Bills Posts

When I go walking in the morning, I nearly always follow the same route, it is very rare I don’t. This morning was the same as usual. I normally see the same people. There’s one lady who is walking in the opposite direction to me. We normally pass each other somewhere around North Cross Street. That varies depending on whether I am slightly earlier or later than usual. Then, when I arrive at the waterfront nearly always the same people there. Apart from one time, long ago when a lady approached me to ask what I was doing, I don’t speak to anybody.

On my journey back, there’s Bob outside Gregs having breakfast. We exchange pleasantries.

This morning was the second time I took the tripod. I do think that it has improved the quality of the pictures, they are sharper. Seems like it’s going to become a regular feature.

I took the picture yesterday at West Dean Gardens, an interesting bit of wood with a rotten centre that went the entire length of the trunk. The only link between the picture taken yesterday and today was that it was raining on both day.

I just thought it would make an interesting B&W picture.

Today, Elayne and I went out for a walk. We were on a mission. We were compiling clues for a Treasure Hunt being put together for Elaynes Women’s Institute Group.

The follow on to Storm Alex arrived over night, and persistent rain has been one of it’s primary deliverables. It was, to coin a phrase, chucking it down all morning. But we needed to get it the treasure hunt sorted. So we walked out taking the route to test the clues.

I must admit it was lovely to be out, even though it a raining quite heavily. Of course, you need the right clothes. In my case this is a weatherproof coat that I bought in 2012. I remember the data because of the olympics and that I needed a coat because we were on holiday in the Lake District.

I enjoyed the walk far more than I should have done.

We escaped from Gosport today, going to West Dean Gardens just to the north of Chichester. We had a good wander around and followed the forest trail. Although the weather wasn’t perfect it really wasn’t that bad. We had an excellent day out.

Whilst we were aware that West Dean had a college associated with it, we didn’t know that it offered degree level studies in arts and conservation. We weren’t able to go in to the college but the Orangery at the back of the building has been set up as an art studio. There were a couple of pieces we could see, and a lady busy grafting away.

Our walk around the walled garden revealed a lot of fruit trees that were very heavily laden, it was a temptation to take an apple or a pear off a tree to taste, but we resisted the urge.

The day out reminded us how much we enjoy doing things like this, and that we really must make an effort to do more like it.

Bit of a milestone, No. 50. It is as much about the writing as it is the photography. On a Friday, we usually have a Fish & Chip shop experience, tonight I had sausage, saveloy and chips. It was very nice.

Elayne rarely finishes her chips. Sometimes I finish them, sometimes I’m full as was the case tonight. When that happens we give what’s left to the birds. Rooks and gulls both gather enmass when the chips are thrown. Whilst waiting for chips they either perch on the fence, staring at you, or strut up and down. It’s interesting to watch, it’s just sad that they have to do it.

Only a slight problem getting up this morning. No issues falling asleep last night, the issue was waking up at about 0330 and having trouble getting back to sleep, and then do I get so around 5AM ish, waking up at 0537. If you are with me on FB, you will see how waking up after 0535 flusters me. Ridiculous!

The walk itself was as usual very pleasant. Not many people about only a couple of regulars and only one of those that I speak to, Bob, who is always outside Greggs having his breakfast We always exchange pleasantries when I go past.

Normally, I use a monopod to hold my phone when I take my morning photos, recently, they have been a bit more fuzzy than I was happy with. The only way I could think of fixing that is to use my tripod.

There is a significant difference between a monopod and a tripod; weight and bulk being two of the main factors. I also found the tripod head a bit fiddly. But there is a definite improvement in the results. I think I will try this for a few days.

Just watched the forecast for tomorrow. It’s debatable whether the weather will be OK for me to walk. Heavy winds and rain are promised. I think that if it is only slightly bad I will still walk, it should be an interesting morning.

This is the only photograph I’ve taken today. I had problems getting to sleep last night, at least 2330 before my eyes felt like closing. I woke up at about 0610.

The thing is, the way my mind works is that if I can’t leave the house before 0610 then I won’t have enough time to get ready for work. It’s a self imposed arbitrary limit, and arguably I don’t have to stick to it, but it works for me.

Of course that meant I didn’t get to take any photos this morning. I really do mean to try and take a photo a day. So, occasionally you are going to be confronted with an apparently odd photo. Sorry.

Ok, I admit, not the most exciting picture. I set myself a little exercise this morning to photograph the streets or roads that I walk on during my normal morning route. This is Mumby Road not far from where I live.

In addition to my morning walk, I need to do more exercise so I’ve started going for a walk at lunchtime. In order to do that I’ve become determined that only urgent things will be allowed to interrupt my lunch hour – lets see how long that lasts!

Today’s walk was a very quick 1.5km, but it was lovely to be out and I have to admit that I felt energised as a result.

Busy evenings ahead this week;

The Isle of Wight Radio Society AGM on Zoom tonight. I’m an associate member of the IoWRS because I regularly chair the Thursday night net on the Island’s repeater, GB3IW. I must admit, it was a singular honour to be given associate status as enjoy doing the net anyway.

Tomorrow night is the South East Hampshire Wednesday Night Net. I’ve been a member of RAYNET for three, or is it four years now.

Thursday night is the IoWRS Thursday night net.

Friday Night is the first Zoom get together for the Horndean & District Amateur Radio Club (HDARC) of which I have been a member since becoming licensed.

Saturday Night is a virtual club that we hold for some old friends.

A busy week.

It’s not so much writers block, it’s having a common theme that I can return to in the event that I can’t think of anything to write about.

On FaceBook, I am well in to our fantasy holiday. I am wondering whether or not to do my next fantasy holiday here. That would ensure that I would have at least one post a day, and two when I have something I want to write about.

Like tonight, I feel I should have something to write about, so I’m writing about not having anything to write about. That’ll do for now I think.

There is a very obscure relationship between the picture of Knowlton Church and the subject of todays post.

Recently, I wrote about being very excited at the prospect of starting to read Hubble Vision (2nd Ed, 1998). I was on page 51 and was reading about Hubble’s vision of Saturn, when I came to a sudden stop. That is because I read about the Cassini mission in the book. The book was published in 1998. Cassini, at the time of the book was in transit and due to arrive at Saturn in 2004. Seven years after the book was published.

Here I am, in 2020 reading the book which is not only omitting the thirteen years of service that Cassini gave (10 years more than the three planned), but three years after the probe met its fiery demise in the atmosphere of the planet it had been exploring.

Now, I don’t mind reading old books. Indeed, most of the books I read are old. I think this is the first time I have encountered a situation where a book is so blatantly obsolete that I’m no longer prepared to read it. Sad, because I had been looking forward to reading it. I do though have a replacement planned. I’ve ditched Hubble Visions, and am now reading what was to be my next book; the history of art. I can’t help wondering how much our knowledge of ancient Egyptian and Greek art has been augmented in the last twenty five years. I suspect not enough to put me off reading this one.

I have another more recent book about Hubble lined up for Christmas. I may look for a book that covers the more recent research about the solar system in general.

The link between the church and the book? They are both old. Bit like me really.

The photo has no relationship to the date or the title.

Towards the end of February we were due to go to the Chinese Visa Bureau to get our visas for the holiday we had booked. We had to make a decision as t0 whether or not to bother. We didn’t and It was a few days later when China was put off limits. We didn’t go on holiday. If you are following me on Facebook, you’ll know that was when the virtual holiday started. Where I virtually ran the holiday that we due to have taken. When we reached the point some 3 weeks later when we were due to return home, I turned the virtual holiday in to a fantasy holiday. We are still on that Fantasy holiday, and by the looks of it will be for several more weeks. At the moment, I am in the Smithsonian in Washington.

The thing is, I’m quite enjoying it. So I’m already planning the next fantasy holiday. But, I’m not going to say anything about it until that one finishes.