000 miles.

I signed up to do it in 2020. I was doing OK until March. Then the family insisted I didn’t go out. Rather than cause an argument, I didn’t. That meant I lost at least 6 weeks That’s nearly 120 mile I lost. I just thought there was no way I was going to make that up, so I just gave up really.

I haven’t formally signed up to do it this year, but I am trying. Hence I am happy to mention the distance I have walked. Which is more than the minimum, so I’m happy with that.

A couple of days ago I wrote about how my interest in photography grew. It wasn’t just still images. I bought a super 8 movie camera in the mid 70’s. I shot many rolls of rubbish, and some (what we now consider to be) classic family film. I’ve had them converted to digital images. It was lovely to see them again after nearly 50 years.

I hadn’t touch the moving image scene until the last few years. Once again. It was the move to digital that did it. It is just so easy now. Too easy? I watch YouTube a fair bit, I’m subscribed to several channels, from an American entrepreneur who is very keen to ensure that if you want to set up your own business, that you get it right to a Scottish lady who is very into landscape photography. As usual, I’m thinking “I could do this” – well, I could if only I think of something to vlogg about.

Now, I do have an idea, and I happened to run it past a complete stranger, and he said that sounds good, he actually said he’d watch it. Well, it’s certainly not going to be one of these high powered I want to sell you something “Shows” oh no, something very different (I shy away from the term “something completely different” for obvious reasons).

As it happens, I have pretty much all of the equipment I need, I have an idea, I have even shot some video in relation to it, and I am now learning about editing video, and also about GarageBand for adding some sound. I have one thing left to work out, and then I will be ready to go. I’ll keep you updated.

It’s not that I have writers block tonight, it that I am not sure where to start. There’s a thing that I am doing that is writing related, but which at the moment I don’t want to write about – perhaps in a couple of weeks, by which time, you might even pick up what it is I am doing.

It may be the case that today’s writings might be little more than a review of the week. There has been only one day when I have not been able to get out fora walk because of the weather.

Now here’s a thing – I’m thinking am I going write about the week, or write about writing? I’m thinking that I might do the latter. This was another thing that I was reluctant to do, but I don’t know why. I have been writing for years. I’ve reporters notebooks full of rubbish and a journal and a half of slightly more coherent notes. I’ve done a creative writing course. I kind of did, and didn’t enjoy it. I don’t want to write fiction, but I don’t know what I do want to write. There is one thing however that I know I don’t want to write about, so I shall simply stay away from it.

Now, when the lockdown is lifted, I might go back to the course but on the understanding that I write what I want, based on the exercises given. Will that work? I’m not sure.

I always try to look at the weather forecast on TV the night before. The local forecast always strives to give a good picture over what will be happening the next day. I must admit that I don’t take it as gospel, it all depends on what it’s like when I get up. I look out the window. If there is clear signs that it is raining, the chances are I’m not going for a walk. Sometimes though, it can be difficult to tell. That means I need to go down stairs for the next steps. Going and standing in the conservatory. Can I hear rain pounding on the roof? Well, even if I can I still stick my head out the back door. I have a level of rain tolerance. If it is what I call water in the air, rather than any kind of heavy rain falling I may put my rain coat on and go anyway. But that rain tolerance is quite narrow.

Still, it wasn’t raining this morning, so I was able to go for my walk. If you were to see me out on my walk, you might wonder what I was up to, quite a few people do. This time of year I’m carrying a tripod on my back which I open up when I get to the waterfront. From here I do my weather report to the #Breakfastclub (I’m going to have to explain that at some point, not today. The tripod has a dual flash bar mounted on it, one is for my phone, the other is for my handheld anemometer, which does much more than just wind speed; temperature, atmospheric pressure relative humidity (although I’m not convinced that sensor is accurate), I don’t do a forecast, I report on what the weather is doing at that point. It could change as soon as I finish.

Not surprisingly really, considering how much we pay for the Met Office and its computers, the forecast from the night before, and what I am experiencing, usually at the end of the Haslar Marine Wall regularly bear close similarity to each other.