leamornor's posterous

Heron #1

Some of you may be aware of my quest to get a decent shot of the Heron that visits the river in my town. Every wednesday on my way to badminton I'd walk along the river. After a few weeks I'd noticed a large bird dive bombing the ducks on the river. After a few discussions with some of the old blokes I chat to I discovered it was a Heron (I'm not much of an ornithologist) 

 Anyhoo, the next week i decided to take my camera along with me, no sign of the bird. I'd mentioned it to my Dad who was very helpful in informing me of every occasion he'd seen the bird when i wasn't with him. It started to become somewhat of a joke, that if I had my camera the bird would be nowhere in sight and when I didn't have my camera the bird would be there. 

Then one afternoon last week I got a phone call from my mother, she was whispering and insisting that I get down to the river as soon as possible. I had, for a moment, thought she was having "an episode" and that her age was finally catching up with her and dementia was setting in but when she mentioned "that bird you want to catch is here" I couldn't move quick enough. 

 Typically as soon as I arrived and lifted the camera to get a shot the bird flew off, only a few metres down the river but it meant having to sneak quietly along the river and then climb a wall. Add in the presence of two pensioners chatting rather loudly about "what a big bird that is" and "you should take a photo of it with that camera you've got before it flies away". Good idea!!  I managed to get a few shots but none as good as I'd have liked. Although I did get one of it in the air flying away from me. 

 The next quest is to get a shot of it flying towards me and apparently a cormorant has been spotted on the river!!  I'm gonna need to buy me some binoculars.

(download)

365 Project #1

 So a week and a bit ago I decided to have another attempt at a 365 project. I already have one failure under my belt but I'm more determined this time, I've relaxed the rules a bit.  
I discovered Blipfoto through a friend. A photo site that only lets you add one photo a day, the photo is attributed to the day it was taken. This led me to think that the site would be perfect for a 365. 
 When it comes to my flickr account I'm a bit of a snob, I've never liked the idea of adding my phone pics to it. I've always saved my flickr account for the best photos I have. Part of the reason my 365 failed the first time was because I didn't always have my camera with me. This time it made more sense to allow photos taken with my phone as it's always in my pocket. The other main reason was because I'd decided to do a self portrait every day, anyone that knows me knows I hate having my photo taken. What possessed me to do that? I have no idea. 
I'm 10 days in and it's true what they say, Blipfoto is addictive!!

 

(download)

Snow, I loves it.

I may be the only person in the UK who feels this way right now but I frickin' love it when it snows. My only problem is that I don't own a sledge and if I did I suspect I'm slightly too old to be using one. At least I get more wear out of my wellies, £12 well spent. I can safely say I've had my monies worth out of them so far and they'll come in handy next time it floods.


 I had planned on making a spectacular snowman back in January but it was the "wrong kind of snow", who knew there were so many different kinds?!  Maybe I'll have better luck this time!
It makes the wasteland opposite my house look ever so pretty.

(download)

Camera Goodness #1

I've considered buying a dslr for a long, long time and this week I finally got one. Second hand mind you but I'm just learning so shelling out silly amounts of money for something I wouldn't have the first idea about seemed sort of stupid.
 I finally found myself a bargain at the beginning of the week that was too hard to pass up and it arrived in the post this morning.
 I've had a shitty two weeks recently and decided I deserved a treat!
 Needless to say I've been walking around the house taking photos of random things. I even ventured out of the house, climbed a hill and took photos of my town. I didn't feel as silly as I usually do when I'm out snapping photos with my camera.


(download)

Unload #1

 I just can't get over the number of excuses I've heard this morning for the viruses being on the 'family computer'. All except the 'I clicked on several links and downloaded lots of things despite not knowing or caring what they were'.
 The 'family computer' seems to be on its last legs. I call it the family computer because it's located in the living room but really it's used by only one individual. The same individual who thinks that someone else has been on it and downloaded loads of viruses. it wasn't him when he installed various anti virus programs that are less than reputable. 
 I tried explaining to him that when a pop up appears and tells him he has 5454543 viruses and he should 'download this program to fix it' it was an ad to get him to download spyware and that he should just cancel it and forget about it he nodded and waited until I'd left the room before downloading it anyway. He then went on a 20 minute rant about how shocking norton was because it had let a virus download on to his computer. I could have tried explaining that it wasn't Norton it was him but I fear I would have lost the will to live. 
 Today while contacting customer support of a random anti virus software he'd randomly found he thought it easier to argue with the poor fella trying to help him about why he needed to know certain info than actually explaining things and letting the fella help him.
 In the past 18 months I reckon he's managed to kill somewhere in the region of 4 computers, the current one is about to be number 5. In the spare room are the carcases of his destruction.
 Today I was woken up and told I needed to help him, he's not a quick typist and needed me to help him talk to the guy in the chat window. When asked what the problem was his reply was "It doesn't work" I pointed out that that wasn't very specific and the guy would only ask what doesn't work his answer was to tell him "everything doesn't work". For 2 hours I sat there trying various suggestions from the tech support guy all the while having the guilty subject hanging over my shoulder pointing at stuff telling me he means this or suggesting I ignore the advice of the proffessional and do something else instead. 
 In the end I think the dude on the other end got fed up, he said he'd review the log files etc and send an email with further instructions. I took this as my cue to exit. I'm fairly confident that he's downstairs now deleting random files and downloading various other anti virus software in the hope it'll magically fix the computer.

Letter #1

Dear Mr Not So Secret Admirer,

  When you asked me out last week I said no, I gave you my reasons and you seemed to take it rather well, at least in that moment you seemed to take it well. In the past few days you seem to have had a personality transplant. You appear to have lost the power of speech and the ability to make eye contact. I hope this clears up soon. 

  I for the most part consider you to be a casual acquaintance, perhaps even a friend. I see you on a regular basis because you choose to spend time in the place that I work. We can hold a conversation for more than five minutes and I'm on good terms with your father. This does not mean I want to have a relationship with you.

  When you originally asked me out I overlooked the fact that you did it in front of four customers and my boss, I took you to one side and explained that asking me out in my place of work was inappropriate and that although I like you as a friend I didn't "like you in that way". You accepted that, although you asked for more reasons. Apparently a lack of 'romantic feelings' (for want of a better phrase) isn't a good enough excuse for me not wanting to start a relationship with you. How about the 15 year age gap? Or the fact that we have very little in common? Or the fact that you regularily give me unwanted careers advice that makes me uncomfortable? How about your smoking habit and the fact that it repulses me? Are any of those reasons good enough for you?

 'But you're single!' 
 Yes and...?  Just because I'm single doesn't mean that I'm obligated to accept every offer that comes my way, or is it that you think I don't get many offers and should jump at the one you're making? You're not an egotistical arsehole so why is it so incredible that I would say no?

 I was polite in turning you down, although incredibly embarassed at your choice of setting and audience. I agreed to forget the whole thing and carry on as before. However, at no point do I remember saying 'ask me again repeatedly for the next week or so, maybe your persistance will wear me down'
 Perhaps you have a faint hope that I may change my mind about 'us'. I can tell you categorically that I won't. My sentiment remains the same now as it was last week. 'I don't like you in that way' 
 'Just go for it, you never know you might start to after a while' Is not a theory I'd like to test. I've always believed that attraction should be something that is there from the beginning of a relationship and not something that occurs several months in. 

 In conclusion, when I say No I would not like to be in a relationship with you, I'm not attracted to you, I have no feelings for you, I mean it. Making me repeatedly tell you those things and then taking a huff about it because you think I'm being an uncaring bitch is unfair and just plain not nice!

Rant #2

There are several things that annoy me and are a sure fire way to put me in a bad mood. Clicking your fingers at me to get my attention is one, volunteering me to do favours without my prior consent is another but the one that pissed me off today is being waved at and then beckoned.

Not such a big deal you might think but factor in that i was across the other side of a slightly crowed room and was in the middle of a conversation. Out of nowhere i hear someone shouting my name, i stop talking and turn towards the voice and am faced with two colleagues waving at me to join them for a few minutes. They're trying to convey the message that they need to speak to me and it seems quite important, I know it isn't as they'd have made their way over to me. I did the only polite thing i could think of and held up a finger to indicate that i'd be over there in a second. Apparently this wasn't good enough and my name was repeatedly shouted until i turned around again. I was met with an angry face and more insistant pointing and beckoning.

 So here is my point to those 2 "Work pals" if you want to speak to me then you move to where i am. Don't expect me to run around after you like a lap dog. It just won't happen. Oh and don't call me a snob because i'd rather not spend time listening to your drunken pointless shit. Ok?