Second Shot

Those with a keen eye may have spotted a link within my Blogroll menu to my upcoming ‘Round London’ photography work. It’s been there a while, but for those who have checked it before, go there now. Better yet, save yourself the trouble and grab the RSS link.

I’ve finally managed to throw on some photos up there and am hoping to get things moving steadily whilst the summer’s coming. Seems to be a short window of opportunity this year, but as soon as I stop caring about my new camera I’ll start snapping out in the rain.

Get your tip-tappy fingers out for some comments and suggestions on places to capture.

Last Friday was Gary’s last day at work.  It’s been a long time coming but I think he’s pretty glad he’ll never again have to make that arduous journey into Hammersmith, at least in the immediate future.  If you get a chance to work with him, then take that opportunity - you’ll regret it otherwise.

The pub and karaoke was on the cards, and it was definitely an enjoyable belting match between us all.  So here’s to him, his impressions, his wit, his down-right no-holds-barred humour, and his sincerity.

Take care, and will see you around.

The Natural History Museum is hosting a rather lovely exhibition called the Shell Wildlife Photographer of the Year (2007).  Fair enough, it’s been going on since October last year but it wasn’t until a work mate said it was worth visiting that I actually knew anything about it.  And for those that know me, I like a bit of photography.  (It finishes on 27th April, so not long left!)

The exhibition hosts a number of spectacular nature-based photographs from various parts of the world.  And interestingly, the photographers did not necessarily come from those countries.  In fact, there were a good number of UK camera users who seem well-travelled and, indeed, well-versed in the art of composition and the getting the most out of their equipment.

The majority of the categories covered some form of animal/mammal/moving-living-thing, although there were some decent scenic shots to see.  However, the best of the best were to be found within the former categories, showing off the skills and keen eye required to be nominated, highly recommended, and be a winner.  The real good thing is that they don’t just show first, second and third places, but highlight six of the best (including the winner).

Each photograph was vividly displayed on their own monitor; there was soothing subtle background music; and the classic Englishness of people queuing and slowly shuffling from one photo to the next - it all made for something quite homely and a really nice way to spend an hour looking at others’ hardwork.  Looking at a selection from a website on a small PC monitor is not quite the same - and in fact, those on the Natural History Museum’s website don’t do the artists any justice; the displays are much bigger, clearer and more colourful.

Could I choose a favourite?  Difficult one, that.  Maybe.  There were a good few that were endearing and really made me smile - and those that did were ones that I could look at for ages and a day.  But I think the most striking for me was Encounter - in a single word, ’seductive’.

I missed the GMTV ’special’ of “Life Isn’t Fair: presented by Heather Mills” - primarily because I was working (unlike some stupid bint).  But with the power of the internet, I can now join the many others in the water-cooler conversation of last year (part 1&2 and part 3).

Except I won’t be doing such a thing because that would be crazy.  Just knowing that Heather Mills had a ranting session on live TV about how the media pushed her ”close to suicide” just to keep Beatrice [her and Paul McCartney’s child] safe makes me instantly think ‘freak’.  For fuck’s sake, she even started to cry!  I seriously cannot think of a worse way to portray yourself whilst the whole point of coming onto TV was to defend yourself.  You are asking for trouble.  And at least try to speak at a level that humans can hear.

Some classic lines from the transcript (all from Ms Mills, of course) include:

[In response to using the press] “When did I act for anything? They’ll always say ‘publicity seeker’.”
Well, you are the one who asked to go onto GMTV; whether or not it was to make matters clear, you standing in front of cameras all the time doesn’t bode well.

[In response to divorce case settlement] “I have been offered nothing OK? Nothing! We go to court over my daughter. I’m not allowed to talk about it because it’s a criminal act if I talk about my daughter.”
Fair enough, but then you don’t want to be saying this afterwards…

[In response to wanting a divorce clause to sell her story] “It’s rubbish! I could sell my story right now!  I’m trying to protect Paul and our daughter.”
…Because that really does make you look like “a whore, a gold-digger, a fantasist, a liar” (her words, not mine).

And, in fact, for those who have followed the recent resolution of the ‘Macca vs Mucca’ case will notice the reoccurrence of the penultimate adjective; I wonder if Mr Justice Bennett watched that GMTV interview too.

And so, Heather’s apparent claim for £125m settlement fell on deaf ears as the judge awarded £25m (of which £16m will be cash, £7m in assets and £2m for a London home; all of which will be her’s and her’s alone) and £30,000 a year for young Beatrice.  Mind you, the latter of which Mills will probably take and use for herself anyway, seeing as their child is only four years old or so.  And for why Mills needs to have Beatrice fly A-class is beyond me (if I remember correctly from the post-case, high-pitched ’emotional’ news interview, outside of the High Court - of course, I can’t be arsed to check my facts, but there is a video clip for you to watch); obviously economy- or busines-class ain’t good enough for them.  Now that’s a money-grabbing statement if I ever heard one.  (And why can’t she take a leaf out of Paul’s book and not make any more statements about the case?  Media-attention-grabbing fool, that she is.)

And now, I guess that’s all we’ll hear from the stupid, mad cow until she pipes up again about not having enough money to buy edible, gold-plated cakes, or that she wants to new Leg-o-matic Series 2300, etc. etc.  People say that for all the fuss she’s made it will take two years for her career to get back on track, and whilst that’s happening Paul will be on tour (sorry for the Daily Mail link) funding this undesired, but probably grateful, expenditure.

Next celebrity divorce, please.

There aren’t a lot of things that make me well up inside (ah, I’m such a softy) but hearing the good that friends do is one of them.

Having run the Bath Half Marathon last year as the much-loved Elvis, Darren decided to have another crack this year with his running partner, Enid.  And shaving six minutes off last year’s attempt clearly shows some determination.

I’ve just noticed that I hadn’t sponsored last year (although I thought I had), so I’ll be doing so this year - and if you want, you can too (don’t forget to say ‘yes’ to Gift Aid).  Although I’m usually careful of who I sponsor, when it’s someone you know and worked closely with at Uni there’s no reason not to.

You’ll probably never read this Darren, but a belated well done to you (or should that be to Enid!) and hope you’ll do the same next year.  More than anything, it’ll be great to see what you wear next time.