h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hi minimeas,just had a nosey at your page,i still cant get my head round the fact that i can chat to someone in australia...its fantastic.
We are a similar age i see so might have one or two things in common,so if you ever fancy a chat seek me out.I seem to attract lots of 18year old girls for some reason,i dont mind but there isnt that much to chat about and mrs gets uppity
Im also a big photography fan,ive had acouple of shots used on a local calender and some used for cards,im experimenting with digital now,and im going to attemt to do my own website...not got much idea though.
Music is a big thing here as well,check out the various societies and competitions,everyone is dead friendly here.
if you need help with guide ml i can help....a bit or at least point you in the right direction.
Oh and thank you the towel smiley has just made sense to me....dipping.
im a bit of a dipper too,guess im going to need a .
i can even help with your language thing if you want a bit of northern england slang that is.
ta-ra for now.
MISTER

Well hello there Mr and thanks for dropping by my space. I know what you mean about chatting with others from around the world -- isn't it just BRILLIANT?! I do so love the internet... warts and all (even the advertising, the irritating and the salacious bits -- that we're all supposed to be horrified by, oops I mean we ARE all horrified by!).

Another photographer too, how wonderful. I'm afraid I'm a bit of a rank amatuer, but I do love it. I've had a very few pictures (4!!!!) exhibited (when I lived in Kalgoorlie... 600kms east of Perth in Western Australia) and I sold one of them. But that's probably my biggest claim to fame. I do a lot of children's portrait work for friends and the results are pretty good. But honestly, I'm still learning (see my journal entries for the trying time I'm having with the photography course I've just enrolled in -- oh woe!). I have managed (without trying) to surround myself with a lot of professional or exceptionally talented amatuer photographers and am thoroughly in awe of them all. Love them all to pieces, and admire their talent to the ends of the earth! Landscapes and architecture come naturally to me -- I "get" them, but I have to work hard at portraiture (and I love it so!). I'm so impressed you've had your work published! And your own website!!! One day I'll get 'round to that (maybe around the time my boys have grown up and are ready to leave home!!!).

Yeah, I'm with you on the digital cameras -- just love the look of the new digital SLRs. But still love the magic of watching a print appear in a tray of solution -- gotta love that film! One of my friends has a pretty neat solution to the dilemma. He takes film, then scans it into his PC and digitally manipulates it in the same way as he would have in a darkroom (dodging, burning, toning, lith printing etc). The more I think about it, the more I think that's a really neat compromise.

I have rather eclectic tastes in music and there's almost no genre of music I don't like (although, I do find country and western and some of the rap stuff somewhat tiresome). At the moment I'm really into experimenting with music so the fusion stuff is what I find fascinating (Buddha Bar type music). Having said that, I'm also a big fan of blues, R & B, jazz, rock, pop, classical, etc, etc, etc. If I was pinned down for a favourite, I'd have to tussle between blues and jazz (especially sung -- I just love those jazz singers! But not really the swing or big band stuff. Do love trad jazz and some of the funky modern jazz that's around -- Morphine, Brooklyn Funk Essentials). The love of my life (my husband) is really into trad jazz, so I'm a little over it at the moment.

As for books... I devour them when I can. I love to read and have tried to instil this passion in my boys (who regularly bring books to us to be read). I'll read pretty much anything (though I have to say I have limited patience with Jackie Collins and her ilk). I see you're a Rankin fan, me too, but I'm into Ian not Robert -- love crime fiction (and hey, John Hannah as Rebus was a pretty good (if somewhat shallow) reason to start getting into the novels ).

Yep, I used the towel smiley for dipping, but it's a reference to the towel that Ford Prefect tells Arthur Dent to bring with him on their travels through hyperspace (er... all of you who are better versed in H2G2 can pick up on this thread) -- like you I read Hitch Hiker's ... a long time ago and only have fairly vague memories of it. I did read The Salmon of Doubt recently, though and wish that I'd read it earlier and gotten on this site earlier, and .... but life shouldn't be about regrets. So, that's pretty much my story. Do drop 'round to my space again and have a chat whenever you've a free moment. I look forward to it !

minimeas

Im going to add you to my list of friends if thats ok,
yes you can scan your photos easy enough,ive scanned a few of mine but you have to be careful how you save them as a tiff or jpeg depends what your going to do with them,if got an epson1660 scanner whoch as to do for general scanning as well but id love a proper film scanner but i aint got ,so that will have to wait,i use fuji velvia slide mostly and do landscapes,i use a lot of filters and the heritage center who i did the calender shots for dont quite get the idea and prefer the more traditional shot,im not averse to getting on my belly with the wide angle lens from a funny angle,and the old bat who runs the place puts all her compact camera snaps in the window and not mine which makes me ,i volunteer my services as well but at least some one can look at one of MY shots and think thats nice i'll buy that and send it to our somebody in canada or wherever,it means a lot to me.I gotta go do some work now,
see you later

Why thank you for adding me to your friends list Mr ! What a lovely complement. Mind? Not at ALL.

Hey don't knock the Epson 1660, my friend (John) has an Epson 1650 and the scanned images come out pretty gorgeous. Mind you, he also has a fairly decent printer (can't remember what) so when he's finished manipulating (in Photoshop or Adobe Elements), he prints it out on photo paper and Bob's your father-in-law (well, he's mine anyway -- no seriously, my father-in-law's name is Robert).

Yes, I've recently discovered the joys of Fuji Velvia and Provia.... oh how beautiful. I've gone off Kodak a little, they've gone a bit too far to the cold colours recently and their b&w films seem to lack punch (er... that's contrast). I use mostly Ilford for my b&w shots. A bit sad about the Kodak colour films, because the landscapes around here are AMAZING. The photos just about take themselves -- beautiful, rich, warm colours... wide open spaces... big-sky country... red dirt (iron ore country out here)... rocks & spinifex (which is gorgeous tufty balls of grassy needles, but don't walk in the wretched stuff, you'll be picking it out of your legs for the next week, and the sting!!!!)... azure sea and white beaches or beaches of nothing but shell grit... just fabulous! I've got some prints up on my walls of shots I took about 5 years ago on Kodak films and they are just STUNNING. The colours really spring while staying true-to-life.

The old bat from the heritage centre sounds like yet another one of those drones "who don't give a tinkers cuss for a struggling artiste" (apologies to Monty Python!). Hmmm... there must be a creative, yet subtle way to undermine her and thwart her from her evil plan. I shall have to ponder upon it. Oh dear... I think it's time for another coffee now, besides, the puppy is currently chewing through some electrical wiring and will shortly electrocute itself. Best go rescue it.

Cheers,
minimeas

OOh it sounds lovely......i'll go pack,isee you tomorrow or however long it takes to walk from uk to auz.
i wasnt knocking the scanner i just reckon a nikon coolscan would be better.
in fairness to peggy at the heritage center she does organise it all herself is relient on donations and the like she does pretty well,mrs has known her for years and shes always been a bit funny,they have a website at http://www.glossopheritage.co.uk/
and a couple of my pics are there advertised for sale.
hope pups ok,ive got a strange cat(BOB) who never drinks water from his bowl but out of the vase of flowers,he loves the fish food and once ate a full 50g tub to himself and he enjoys mints,im thinking of doing an entry on him,the other cat mentioned on my page has disappeared so i think im going to have to change that.
by for now.

If you click on the "beautiful local photos for sale" tag,mine are the two at the bottom.

Huurck, hrrck. Excuse me while I catch my breath! They are just STUNNING! Hey, anytime you wanna come to Karratha, just give me a call, we have a spare room that you & mrs & your daughter can use and there's plenty to see around here.

... oh the dog survived potential electrocution by the way! Your cat sounds ... well, there's no polite way to put this... mad as a ... well, ... cat! I'm convinced they're all insane, but I do love their personalities. Unfortunately, my husband is hideously allergic.

Cheers,
minimeas

thanks for the complement,tou see what i mean though,mine(2 only )are stuck at the bottom of the page,but at least people can see them.Ithink the only way i can make sure im seen as much as possible is to take as many pics as possible and get my own site set up.
I mentioned you to another one of my friends on h2g2,another aussie lady called Heloulou2,she says shes gonna look for you she's an interesting lady.
see you around kiddo!

Oh i see you've met. hel2,spelt your name wrong.

Hellooooo Mr . Yep, just met Hel2. Funny there are so few Aussies on this site.

Yes, I see what you mean about getting very little exposure. It's a damned shame, coz your photos are fairly obviously better than the others (and I don't just mean that as a hollow compliment!). I think you're right your own website is definitely the way to go in terms of sales.

Have you had a look at www.usefilm.com? It's a good site for critiques of your work. It's a pretty big site and you don't always get your work critiqued, but usually somebody posts a comment and/or a rating of your work (it's a bit nerve-wracking, but everybody's pretty gentle about the critiques and how/if you can improve). If you go into "community" then click on "members" and then scroll down till you see "find a member" on the left hand side and type in "Asha", it'll take you to some of my images. You'll see that there's not much there. Mostly because I sort of lost the plot a while back and got a bit fed up with the site, the style of critiquing images and the updates (to the site) that were going on. So I stopped adding images or reviewing other people's images... or going to the site! And here I am recommending the site to you!!! Still, it's a good site if you've got the time. Unfortunately, I just don't at the moment. I'll get back to it soon though.

Anyhoo, gotta go sort out horrid domestic things now. I'll catchya later.

Cheers,
minimeas

thanks,i'll check that out.

Ifound only one entry under asha,a portrait called nickresting,is that yours?

Yep, that's mine. But if you click on my name it should take you to my portfolio. There are 2 pages of photos (if you click on the photos themselves, it'll take you to an enlargement with more info on the photo, comments & ratings left by others etc.).

minimeas

try this link... <http://www.usefilm.com/browse.php?mode=port&data=11349> it should take you straight to my portfolio

cheers,
minimeas

Hey there lovely shots,and what handsome kids eh!and beautiful scenery... i really...really wanna come.
This site does seem a great idea and im going to have to investigate further,i can never remember what settings ive used and never record details,
i see your a canon user,mines a nikon f80,lenses ive got are a 19-35,a 28-80,70-300 and 90 macro lens which i havent used yet manfrotto tripod,sunpack flash and a great big billingham bag which cost a fortune but its something ive always wanted and makes me look like a pro,i came into a bit of money last year and along with the computer the bag was one of my first purchases,ive got loads of filters and bits and pieces and im always experimenting,In the past ive had minoltas, an x500 and an x700 also pentax a1 and an me super,differant compacts,ive got a lovely fuji aps which never gets used now ive got a digital,this is only an espion cheapie model but its great fun and surprisingly good quality i'd love a nikon d100 though....
some of the numbers might be different in aus, i know in america nikons a n80,n90 etc instead of f80 etc.
guess what....our supermarket has just started selling tim tams....arnt they lovely?
see you later sweetie
pete(mister)

Hey Pete ! Thanks for the compliments re: the photos . You see what I mean about the country up here just about taking the photo for you? Just magnificent!

Hmmm ... I *think* the nikons are still in the "f" numbers here and not the "n" numbers. What can I say, I started with the Cannons and I just love 'em. It's so hard to swap over once you get used to one system!! I've got 3 SLR bodies (although one's completely automatic – so I've got an EOS 500 & EOS 850 (the fully automatic one) and I've also got my lovely, lovely old A1 – probably my fave!). For the EOS cameras I've got a 19mm, a 20-80mm, a 75-300mm & a 50mm lens. For the A1 I've got a 50mm, 35-150mm and a 24mm lens. No interesting flashes (though I'm working on convincing my husband to invest in a speedlite) or studio equipment (I make a lot of my studio stuff like backdrops and reflectors (using aluminium foil – very sad!!!!), so I don't *really* need to buy much).

Also got my trusty old Velbon tripod (which has seen action through India, 3 islands of Indonesia, Singapore and 5 or 6 countries on the east coast of Africa and is still going strong – so can't justify buying a manfrotto yet). I went through a stage of putting filters on everything, but now I mostly use my circular polariser, a raindrop filter and my sepia filter (up here my polariser works overtime!). Plus my trusty exposure meter and remote switch for the EOS cameras. And most of it fits neatly into my two loweprowe bags (one standard camera bag and one backpack which I just LOVE). Wow, that sounds like a lot of paraphernalia now that I write it down, but I use most of it most of the time (although I haven’t used my 850 much recently). I’ve also got an el-cheapo Canon IXUS digital which is simply wonderful for taking quick stills or videos of the kids to email to friends and family. Plus my hubby’s got his Rollei and the Video camera – so between us, we’re pretty set for camera equipment!!!!

Handsome kids? True, true. Utterly beautiful even if they are a pain in the bum ! Love them both to pieces and could take bites out of them they’re so delicious, but they are mischievous and full of testosterone during their growth spurts (always makes for a fun time given my eldest boy (Nik) and I have similar personalities – my husband and my baby (Milan) usually run for cover, or stir the pot and stand back to watch the fun – bloody Librans, always causing trouble!).

Tim Tams … the *other* word for heaven ! What flavour do you get? The double choc have got to be my favourite, although the caramel are ok for Tim Tam straws. “Tim Tam whats?” I hear you ask. Tim Tam straws. YUM. Get a Tim Tam (you need to be a coffee or tea or hot chocolate drinker for this to work), bite off one chocolate-coated end, now turn it around and bite off the other chocolate-coated end. Now dip the Tim Tam into your tea or coffee (or hot choc), allow to soak a little and suck – hard. I know it sounds revolting, but trust me on this one (it’s better if you have milk in your tea or coffee – I no longer do ), using your Tim Tam as a straw is simply ….. YUM . So there’s one for you to try!

Thanx for sending me the photo by the way. It’s even more gorgeous without the weird border! You really must get your website up and running…. soon. Catchya soon.

kiss kiss
minimeas

Oh i know all about librans,my daughter(molly) has her birthday on the 28 september,exactly one week later its wifey,s(dorothy),together they can be trouble,now mollys getting bigger shes constantly pinching her mums clothes,and trying to get them to make a decision is awful,
i actually know about tim tam straws too,thats why ive been looking for some,natalie imbrugllllia was on telly and she demonstrated it so i thought i'll have some of that,the ones i got are the original flavour,i like my coffee black too.
Back to cameras...youve got plenty of kit to hey!.id love an older manual body but they can be quite pricy but with nikon most of the lenses fit the new bodies as well,ive had a look on ebay and bid but i think i set my maximum too low.On of the most important things about getting good shots is getting to the good areas,we dont go abroad so were a bit restricted,though theres plenty of lovely scenery,dorothy is into photography too so we can have some fun snapping away,hers is a nikon too so we can swap lenses
see you later sweetie

Ah, very wise.... encourage life-partner to buy same camera so you can swap lenses (and when they're not looking, camera bodies too)! You have much to teach, oh wise sage! .

Oh don't even get me started on the Libran thing! The love of my life and my baby boy share birthdays.... and initials (MRH)... and bloody personalities too! My big boy's a Leo and I'm an Aries/Taurus (love those cusps, you get to choose what you want to be on any given day!), so we have some rip-roaring arguments.... but then we turn on the other two if they try to get in the middle of them to "keep the peace" (hah! Cause MORE trouble is closer to the truth!).

You know all that discussion about Tim Tams just got me drooling so I had to go out an buy a packet of dark chocolate ones. Mmmmmmmmmm.... heaven. A close second has to be the dark chocolate topping for ice creams....YUMMO! Ah, so much chocolate, so little time...

Later lovey

minimeas

where you been all week?I've been around but not found much to talk about.I finished a roll of film last week,which im waiting to be developed,hopefuly used in the local calender,theres a reservoir near us thats really picturesque,but if you climb over the wall you can walk down to the shore and theres some trees really struggling to make their mark,in fact it reminded me of your part of the world,in the desert or a sci-fi landscape,its freeky considering its the north west of england.
i'll send you one if their ok.
ive just had to walk to the library to drop off an over due book,then walk up to the supermarket where mrs R works to pick up the car,its pouring down here,ive now come home and i'm having a quick brew before picking junior up,shes going to a sleep over at her pals tonight so ive got my orders,mrs R is off out with her work mates so ive got the house to my self(and bob the cat)so its a take away, a beer and maybe a film sat around in my undies
what more could a bloke want?
i never read horoscopes but its amasing how people can be like their birth sign,im a taurus(big 4.0 on monday)and im a typical taureanso you can imagine what im like when i've been on nights and not had enough sleep.
im off now,maybe see you later sweetie
pete.
heres someto keep you going

Hi hi Pete! Thanks for the ... yummmmmmmm, very tasty!

It's been a crazy week. We're trying (the love of my life and I) to buy a house in Perth (the capital city of Western Australia) to live in when we move back down there at the end of the year/beginning of next year. But trying to buy a house that suits us from 1800kms away is just a little crazy! So I've spent the week negotiating used-house-salesmen and internet real-estate sites !

Sitting around watching movies in your undies?! Hmmm... interesting mental image... bwah hah hah, what the hell.... HILARIOUS mental image! Bob the models his behaviour on you then?

Junior is at the sleepover stage? Oh I dread that! As much as my beautiful boys drive me 'round the twist, I do miss them if I'm away for more than a few hours! I still have to go check on them before I go to bed... whatever time that is (as per Friday night... or was that Saturday morning???! -- girls' night out).

Love the sound of the pics! You MUST send me one when you get them back.

Yes, know what you mean about the cold weather. Actually turned the aircon off today! Chilly 28C outside... yes, I AM wearing a rugby jumper... well, ok, so I'm not wearing jeans, but they are 3/4 length pants, and I haven't been out of my fluffy house slippers all day. The slippers are part of my birthday present from my boys... looks like I've stuck my foot up the bum of some nice little bunny rabbit -- admittedly a pink & white striped bunny rabbit, but nevertheless...!

Don't know how I'm going to get used to being in cold, rainy weather again! Definitely NOT looking forward to winters in Perth -- can't even begin to imagine winters in England... or summers for that matter!!!!! Our average winter day here in Karratha is between 30C & 35C in the daytime and drops to a brisk 17C-20C at night. Mind you, it does get pretty damn hot in summer... needless to say we DON'T do a hot Christmas lunch -- and pudding is definitely reserved for Christmas Eve dinner or Christmas Day dinner while we're sitting in 15C airconditioning! Though last year I did a christmas pudding icecream that went down rather well and could safely be eaten in the middle of the day without causing overheating.

Well, going off to take advantage of love children resting and love of life studying (doing law degree), by having well-earned and much needed nap myself . Have much the same problem as you with lack of sleep rage-craziness being part bull, part and mostly myself.

TTFN (er... ta ta for now)

minimeas