Demise of my DSLR

I was really looking forward to photographing a nice sunrise at Cooden Beach again. It started well and I got these nice ones...

And then it all went terribly wrong. I like to put the tripod quite low at the edge of the water and get the long exposure shots of swirling water. I`ve done it loads of times but this time a huge wave came out of nowhere and soaked me and the camera. This is the last photograph I took and the flash went off as I lifted it from the water! When things go wrong they really go wrong too. The half hour after this happened, the sky was the most amazing pink and so was the tops of the storm clouds nearby. I have to wait and see if I can claim off my insurance now. And I couldn`t! That`ll teach me :(

Birling gap DRIFTWOOD!

This is for my friend Pedantic Pete, or anyone else who didn`t get to see the timber washed-up along the south coast this year...

Kindling

It seems that Ruth has a Cavaliar attitude to kindling use when lighting a fire. She only goes and uses all my kindling in one go!!! It`s a man thing isn`t it? We love and understand fires and they just want instant heat with no effort.

Dad

Father seems to have suddenly found his feet again. After being upstairs for over six weeks, virtually bedridden, he suddenly appeared downstairs in the kitchen and made mum jump! But he is still doddery, doddery he certainly is :o)

Hampshire Jam 7

No, not a new Damson sandwich spread but a mammoth electronic music concert in Liphook. This is the sixth one that myself and my friends have been to and very good it is too. Lots of old analogue equipment and modern digital equipment teased into action by a very dedicated bunch of guys. Some come over from the Netherlands and Germany to perform.

Autumn around Firle & Berwick

In the grounds of Firle Place.

Berwick Church

For those who were there for the 1982 Alfriston Walk, the rusty old Dutch Barn was the one we had to sleep in after being chucked-out by the warden at Alfriston Youth Hostel.

Folkington

Ruths arty weekend in December

Ruth and her good friend Graeme are having an art open-house on the first weekend in December. here`s some art that Ruth has made...

3" brass bolt

These were the original brass bolts used in the 1930`s to secure cables and hookswitches to the conductor rails. I bought a polishing kit and set about buffing-up the bugger, nice result but it`s very hard to photograph!

Fireplace

We had our wood-burning stove fitted today :o)

I was a bit miffed to find out we can only burn hardwoods in it! This means I will have to search the railway lines for oak and beech logs. My good friend Bob will know what are hard woods and what aren`t. And you have to leave them to season for six months. I can`t wait to see wifey build her first fire from scratch! I`ll be hiding the fire lighters, she watches Bear Ghryles enough, piece of cake!

48 years ago

Well, I`ve enjoyed my 48th birthday today. I had a huge weather station from wifey which is fixed to our fence - superb! Mumsie bought me a huge log basket for our new wood-burning stove. Also, a rubber USB keyboard which is surprisingly good quality, wifey and i have been jamming together! I continued to polish my big brass bolt from the railway, photos coming soon. Mumsie cooked us a lovely roast dinner as well.

Cooden Beach Groynes

I got up early to photograph the sunrise but it wasn`t up to much. What was nice was the water swirling around the old groynes and using my new filter I could use a longer exposure.

Bloody weather

I was out and about in the Balcombe Tunnel Junction area today and the trees were showing their fantastic colours off. It looks as if this weekend is a good time to photograph them but - where`s the bloody sun??? it`s so dull at the moment, and damp, and misty :o(

When I do try to go out and photograph them, wifey will get the hump because I`m going out without her. Even though it only happens once a year, and if you miss the colours you have twelve months to wait!

November 5th 2008

Poor Mabel is absolutely terrified of the bangs and flashes. She follows us everywhere and hides under tables and chairs. It`s really put me off fireworks, seeing how scared she is and relising how other animals are affected. here`s some photos of a scared Mabel...

But here`s a happier Mabel...

The summer

This photo reminds me of the lovely sunny DAY we had back in July!

And my lovely piece of driftwood I made into a seat...

News report from the BBC news website

It may be true or it may not, but if it did happen, words would not fail me.

click here

Barny and Mabel

They are funny these two. Barny always looks grumpy but he is quite friendly when he wants food.

Ruth took this photo of him reclining.

We love her curly bottom and bandy legs!

Damaged Micra

Poor Ruthie was involved in a crash on Friday evening! A blue land rover or similar car had a flashing blue light on and coming down to Exceat Bridge from Seaford, it overtook a car on the bend near the bridge. Everyone going towards Seaford had to slam their brakes on and a sports car went into the back of our Micra. The big rear bumper was cracked but everything else seemed ok. However, when I tried to open the boot - I couldn`t. And it didn`t lock afterwards and now the battery`s flat because the boot light was on all weekend. It`s now been towed to a garage and Ruth is housebound until we get a courtesy car! These bloody emergency vehicles don`t realise the chaos they cause and some poor chap was killed today by a fire engine responding to a fire near Hailsham.

Halloween

Ruth made this great pumpkin cat which was by our front door. The kids loved it and we had dozens round that evening.

Glynde on an autumn day

Glynde is a lovely village with lots of photo oppotunitys.