The deed is done!

This one's from last night, really threatening skies over the North Sea but bright sunshine on the coast....dramatic stuff! I had to go up to town today to hand in my 'acceptance letter' to the HR department (didn't quite trust it to the postal system!) and I nearly melted, it was stifling even though there was a breeze.....one thing I definitely WON'T miss is shopping in town in the summer!

OTHER STUFF

"UNphotographable is a catalog of exceptional mistakes. Photos never taken that weren't meant to be forgotten. Opportunities missed. Simple failures. Occasions when I wished I'd taken the picture, or not forgotten the camera, or had been brave enough to click the shutter."

The Mating Rituals of the Water Shrew.....animated in slo-mo (and very, very funny!)


Link:

Rampant ant

Ants in the garden before breakfast.....I only took a couple of pics today, I was using the 'old' camera, I think I like it better for macro shots somehow.....

Busy old day.....the boy-in-the-attic and I filled a full-sized skip before lunch, the house is now 3 sofas lighter (chopped and diced to take up less space) and there's an almost empty shed in the back yard, not to mention all the other crap we filled all the spaces with. It's still just scratching the surface though.....that skip will be the first of many I'm thinking!

ANT-RELATED TIMEWASTER

"The world of an ant is a scary, dangerous place. All you want to do is get home to the safety of the anthill, but there are a multitude of dangers out there; ravenous predators, impossible chasms, careless humans, and a whole host of other dangers for a single member of the family formicidae who only wants to go home."

Play Hormiga (online point and click)


NOT ANT-RELATED
The National Archives goes to the movies podcast (on the sidebar, just click on the title to play) is an entertaining listen!

Bee Bumble and the Brambles

If the number of flowers (and the bee activity) is anything to go by it'll be another bumper bramble crop this year....and I haven't even finished off last years yet. There's still a few (large) boxes in the freezer and a couple of bottles of bramble/rosemary/balsamic that haven't been opened yet, and I'm pretty sure there's still some jam at the back of the cupboard. But the apple tree....now that's a different story, it must have been hit by a late frost, barely a sign of a baby apple.....hey, you win some, you lose some!

CARTOON INTERLUDE (with a bee)

It's official......

.....the letter arrived this morning, and as from the 31st July I'm a pensioner (the above is back-of-an-envelope-workings-out of exactly how many days of gainful employment there's still to work.....as in, counting tomorrow, 6 and a half, the circled dates are leave not yet taken this year, use it or lose it they say.....no cash alternative) Still in shock because I'd almost persuaded myself they'd turn me down.....

Wonder if the hairdressers can do me an emergency blue rinse............

Mama's gotta brand new bag

.....well she's had it a week but she doesn't get to use it for shopping!

Papa's gotta brand new bag, James Brown


A random flower shot......

And 3 from the bread run this morning.....it's muggy and hazy out there.....

(these are all smaller versions, I've posted the bigger ones on Flickr, still haven't worked out why posting direct from there doesn't work anymore!)

COMPLETELY UNRELATED

Not really a game, more a sound toy timewaster......

Link to 'Le Ciel est Bleu'

The Gnome Service

The cats are molting (hairballs regurgitated regularly in the small hours, one small one takes about 10 minutes worth of enthusiastic heaving and retching.....believe me, I've timed it) and I've got hayfever (runny eyes and a snotty nose).....so all's well with the world then, that means it must be summer! It's a bit hazy down at the coast, but still t-shirt weather, so I'm not complaining. Still waiting to hear about the early retirement deal I applied for (the final date for 'them upstairs' informing applicants is next Wednesday, and it's looking increasingly like they'll leave it until the very last minute) so I'm feeling like real life's on hold at the moment....don't want to make any definite plans/book holidays/empty office drawers/live until I hear one way or the other. It's one of those limbo situations.

OTHER STUFF

.....but there's always time for pointless pointandclickery to take your mind off things.....

it's a ten-minute timewaster.....10 gnomes in Bologna, a surprise follow-up to the Find 10 Gnomes series (link to the original 12-parter, year-long project here)

.....and a possible background soundtrack would have to be.......
(but what on earth was David Bowie thinking of?)

Elderly images

I've been having a bit of a sort-out, the external hard drive is stuffed with blurry shots of bees bottoms and much, much worse....but I did find a few that were worth keeping. The beach shots WEREN'T taken today by the way, I haven't got as far as the sea front yet.....

Moving the blog seems to have caused problems with posting images direct from Flickr, can't work out why......

Sarah's website is alive and well and living in cyberspace

......but don't forget your sunglasses!
Link

Redemption songs

Yep....I could bore you with '1000 hymns and choruses for evangelistic meetings, choirs, solo-singers and the home' if I really wanted to, but I'll spare you....I'm feeling generous so this isn't one of them.....

Bob Marley - Redemption Song download at emp3

Oh, and I liked this, Dr Who meets the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy......

Moving Day

New(ish) name, new address.....same crap content!

Sarah's Final Show

Sarah's Final Show, originally uploaded by moclaydon.

A trip to sunny (!) Hartlepool to see Sarah's final degree show.....all I can say is 'well done that girl!!' (the rest of Hartlepool couldn't be decribed as photogenic so we just did the rounds of the many 'pound' shops....we got some bargains!) Then back to Newcastle for a bedouin feast at the Flatbread Cafe. I'm stuffed..........

EDIT.....link to her moment of fame in the Hartlepool Mail

Poking puddles

poking puddles, originally uploaded by moclaydon.

You just can't beat a good stick!
Some pics from the bread-run.....I took the scenic route......

Skool's out for summer!

Skool's out for summer!, originally uploaded by moclaydon.

Busy old week, it was the last week of term and the 'Interdisciplinary Project' for a lot of our 2nd years.....this was some of them after their final presentations, still looking smart (they're expected to dress for the part) and very, very relieved it's all over....as was I! I've cracked open a celebratory bottle....and I'm guessing they'll be well on their way to alcoholic oblivion at the student union drinkathon by now.....happy days!

Knotty problem

Knotty problem, originally uploaded by moclaydon.

I got the 'estimate' through for the early retirement deal on Friday so today it's decision time.....do I sign on the dotted line to be considered or not? Now I've seen the figures in black and white it looks do-able, in fact quite attractive.....there's also a let-out clause in that I can say 'no thanks, changed my mind, so call me fickle' up until when and if I'm offered it. But there's the fact that if I DO sign I've actually already made my mind up I want to go and I'll be REALLY miffed if they don't make the offer.....as I said, knotty problem! Musical interlude..........

Here's Jonny!!

Here's Johnny, originally uploaded by moclaydon.

The nephew at his homecoming parade in Edinburgh this morning.....I'm amazed it's anywhere near in focus, those 3rd Rifles move at a helluva lick! Welcome home Jonny!!

There's a few more on Flickr

Random cat with 3 dandelions

Random cat with 3 dandelions, originally uploaded by moclaydon.

Actually not so random, this is one of the senior cat's best buddies, they have a shared basking spot under the front garden hedge. Still ailing, seems like it's an infection on an imploded filling that's causing the problem, nasty feverish dreams last night when the painkillers wore off.....don't want to talk about it because I can't get a dental appointment till next week.......

SO.....MOVING SWIFTLY ON TO OTHER STUFF.......

A couple of arty farty free software downloads for your delectation

'Alchemy is an open drawing project aimed at exploring how we can sketch, draw, and create on computers in new ways. Alchemy isn’t software for creating finished artwork, but rather a sketching environment that focuses on the absolute initial stage of the creation process. Experimental in nature, Alchemy lets you brainstorm visually to explore an expanded range of ideas and possibilities in a serendipitous way.' You can even create art by talking into your microphone......haven't tried that yet though!
Versions available for Mac, Windows and Linux

MyPaint is 'a fast and easy open-source graphics application for digital painters. It lets you focus on the art instead of the program. You work on your canvas with minimum distractions, bringing up the interface only when you need it.' Versions available for Windows and Linux

Last link of the day.....I came across this interesting photography blog yesterday

They say '500 photographers is a weblog that posts 5 active photographers a week for 100 weeks. The photographers can be from any discipline within the photographic range, but they have to be worth looking at and have a certain level of quality. When we get to number 500, we will have a deep database of great photographers.' Today's post was for No 25.......worth a click and a bookmark maybe!

STOP PRESS.....BONUS LINK.....Almost forgot to post this one......Seeing as it's the day after election day, this is as close as I'm going to get to any political comment except to say it's suitably depressing.....just watch out for the soma spray people.....

Click to download mp3s of Side 1 and Side 2

Gratuitous quote.......

"No shoving there now!" shouted the Deputy Sub-Bursar in a fury. He slammed down the lid of his cash-box. "I shall stop the distribution unless I have good behaviour" 

The Deltas muttered, jostled each other a little, and then were still. The threat had been effective. Deprivation of Soma - appalling thought! 

"That's better'" said the young man, and re-opened his cash box.

......not that I'm a pessimistic old git......what me?......nah, no way!

It looks like how I feel....

sanctuary, originally uploaded by moclaydon.

....a bit green and tarnished, definitely battered and feeling it's age......had a stormer of a headache this morning but I'm on the mend, just feeling a bit 'vacant' with the aftermath of the megadeath pain-killers. This is another one from yesterday, it's the Sanctuary Knocker on the front door of Durham Cathedral (there's a few more on Flickr)

OTHER STUFF

A historical timewaster a la bayeux tapestry, create a multiframe story using a library of drag-and-drop embroidered 'bits' (no needlework skills required!) and amaze your friends with your errudition......it kept me occupied for a good 10 minutes!
Link to the Historic Tale Construction Kit

It's a long way down

It's a long way down, originally uploaded by moclaydon.

This could maybe be my last site visit.....today it was the roof spaces of Durham Cathedral, it's one of those annual affairs......but I'm thinking VERY seriously about an early retirement deal currently on the cards, while all the time trying hard not to build my hopes up in case it doesn't happen!

Eyes bigger than our bellies.....again!

Eyes bigger than our bellies.....again!, originally uploaded by moclaydon.

And this wasn't even all of it.....now I think I need a bit of a lie-down.....

Reflections

Reflections, originally uploaded by moclaydon.

Jon's laid a guilt trip on me 'at the other place'.....I admit I've been a bad, bad girl blogwise and I promise I'll do better! (thanks for the prod Jon, I needed it!) So this is an emergency pic that has nothing to do with anything much except to act as a new starting point.....more later!