Wednesday 19 January 2022

Wednesday

 Good morning, everyone!  I've just been to the shed and it feels a lot milder than yesterday morning.  The sky is pretty clear but there's no frost; my fingers and toes feel warm, always a good thing!

Yesterday never really brightened up - it was misty pretty much all day so I didn't bother with putting any washing out.  Despite that, I got four loads done and dried, one way or t'other, and three loads got ironed and out away - yay!  The last load dried overnight and now just needs an iron which I can do this morning.
It's so nice to have empty washing baskets!

It was so dull and dreary yesterday that I felt quite unmotivated so, after breakfast (I eat late), very much on the spur of the moment, I jumped up, got a few things together and set off for Hyde Hall.  There wouldn't be any views and it was cold but, on the other hand, it was very still so it would be OK on top of the hill and I just needed to get out into the fresh air for a while.

I am so glad I did.  There were enough people there to make it pleasant without being in any way crowded.  Also, it was a bit clearer out in the country and the sun almost - but not quite - nearly broke through.
There wasn't much to see in the way of flowers but their snowdrops are more advanced than mine and there were loads of little green bulb spikes sticking up.  I'll go again in about a month - there should be plenty to see by then.
There was a lot of work going on all over the place and I noticed that they have planted a small orchard of Japanese cherry treelets which will look a picture once established.  So pretty.

I spent quite a while watching a cheeky robin who was far to bouncy for a good photo, a blackbird who was more accommodating and some ducks on the bigger pond who were idly dabbling in and out, while I chanted to myself as much as I could remember of the delightful 'Ducks' Ditty' from Graham's 'The Wind In The Willows'. 

All along the backwater,
Through the rushes tall,
Ducks are a-dabbling,
Up tails all!

Ducks’ tails, drakes’ tails,
Yellow feet a-quiver,
Yellow bills all out of sight
Busy in the river!

Slushy green undergrowth
Where the roach swim—
Here we keep our larder,
Cool and full and dim.

Everyone for what he likes!
We like to be
Heads down, tails up,
Dabbling free!

High in the blue above
Swifts whirl and call—
We are down a-dabbling
Up tails all!

(I can hear Mum reading it to me as she did when I was a little girl)
I don't think Mr Blackbird agreed though!


I was frustrated with my camera.  I think I must have changed some setting somehow and things were going wonky so I did a factory reset and now I can only take a small number of photos before the battery is empty which is so annoying.  Today I must got back to the manual and find out what I have to do to sort it out.  

Also, discouragingly, I'm not doing very well at all with the camera course - and by that I mean I can't get my brain around it and I hate to go on when things aren't sticking.  Maybe I haven't got a good enough camera for things to be able to work in the way the book says they should.  
I am obviously lower in the pecking order  than an absolute beginner and I really must sit down, first with manual and then with book and try to sort something out.  

So today is ironing, personal training and seeing if I can make head or tail of the camera course.  I won't throw the book in the bin in frustration, I promise, but I may come close!!  But I have to sort out the battery thing first!

I hope your day goes better than mine promises to go - lol!


24 comments:

  1. I should sit down with my camera book and look at what the various settings do. I'm a bit of a point and shoot photographer. I should learn more about composing shots and I'd probably be able to take better pictures.

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    1. The trouble is, they use technical language and, as I haven't the foggiest what it means, my brain rather gives up! :-)
      I'm a point and shooter too.
      xx

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  2. I leave my camera on Auto and hope for the best!
    Your pictures are good so don't get too cross

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    1. :-) It's not that, it's that I'm trying to learn more about how to use different elements of photography - and I paid for that book!!! lol!
      xx

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  3. Animals are very uncooperative when it comes to photos. I have seen a huge heron trying to fish in my pond but by the time I get the camera he has left in disgust.

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    1. Indeed they can be although robins can be very friendly. This was a young one so maybe he hadn't learned! :-)
      xx

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  4. Needs a new battery probably. Are you just using the AYWMC book, or are you in the FB group? That’s very helpful. Remember there are no stupid questions, and everything is difficult before it’s easy!

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    1. I've dug out my other battery, thanks very much.
      Oddly, I haven't been able to locate a Facebook group that I can actually read or join. I'm sure there is one, I just can't find it.
      xx

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    2. Actually I now have a vague memory that Emma set the group up on another platform. It was a few years ago I did it, so my memory is a bit vague. I found this group from 2017, don't think it's active any more! https://www.facebook.com/groups/1825556314371481

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    3. I found that and I agree. I think there's stuff on Instagram which I don't use. Maybe I ought to! :-)
      xx

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  5. Can you get a new battery for the camera or could the problem be the memory card ... I'm not much use sorry, another pointer and shooter here. Anyway your bird photos are lovely and clear so you are doing something right.

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    1. Thank you.
      I've found the other battery and will try that - it's charging at the moment.
      The memory card isn't filling, it's the battery that is giving out. I need to read the manual, don't I?
      xx

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  6. I can't remember which camera you have so can't comment on whether it's 'good enough' to do all the thinks the books is asking for. Please don't give up though. The offer to help still stands and maybe you just need to hear things explained in a different way. xx

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    1. I really appreciate that, Eileen. I will have another go through the second chapter and you may very well hear from me < grin >
      xx

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  7. Replies
    1. Thanks, Nil. It seems pretty certain it was the battery. It's lasted for a very long time so I guess its time was up!
      xx

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  8. Lovely photos, I do hope you can get your camera working the way you want.

    God bless.

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    1. Thanks, Jackie. I'll have a jolly good go anyway!
      xx

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  9. I'm glad that despite the dreary weather you were able to get out. I love the photos especially the one of the blackbird.

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    1. Thanks, Sharon. He was most cooperative! It was so nice to get out and about and I really MUST go there more often, especially now we no longer have to book, etc, and everything is open again.
      xx

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  10. Don't get discouraged with the course! Keep trying. Are you in any of the groups where you can ask for help? What bit are you having trouble with? I'm not an expert but I do have the books so could take a look and maybe give some tips.

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    1. Oh, I've crashed on chapter two lol. Didn't get very far, did I? < grin >.
      I'll give it another go this afternoon and see if I can get a bit further and then, if I can't, maybe just go on and see if the next bit is more comprehensible.
      Thank you so much. xx

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    2. And I really do appreciate your offer to help. Between you and Eileen, I should muddle my way through fairly well, I hope.
      xx

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  11. Such a jolly poem! I love Mr Blackbird! Eeek, I'm not good at technical things so I would struggle with this too!

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