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

H2g2

Well, it has been a while. Managed to lose my password, which my Mac previously autosaved. It's taken me a while to get it reset but as it is a New Year, I've finally sorted it. Thanks to all who helped.

So, what has been happening? A great deal. I hadn't realised I had been away for so long!

I've taken a number of photographic courses at my local Adult college in Richmond. I skipped the basic course and went straight into the second level. Very useful. At the time I was using a Canon 700D camera but by the second course had upgraded to a Canon 750D. There was so much to learn but I enjoyed it. I studied still life and portraiture, which I didn't think I'd actually enjoy, but I found it quite rewarding. I used one of the students to recreate a painting by Rembrandt, and it came out very well. However I am not confident to approach people to try it again.

I also created a photographic copy of a Dutch , of a memento more that hangs in the National gallery. that was a real challenge, especially adding smoke from the extinguished .

Finally, I took a UAL course in photography, getting a merit, which is meant to be the equivalent of two 'A' levels. . Unfortunately, a number of factors affected the qualification, Covid and also the college's lift to the studio didn�t work throughout the course. Very disappointing. However, I was pleased to get the qualification. I went on to do another course, which was extra-curricular, so I didn't get any financial support for that. It was about liminal photography. Never heard of �Liminal'. I found that course tough but discovered an interest in 'Desire' paths. These are non-designated paths created by people sometimes taking short cuts, or just paths to nowhere.

I bought a mirrorless camera, which expanded my interest and, having two old redundant Canon cameras, a 700D and 750D, the latter having been replaced by a 760D, I decided to get them converted to infra-red. This involved removing a number of filters from the camera, so that one is 720nm (mainly black and white, with a little colour) and 590nm (giving false colour). These are really fun to use. On my second non-curricular course I played around with these but, as I had only had them for a month before the end of the course, the Tutor's critique was quite harsh, so I decided not to take anymore courses in photography. I am hoping to experiment a little more in the summer, this time with Cyanotype.

Details here: http://www.gathered.how/arts-crafts/guide-to-cyanotype-printing

I wanted to continue with studying, to keep the grey matter busy, so started a French course. I skipped the initial basic course, hoping my schoolboy French would be sufficient, which it was. Again, it was a challenge as the first two courses were conducted online. I'm now on my fourth course, which is upper intermediate. It doesn't have a qualification, but I am finding it interesting and useful. I enjoy the comparisons between English and French, and the Etymology.

So. Covid. Like everyone, this was a tough time, especially as my Mum was in the 'at risk' group. She had a Carer coming in twice each day, to feed her and give her a wash. I had to do the shopping, so I travelled to the shops on my mobility scooter, avoiding public transport and managed, somehow, for us both to avoid catching it. Mum had dementia, as well as lung cancer which radiotherapy initially cleared up, but it returned. Unfortunately, after two years of suffering and losing a great deal of weight, she succumbed, dying in October 2021. Throughout my fianc� had provided support and visited most weekends. Mum, unfortunately, had largely taken a dislike to her, possibly she saw her as a threat and that she might move in. It meant when we were out on a Saturday, we had to stay out until 10 o'clock, coming home hoping she'd gone to . If she hadn't we sat in my bedroom with a G&T like naughty teenagers.

In 2022, L, my fianc� bought an apartment overlooking Kew Bridge, 100m from my flat. Between then and May this year, she and my Sister helped declutter the flat, with loads going to Charity, and on the 2nd May 2022, I finally moved in! .

I have also taken to making homemade sloe gin and sloe port by the litre, using different sugar bases, like demerara, light and dark brown sugar, muscovado sugar. The next three batches will be with golden syrup, treacle and molasses. They have largely been given away to friends in 100ml bottles at Christmas time, especially our friends who work at Kew. They have proved to be very popular.


We are slowly settling in together. Still half a dozen boxes to unpack but life is settling into a routine. We've a season ticket to Ealing Trailfinders' Women's rugby team, being local and also in the championship. Both L and I enjoy rugby but have really taken to the Women's game. We also visit Kew gardens every Sunday. When we get the opportunity we go on fibreglass trails, created by Wild in Art. It gets us out and means we photograph different towns and cities.

Details here:
http://wildinart.co.uk/events/

It is possible we may get married this year and we are looking at Kew Gardens as our venue. I have four bottles of Sipsmith Gin waiting to be converted into Sloe Gin for our guests at the reception. We hope it goes down just as well.

Happy New Year to you all and hopefully, this year, there will be another Meet, as it has been ages. Happy to arrange one in London for those interested.



MMF

Happy New Year! I think of you often when I use the mug and the tea towels you have so kindly brought to various meets over the years.

I didn't understand all that about photography but the reproductions of Dutch masters sound like an intricate and rewarding project. Well done on the merits and on progressing in French.

Thank you TC.

Pleased you still have the little that I enjoyed bringing to Meets.

Remember th German Meets well. They always seemed to be over so quickly.

The photography courses sometimes went over my head too, and I was meant to be semi-competent. The rest of the students have gone on to better things but, unfortunately, I have too many hobbies, and tend not to finish any of them. Currently going through my large CD collection, and sending those worth little or of little interest to charity, with most of the rest going on social media in the hope they sell. I'll keep a few, but one those of real interest or autographed.

I hope you are well, and lovely to hear from you.

MMF



Ps, I can be found on a certain popular sm site. If you are, snd me s pm with your address and i'll send you a postcard every now and then.

Hello MMF! Glad you managed to get back in to h2g2 at last

Congratulations on getting your qualification even without the lift to the studio. Tricky with courses - I did a couple of photography courses myself, but had the opposite problem that the second one was basically a repeat of the first. Sad that the tutor was harsh about the infra-red, but I hope you enjoy plenty of experiments in your own time

Glad you're getting out and about to Kew etc, too. Impressive about the gin making

All the best and see you around

Thank you SashaQ, especially for all your help.

The initial courses were good as the tutor was very helpful, and stays in touch. He is now at Kingston Uni so longer at the college. Had a different tutor for the non-vocational courses and she was a little difficult, in my opinion.

I'm enjoying your bird photos and entries. I am hoping to start working on my mega-project again on a certain famous British bicycle manufacturer. I have a rough draft but may have to split it into three or four parts otherwise it'll never become an entry. Then I was thinking of a UK bird UK rarities series. Will have to see. It won't be this year as too much else to do.

However it is good to be back.

MMF

Hi mate!

"welcome home"

Some of us "oldies" are still around

Welcome back!

You'll have found the Deathlist threads, I hope?

I did, thank you. Thanks for your help.

MMF

Thanks Prof. good to know some of the old crowd are still hanging in here, keeping the old girl going. You ok? Good here.



MMF

Just to let you know!
As far as I knowthere's been NO leaks in any of the tanks etc at "The Deep" in Hull

So not needing your wings and snorkel then Prof?

THAT is something I'll never forgetthe faces on those at the reception desk!

A "out of shape" bloke in leathers having swimming armbands on

Coincidently I am sorting my CDs and came across the CD with the photos of that meet in 2008.
15 years ago!!! Where have all those years gone?

Definitely time for another Hull meet. While us old-timers are still here.



MMF

I remember Moonhog saying - don't go into the motel with those armbands onas most of the "residents" are "victims" of the resent local floods at the time

took all the fun out..

"has survived another year" ??

Nope! A wrong statement of sorts

"WE" live to continue to survive

A long lost "statement" in Yorkshire lore

The only way to keep a Yorkshireman down,is to plant him 6ft under and THEN he'll STILL argue the toss!!!