28/10/2011 by Aileen.

I’ve discovered Adobe Illustrator. I bought it as a package deal along with Dreamweaver etc. when I got my student’s card, but although I began doing tutorials every so often I gave up. But I get a regular email with Adobe news on it, and it has projects every time. Well, it had a step-by-step tutorial on making a spider and web for Halloween (the saints would turn in their grave) and I stuck to it. I turned it into a .png file so I could upload it on to Second Life, and here it is. Not perfect but a start. Oops. This blog doesn’t support transparencies, so I’ve had to turn it into a .jpg so it will show up on here. The spaces between the web strands are actually transparent, and this means you can see through them on Second Life. I’ve covered the front of my house with an enormous web.

Bye. I didn’t do much yesterday except play on the computer, so action stations today.

Posted in Uncategorized | Print | No Comments »

26/10/2011 by Aileen.

First the birds are enticed into a large netted area.

They are then put into bags and taken inside for weighing and ringing.

Within minutes they are set free through a hatch in the wall.

 We saw a goldcrest being ringed.

We also saw a robin, blackbird, redpoll and lots of tree sparrows being ringed.

‘We’ were all birders who had signed up for seeing members of the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust ringing birds at Spurn Point. We’ve been there before, and I’ve also been there with Viewfinders, but it’s never been so crowded. We think it was a mixture of lovely weather, half term, and Autumn Watch. Because of the crowds we didn’t see many waders on the beach, and there was no chance of seeing the firecrest that was reported first thing in the morning, but we had fantastic views of the black redstart. In fact, two black redstarts. Here are a few more photos - memories of a lovely day.

Posted in birds | Print | No Comments »

24/10/2011 by Aileen.

Here we are again. Monday. You know what’s coming. Plans, plans and more plans. There are so many lovely things to do. I can’t do them all. Not in a day or a week. This is where Simon Covey comes in. (He wrote 7 Habits of Highly Effective People) He starts by saying you have to have your important long term goals in mind. Your value system will decide this. For example, I might want to be the most beautiful woman in the world, so I would keep this long term goal in mind and everything I decide to do would work towards this goal. It sort of implies a mission statement. (Don’t think Covey advocated this, but I might be wrong - it’s a long time since I read it). The mission statement idea, as well as being everyhere in the business and academic world, is from Ira Progoff’s book on Intensive Journalling. I combine lots of things I come across. And these two books I’ve really taken on board.

So what I’m saying is I need to look back at my basic values, and decide what to do today. I’m running out of time, actually. I got up late, faffed around on t’internet, and it’s now 09.50 and I’m not even showered. So First Things First (another book by Covey)I’m going to shower.

Bye.

Posted in Uncategorized | Print | No Comments »

13/10/2011 by Aileen.

I couldn’t get on to this blog for a few days. All of a sudden I wanted to post lots! I emailed my provider, and they emailed back that I had to ring them (cheek) so I rang today, and I could hardly hear the woman. Right, I know I’m going deaf, but it was the line, not me. In the end I asked her to email me with what she/I should do. I was getting annoyed just now, because there was no email from her, but then I checked here, and lo and behold, I could log on.

But now I have nothing to say!

Well, I have. I’m really enjoying my new OU course,  A230, Reading and Studying Literature. At the moment we’re looking at Othello and the Duchess of Malfi, and the first TMA is a close text analysis of part of the wooing scene in DOM. Looks quite easy, famous last words. Well, it’s Level 2, and my last two courses were Level 3, so there should be a difference.

Didn’t go to Viewfinders on Monday evening. We were going to Hull Fair and I’ve been there for the past two years. It was raining, and I didn’t think I’d get anything very different, unless, perhaps, some people shots.

Went to WI on Tuesday, and brought along two photos for the WI East Riding Wild LIfe calendar, and a knitted teddy for a charity. We heard a really good talk with slides, on the Kingdom of Jordan. Fascinating.

Wednesday. Still raining, so we Birders went to Tophill Low as there are several hides there. Great prolonged view of the kingfisher. I know where the otter is likely to appear, and I know where the ospreys’ nesting platform is.

Today, went with John to the dentist. He was so disappointed that his temporary plate wasn’t ready. He’s got three teeth missing at the moment, as he wants implants, rather than a permanent plate. Also today I’ve been tidying up and getting washing done, as on Saturday Chris and Nigel are stopping for lunch on their way up to Northumberland, and later Ali and the boys, with ALis’s friend, Lorraine, and her newly adopted son, Matthew are coming for the weekend. The boys are staying for the week as it’s their half term. Tonoght I need to iron, plan menu for weekend, and write my homework for Creative Writing tomorrow. I also need to update church website and camera website, but might leave that until tomorrow.

Tomorrow, Creative Writing, and then I’m going to treat myself to a weekend shop at Waitrose for our guests. Think we’ll deserve a nice red wine tomorrow evening.

Well, it’s nice to be back.See y’all.

Posted in Uncategorized | Print | No Comments »

03/10/2011 by Aileen.

Not been posting lately. Naughty Aileen.

Well, last week we had a few days away, incorporating Olivia’s baptism. The Sunday was a lovely day. Unfortunately my zoom lens was broken, and I didn’t bring my 400m prime (wouldn’t have needed it anyway) so was confined to my macro lens. Hence all the photos are close-ups. Here are a few.

Lots of other things happening now the new term has started. Won’t write now. Lots to do - of the housewifely kind.

Posted in Uncategorized | Print | No Comments »