Brexit

I agree with TM that the nation needs to come together but surely it needs more than just saying it?

Brexit

David Cameron says he does not regret calling the referendum.  Really?

Geoffrey Cox

Impressive performance from the AG yesterday.  Raised a number of issues that I had not thought through.

Brexit

So there seems to be agreement with Europe but not in Parliament and possibly more widely.  Where we go from here is worrying to say the least.

Andrew Rawnsley

"The problem with Brexit is not Theresa May. The problem with Brexit is Brexit."
Good article in todays Observer

Brexit - is there anything else?

The more I hear the more I don’t know whether to be worried or reassured!

Tracey Crouch resignation

Good to see one politician with principles.

Budget

Tend to agree with Robert Peston in that no need to bring forward tax allowance changes unless planning for (or think it is likely there will be) an early election.

Sir Philip Green

Very confused as to whether it is right to use Parliamentary privilege to name someone when there is a Court injunction in place. Might at least have waited until the Courts had definitely ruled.

Brexit

So, in the light of what was said today, what is a meaningful vote?  Regardless of your position on Brexit a "promise" of a meaningful vote needs to be respected.

Recent Brighton image

Fuji X100S

Brexit again (2)

So 600,000ish attend a remain rally and 1200ish attend a leavers rally.  Interesting to say the least!

Brighton

Spent a morning wandering around Brighton in the sunshine and managed a few reasonable images which I can now send off to stock agencies.

Brexit - again

So the view is there is no option that can get through Parliament.  Very worrying.

William Grant of Havant

Portrait and landscape artist was a distant relative and I have two of his works.  Many more are in local collections.  Under-rated in my view.

Street photography

Have the next week without work, and apart from a car service and work to our water supply, am looking forward to some photography time.

Judge Kavanaugh

Watching the situation in American makes one grateful for an independent judiciary.

Bridge to NI

So the answer to one of the biggest issues the country has ever faced is to build a bridge to Ireland.  Really???

Foreign property buyers

Whilst I welcome any new money (providing it is really new and not another double counting) will a surcharge of between 1% and 3% raise sufficient funding and/or deter foreign buyers?

Brexit

Am I the only one getting more and more worried about the likely outcome?  And why does nothing our Prime Minister says give me confidence?

Belfast

Off to Belfast for work on Monday. Almost spending more time there than in Eastbourne

Lake District

Until you return you forget what amazing scenery we have on our doorstep.

Brexit

Am sure I remember my mother saying you have to earn respect!

Brexit

So the EU must not propose something that is unacceptable to Mrs May but it is ok for her to propose something unacceptable to the EU?  Or have I missed something?

Three Kinds of Kissing

Well worth a read -

https://www.vagabondvoices.co.uk/blog/helen-lamb-and-three-kinds-of-kissing

Clare and I will be at the Stirling Launch

Lake District

Off for a weeks holiday in Windemere next weekend. Camera at the ready!  Hopefully some great light over the lakes and the fells.

The Great Crash

Very good article by Andrew Rawnsley in The Observer today

Family fame

The Stirling Writers Group starts back in a fortnight’s time and we’ve got a cracking start with our favourite tutor: Chris Powici. 

Chris brings with him a wealth of experience: former editor of literary mag Northwords Now, creative writing tutor at the University of Stirling and the Open University, as well as a wonderful poet in his own right.

It’s a truth universally acknowledged that Chris gives excellent feedback on both poetry and prose, so come one, come all and remember to bring extra copies of your work.

Towner Gallery

Just heard the Gallery are having an "Illustrations and Print Show" on 13 and 14 October.  Will be well worth a visit.

Sussex Guild update

As inspiring as ever.  Some real talent on show and prices very reasonable considering the quality.

Sussex Guild

Just about to go to one of their events.  Always an inspiring collection (?) of craftspeople.

What a great idea

A woman has activated the ancient Norman rite of Clameur de Haro to protest against the narrowing of a road which she claims would endanger pedestrians and motorists.

Rosie Henderson, from Guernsey, raised the clameur by kneeling and calling for help and reciting the Lord’s Prayer in Norman French. Fully enforceable in Guernsey and Jersey law, it means the construction work in St Peter Port must stop until a court decides the case.

Henderson, a parish councillor, raised the clameur on Tuesday by the roads of Les Échelons and South Esplanade, near the construction site.

The clameur states: “Haro! Haro! Haro! A l’aide, mon prince, on me fait tort”, translated as “Come to my aid, my prince, for someone does me wrong”.

Whoever calls the clameur has 24 hours to register it in court, but whoever it is called against must stop all work immediately.

Legend says the raising of a clameur stretches back to the early Norman period in the Channel Islands and is thought to have been a plea to Rollo, the first Duke of Normandy.

The feudal law dates back to the 10th century as a form of self-policing when there was no law enforcement.

In 2016, plans to overhaul St Peter Port’s sunken gardens, by levelling the site with the street and moving the war memorial, were withdrawn after protesters pledged to use the Clameur de Haro to block the proposals.

The Crown Liqour Salon

Just had a drink and meal at The Crown - a tourist attraction due to the decor and possibly the only pub owned by the National Trust.

Thinking aloud

Just spent the flight to Belfast listening to podcasts of Thinking Aloud by Laurie Taylor.  Had forgotten how informative his prgrammes are and how much I enjoy the “style” of them.

Leigh Bowery

Really interesting article in The Guardian - shows how talented he was behind all the showmanship.

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2018/aug/13/sex-sin-and-sausages-the-debauched-brilliance-of-leigh-bowery

Belfast

Off to Belfast tomorrow (again!) for 2 days work.  Unfortunately unlikely to have time for photography.
Have not been able to visit the Titanic Centre before and unlikely this time.  In any event have heard mixed reviews.
I have to say as a city I prefer Dublin.

Evening meal

Been trying greater contrast and sepia.

Watching

People watching the street performers from the National Gallery, London.

Sony Rx100 Mk3
1/125 @ f/5.6
ISO 125
25.7mm equivalent
Processed in Lightroom

Barbara Jackson

I have become captivated by the prints of Barbara Jackson and now have a collection of 6, all purchased from Henry Paddon in Eastbourne.
What I really enjoy about her work is the way she represents light - much in the same way that I enjoy the representation of light in "great" photographic images.
The advantage of print making is, I guess, that you can just show the light in the when you want, whereas for photography you need the light to be actually present when you take the image.
The disadvantage is, again I guess, that to manufacture the light you want may need more skill than (just) recording what is there.
But for those who enjoy light (and a great deal of skill) look out for her work.

Near Bracklinn Falls, Scotland

For the technically minded -

Nikon D750
24-120 lens @ 35mm
ISO400
f/8
1/500th

Equipment changes

So, to start off, an update on the equipment I use.  Previously I used entirely Fujifilm, a X-T1, a X-Pro, and at various times other models.  Also used a Sony RX100 Mk3 as a pocket camera which I later gave to one of the children.
But I lusted after a full frame camera just for the extra a larger sensor would provide.  Have always been a Nikon fan (my first "serious" camera was a Nikon).
So, off I went to Park Cameras, and back I came with a Nikon D750 together with a 24-120 lens, since supplemented with a 28-300 and a 50mm.  A great camera and am really pleased with the results.  I did find the extra weight a bit of an issue but bought a sling strap which takes the weight off the back of the neck - a great improvement.
But I wanted something for when I didn't want the bulk of the D750, so bought a pre-owned Fujifilm X-100T in black.  Makes me think I have a Leica (I did once) and about to become the street photographer of the year.  But a great camera.  Ok it is a fixed 35mm equivalent lens, but great images at reasonable size and weight.
Even so I still wanted something pocketable.  Looked at the Panasonic LX range but for some reason could not get on with them.  Eventually ended up with another RX100 but this time a Mk1 as I was never a fan of the (very clever) pop-up viewfinder.
And also being a Billingham bag fan could not resist a pre-owned 335 (even though if I was honest I probably don't really need it).  So now I have two of them - a khaki one and a tan one.
So that is where I am at, at the moment.  All I need now is the time to do some sustained and serious photography but work keeps getting in the way

Good grief

Had not realised how long it has been since I last posted!!!!!!
Am going to try and get things up to date over the next few days - so watch this space.