365/250: 27 October 2010: Lakes Aquarium

Had a day out today, visiting the Lakes Aquarium at the south end of Windermere. Quite a nice mixture of local fish, tropical fish and other things like marmosets. Conveniently located next to the Lakeside–Haverthwaite steam railway, and the pier for some boat trips on the lake, so had we got there early enough we could have made a full day of it.

Anyway – fish are pretty difficult to photograph because the light is usually terrible – and today proved no exception, but I got some pretty colourful shots of other things and can’t decide which to post – so I’m going for both.

365/249: 26 October 2010: Coffee beans

My eldest bought me a coffee grinder a while back together with a pack of (she thought) Kopi Lewak beans. They turned out to be pre-ground and I’ve never really had an excuse to use the grinder, so I concluded I didn’t need an excuse and bought some beans. Here they are waiting to be ground – the resulting coffee was very pleasant. May be doing this again.

365/248: 25 October 2010: Self-portrait with camera and tummy

Thought I’d add a shot of me to this blog, since the last one which featured me was really about our lovebird. Sadly having taken this I realise I wasn’t holding in my stomach hard enough. Time to look seriously into losing weight I think. :0(

365/247: 24 October 2010: Bullrushes

Rather taken by the graphic shapes of these rushes in the ponds at the bottom of the nature reserve next door. Deliberately underexposed to retain the detail in the bright areas.

365/246: 23 October 2010: Parrot Plant

This plant has the most peculiar flowers and this one was backlit by the sun in our kitchen window.

365/245: 22 October 2010: Ginger Marmalade

The cat is called Marmalade – my daughter wont forgive me for the other reference.

365/244: 21 October 2010: Tattie Bogle

Apparently there is a Scottish Country Dance called the ‘Tattie Bogle’ which is something to do with scarecrows and Marion is dancing it today with some friends from the Derwent Scottish Country Dance Club, at a Children in Need event in Dumfries.

365/243: 20 October 2010: First Frost

Somewhat unexpected, but pretty cold anyway. If this happens too often I’ll have to dig the defroster from the bowels of the garage. Not much depth of field in this one but I quite like the abstract effect.

365/242: 19 October 2010: Llyn Celyn sundown

A showery day in North Wales followed by a drive to Warrington. The road from Trawsfynydd to Bala always has super scenery so I stopped at the dam on Llyn Celyn to see what I could shoot and was rewarded with this rather colourful and stormy sunset.

365/241: 18 October 2010: Yellow Roses

Lovely bunch of yellow roses sitting on the front windowsill so today’s shot was self-selecting. Would be interesting to know what it is about roses that have made them ‘special’ – although colour, scent, form, ease of growth and variety obviously contribute.

365/240: 17 October 2010: Talisker…but I can’t drink any :(

Was planning to have a nice evening by the fire while supping a glass of this… but sadly No.1 son’s car broke down so I shall have to collect him from work in Silloth at midnight. Oh well – anticipation is the thing – I shall try to be like Charlie Chalk in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and satisfy myself by sniffing it. Obviously it was chocolate in his case, but you know what I mean.

365/239: 16 October 2010: Still in Cardiff

Had originally planned to catch the 07:50 train from Cardiff Central – but after the previous late night I’m glad I went for the hour later. Nice 20 minute stroll through the city centre from the hotel. very nice – had a capital city feel to it even at that time in the morning. Shall have to add it to the list of ‘places to go for a weekend break’.

This is the morning sun catching the rather splendid upper half of the Parc Hotel:

365/238: 15 October 2010: Cardiff

In Cardiff this evening to see if the company can bag a couple of awards at the CIPR Pride Wales event. Not quite the easiest place to get to by rail from Cumbria – but rail travel is certainly more relaxing than 300-odd miles in the car.

Overnighting at the event hotel – the Mercure – this is the view from the bedroom window on the 6th floor. Wouldn’t pay to be agoraphobic in these rooms as the L-shaped room had two glass walls – quite a dramatic effect as you walk in.

365/237: 14 October 2010: Hobgoblin

Settled down for a quiet evening in watching 8 Mile in the company of a pint of Hobgoblin. Obviously I’m a marketing man’s dream be3cause I was tempted to try it by the rather odd picture and the slogan ‘Afraid you might taste something, lager boy'?’

If you like your beer bitter, and I’m generally drink Guinness so I do – then this should probably hit the spot.

Anyway – I thought , as befits a traditional evening in with a rap video – that I might do a little still life in front of the fire.

PS to Dan if you’re reading – now it really is beer o’clock

365/236: 13 October 2010: Stress Pig

This cute little chap seems far to friendly to give a good pummelling when I’m stressed.

365/235: 12 October 2010: Basking Shark

Had decided to do a picture of Portencross Castle, up near Hunterston, today, but when I got there this basking shark was a rather more enticing subject. Light was terrible, and predictably the beastie didn’t swim towards me – but it’s not every day you get one of these.

365/234: 11 October 2010: A gorgeous autumn evening…

…following a gorgeous autumn day. Makes me wish I was on leave, rather than working. Caught the sky in the SW shortly after sundown – colours are gorgeous.

365/233: 10 October 2010: 10:10:10 10/10/10 and all that

Well, couldn’t resist – obviously I did this one earlier today, but have only just got around to posting it (along with the others from earlier in the week). Quite pleased that I got the seconds hand spot on the 10.

365/232: 09 October 2010: Blackcurrant and Apple Jelly

This turned up at our house last night. I love translucent objects they’re so colourful when you light them reasonably.

365/231: 08 October 2010: Caught in the Boot

By some unfortunate chance I caught the handle of my suitcase in the boot lock of my colleagues car as we set of for Wylfa. Couldn’t have done it deliberately if I’d tried. Sadly the only way we could free it was to call in to Aldi on the way home and by a craft knife to cut it free. Bit of a shame as I’ve had the bag ( which came free with something) for well over 10 years.

365/230: 07 October 2010: London today

Excellent CIPR course today, and the weather and light outside was even more awesome – sadly the light was gone (agan) by the time the course was over, and coupling that with the need to get to an underground station, I only had time for a couple of quick shots – like this one.

365/229: 06 October 2010: More hotel trivia

Travelled to London today for an internal Comms course starting tomorrow. Apparently the cheapest hotel the booking agency could get was on the Strand – so nicely located. Sadly it was essentially dark when I got there so taking a shot of the sights was not a goer. The room was cell sized but had some rather attractive resin lampstands – so here’s one for the record.

365/228: 05 Oct 2010: Family History

Ratching about in the family albums today, trying to find some source material for another of my projects and thought it might be nice to record the event, so here’s a photo of photos of my great grandparents (well two of them anyhow).

The lady on the left is Mary Slade, and the gentleman on the right is William Valentine Monckton. At the time of the photo, and as far as I can tell for a significant chunk of his life, he was the station master at Croydon Station.

365/227: 04 Oct 2010: Shopping

Went shopping yesterday – to perhaps my favourite clothes shop ever – Rohan in Keswick. I challenge anyone to find more comfortable clothing anywhere. Obviously it helps if you like ‘walker chic’ - although a lot of it is perfectly wearable in an office environment – and I’ve probably been buying and wearing some of their stuff for at least 10 years. In fact I’ve only just thrown out the first pair of trousers I bought from them.

Anyway, these jeans are what I really wanted in Street the other week, when I actually came away with 4 pairs of shoes. I already owned the t-shirt.

365/226: 03 Oct 201: Googly Eyes

Continuing with the eye theme, here’s a little guy I caught at Crosscanonby Carrs nature reserve, on the Solway coast between Maryport and Allonby. The double highlights are because I used flash as well as bright sunlight. Dragonflies always look mildly comical in close-up to me.

365/225: 02 Oct 2010: Hollywood Eyes

My degree course work is covering digital enhancement at the moment and youngest daughter agreed to pose for one of the exercises – on the condition that I provided her with a decent shot for her Facebook profile. So here it is – probably no surprise that this bit of the exercise was about enhancing eye colour – although they are naturally quite blue.

The complex lighting technique I used was asking her to stand under an umbrella in the garden

365/224: 01 Oct 2010: Fidgety Apples

Another sign of autumn, as if falling leaves weren’t enough on their own, is falling apples. I’m sure some of these will end up in a pie with gammon and onion, as fidget pie is another family favourite.