Long Journey

All quiet before the change

It's been very quiet around here for a long time now. Mainly down to work pressures, and a little to do with life pressures.

Well its coming up to new year, and in line with typical expectations I will be doing my best to re-set that good old work life balance.

So here goes a quick list of stuff to change:

• Loose some weight, not a little and not just for a few weeks.
• Stop spending money on rubbish that I don't need/use.
• Stop working till gone 7PM everyday, and if I need to work later do it from home.
• Limit my hobbies to Photography and cooking
• Focus on Fiona and Rebecca
• Book a couple of decent family holidays

That's enough for now, and keep on my back to keep me honest!

    

This is a bubble shot that I took last night to see if I could actually get some interesting images.

Greenbelt's Christmas Podcast

Enhanced Christmas 2008 Greenbelt Podcast from Greenbelt Festival on Vimeo.

New Lens

Yesterday I finally changed over my "walkabout" lens on the camera. A friend from work lent me his Canon EF-S 17085mm IS USM lens, and it was so much better than my kit lens it is untrue.

So I found one down at MPB Photographic, and they agreed to trade in my kit lens, so I upgraded.

The new lens is a lot nicer to handle, feels so much more responsive, and pulls down a lot more light. Also the IS helps smooth out my shaking hands.

Lots of images on Flickr, but here are some anyway.

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Neue

Hat Tip to TSK for showing this.....

Get your own - Open publication

Two things here, the magazine looks interesting, lots to read (good thing its quaterly!).

Secondly the tool ISSUU looks great, take a closer look here:

Issuu

Another Voice Lost

Sad news this morning, BigBulkyAnglican has died. There is a simple note on his blog, from his daughter.

Prayers any blessings to the family and community he leaves behind.

Blog Link

Typepad on the iphone

So just checking out the ability to post directly from my iPhone using the new native app. Looks good!

Getting Ready for Greenbelt

Its getting closer to GB again, with the last set of months before the big weekend.

I am helping run the Tech Team for New Forms again this year, and as ever the team is coming together nicely!

The usual suspects have offered to push the sliders again, but there are still a couple of open places if you are interested.

GB looks like its going to be another good one, so come along. You don't need to camp, but it is more fun that way!

I am working on the equipment list and the proto schedule this weekend, and will probably set up a web group to help support the various groups this year.

Get your ticket here, or volunteer and get a free ticket!

God Father Part 2

Last Sunday, a poor young lad was inflicted with a life long curse (well the length of my life anyway). Against all previous signs of sense Andy and Phil asked me to be a God Father to their second son JJ!

JJ is the one with the staring eyes, he knows you know!

With Rebecca in the hospital, and the rain and hail coming down, I drove up to Hertford for the service and to make my vows. Then unfortunately turned right around and headed back to East Surrey Hospital.

It was a nice service, and the minister was a hoot.

Rebecca is now on the mend and being a pickle, and I hope and pray that JJ will survive the burden that has been placed on his shoulders!

Trapped?

HT to Thomas Hawk.

Work and life is feeling a bit problematical at the moment. Rebecca was in the Hospital over the weekend, and both Fiona and I are still recovering from the inevitable stress of it. Thankfully Rebecca is now fine, just tired out.

When the everyday stresses of life start pilling up I feel trapped and my mind turns to other escapism things. Some healthy, some not so.

So this article has helped me put things into some perspective. How would I have coped with being trapped in an elevator for 41 Hours? That's right 41 long, long hours. With no response from the emergency intercom, stuck in a concrete shaft?

If you are also feeling trapped at the moment, watch it. It might give you some perspective.....

[From Trapped: Online Only Video: The New Yorker]

The Sins of the World

[From Bigbulkyanglican: The World around us]