Normal Service Will be Resumed....

Deanne has been to Iceland. A busy work trip, but she did manage to find time to venture into Reykjavik before travelling to Akureyri for the real business. I loaned her my E620 DSLR and (in between the visits to bars to warm up) she took a few snaps. Here are a few that I've selected for starters (I'll post more and relevant links at a later date).

As for myself, I've been quiet of late, and may continue as such for the fore seeable future. I'll be back when things return to normal, I'm less stressed and life is a little less hectic.

Don't ask for help if you can do it yourself!

I did a 'courageous conversations' workshop today and during the event I was thinking about the conflicts (that can arise) in the workplace . As a biomedical scientist I prefer working with samples and results (numbers). But I chose to become a manager, so sometimes have to deal with difficult issues and need to draw on various communication skills to keep people happy.

Sitting at the workshop, listening to other peoples issues and the problems that arise in a workplace where 'staff' work together, my mind wandered upon the following thought:

If you give someone enough Time, sufficient Information, and the right Tools (or technology), then they will develop a System that can be easily Understood. Ask another Person (or people) to get involved and things will go horribly wrong.

I've called it the TITS UP theory!

Recesky TLR

A couple of shots from the Recesky TLR self build. I've now got a roll of colour loaded ready to shoot ;-)

Birthday Cake

It was my birthday yesterday - I think I may have already mentioned it. Beth (my 15yr old daughter) made me a birthday cake :P

Glad she didn't stick the candles in my tyres phstttt..........  ;)

Birthday Toys

It was my birthday yesterday. I took the day off work and Deanne and myself had a drive over to the 'westside' heading all the way to Breanmish before turning around (a first in 14 years having never driving further than Ardroil in the past). During the drive back we stopped for a walk down to Mangersta Beach but we were promptly blown back to the car (thankfully as the hail lashed down only seconds later) and went for lunch at the old schoolhouse at Loch Croistean.

Back at home I spent a few hours playing with a Recesky TLR camera kit that I received as a present. A bargain at £10 off Ebay. It all went together very easily (but don't use lens cleaning fluid if you get fingerprints on the mirror >:X ) and (having run a few films through) I'm looking forward to seeing the reults :-)

I'll tell you more about my birthday cake in another post ;-)

3 in a row

Took a short local stroll Sunday morning and snapped a few shots with the Holga 135 to finish off a roll of film. Unfortunately I made a bit of a botch of the developing and these all needed a little work in photoshop to clone out the scratches I'd introduced during the processing.

I've always been attracted to the lines and corners of this part of the Nicolson Institute. When the new schoo buildingl is complete it's going to be demolished. Must get more snaps before it's too late.

Ent

I think JRR may have been on to something.

What a difference a day makes...

24 little 2 or 3 hours or more!

Two pics taken 3 hours apart. The sun was shining at lunch as we left the woodlands, but by 4pm the wind  and the rain had arrived - That's Stornoway for you :(

Meanwhile I'm sitting here in pain with sciatica. One minute I'm moving around fine, the next........ !!**##~$$!! OUCH!!! I can't even blame the dancing (it happened as I was getting changed for work yesterday morning). 

Oh well (I can't help about the shape I'm in, I can't sing, I ain't pretty and my legs are thin) life goes on - from previous experience I'll be OK in a few days.

More Dancing

We've been dancing again. E&A went too. We had a wonderful lunch in the Woodlands  Centre (where we met up with the Smits). The dancing was wonderful too. My legs seemed a little bit more co-ordinated this week - still need to work on the upper body tho'. These Holga pics are from last week's class.

March!

March Already! How did that happen?

Entries for 2012 L'Eroica opened this morning. Have other things planned for this year. Shame because I think last year's ride was probably the most fun I've ever had on 2 wheels (that I can remember - but I am getting old and forgetful).

All the best to those who are hoping for a ride :-)