The badger chronicles

Scottish Election - 07. Still undecided?

Wed, 02 May 2007 23:56:03 GMT

Then click here!

http://www.dont-vote-labour.co.uk/votesnp.jpg

I'd urge all Scots to view this poster before going into the ballot box!

Print version poster:
http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/endlabourlies/

For emailing:
http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/endlabourlies/small-poster/

Print the high-res version of the poster.

View it. Pass it on. Print it. Hang it on windows and walls, especially near key seats and ballot areas!

Email the lower-res poster to all and sundry! Family, friends, pets, strangers - go for it. You're helping to build exciting new horizons that don't rely on dependency or warmongering!

See through the labour lies and spin Scotland! SNP for a return to democracy...1, 2 and 3.

Join the boycott of anti-Scottish newspapers:

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 09:33:43 GMT

The run-up to the Scottish parliamentary elections has demonstrated transparent and blatant pro-union bias in the Scottish mass media - especially the press.

Free and fair elections are at stake.

Join the boycott of anti-Scottish newspapers:

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/anti-Scottish/

Sign - only takes twenty secs - then tell your friends.

Thu, 27 Jul 2006 11:58:34 GMT

Wow.

Here we are then. As it turned out, Eiraniel and myself declined the house. It was a massive decision. Looked at from every conceivable angle, we [probably] did the right thing...

...nevertheless, out with work and other stressful nuggets, we're busy painting, varnishing, sanding, polishing the new bat-cave. Namely Eiraniel's folks place. They've very kindly allowed us to move in for a few years - and apply whatever creative license we wish to pursue in the meantime.

To that end, we've suddenly become very nesty with careful discussions around 'whether to paint or varnish' this or that, that 'correct' conservatory green - together with other palette matters our 20-something selves would have balked at. A wee bit.

Quite excited though - and it's probably about time house proper were on the cards for ourselves and chick...

...who has taken quite the stretch of late.

Work plummets on. Templates being tested. Excitement starting to froth once more.

Y 'campaign for an English parliament website'

Sun, 21 May 2006 12:34:03 GMT

Ellyll - wyt ti wedi gweld hwn?

Mae'n ddiawchedig. Darllena!

Hoose.

Mon, 15 May 2006 19:57:02 GMT

It appears the hoose is ours.

This is good news, and today there has been much financial bustling, talking to mortgage people on the phone, working out best deals and the like...

...we know exactly what kind of mortgage we want too. Still, it's not easy.

Unfortunately, the housing scenario is particularly bad in Gwynedd. Relatively low annual incomes, coupled with *the* worst house pricing rise, by county - mean that it's pretty tough to get onto the ladder at all.

Could have been so easy at that. Shuttle back three years. Four bedroom house by the coast. A mere 87k.

Wages at the time meant even this was a thorny pill. We got cautious. Well, I got cautious - Sian was all for it, if memory serves.

Try getting it now for 87k. ZZZZap.

Still. We're officially on the property conveyor. ;o) From all accounts, nothing's going to get cheaper - and ten years or so from now you could be looking at a repeat loop of frenzied increased housing costs.

So, what's the Llanfairpwllgwyngyll area like ellyll? :o)

I made fish, sweetcorn and new potatoes for dinner. Enjoyed mine - spesh with the cold beer. Sian's is on a warm tin platter. Awen ate the fish and found my efforts at getting her to eat the rest....amusing.

Got a staggeringly busy few weeks to look forward to at work. All is well and good, but I figure I'll be hammering the weekends until July...

...thereabouts my brother is getting married. The fool! ;P So, gotta book a hotel for that - 'cos there's a few squillion relatives vying for beds etc Family room somewhere seems the easiest thing to do.

Looking forward to it, of course. Perhaps this best man speech will be a little easier to write. Just openly mock the wee runt, and that'll be that sorted.

Got fitted for my kilt again. Was alarmed to find out I've swollen up a tad to some 13-and-a-half stone! Sheesh. Guess I can jog down the beach!

Importantly, need to grab a quality few weeks off, post site launch. Two weeks in Scotland I reckon, with one of them just for me and eiraniel.

Just let go of the reins a while. Saunter about Edinburgh. The best city on these islands.

Next to Glasgow :P

Loiter about Princes street gardens and drink coffee in the old town. Catch up with some of my [dearly missed] compadres from my Edinburgh days. Sian's got a few friends who've also moved North of the border. Just a few miles from where I used to live, which is kinda bizarre...

...this time she might make *all* the steps up the Scott monument. Rather than losing the ability to walk thirty steps or so from the top :P

Drink nice beer on Rose Street. Camp out in Waterstones. Walk up to the observatory.

In the meantime, the likes of this guy, not to mention this lady, are gonna have to carry me a little.

Ramblings...

Sat, 06 May 2006 23:47:41 GMT

Eeeeek. It's been a busy few weeks...

...the missus, bairn and myself have less than three weeks to box everything, namely our lives, and find ourselves a new pad.

We've only ever rented since I came down here, tho' we pondered buying a lurv-ely terraced house just before babi bach came along. In the end, we bit the bullet and played it cautious - tho' times may have been a tad tight there - we figure we made the wrong decision.

This wee bothy has been the only place Awen has ever known - but, tbh we're not devastated at the prospect of leaving. Despite roaring fire and all, the sittingroom is just too big - the room's too wee...

...methinks it's time to move. Find out tomorrow if we get first shot at the bricks 'n mortar. Isle of Anglesey. Nice - spacious - massive garden, the main focus of Sian's concerns as it happens. Too right I guess. It means you could be suppin' on some Lazy Sunday whilst letting Awen run about daft. Especially with cousins and such when they come to visit.

This is a BIG garden, at that. So, we'll wait 'n see. If this isn't meant to be, it's back off to Llwynithel, Sian's folks farm - until such time said hoose 'opportunity' comes a beggin'.

Work has progressed very nicely with the site, very happy with the site design and some of the Phase I functionality. Whilst remembering this is only the beginning of a [hopefully] successful publishing run and a kick-ass govt. read.

Yet to roll out the CMS and start the web writing off - and I guess this is the heart of the whole thing - content really is king, but I have a lot of very enthused scientists - wrapped up in biodiversity, climate change, geology and the like - the trick [as it always is] is to nail the organisation to the task - guarantee upper management get crackin' etc

Done my mock Welsh GCSE the other day, was quite pleased - I've been advised not to do the real thing, simply 'cos it clashes with the live date for the site - but I did run through another test to keep the Cymraeg thinking ummmm, thinkin'.

Glad, 'cos I'd feel crap with *no* Welsh buttons on the shoulder, busy or not.

Awen has a crappy cold at the mo, we basted her in warm olive oil, applied calpol, hugs on sofa etc Wee mite still doesn't know what to do with it. Unfortunately, she's a tad more like me in that regard. Little patience, easily frustrated at stupid things - than her mam's calming self.

Tomorrow, Sian's clan are coming round. I will cut grass as we ready ourselves to hand the keys back over.

Cut that - mae gas gen i torri gwair!

Ain't that the truth.

[Badger scurries off, looks for orange squash, honey...]

Mon, 01 May 2006 11:48:08 GMT

As told in the 0ct0pus diaries...

After you die...
Guardian Angel

After death, you will exist as a guardian angel in order to protect your still-living loved ones. You might even inspire a classic Christmas movie.

Take this quiz at QuizGalaxy.com

Gamers...

Wed, 12 Apr 2006 13:35:54 GMT

...what can you do with them?

In any case, if you want to learn how to 'level', chatter about sprites, or are hell bent on dressing up as a badger and whacking your friends with rubber swords - in the flesh - then please do check out the return of eiraniel.

Squirreltastic.

Cam.

Back from the Nant!

Sat, 11 Mar 2006 01:23:31 GMT

Phew - what a week!

Just back early this evening from a week at the Nant - namely the Nant Gwrtheyrn Welsh Language and Heritage Centre. Time to polish up the Cymraeg again.

A tremendous week - if a little frugal. The bwthyn I was staying in had all the nec. requirements - water and heat stood out in particular...

...no TV, no radio, no web access - nothing at all...

...only the occasional call to Angharad and Awen [and Cara yn Yr Alban] and the heavy rain on my bedroom window for company.

Really enjoyed it though, and this weekend I will mostly be eating Welsh revision. With Ang and Awen's help.

Missed them terribly. :o)

In ny case - Alf, if you're there, feel free to throw me a sentence or two. Getting a little handy with this now :P

Cam.

Sat, 14 Jan 2006 20:07:21 GMT

Ho-hum - not been around for a while...

...stressed Eric. Work has been mucho heavy.

In any case - a United Kingdom?

Don't make me larff - National British day - blechhhh.

The sooner this ludicrous union is dismantled, the better. Thankfully, that seems to be the gist from Scots, Welsh and Eng-er-lish voices at large.

Good.

Brown is a numptie - of some quality. Throwing his fat Scots butt into an England that'd kick his party out [if the English just had themselves to deal with]. Certainly, they'll balk at the idea of a Scottish PM.

'Cos Britain should mean England.

Whereas Brown - another Scot of tireless self ambition, is a blinkered unionist.

Heh - funny. A deserved fate for his ilk? A limbo land for Scots who do their own country no favours, whilst trying their best to get into the slipstream of a country who's voters want feck all to do with them. Excellent.

These Brito-Scots make me want to vomit. Really. The fact that they can vote on certain English matters underlines the nonsense nature of this union.

The nonsensical 2+2=5 nature of a union that should have been left to die, peacefully, some time back in 1914...

...when will it simply end in the name of god. Let Scotland prosper. The Celtic countries work together as the Scandinavians. The English can, well, be English...

Brrrr...

Mon, 14 Nov 2005 19:29:13 GMT

It's cold. Damn cold.

The heating is on. Still chilly.

Fire is blazing away - logs and coal. Nippy, nonetheless.

I've covered my two-year-old, asleep in her wee bed, in about three soft covers, and her quilt.

Yet she'll probably wake later in an effort to snuffle in somewhere she deems cosier. Namely our bed. Still, can't blame her...

...and it is better than the rain. It was one of those slow weekends I guess.

Nothing happening and nothing much really pressing you anywhere.

Last Saturday morning, whilst it was pouring it down, Awen and Sian let me sleep a bit before presenting me with my birthday cake.

'Penblwydd hapys dad!'. They made it, rather surreptitiously, on the Friday night.

Weekend was enjoyed along those lines. Went to Llandudno on Saturday, didn't buy the b-day present I was planning to. Afterwards, went to Sian's folks in the evening to let Awen see her Nain and Taid - lazed in front of the fire...enjoyed Sunday roast the next day. Yawwwwwwwn.

Then the grim reality of a Monday morning slams into you like an obscene 1970's wrestler. And you've got the cold. And it's bleedin' -45C outside. And you've got a massive web workshop to sort for Wednesday, and 140 scientists to keep busy for a bit.

I have to raise my hand up as a *hater* of the flu - or any of it's 18 billion guises. I hate it. Can't think straight. Can't do your best work. Can't even sleep right. I am at my *most irked* in such times. Some female colleagues would rightly name it the *man-flu*. Grrrrrr.

Just gotta relax - go back to Saturday morn. Warmth. Funnies. Cake....

Mon, 14 Nov 2005 17:22:03 GMT

From alivicwil

Two Parts of Your Heritage:
1. Scottish
2. Irish

Two Things That Scare You:
1. Heights
2. Uncertainty

Two of Your Everyday Essentials:
1. Coffee
2. Computer

Two Things You Are Wearing Right Now:
1. Blue jogging pants
2. Blue t-shirt, Celtic design

Two of Your Favorite Bands or Musical Artists:
1. The Beatles
2. The Stone Roses

Two Things You Want in a Relationship (other than Real Love):
1. Support
2. Funnies

Two Truths:
1. Life and love are work - and what you make it
2. Scotland and Wales are crucial to England

Two Physical Things that Appeal to You:
1. Smiling eyes
2. Female figure

Two of Your Favorite Hobbies:
1. Reading
2. Photography

Two Things You Want Really Badly:
1. For my website to the best in its class
2. To find myself back in Scotland [after leearning Welsh]

Two Places You Want to go on Vacation:
1. New Zealand
2. British Columbia [or Washington state]

Two Things You Want to Do Before You Die:
1. Learn Scottish Gaelic fully
2. Have several pieces of writing in print

Two Ways that you are stereotypically girlie:
1. Ummmm. Nought.
2. No, seriously.

... and boyish too:
1. I'm bad tempered [struggle with patience, rather]
2. Foolishly patriotic

Two Things You Normally Wouldn't Admit:
1. Foolishly patriotic
2. Bad tempered

Two Things You Are Thinking About Now:
1. What to cook Sian for dinner [she's working]
2. Need to finish my presentation for Wednesday

Two Stores Where You Shop:
1. Ebuyer
2. Flip

Two people I haven't talked to in a while:
1. Rab
2. Lis

Random Q&As...

Wed, 09 Nov 2005 17:47:02 GMT

...everyone else seems to do 'em - so I scooped this from some pointless corner of LJ....

- When was the last time you cried?
A long, long time ago.

- Have you ever faked sick?
Only when absolutely required :o)

- What was the last lie you said?
'ughh, right - 'spose it looks ok...'

- Have you ever cried during a movie?
Yups. When I was 12 or so. Khhhhhaaaaaannnnnnnnnnnn!

- Do you smoke?
Nope. Instead I piss off family and friends by spluttering in their midst - subsequently stopping Ang smoking also! Win!

- What's the farthest you've ever gone on a dare?
I killed him. I had to.
Probably some daft teenage stuff. Don't remember.

- What is your full name?
Cameron Edwards.

- What is your blood-type?
Dunno. I used to. Good 'n Celtic anyway...

- Have you ever been in a car accident?
Nope. Although driving with Ang has probably meant I'll perish younger than anticipated.

- How old were you when you recieved your first kiss?
Well. Hmmm. First proper kiss. 11.

- Who was your first kiss?
Janice Mc. x

- Have you ever been rejected by a crush?
Of course. :o)

- What is your favourite sport to play?
Pool.

- Have you ever made a prank phone call?
Those bloody teens again.

- Have you ever said "I Love you" and not meant it?
Nope.

- What's your favourite childhood memory?
Lots. Long summers up in the hills of Greenock

- Is there anything that you have done that you regret?
Never upped and went to Canada or the U.S. before uni and babies

- What do you want to be when you grow up?
Lots of things :o)

- What is your political persuassion?
Scottish Nationalist. Or a strong believer in English home rule. Whatever way you wanna look at it.

- Have you ever had cybersex?
Ack. No.

- Do you believe in g-d?
I believe in astronomy. Sometimes that makes you believe in god. Or some kinda construct.

- Do you believe in love at first sight?
Instinct at first sight. Which can very often turn to love.

- Do you believe in karma?
Dunno. Dunno where I'd be on the scale either, what does that tellz ya?

- Who was your first crush?
Rhonda x

- How would you describe yourself?
Kind. Set. Jumpy. Honest. Bad-tempered. Driven.

- What are you afraid of?
Nothing. Other than harm to my family.

- Are you religious?
No. Not completely averse to belief in something bigger than me and this though.

- What does your screen name mean?
My daughters middle name [means a kind of 'honour/respect' in Scottish Gaelic]

- What person do you trust the most?
Angharad.

- Who was your first boyfriend/girlfriend?
Janice Mc x

- What is the best compliment you have ever recieved?
Nice eyes. Good work. Blah.

- What is the meanest thing anyone has said about you?
That I was a really selfish person. Many moons ago.

- What is your greatest strength?
I work hard - and quickly

- What is your greatest weakness?
Succumbing to a poor temper

- What is your perfect pizza?
Garlic. Mushrooms. With s'more garlic...

- What is your first thought when waking up in the morning?
Workcoffeeworkbathworkworkworkhaveacoffeewhatsforbreakfastworkthinkwork

- What is your first thought before you go to bed?
Workcoffeeworkrestworkworkworkhaveacoffeewhatsforsupperworkthinkwork

- Do you get along with your family?
Yup. We're all very different though. I mean - my own parents/sibling etc.
Get along with my own family too - tho' I probably make life a toil for them sometimes :o)

- Do you play any instruments?
Up to this point, I have the musical ability of shellfish.

- What kind of music do you like?
Indie.Scottish.Classical.Lots.

- Do you think you're attractive?
Not really. My head's the wrong shape.

- Would you ever get a tattoo?
Would I ever be stupid? Nothing hideous. The prospect of an 89-year-old with some leathery, wrinkled tattoo hanging over his wheelchair is a sobering one.

- How many piercings do you have?
Nada.

- Who makes you laugh?
Father Ted. Northen Exposure.

- Who would you want to be tied to for 24hours?
No one. I'd have to beat them to death.

- Have you ever seen a dead body?
Yup.

- Do you have a celebrity crush?
Nope. I'd like to crush some celebrities though.

- What is one thing scientists should invent?
A stargate! Parp.

- Have you ever broken a bone?
Yep. Several.

- What happens after you die?
Somewhere between 'yer a lang time deed' and that blurb about energy having to go somewhere...

- Do you watch or read the news?
Indeed. Depressing mostly.

- If you could go back in time to one point in your life, where would you go?
No where. Lessons learnt.

- If you could change anything about yourself, what would you change?
An inability to relax when required.

- Have you ever gone skinny dipping?
Sure.

- Would you ever lie to someone to make them feel good about themselves?
Don't think so. I'd tell them a truth to make 'em feel good...

- What do you want your friends to think about you?
That I buggered off to Wales for some reason.

- What's the biggest argument you've ever gotten into?
Dumb assed history teacher who quoted Imperialist British cack with no real knowledge of what he was yabbering on about.

- Have you ever bitten someone?
Maybees. In play.

- When's your birthday?
12th November. :P

- Have you ever stolen anything?
Nope.

- Do you make wishes on shooting stars?
Possibly. Before rationalising them as rock rice...

- Whats the most you've ever eaten in one sitting?
Mmmmm. I dunno. Never required hibernation.

- If you could go back and change one day, what would it be?
Somewhere on a hillside in Northumbria. A long time ago. Maybe.

- Do you remember your dreams?
Very much so.

- Have you ever been in love?
Aye.

- Are you a morning person or a night person?
Night. Coffee. Brain racing. The 'net. Brilliant.

- What's the meanest thing you've ever done to someone?
Crushed 'em. Was required though, for everyone.

- Have you ever written a love letter?
I've written a letter - that may have attested to love at some point.

- Do you prefer boxers or briefs?
Boxers. Briefs are for 1970's porn winos.

- Have you ever been in a fistfight?
Yuppers. Although said fight/s involved feet and forehead also.

- Do you have any hidden talents?
Hmmm. When I've tried, I've had some very humble plays produced. Was shortlisted by Channel4 for screenwriting [as a kid]. My poetry anthology has nailed decent acclaim from the Edinburgh circles - and I like losing myself in Scottish and Welsh mountains and stealing some nifty landscape shots - soon to be published. Time is a bugger though.

- What is one thing you want me to know about you?
Absolutely nothing at all.

- Do you usually prefer books or movies?
Mooks and boovies. Books first though - although I love the whole cinema bit - flick, 'dog, girlfriend, smell of the popcorn etc

- Who do you talk to most on the phone?
Family and friends in Scotland

- Do you prefer british or american spelling of words?
The Scottish. Getitreetupye.

- Have you ever gotten detention?
Nope. I got a 'pink-slip' once for leaning on a tree. I jest you not.

- How do you vent your anger?
Usually in a really dumb fashion. On computer. Object etc

- Have you ever been on a diet?
Was on a fairly high-protein diet for a long-time.

- What's the meanest thing anyone has ever done to you?
Upped and went. Which, coincidentally, is also the bestest thing anyone has ever done for me.

- What's the nicest thing anyone has ever done for you?
Hah!

- Have you ever been diagnosed with a mental illness?
Nah. Some of my mates are truly lobster bisque though.

- Do you prefer talking on the phone or online?
Online I 'spose.

- Do you consider yourself popular?
Aye. Probably.

- Have you ever had a crush on a best friend?
On a friend maybeez.

- What is your favourite book?
To Kill a Mockingbird.

- Do you have a collection of anything?
Poetry books [Scottish contemporary]. Coins as a babi.

- Are you happy with the person you are becoming?
Aye. In that I'm still working at it.

- Are you a different person now then you were 5 years ago?
Oh god aye.

- What do you see yourself as being in 5 years from now?
Writer/new media editor in a really nice place.

- Are you happy with the life you have?
Aye - 'cos I'm a new media editor/manager in a really nice place.

Ho-hum...

Sat, 05 Nov 2005 16:14:26 GMT

...the weather is glum, which sucks - primarily 'cos I have a camera I'd like to try out on a crisp Welsh Autumn. An Autumn that's way too elusive - meaning nipper and I are enjoying some windy, wet walks - and stoking lots of coal on the fire.

I love Autumn - it was my grandmothers favourite time of the year, it was within the clutches of a particularly bonny Autumn I met Sian, my second daughter was born on the cusp of the season - I love the reds, the browns, the quality of the light. The smell of the coal and peat fires.

In the absence of photography - here's a snap taken on the back of the ferry to Ireland a while back. We set off early, and were all shattered tbh. Nevertheless, we scrambled into the ferries slipstream and I grabbed a shot of Sian and the girls - because of the roofing under which the lassies were huddled for the shot, there's a serious violet colour cast - which I've left in 'cos I like it.

Dublin was busy - very interesting place at that. We managed to *do* the writers museum, have some Guiness, chuckle at American tourists, lie on the grass for a spell in an attempt to remove the bags from our eyes - the whole bit.

Got some crackin' shots of Cara and Awen in their kilts too - outside the natural history museum.

The only tiny wee hitch was Stenaline making an arse of the train tickets (previously paid for online) - we had to up cash for all bar one, cos' they hadn't logged it on their system. When I quickly punched out a letter on our return, they reimbursed us, apologised, and gave Sian and myself first class passes for our next Irish stint. :o)

Ms.Sian Angharad is working today - and work has been very busy on the web front also. Signing the new design contract next week. The weeks leading up to turkey and family are going to be pretty hectic, no mistake. Doubtless, Christmas will absorb most of our extra pennies in the meantime.

In other news, we both stunned ourselves a tad - in buying a tumble-dryer.

Not a new PC. Not a new music system.

A feckin' tumble-dryer.

On that domestic note - and despite this crumby weather - I'd better fetch Awen [currently snoozing on couch in vicinity of said fire], amble through the sleet over to the shops, and return 'A Shark's Tale' - yup, she loved it - perhaps I'll purchase some wine in the process.

Sian is very excited about the new Narnia film. Fantasy aspects asides [she's wowed to the max] - it was the first book we bought Awen. Whilst she was snug inside and hadn't even drawn the breath of day.

Write soon.

Weekend stuff

Sat, 08 Oct 2005 23:04:21 GMT

'Bookered out' did indeed fall through the door this morning. After getting comfortable, dividing some pasta and a large jug of coffee between myself and Sian - as well as nailing down Awen for half-an-hour or so, we cautiously hit the button on the DVD player...

...not bad really, all in :o)

I did begin too many sentences with 'To me...' however. Was unaware of it, completely - but moreso editing gave a curious slant to the show. Chris and Susan and co. were quite brilliant, really. We actually did all meld very well, very quickly.

Before the show filmed, Chris stumbled on some character profiles that the very lovely director had temporarily laid on a sideboard.

I was 'sincere, honest and intense' - not a bad plug - if a little 'get the pole out your ass'.

Chris was 'loveable geek' or somesuch. Not a geek tho. Rather a well grounded teacher with the most extraordinary knowledge of Doctor Who. Ever.

Ever.

Angharad actually pointed the camera at herself for a chunk - but was relieved to have been snipped from the final film. Although Awen is there quite a bit toddling about - as is my elder daughter Cara and my wee nephew Aryn [filmed while in Scotland].

Really great experience. Absolute highlight was meeting the other contributors - as well as sharing some very fine champagne and getting 'This thing of darkness' signed by Harry Thompspon.

Life tumbles on at the mo. Work is very exciting, very busy, taking up most of the seconds.

Meanwhile Sian is starting to set her heart on a wee three-bedroomed house on the Isle of Anglesey. Safe garden for Awen. Not far from Bangor by car. More space at home. A conservatory for book reading and the drinking of wine.

Very nuclear. Very provincial, even - but it makes more sense every day - the alternative is simply renting and peeing away money for nada.

My parents took Cara to South Africa yesterday for three weeks. My dad's brother emigrated a while back. I miss my wee cousins lots, although Angharad kept the secret of secrets when they snuk into our wee Welsh Bwthyn a few months back. Hadn't seen them in years. Tears 'n stuff. They loved Sian, which is, of course, to be expected. :o) We ate ice cream, and walked on sand dunes, and swam with Jellyfish.

Today we jumped into the Rover and headed to Llandudno. I bought a B&W photography book. Angharad bought some kind of fantasy novel, again.

Awen bought grapes.

Fantasy novels. Role playing. Online gaming to that end. Sian is daft on it. Lurvs it. I think it's all pretty cool - but admit to chuckling when seeing live action role players at play. Folk dressed up as badgers and the like..

..amazing that imagination can be fleshed out that way, truly - and it's a very human thing to do. I can't find the aesthetic though - of course, many of these folk no doubt put pen to paper in fantasy novels etc and are obviously a bright bunch, which is ubercool - but I guess the hard fact is that I'd rather be asking questions of myself - by myself - camera at hand - notepad and some good coffee - even stationed in front of a cool PS2 blend mode...

...than dressing up as a rat/badger/squirrel and assaulting other forest dwellers with rubber swords. Hmmmm. Kudos to 'em all though.

As I write this - Angharad and Awen are curled up together on the suite. Awen had toddled up earlier, stood at the top of the stairs [gate in place!], and started whispering for her mum. Sometimes she reaches out like that - and always to Angharad.

Sometimes she just wont go over again until she's cuddled in. She's getting to that age - you wake up suddenly - and she'll be there - sprawled out between us both - a ridiculously warm waterbottle.

Angharad herself is off somewhere in nod, dreaming of this 'n that no doubt. Probably on some ancient battlefield, dressed to the hilt in some feminine armour.

Or slugging it to some ungodly beast. She's began, tentatively, playing some online games again - she's played about with a few and settled on an old one she loves. Like a bairn in a sweetie shop :o) Woke up from a wee doze the other day and she was nutting some skeleton.

Next week I'm explaining the benefits of a good website to the head rangers and wardens of the CCW. I do like my job, lots. :o)

Thereafter, we're having a company day out in an old coppermine. Not a bad place to discuss budgetary concerns for 05/06 I guess.

Tomorrow, Angharad's folks are coming up and might mind the wee yin for a few hours.....giving us the opportunity to see 'Serenity' at Cineworld. Better than StarWars? No brainer I guess.

I think there will be an opp. for some photography next week also....Sian suggested taking her folks amazing wee retro-caravan [like a spacepod of sorts] for a bit and camping on a truly stunning beachhead on Anglesey (not far from the house she's fond of either). I could wake up. Catch the morning drama.

In beautiful monochrome, of course...

Later.

Bookered Out...

Sun, 02 Oct 2005 00:49:49 GMT

...airs on the 10th. Or so the letter from the BBC said when it phliffed through the letterbox. In other news, Sian, me and baban are on the hunt for a new house.

Alf - is Newborough really that bad? Some crackin houses there....doesn't seem to be a council house under 135k this side of Unnes Mon. :o)

Was working today - in a bid to bring some figures to bear. Award contract for site next week! Yip!

Need to get some more images up - waiting on some further opportunities coming in - it'll be nice to relax...

Llyn Padarn

Tue, 13 Sep 2005 23:21:18 GMT

Another day. Another pic. Llyn Padarn, again. Smooth waters, and the closest I can get to Scotland.

I miss that camera.

Time for some MacCaig. Kudos to you mister - hope your delegates on Earth don't mind an occasional online piece or twa.

Sure proof

I can no more describe you
than I can put a thing for the first time
where it already is.

If I could make a ladder of light
or comb the hair of a dream girl with a real comb
or pour a table into a jug...

I'm not good at impossible things.
And that is why I'm sure
I will love you for my ever.

Back to work...

Tue, 13 Sep 2005 22:02:01 GMT

Well - truly back to work now. The mill. The quest. Stuff I'll fall asleep worrying about...

...but only because this new project is so invariably exciting. Was home late - having been at a big meeting in Manchester all day - scoping the possible solutions company who can take the project home.

There's always a far flung StarBucks in these 'proper' cities also - and foreign bookshops to muse over.

Staggered to see the amount of cricket fervour, 'oer the border.

Cricket. Is it just me, or is it about as exciting as oatmeal? Due to lack of interest tomorrow is
cancelled. I've decided. If I pick up another poxy circular convincing itself that 'the better team won' I'm gonna go gaga.

Chwarae teg to the English though. Probably picked 'em up some after Northern Ireland's satisfying
victory the other night. There is much to be said for failure. It is more interesting than success, for
starters.

What is it about the English problem with failure? However unimportant. Said football match, for example. Doesn't make a difference! They'll likely get through...

...but lose one game, as they have - and they're claiming the head of their manager. Well - two games [chuckle] - but who's counting?

Only, when they do win the next game, it'll be crudely and hastily stitched back on. Crown in place. Hailed, duly, as a redeemer of man. I genuinely feel sorry for the players. England are an average football team, with some real class elements. Invariably, they have just about every trophy won before a ball is kicked. When they do lose - no matter how insignificant - there's insane pondering - intense debate - about how such a thing happened. At all.

It's infuriating. Not to mention tremendously arrogant.

There was one lad at Chester station - shell suit - emblazoned with Union Jack style throughout - socks tucked into his white trainers, baseball cap askew, 'Beckham' engraved annoyingly somewhat off centre in the middle of his gargantuan dome. Cricket? Raving about it.

Hey - that's not to say the 'failure factory', so encouraged by the press and the like - isn't equally as grating back home in Scotland.

Terrible business in N.Ireland. One dwells on Cromwell and Charles Stewart and Scottish settlers in Ulster.

Met Sian at the hospital. Scuttled home in the wind. Ate the mince & tatties she prepared earlier. Not at all bad. :o) Awen fell asleep after reading 'The Kind Little Bear'. It's still very windy outside. Time to get warm and fall asleep...

Sunday Sun

Sun, 11 Sep 2005 14:01:07 GMT

Sunday - in all it's majesty. Typically, my body seems to have realised this - and refuses to do much - 'cept mulch in front of the computer and hope that something decent on the TV makes an appearance. You gotta love David Attenborough...

..still vegging after books - is nice feeling.

Here's another pic. Dramatic sunset next to Yr Wyddfa [Snowdonia].

Sunset in Snowdonia..

Fri, 09 Sep 2005 22:53:25 GMT

...a few months ago, I intended to lose myself in the moutains for a short while....when I came back down some eight hours had past.

Like Alien abduction, 'cept minus the aliens - and with sheep.

!

Fri, 09 Sep 2005 21:42:13 GMT

Hold that print! I think the Kirsty Wark interview is on another time, not tonight's NewsN Review.

:P

Sorry.

Endorphines...mmm....

Fri, 09 Sep 2005 19:27:04 GMT

Wow!

The deed is done [though head's a bit frizzed...damn that vino] - all 17 novels read - done 'n dusted - and different beasts there were too. The official short-list was announced last night - at the booker party. Canapes and some excellent wine - rubbing shoulders with the likes of Harry Thompson and Zadie Smith and dinner etc Had some interesting chats with the judges too - especially David Sexton.

The short-list is as follows then.

----
John Banville
The Sea
- Excellent. Probably the 'most different' from the rest of the crop.

Julian Barnes
Arthur & George
- Brilliant - but in my second list.

Sebastian Barry
A Long Long Way
- Written beautifully - but didn't differ enough from other WWI horror stories, for me. The difference here, the political aspect - didn't differ enough.

Kazuo Ishiguro
Never Let Me Go
- Not on my list. I found the story listless, predictable - and questionable. Even Davis Sexton seemed to share my sentiments on how a paragraph outlining the 'inhumanity' of the characters - in terms of being full human beings - would have rounded it more. Smells medicinal - all in - with a sprinkling of Huxley. Plus - there's another story 'out there' that conflicts some. Amazingly it's the fav to win the whole caboodle.

Ali Smith
The Accidental
- Superb. A dancing, lively, vibrant tale that makes you question your own delusion.

Zadie Smith
On Beauty
- Another on my list - but six from six - I liked the Moral aspects throughout the book - funny too - but less challenging than some other texts.
----

It was a crime against god that James Meek and 'The Peoples Act of Love' wasn't there. Similar sentiments regarding 'This is the Country'. Humph.

Blessings though, that 'In the Fold' and 'All for Love' are, at this moment - being incinerated in the thousands.

Had a great time - the other judges were great fun. Chris completes his final blog at the BBC here - smashin' bloke - massive Dr.Who fan!

Kirsty Wark was also very, very nice. Chuckled at Scotlands 2-1 win the other night [whilst chuckling a great deal at the England result]. She wondered if Welsh was a hard language to learn.

Amazed me that she's also read much of the long-list. Apparently she reads lots on the sleeper flights. :o)

I *think* our interview with Kirsty and co. is on newsnight review - 10:35 tonight - BBC2. 'Bookered Out' itself will air in a few weeks - BBC4 first - then BBC2.

What an experience. Lots of pressure. Learned I'm more of an introvert than I expected. INFJ and all. Couldn't have done it without the support of Sian and the clan. Massive thanks to Harry Thompson himself for signing my copy of 'This thing of Darkness' - [duly humbled].

Back in a bit.

Yay!

Tue, 06 Sep 2005 19:20:25 GMT

Just back from Scotland - too busy by half - need to read four novels in oh....a day-and-a-half.

Thirteen nailed - including the excellent Julian Barnes Arthur Conan Doyle adventure 'Arthur and George', Ali Smith's 'The Accidental' and Kazuo Ishiguro's 'Never let me go'.

I'm puffed.

In fact, I'm piffed.

More later tonight....

Slow man

Thu, 01 Sep 2005 23:56:37 GMT

Finished 'Slow Man' by J.M Coatzee earlier this evening. Really excellent.

You're like, a third of the way through, and the novel suddenly stops its preamble and embraces something altogether different - and done so cleverly at that. More later.

Rab - how did you get on mate?? Phone me. Failing that, I'll phone tomorrow evening...tell that CMS monkey Gardener to expect the usual lambasting.

Final pic for tonight [some of you have seen these images elsewhere, but I'm playing catch-up here - new images to follow soon].

Won a merit award for this image - was quite satisfied with the result.

'Stop' - the avatar I'm using on this blog for the mo.

We had just pulled the car in from a days galavanting in the town, and I noticed the glassy reflection in Sian's eye - of the car interior - the iris colours were naturally saturated with the intense side light from the sun [which you can see]. This also gave a nice graduation of tone in the monochrome, with frame corners matching etc. Again - this is a fraction of the real image size...

Horizons

Thu, 01 Sep 2005 23:44:11 GMT

Took this snap of the girls on the beachhead at Porthmaddog. I liked the way they were just ambling along, seemingly towards the same spot on the shore. Awen was loose at the reins while Ang watched cautiously.

This is just a small cut from a much larger original;