Bills Posts

1812 – No idea

The CaraCara – a resident of the southern hemisphere. I must admit, I don’t remember them being this colourful on the Falklands.

I’ve been sat here thinking what to write about tonight; Politics – no, investing – no, railways – I’d like to, but nothing concrete at the moment. Today’s walk – Well, I did intend to go on one, almost as I was ready, it started to rain. Star Gazing? It’s cloudy. Writing an Essay – why did that pop into my head? I haven’t even thought about writing an essay since 1974. Studying? Well, I do have a free course on creative non-fiction on the go, and I wanted to do some tonight, but it is too late now.

I have had a new microphone turn up for my phone. I had to change because having changed my phone the connector has changed. I’m hoping to get out and do a bit of videoing in the morning. It will only be a minute or two, but I want to have a good chance to try it out.

i have bought a couple of books that I want to read, but I really want to get the current history book out of the so that I can start the one I bought in 2023, which I have been chomping at the bit to read, but didn’t want to without the context – most of which I now have. I’m just missing the spark that starts the conflict. You can feel it starting to build, awkward that the book keeps flitting up and down the years.

This is a bit like mini Morning Pages – I started off with nothing to write about, and just let it flow. Interesting. I may have to try this again.

1811 – A day of…

Remembering; friends whom I have served with especially those no longer with us. Those who gave something special so that we could have the lives we have today. People that I don’t know, and can never know, who gave something so personal, for us.

Just remembering.

1810 – A Delightful Day

We went to Marwell. I have been before. but it was several years ago. The zoo is easy to get to, less than 20 miles from home. It wasn’t on the plan. but the first thing we did even before checking in was go to the cafeteria and have breakfast.

As it happens, it was a good move because apart from one coffee break, the day was uninterrupted by the hunt for food.

It was an easy, unrushed, almost relaxing days wandering, really just going where the path took us, and the first point of call, where we had a a decent look the wild life was Giraffe House. The house also had a quarantine section, where some ring-tailed lemurs were being checked out for any health problems. They are seriously cute.

The Meerkats are one of my favourite animals, they are lovely to watch, and their pack behaviour is fascinating. As always, there was the diligent point guard, watching out for any threats to the group, something they haven’t realised is that there are no threats to them in the English countryside.

One animal always worthy of mention are the Red Pandas. These incredibly cute creatures are a delight to see, even if there was only one out, and asleep at that. I was reminded of our visit to Longleat a couple of years back. We had a much better view of the Red Panda group there, and was able to watch them being fed from only a few feet away. They really are quite beautiful.

But actually, one of the more entertaining and pleasurable thing about the day was watching Aurora. Every new animal brought a scream of pleasure and surprise. It was lovely to see. There is no two ways about it, she was the centre of attention for the whole day. As we were leaving, we visited the gift shop and bought her a small soft giraffe. She screamed with delight and wouldn’t let go, the cashier almost had to scan it whilst she was holding it.

It was indeed a delighful day.

1809 – I like to know.

When i was doing RAYNET, several years ago now, I particularly enjoyed being involved in events such as the New Forest Marathon or the various 10KM runs. As part of my role at those events, I would be asked to count the number of runners that passed my post. In order to do that with any degree of accuracy, I bought one of those little mechanical gadget, a click counter I think you would call it, it only cost a couple of quid.

It’s been stuck in a box since the last time I used it. I dug it out at the beginning of this week. Why would I do that?

I’ve become a little bit more flexible about the timing of when I go for my almost daily walk. Each time I go for a walk, I can’t help wondering how many people I pass on the high street, put it another way; how busy is the street? That’s what I want to know; how many people there are.

So here comes the first problem for me; how do I count the people? the first criteria what do I mean by on the High Street?

The first criteria is that they have to be to the east of this piece of art, the Armillary Sundial. The image in the middle of the sundial depicts Henry De Blois, the Bishop of Winchester safely arriving in Gosport in 1144 (initially, and briefly “God’s Port”)

Next, they have to be to the west of these two guardians. They commemorate the Town Gates of Old Gosport. Beyond that people have to be on the pedestrianised area, not in an alleyway. These are my criteria – I made them up, and I’m sticking by them.

Then, do I count in both directions, or only one? What if I count going towards the ferry, and then count coming back – do I ignore people I remember seeing on the first pass?

My plan is over an undefined period of time, I plan to count the number of high street visitors during my walk at the different times of the day – one of my little projects. Don’t ask me why – I can’t tell you beyond I am just curious.

I’ve done a couple of test counts, the first time was Tuesday, I counted 47 people whilst heading for the ferry. This morning, I counted 37 heading east, and then returned counting 59 people – I think the second count was higher because it was a little bit later, more people heading for work.

I’ll obviously keep you updated on how I get on with this.

1808 – Friday morning

I don’t often get a chance to take a picture of a pylon, so it was nice to be able get a picture. The Open Infrastructure map is both interesting and useful. I’ve been able to find out a fair bit about it – I won’t go into all that here.

I’m only talking about it because it was there as a potential topic.

Tomorrow morning, provided it’s not raining and I don’t have much tendonitis, I am hoping to go for a walk.

1807 – A bit of an adventure.

I took the afternoon off work today, I needed to act as driver. Elayne had gone to Alex’s first thing, so I didn’t have the car. This meant I had to get to Alex’s place by ferry & bus.

I took three bus journeys; on from near home to the ferry. I was on the verge of walking but didn’t really want to as I have a bit of tendinitis as diagnosed by a chiropodist. It can be quite painful at the moment, but sometimes it eases off. Anyhow, I stood at the closest bus stop to home for literally just a couple of minutes, and was about to walk off when the bus turned up, so that was good.

The ferry was over on the portsmouth side when I arrived at the terminal, but even then I didn’t have that long to wait. Getting to the other side, I had only a short stroll to the bus interchange at The Hard, where I spoke to the help desk. The chap there did his job perfectly, I had only two minutes to wait for the Number 8. That took me most of the way there. I got off the Number 8, and a bus pulled in on the other side of the road.

Luckily, I reached it before it pulled away, and asked the driver about his route. Luckily, he was going exactly where I wanted to be, so I jumped on, and just a few minutes later I hopped off, just a three minute walk from Alex’s, arriving at his place some 20 minutes earlier, all because the elements of the journey all just fell in to place.

A very nice little adventure.

1806 – A Night of Audio & Visual

The old bus station will soon be nothing but a memory. Hopefully to be replaced by something that people will be able to enjoy. The demolition of the concrete pan is proceeding at speed.

I went for a walk at around 8AM this morning. I was curious as to how many people I might see on the high street, so I took my counter thing with me and clicked up 47 people. Rushing to work or school, or a bacon buttie and a cup of tea (not me though, I hasten to add).

This evening we had a presentation (and demonstration)? Of a person who is really quite skilful at putting audio-visual presentations together. An A-V presentation isn’t a movie/. It’s a sequence of still images accompanied by a sound effect. It doesn’t have to be music, it could be speech or the sound of racing cars. It’s best though if the sound matches the context of the pictures.

They offered us a number of examples of their work, and gave as demonstration of how they put a presentation together, telling us about the tools that were used. The quality of their A-Vs was excellent, and I did find it quite inspiring. I might even have an idea for once my self, provided I have enough pictures, which I think I might.

1805 – The High Street at Lunchtime

I went for a walk at lunchtime today. Walking into town during the working day is something unusual for me. I just wanted to see what the high street would be like at that time of day.

At the moment, I only have two other time frames to compare with; 0600-0730, & 0800 – 0900. today’s walk was around 1240 – 1340. There were quite a few people around. I did notice a couple leaving the council offices. I must admit, I didn’t really check how the cafes were doing. I’d like to think there was a roaring trade.

The waterfront was quite busy. It looked like there was a school trip on, a bunch of schoolkids with suitecases waiting for the ferry. I wonder where they were off to?

I got to the waterfront just after the Mon St Michell had gone past. Too late to get a photo of her. Mind you, I have quite a few in my timeline.

I think the demolition team had been on lunch break. The machines weren’t working; it looked like the drivers were getting a briefing. They did start up just as I was leaving.

I want to do walks. at other times of the day, but they won’t be convenient for work. Not long though.

1804 – Photography

This coming Tuesday, 04 Nov, at the Camera Club we have to submit any prints we want to put in to the next competition. I have to confess, that caused a bit of a crisis of confidence in me. Luckily, the topic for the competition is open for our group – that means any topic – should be easy. Famous last words.

Coinncidentally, a few minutes later I was looking at my You tube subscriptions. The latest post of one of the channels I watch had a title which immediately caught my attention; “The difference between a Dude with a Camera, and a photographer”. I felt that summed me up perfectly. I am definitely a Dude with a camera, rather than a photographer.

So what is the difference? Well a dude with a camera may take perfectly good pictures, of good quality, technically fine. But a photographer can give context and interpretation to their pictures, including a story. My feeling is that I don’t have a story to tell. Well, that isn’t wholly true. I have at least one story to tell – the Bus Station.

I need to be a bit bolder, I think. Talk to people about the Bus Station, and the high street – definitely another story. One that is continually evolving.

1803 – A walk in to town

We had a walk in to town. For no other reason than to get out and about for a bit.

We ended up in Cafe #1. I had a cup of tea with millionaires short bread, which is about the only time I like shortbread, with a thick layer of caramel and chocolate on top. A very nice combination. We were lucky to get a window table, looking towards the water front.

The view across the area where the bus station used to be. Iws thinking that the view, although partially blocked by the boards around the edge of the demolition site, was quite nice, and it was almost a pity that it would soon be blocked again. Admittedly, if what it is said is going to be built really is built (does that make sense)? it will be really nice, I just hope it comes to pass. We’ll have to wait and see.

One of the delights whilst we were sat in the cafe, was watching a man and his dog sat at an outside table. It was quite clear that the dog was utterly devoted to the man. It’s the case that the relationship we have with cats differs quite a bit from that with dogs (something along the lines of; Dogs have masters, cats have servants). I commented to the man as we left that it was lovely to see. We had a really quite pleasant chat.

We had a slow walk back up the high street. We made several pauses. That gave me an opportunity to browse a couple of shops, and whilst waiting for Elayne, I took the opportunity to do a bit of people watching. Whilst I didn’t take any pictures of people, street photography was definitely on my mind.

I know it was a Saturday, so not representative of the week, but I am trying to see the high street at different times of the day to get a feel of what life in the town is like.