Bletchley Park - MayDay MayDay!

The weather was absolutely gorgeous for a walk around Bletchley Park, home of the Enigma Machine. During the second world war, code breakers worked here furiously, decoding missives sent by the German forces. According to most sources, the efforts made at Bletchley Park shortened the war and saved many allied lives.

Strange choice for a wedding anniversary day out, but there you go.

I took the Digilux 2 along and got a few nice pics. At one point the other half came up behind me to see what I was photographing “You like your peeling paint don’t you!” says he, as he went off to photograph a broken window……….!

(Click on the thumbnails below to enlarge them.)

Collectormaniac………..

Just popped along to CentreMK to take a quick look at Collectormania with my Leica Digilux 2 in tow. It was all very busy even at 10am. I took a few photos, though to be honest, it was a bit of a scrum in places, and with the shutter delay on the camera, I got quite a few shots of peoples’s backs as they pushed in front of me. Still I enjoyed it. Nice to see some familiar faces, I managed to spot both June Whitfield and Leslie Phillips…I hope I have their energy when I’m their age (which feels like it could be any day now!)

(I have tried something new with the picture - a WordPress gallery)

Even the Emperor needs a break!

Busy, busy, busy!

Jedi focus group

Hattie Hayridge

Lea Thompson, June Whitfield and Leslie Phillips

Need gear - we got gear

Dr Who and The Brigadier

Cat Weazel himself

They walk amongst us!

Collectormania 13 (2nd-5th May 2008)

Yes, its that time of year again when the CentreMK becomes a mecca for all SciFi Fans. Collectormania 13 is about to open in Middleton Hall (at the front of John Lewis). I was in the centre today and saw the setting up. The guest list this time looks interesting too. Everyone from June Whitfield and Leslie Phillips (Hellooooo, sorry can’t write it the way Leslie says it) to the emperor himself Dave Prowse. Amongst others due to be there are Nick Courtney (The Brigadier to Jon Pertwee’s Dr Who) John Barrowman (Torchwood), Hattie Hayridge (Holly - Red Dwarf) and Bruce Boxleitner (Tron, Babylon 5). There are loads and loads of collector stalls around, so you should be able to find something to take home. Even if you can’t, you can always dress up like your scifi heroes, many do. Go on dig out that Worf mask! The website is here.

My Hundredth Post - WhoooHoooo!

Thars Gold In Them Thar Phones!

A facinating article over at Reuters shows the way for recycling mobile phones. Apparently one ton of phones can yield more precious metals (like gold) than an equal amount of metal ore. Enter the new “Urban Miners” searching for value in old electronics. At the moment it seems that every evening on our local news, someone has stolen copper wiring from telephone exchanges, church bells and drain covers. At least this “mining” seems to be a more honest approach. Read the article here.

World Pinhole Day

I just found out that today (April 27th) is World Pinhole Day. Aaha! A chance to dig out the Lomo Diana I was given at christmas. You can take the front elements off the Diana and turn it into a pinhole camera…..must rush out and try it.

In Linford With a Leica

Today, for once it wasn’t cold and it wasn’t raining. I grabbed the Leica Digilux 2 and the family (in that order) and went for a walk around the grounds of Linford House. A very lucky couple had chosen the same time to get married in the Church there, so we didn’t stay and intrude too much. I grabbed a few shots with the aim of converting them to black and white just to see what they looked like. I am still learning, but am quite pleased with the results. Lucky me also managed to cadge a Leica M6 for the day, but I will have to wait for the film to be processed to see what I have there.

Linford House. With an infra redish look.

Thunderbirds Are Go!

Ooky, yes,  but also very photogenic.

A splash of colour.

Astraware Casino

You may know how much I love Astraware’s games for Pocket PC. Smartphone and Palm OS. I just treated myself to a copy of their “Casino”. The pack actually comprises quite a few Vegas style games, BlackJack, Poker, Roulette, Craps (excuse me) and the old one armed banditos. Astraware’s games are always a joy to look at and the game play quite satisfying, I have never played Roulette before, I love watching the little wheel spin (little things please my little mind). As with all their games, Astraware have trial versions available for download before you buy. Astraware.com.

Astraware Casino = Good Fun

(Picture from Astraware’s as I can’t figure out how to take screenshots off the TyTn)

SkypeIn SkypeOut Shake It All About

I have been a long time user of Skype, it was one of the reasons I found the 3 Skypephone so attractive. However, that wasn’t to be. Actually being able to use my TyTn allows me to use more of the the Skype services on the move. I can connect via WiFi and use SkypeIn and SkypeOut, something the Skypephone couldn’t do.

I was about to top up my SkypePro account today and found that the pricing has changed. Now you can go Pay As You Go (similar to the previous rates) or you can subscribe to their monthly packages which give you up to 10.000 free landline minutes a month, voicemail and a SkypeIn number. Prices start at £2.24 in the UK. The SkypeIn number, (which you may already know is a proper landline number you can be called on at cheaper rates than say a mobile, or international number) would previously have cost £30 odd a year alone. So for me this new tarif is a money saver, both as a caller and callee (my friends can use their free mobile to landline minutes to contact me). Check out Skype.com for more info

Rumours abound that Skype is about to be sold off by eBay and maybe their newer more attractive tarif will boost the user numbers and company value. I, of course, couldn’t possibly comment……..

TATLUAE - TaTa For Now

Well I did say I was a slow reader. Yes, finally, I have finished “The Answer” by local MK author Andy Bacon. Before I started to read, I would have said I wasn’t an enthusiastic fan of SciFi. I do like Futurama (far better than the Simpsons, Futurama made me blub, not once but twice. You know the episodes, Fry’s fossilised dog and Fry’s Lucky Clover) And also “Red Dwarf”, more of which later.

Anyway, I digress. I thought the book got off to slow start, but I realise that was because I wasn’t really in a proper SciFi mood. However, I soon found myself drawn into the story of K, a sort of “First Contact” biologist who has been deployed to a distant planet, home of a long dead but very advanced civilisation. The main distinctive feature of the planet is a huge diamond shaped structure reaching from the surface to the outer atmosphere. This is “The Chun”. The monolith’s purpose is unclear at first, but as the story progresses we learn a little more.

Unfortunately for K, the planet holds a secret, One, which the Rogue Nation and evil commander “The Marth” (an utter barbarian of the first water) aims to use to their very great advantage, and the universe’s greater suffering.

Having raced to the end of the book, I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed it. I liked the rich seam of very dark humour running through it (it will make you think twice about going for a poop in the woods, at least) It does have so much of “Red Dwarf” flavour about it that I can highly recommend “The Answer” to any fan of that sort of silly but dark stuff. There is violence and gore aplenty in a “Shaun of the Dead” manner. The ending is quite touching, with no doubt that this needs at least one sequel. I am glad to say that I am looking forward to it.

A Brief Encounter

It only lasted 8 days, but the affair is definitely over. I turned the Skypephone on this morning to find the flashing screen of death (the Three logo on, now off, now on, you get the idea)

I took it back to the store where the sales staff didn’t seem particularly surprised. They offered me an exchange but once bitten…… I got a refund. When I got home from the store I thought it best to change all my passwords at MSN, Skype etc, just in case the phone is ever resurrected (better safe than sorry).

I kept the 3 sim because I had all my contacts on it, but what to do with it? I remembered my TyTn languishing in a draw and tried the sim in that. Success. I fiddled with the internet, voicemail, and mms settings and they all work OK.

So today I went ahead and ported my precious number over to Three, I can always move again if it all ends in tears.