We’ve got a few trips planned this year, and are already planning ahead for where we are venturing off to in 2026. This last year 2024/25 we took things slow and stayed at home as our dog Alf was unwell and we knew he wouldn’t be with us a great deal longer, so we decided to forfeit time away to spend quality time with him, and I’m glad we did. Sadly he left us in August of last year and since then the only trip away overseas we have had since, was when we went to Iceland in February of this year.
Alfs last holiday in Devon with us, he could hardly walk
We have had two or three further breaks away, in the UK and thoroughly enjoyed them, and I think the following year will contain a few more trips away such as those, we have a beautiful country here with so much to see that at present is unseen to our eyes, so I do think a number of our future breaks will be closer to home.
Devon
However, that said we are off to somewhere completely different and alien to us this year, that we are kind of looking forward to but not really sure what to expect. We are off to the island of Madeira. Now fortunately we are visiting with a cousin who just so happens to be married to a Portuguese national, so there will be no barriers as such and we do at least have someone with us who knows the island, and that can only be a bonus.
Then come February next year we are returning to Iceland to venture further around the island, we love this place and we are now getting to see things off the beaten track as they say.
Iceland
Later next year we will be returning to our favourite place on the planet after a hiatus of two years. Cyprus. Southern Cyprus to be precise. It’s a home from home, and the locals in the remote part that we go to, are more like friends to us. I just can’t wait.
Our little home away from home in Cyprus
There will no doubt be days and weekends away interspersed with all of the above, and they will be most welcome breaks to get us both, (especially me) away from the drudgery of shift work.
My dream of retirement sits just over the horizon and hopefully the next few years will bring that dream to fruition.
Now I’m not going to go on saying what should and shouldn’t be done as I’d only come across as another whingeing old fart. You’d kind of expect in this day and age that everyone would have a sense of what’s good and what’s not, just as we had back in the day. We were mirrors if you like, of the way our parents were brought up and we learned what was good and bad from them. They weren’t always right and sometimes you just had to make minor adjustments to your life to filter out these “not so good” bits of advice and actions.
Anger
See, as you grow you develop your own ideas and definitions of what’s right and wrong. But not everyone is the same, as I’m sure you are all aware.
Everyday the news brings us absolutely awful stories of horror, regarding the way individuals as well as groups treat others, it really is so sad and soul destroying, the depths of depravity fellow humans can sink to. How do they learn this behaviour? Why do they behave in such a way? How do we rid society of this behaviour?
These are questions that have more than likely been asked throughout every generation. It’s always been that way. Horrifying incidents have occurred throughout history and today’s atrocities are no different.
Throughout history it’s been politics and religion, that have been the cause of the majority of issues on this planet, and that is still the case today, but there seems to be no room for bargaining as one side is always right and the other always wrong. That’s how it appears to the outsider looking in.
Now I rarely talk of either, and I’m not going to go into it here, I know that having a discussion regarding either is just like throwing a naked flame into a box of fire crackers and I’m not doing that. I’m just stating the obvious.
I have my views on both and they are private views. I don’t even discuss them with family. I have my faith and that is all that matters.
Modern society seems to have a large vein running through it that often appears to rupture. That vein is anger. You can walk into any town centre and you can just see it, you can feel it, and on some occasions you are subjected to it. Everyone seems so angry.
Mix that together with the two subjects mentioned above and you have a recipe for disaster where large proportions of the population now become targets of extreme hate. Yes the worst word in the world, and one I refuse to use at all has now crept in. Hate. Hate is an awful word, it’s so inflammatory and filled with anger. Please try not to use it, hate is so terminal with no wriggle room. Whereas you can always work with a dislike of something.
My father did awful things to us as a family, that I have touched on in previous posts. I don’t hate him. I dislike and disagree of what he did, but to hate him in my eyes, is just like allowing him to win, and I’m never letting him do that. Even in death he still controls us through what he did to us mentally, but he will never win, I will not allow that.
So if there was one thing I could change in modern society it would probably be getting a hold on Anger somehow. There’s a lot of it about and it is a cancer living amongst us that needs to be eradicated as soon as possible. How? I don’t know, that’s way above my pay grade, but we can all make a start by removing hatred from our own lives. We just don’t need it.
As a child of the 60s, Tv was very much still in its infancy and has never really had a hold on me. To this day I watch very little Tv whereas my wife is the total opposite, and all those Tv subscriptions really add up.
I however prefer the radio, always have done and always will do, you can take the Tv away and I truly would not miss it for a single second.
I was brought up on radio, the excitement of owning your very own transistor radio that went everywhere with you. In bed late at night listening to those old sports broadcasts as well as walking the streets with it permanently held to your ear listening to your favourite channel, way before Walkmans and MP3 players got in on the act.
The radio I always have on in my workspace
I learnt about radio at an early age, how it worked, who invented it as well as participating in its experimental usage as I grew up, I even took the RAE exam and got my City and guilds qualification in radio, I became a radio Amateur and the experimentation went up a few notches. I think this is where my fascination in repairing all these devices comes from, an incessant, absolute thirst for knowledge and a fascination in just knowing how things work.
I sit in my little work area and have a simple radio I recently repaired, set on my station of choice, and in the Uk that is “Boom radio”. It plays my type of music and still has familiar DJs I grew up with as a child, I’m stuck in a fantastical time warp.
Radio, I use it all the time, and to me it will always be the premier medium of entertainment that i will always turn to.
I don’t have the best diet in the world, but I know what I like, and I like pretty much anything that’s put in front of me. I’m not a fussy eater and personally I think the wife struck lucky with me, as she can put anything in front of me and I will just eat it, no complaints, I’m just grateful for whatever I get to eat. Many others are not so fortunate.
However my downfall is biscuits. At work they call me the “Cookie Monster” and even brought me a tee shirt to clarify that fact.
The shirt
I look after the biscuit barrels at work, yes there are two of them to ensure proper biscuit etiquette is observed at all times. On one occasion a colleague mixed in a packet of Ginger nuts with the Bourbons, custard creams and digestives, and I must admit I suitably chastised him to make him understand the error of his ways. He wouldn’t do it again. They now all know the process that is in place.
One does not mix ginger nuts with “standard” biscuits.
The ginger nuts now have their own tin. Don’t get me wrong, i love ginger nuts, but don’t wish to eat another specific, wonderfully flavoured biscuit with the added taste of ginger. Ok it’s Gingerism I guess, but this kind of behaviour shouldn’t be tolerated 😂
You see, I take my go to food obsession to another level, I can’t help it I just love biscuits! 🍪
My dear brother John succumbed to the “Bastard” that is Cancer ten years ago.
He was a lovely guy, fun to be with and the family compared him to a character who used to be on UK television called “Arthur Daley”. Anyone who knew that character would know why we made the comparison with John, as he’d be involved in everything all totally Kosher of course….cough,cough.
A decision was made at his wake that we’d have a family day, once a year at one of his favourite spots, Cassiobury park in Watford. And yesterday was the tenth anniversary meeting, it was a lovely day, however the weather didn’t really behave itself. Despite Watford have plus 30 degree days for getting on for a week now, yesterday the rain decided to hit in near biblical quantities. But did it dampen the day? No, we all had a great time and it was great to see everyone.
Cassiobury park in Watford
I lived for 54 years in Watford and never really liked the place, I really dislike going there but sometimes you just do what you have to do. It’s no big sacrifice is it? But there is no doubt about it that the park at Cassiobury is one of the finest, most beautiful public spaces I have ever visited in this country, it really is a stunning well kept and huge piece of parkland that you really should visit if you are ever in the area.
The normal agenda is for us all to meet at a local hotel and then wander off to the park with a picnic, seats and numerous bats, balls, frisbees and whatever, to have a good afternoon of laughter and sporting activity, that normally results in aches, pains and strains for the older participants that I can truly relate to as I write this post this morning.
There were 21 of us on this on this occasion, from all around the country, Southampton, Leeds, Wales and everywhere else in between. It really was a superb turnout and just shows how much John was loved.
A good turnout, the weather held out for a while
I often like to have a wander, and as I previously stated it’s a massive park and deserves to be explored so here are a few pics to show it off
A lovely clean park
About 5pm the weather was drawing in and we decided to move out of the park, however we weren’t quick enough, the rain hit – heavy, and we were caught out. Thankfully we had some umbrellas ☔️ and we made our way back towards the hotel. Myself and my wife were bringing up the rear and we stopped under a tree, in the park and just watched the rain. It was beautiful, a calm and lovely moment in a world of total chaos, the only two people in our own little world, it was just one of those photographic moments that your mind creates for future reference.
The rain hit, and created a beautiful memory
Back to the hotel to dry off, and then we were out to a local eatery for a meal, 21 people into a restaurant is a feat of organisation itself, and thanks go to the ladies in the group for doing that without a hitch.
We left Watford about 10pm for a drive back to the East Midlands, we said our goodbyes, made arrangement for a couple of other gatherings that are on the horizon, and had probably our best run home up the motorway that we’d had in many a year.
A superb day was had by all, it reminds me of a picture that was displayed at Johns funeral that made everyone laugh.
Says it all
Sums him up perfectly and had everyone who knew him smiling and grinning whilst nodding in agreement. It was him. And this is how we remember him.
We have a date for next years gathering, and I can’t wait.
Memories, there is nothing like creating wonderful memories. People may physically be gone from our lives, but they are never, ever, forgotten.
What’s your favorite game (card, board, video, etc.)? Why?
For me my favourite board game has always been Monopoly. Over the years I have had numerous versions and this is what I like about the game, it has developed and changed with time.
The old original game will always be the best version, but I like how the makers have also created regional versions or versions that use a credit card payment system, there are so many versions out there.
I currently have two versions at home and that is one based around the city of Leicester, as well as a version that incorporates electronic banking – yes you get your own credit card!
The Leicester edition
Electronic banking edition
I know a lot of people don’t like this game just because the time it takes, and sometimes people get so frustrated with it that you often see them “flipping the board” in anger and frustration. We have none of that here and it has been known for the wife and I to have a game go on so long that we’ve stopped one evening to continue it the next day. It’s a game that the wife and I really enjoy. We’ve also both been known to play the online version, against others around the world with varying degrees of success.
Other games we really enjoy are plain old card games and a good session of darts in the garden “Pub”
Darts
Why do we enjoy it? Because it’s fun and a wonderful way to spend some quality time together, and to switch off from all the other nonsense going on in the world. It’s lovely at home when things are getting a bit hectic to just say, “Fancy a game of darts” and then off we go. It’s a great break from the norm and something else to give your attention to for a few hours. And who doesn’t like a bit of friendly rivalry?
I like games. They are a superb way to break the ice and relax. Something we all need in today’s manic world.
Nikon Nikkor 28-100mm Zoom Auto Focus Lens F3.5-5.6 G
It will autofocus with: Df-D1-D1x-D1H-D2-D2x-D2xs-D3-D3x-D3S-D50-D70-D70s-D80-D90-D7000-D100-D200-D300-D300s-D600-D610-D700-D750-D780-D800-D810-D850-D7000-D7100-D7200-D7500 & Fuji S1, S2, S3,S5
This lens will not autofocus with : D40-D40x-D60-D3000-D3100-D3200-D3300-D3500-D3600-D5000-D5100-D5200-D5300-D5500-D5600 as these cameras do not have integrated autofocus motors in their bodies, but it will still work with manual focus and auto exposure as it has a “chip” mount.
It will also work Nikon 35mm AF film cameras: F80, F90/90x, F75, F70, F65, F60, F55, F50, F80, F90/90x, F101, F100, F401.
Comes with front / rear lens caps
EBay
Anyone that has followed my recent repair of the camera: Fujifilm Finepix S2 Pro will be aware that I purchased a lens as a test lens for working on some stock that required a Nikon mount. I went cheap and purchased a lens that was so badly affected with lens fungus that it will require a deep clean and some TLC. Anyway, it allowed me to test electrical contacts and all the menus, and that was about it, it served a purpose there, but taking a picture was like looking into a deep fog, it was hopeless. Anyway that lens is now set aside and will become one of those projects to dig into on a long winter evening…or two, or three.
As I have a number of Nikon based cameras needing assessment on the horizon, some with sensor issues, i have made the decision to pay a little more for some quality, from a company called AP photographic who specialise in quality used equipment, a company that is based close to where i used to live down in the south. This Lens has cost me £58:95GBP including postage, a fair but good price for some peace of mind. This post will not be a repair post as there is nothing wrong with this lens, it will be more of an assessment of the lens when used with the Fuji S2 pro i featured in a previous post.
Nikon Nikkor 28-100mm Zoom Auto Focus Lens F3.5-5.6
I’ve put this post up to show the difference in the pictures taken on the S2 with both the old lens as well as this lens. I think the results will show quite a noticeable contrast and confirm just how restrictive a lens is when it is infected with a fungus problem.
Assessment:
The lens has arrived
The lens arrived within a couple of days and is in perfect condition. It has a lens cap and bayonet cap so is perfectly protected against dust dirt and damage from foreign objects. And when the lens cover is removed there is another little surprise, a post it note saying “Filter is a free gift” that just happens to be attached to a daylight filter. Nice little touch 👌
Nice touch
Lens is a perfect fit, no aperture ring on it as it is fully automatic, full autofocus. I’m not sure how the flash will work with this lens though when I use the Fuji S2 Pro, as that body works best with a fully closed lens aperture, but I’m sure I’ll be able to work it all out and get it functioning as it should. And I did, i played with the Aperture settings in “A” mode and it works just fine. It’s faultless.
Attached to the Fuji S2 Pro
That said on the S2 it not only looks good, it takes good pictures. Compared to the lens I last used this one is crystal clear, not a bit of fungus no aberrations and not a speck of dirt. This is a good lens and will serve me well for the purpose of testing other equipment I have awaiting attention. I think I’ve purchased a good example here.
Result:
I can confirm that the Fuji S2 Pro does not have a thing wrong with it and is working perfectly. All modes, all conditions are performed just as they should be. This lens is gorgeous as it is so clear and has been so well looked after. I believe this whole unit will be the one I wander about with when i go out on my walks. I can’t wait to take some serious photos to post.
A quick comparison fungus lens v clear lens as seen on the camera LCD screen
I took some pictures just randomly around the home setting with the old lens to show how foggy things were with the lens fungus. I have tried to take some more photos of the same locations with the new lens as well to just show how they compare and these can be seen in the pictures grouped below.
Before and after pictures, what a difference the fungus has had on the results.
All these pictures are on an old CF card so it is a bit of a palaver to get them on to new technology, but it is doable, it just takes a little time, and this gadget allows me to load numerous card types even the CF cards direct to my iPhone via a lightning connector. It also has a USB-C connector for other phones. It works really well as you can see in all the pictures in this post.
Multiple media cards direct to my iPhone
And below are a few random photos taken on the S2, it has a good black and white mode but is quite heavy on contrast. Post editing would probably be recommended, but to be honest I really love its moody appearance.
4 random photos in and around the house. And Tabs the feral cat popped by
This camera and this lens have proved fantastic. I know you can get far superior picture sizes and quality on a basic mobile phone, but where the heck is the fun in that? This camera cost me £8:00GBP. Just £8:00. And it is a superb camera that will be going on many trips with me as I just love it and how it looks. I now know it intimately after reading up on it and testing it, and cannot wait to put that knowledge to use.
Cameras are better than mobile phones. Old ones like this are fun, and an absolute privilege to use. It’s not all about the Megapixels, just remember these old cameras were the ones taking high quality professional pictures back in their day. Just because time moves on, and just like an elderly old lady or gentleman, they should not be discarded because they no longer serve a purpose. Respect the older technology, learn from it and you will ultimately become a wiser person yourself. Oldies rule! Never forget it. 👊
Thank you so much for passing by. It’s always very much appreciated.
ALL ITEMS IN THIS LISTING ARE FAULTY FAULTS MAY VARY BETWEENS ITEMS
SOLD AS IS
NO RETURNS
EBay
Fujifilm Finepix S8000fd
I’ve purchased three cameras as a job lot in an auction. All of them have issues but the issues have not been clarified. This is very much a “Suck it and see” auction where I get what I’m given. I’ve paid £24:22GBP for all three and that includes free postage. I’ve purchased from this seller before who is a bonafide Camera business based in South Wales. He has no time for faulty items though, quick in and out is his way of working, no time to fix stuff. I’ve got three good cameras in this bundle and this works out at just about £8:00GBP per camera. And where can you get cameras like this for those prices nowadays.
I really don’t know what the specific issues are with this camera, only that it appears to have the mode selector dial missing from its top. I guess we will just have to wait it’s arrival for a full assessment. In the meantime here is a little bit about it.
With the release of the FinePix S8000fd, Fujifilm brings to market a smart-looking digicam with an 8-megapixel imager, one of the longest zoom lenses in the market plus a compact, and relatively light, camera body. The cheapest of three similarly featured long zoom cameras in the current market (see table below for a feature comparison), the S8000fd has the distinction of being able to use both xD-Picture Card and SD cards (including SHDC), which are fitted in a single dual-format slot. Release date July 2007.
Photo review newsletter
Assessment:
Well, to be honest, for potentially the worst camera in the box of the three that were purchased, it works just fine. Apart from that missing mode selector dial on the top of the camera. You have to use a pair of tweezers to get each mode to appear, but they are all there and the zoom and flash all work and it takes pictures fine, just as it should.
Tidy unit – workingFlash operates All menus available Mode dial – missing
Apart from the issue with the dial, all that is really needed is a little clean up, and even that isn’t that bad.
It does not justify being used as spares and is far too good to just be disposed of. I’m going to try and repair this.
What a bonus!
A little bonus was that there was a 1Gb SD card in the memory slot that works. There were also 4 rechargeable batteries in the camera that after a while on my charger, have fully recharged, and this makes the deal an even better one and quite a bargain to be honest with you.
Repair:
I’ve tested all systems, menus and functions on this camera and there really is nothing else wrong with it. It’s far too good to be used as a spares camera and deserves to be repaired.
Missing mode selector dial
I have two options here, either buy the mode selector dial on its own from our friends in China, or buy another donor camera in a far worse state and available for about the same price as getting the dial from China. I just have to wait for that donor camera to first become available. I’ll give it a couple of weeks and if nothing comes up then China it is.
In preparation for whatever route I decide to take, I’ve decided to do some prep on the old camera and get the old selector dial mechanism taken out ready for the new dial to be put in place.
I’ve dismantled the camera unit to be able to access what is left of the mode dial switch.
Back is off Switch unit and ribbon cableSwitch removed It’s basically a two piece potentiometer type setup
This wasn’t too awkward to dismantle, half a dozen screws and a small plastic prise tool was all that was required to reach this point. There was some protectorate covering the metal frame of the switch housing that was contained by four tiny screws. Once this was loosened the housing came away and I was able to remove what was left of the old mode dial that had originally been in place. There wasn’t a lot left.
Remains of previous dial
The camera now sits in this position of being dismantled whilst I source a new dial to replace. As stated I have two options of buying a new dial either from China, or by getting a damaged camera as a spares source, and I’m currently looking at the latter as this could be purchased for about the same price as the dial from China, and would allow me a few more spares.
I’ve purchased another unit as a donor. The unit in question has a damaged LCD screen. I’m going to use that camera as a donor for the mode dial I require.
The donor camera has arrived. And to be honest it looks ok. It has been dropped at some time as the lens has a scratch on it, and the Rear LCD screen is damaged. That’s about it.
A good looking donor camera, the only issue being the damaged LCD screen
I’ve taken some pictures with this unit and the camera is working fine, as you can still view pictures you have taken through the viewfinder. It works ok, but I need this mode switch to fix another camera, so i’ll probably just use what remains as spare parts due to that scratch on the lens.
Let’s get the donor camera disassembled to harvest that mode switch.
There are only about six screws to get the back of the camera taken from the body, you just have to be careful not to damage the ribbon cable that is connected to the mode dial assembly that we are going to use today.
The two cameras, and the mode dial assembly we need to fix the original camera
I did all the disassembly of the original camera to save time, and it took about 5 minutes to get the donor camera stripped down. Once inside there is some insulating material covering the switch assembly, this has to be removed but cannot be reused as it has lost its adhesion. When reassembled I have used electrical Kapton tape to replace the original insulation. This has worked just fine.
New Kapton tape insulation
Assembly involves checking that the button settings relate to the markings on the camera body, this is important at this stage as the last thing you want to do is reassemble the camera to find out that you have the dial in the wrong setup. Do it now and save time and reduce the possibility of damaging the connectors and body clips.
Before and after
Result:
We have a beautifully restored and working and fully functional bridge camera that takes good snapshot photos. It’s not high end, it’s very much a learner camera but good at documenting what’s going on around you. Its mode dial that was missing is now working fine. A little polish and it has come up looking lovely cosmetically. it’s a good little unit.
The camera has come up lovely and is now complete and fully operational
Here are a selection of snapshots from around the home just to prove it’s working as it should. Nothing special, it just does what it was always built to do. Take snap shots.
It works. I’m happy. And another camera has been saved from landfill.
Thank you for passing by, as always it’s most appreciated.
I must admit my wife and I have been loyal supporters of the dog breed of “Bichon-frise”, for the last 35 years, basically all of our married life. My wife and I first came across this beautiful breed of dog when we were first holidaying in Devonshire way back in the late 80s early 90s.
Our first – Muffin circa 1991
We were living in a small one bedroomed flat, and as a result of not being able to have children, we were looking at another option of being able to give love and attention to an animal that required our unwavering care. And to top it all this breed did not moult, it was kind of hypo allergenic and that was good as the last thing you want in a small home are loads of dog hairs, oh, and it would also be beneficial to my asthmatic conditions. It’s true to saywe really did our homework before getting our first dog.
Alf – our little fellah
We’ve had three of this breed accompanying us throughout our married life, Muffin, Digger and Alfie and they were all such beautiful little souls with such wonderful characteristics, each one different from each other but such wonderful company. We lost Alf about 11 months back due to illness and we still miss him so much, it’s raw. Is there a cure for a broken heart 💔
So in theory we are very much dog people. However….
When we purchased our current home we also inherited a Feral cat that we have named “Tabs”. Tabs was in all the original sale pictures but no one owned her, we brought her property and she still lives out there and guards it with an intensity that only ferals have. We were worried about how she’d get on with Alf, but he was so soft that they developed a lovely friendship, they got on so well.
Tabs – Feral cat
Tabs remains to this day, she still patrols her domain and allows us to live there. She’s fed and watered daily and is a major feature of our home now. We love her and remain very supportive of her, and are always worried for her welfare when she disappears for a day or two. But she knows we will always feed her so she is never gone long.
So we are also cat people. But for me it’s at a distance…as I’m allergic to them.
It doesn’t matter what you prefer to be honest, they all crave our love and attention and will always give you the same in return unconditionally. They deserve our love and we all become better people for having an animal to care for. It always amazes me how creatures from different species can become so dependent upon each other.
Pity some humans can’t treat those in their own species the same way.
There is no doubt about it, that when I get involved in anything, one thing is guaranteed and that is, that you are going to get nothing but a full commitment of time and attention from me.
My main problem is that sometimes I immerse myself so deep that I sometimes struggle to get back out of the situation. Sometimes it maybe just be a helping hand that is needed and not a full scale immersion, and that’s where I sometimes struggle to find the fine line, it’s a personal issue I have always had.
I’ve learned a few harsh lessons in the past where a helping hand was all that was needed. The people I have been helping were either more than capable at completing the task, or had people with them that would have benefited more from participating in the task, rather than having me jump in and take over. I think I have become more aware of this now and even though I always wish to see a task through to its conclusion, I reluctantly stand by and am instead happy to offer advice if necessary. I just find it hard to take that step back occasionally.
I’m generally a busy person, just of my own making. I may not appear busy to the person passing by, however my brain is in overdrive keeping me busy or working something out within.
So in conclusion I’d say that pretty much all activities make me lose track of time. In some people that would probably make them bad timekeepers I’d guess, however that is again a problem I do not have. I like to help, though I guess my help may not always be appreciated, I just like to get involved, and I can be relied on to be there on time.
It must be horrible to have a wasted lazy lifestyle, however I do appreciate this is not the way everyone operates.
Maybe I need to lose track of time more often, just taking it easy. But hey, that’s just not me I’m afraid.
Foxes Den 
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