As I’ve probably stated many times previously, I don’t watch a great deal of television or cinema. The last time I went to a cinema was on my 50th and that’s getting on for ten years ago now.
Most of the films I rate were what I viewed in my childhood and a number were influenced by what my parents liked to watch. As a sixties child a lot of those films were “War” based films as the 2nd World war had only ceased some 19 yrs before my arrival on the scene.
So here are 10 films (I may struggle to get that many) that feature in my top ten but in no particular order:
The Dam Busters
The great escape
The Glenn Miller story
Robin and the seven hoods
Priscilla Queen of the desert
The exorcist
American werewolf in London
Jaws
Close encounters of the third kind
Saturday night fever
Quite a range I’d say, and pretty much nothing falling within the last 20 years or so reflecting the fall from personal grace of this entertainment medium, in my personal point of view.
Now… make that a question about radio and I can go on, and on, and on….you get it 😂
A year ago today we lost our little dog Alf. It’s been a tough year and I must say time has not been a good healer, it’s as tough now as it was back then and he’s left a massive void in our family structure.
I’d say now that if you aren’t an animal lover then read no further. You wouldn’t understand.
However if you have a modicum of appreciation for a species that loves another being, unconditionally, then please read on.
Planning goals, now there is a conundrum if ever I heard one. If I really want / require / need something then there is a modicum of thought and planning that goes into it, otherwise most of my goals are on the fly as they say, whimsical to many and probably with no planning at all.
Things like holidays and breaks away are the wife’s domain and she does that most competently, I just pass some money her way when she needs it, so I don’t really get involved there.
Work
Personal goals for me are pretty much medium to long term and I don’t go over the top in achieving them according to any time scale. If they occur then that’s good, if not I’m not really that bothered. I have nothing planned that’s life changing or affirming, to be honest, I’m quite happy with my lot.
The only goal I’m really spending some time in planning is my pending retirement. It’s been on the cards for a couple of years now and will probably be a few more years yet, unless Lady Luck intervenes and allows me to close that door and enter through a new one any time soon. But even here I have no time scale, it will happen when it happens.
I guess this is why I am not a planner for my company as timelines and schedules are not really my thing as they say.
Things such as days out are always off the cuff, last minute, and here I am pretty good at putting together a last minute schedule. This is something I am good at, and ties in with my work. At work I’m always responding to issues that occur on the rail network and have to have a plan in place out of reactive necessity, not really having the pleasure of being able to draft a plan in advance of such a set of events.
Failed trains
That’s where i can excel, I guess that’s why I’ve been in this role for the last 25+ years, we have planners for the proactive stuff and I’m there for the reactive stuff, applying the big Elastoplast if you like. However, you always learn from these incidents and therefore fine tune activities accordingly, so if they ever occur again you can apply a different sticking plaster if you like. You learn and adapt, reactive response allows you to do that, you are not working to someone else’s plan, a plan that is just put together to satisfy auditors, and has not even been prepared by an experienced individual in the first place. Railway management is good at doing this, incompetence reigns supreme!
So in a nutshell my goals are pretty much reactive and get put into place as they occur. This is the same in my life outside of work and I guess this is a result of how I am at work. It can’t be all that bad as it seems to work well with me across all areas of my life.
So I’m not going to change just now, am I?
Here’s to that impending retirement, roll on I say.
Those who have read some of my past ramblings will know the issues we’ve had with our estate agents whilst our place is up for sale. Most of the time they are tour guides showing people around our home, these people having not the funds or any intention of purchasing. We’ve pulled them up on a number of occasions even threatening to talk to their governing body as they are so non-compliant in a number of ways that they conduct their business.
Today it has hit a comedic level.
“You might have a better chance of selling if you remove a sign from a shed in the garden”
I despair
I think they mean the shooting one that was brought by a friend when they went to Canada, however it could be the Leicester one, but that’s our local team.
Needless to say I have just completed a thoroughly enjoyable phone call, where in layman’s terms I’ve “Kicked their arses” a few times.
They are here doing another guided tour later today, and I’ve just been out and polished the sign so it really stands out 😂
They have also been given their two weeks notice of cancellation as to be honest, they are about as much use as an ashtray on a motorbike.
If you see me running, just run after me and try to overtake me. I’m running for a purpose😂
Other than that such a thing doesn’t exist for the majority of people.
I love the attitude of the Icelandic people, they live on an island that is forever changing due to volcanic and seismic activity but they have such a mañana attitude. They know their environment and they are constantly prepared to move on out, with pretty much no real panic or concern.
One lady I spoke to who makes lovely art using glass and volcanic ash said, “ if I was constantly worrying how would I even begin to enjoy life?” And she is right you know. What’s the point of worrying about something that hasn’t even happened yet and making yourself sick over it?
The ability to get away from an incident fairly quickly is probably the best advice I’d give. But then again what do I know?
I tell you what though, I won’t be losing sleep over it.
Now I’m not a Cat person as such and you are not going to find copious amounts of Cat pictures on my pages. However, tonight is different as I required a suitable model to just test the new camera, so here I introduce “Tabs”.
There is a story around Tabs, we purchased our current house about 8 yrs ago and she featured in all the pictures that the estate agents took of the garden. We thought she was the sellers cat but this is not so, she is a Feral soul, and this is in fact her territory and we have moved into it. It’s her property and not ours.
She chases all foxes and other cats from the garden and is an excellent mouser, she had a lovely relationship with our little dog that passed away last year, she likes the hedgehogs and she loves company.
But she will never enter the house, we have all doors wide open and she remains outside, she is more than likely a domestic cat that chose to go feral.
She is fed numerous times a day by us, it’s our way of paying her rent to use her garden. My new camera was purchased as an early present from my lovely wife, and needed a quick test, and Tabs was there in the garden mooching around as she wanted feeding. I therefore just rattled off a few shots to do some basic testing of the camera. I’m really happy with it, but there is still a lot to learn about it.
I guess this is quite easy, especially for me to answer, and I do suppose a lot of others out there will probably feel the same. I’ll read other comments later just to confirm this. But for me I’m pretty simplistic, for me it’s just two things, comfort and silence.
I know that makes me sound like I’m some kind of Monk in training but it’s not meant that way. I could have said solitude, but I like to have company, however when the occasion suits, solitude is good.
Local park
I find the company in choosing those I want to be with, those who know me and have similar likes and tastes to me. The silence/quiet/solitude aspect is what seals the peace, and to be in that position with the company you choose to be with is what truly brings me peace.
Part of my work environment
I’m a city dweller, I work in the city and the noise is 24hrs constant with no let up, I find peace in taking breaks away from that environment. Fortunately my work allows me to venture into some of the most beautiful parts of the countryside where I can find that peace, and as I work alone I also find that solitude. But that moment of solitude is often kept as a moment of time in my memory, to share at a later date with my loved ones, and so that perfect circle of finding and observing peace, starts again.
Wow. I’m a lucky cuss as Captain Sensible once sung.
The camera
Never really transitioning to digital photography properly, my dear lady wife took it upon herself to arrange an early birthday present for me after discussing technicalities with a photographer friend of ours. As I’m still stuck very much in the past with all my cameras (and anything else to be honest) they have decided to fully bring me over to the dark side and she has purchased me a full, mirrorless camera kit, yes the whole lot as a package apparently from someone similar to me, stuck in the past and not being able to master it. She’s brought me it as in her own words, “it was a bloody bargain, and I’d have been foolish to turn it down” so she thought of me and that was it. It’s a special birthday this year and she wanted to buy something special and this is it. She wanted me to have it now, as there is just too much of it to hide.
The full kit
It’s going to be a cracking setup allowing me to fully explore the large void I have regarding digital photography properly.
Here is what is included, an extract from the email between her and the seller:
A complete photography essentials bundle built around the superb Sony A7 II. Ideal for anyone seeking a high-quality full-frame mirrorless setup, whether upgrading or starting fresh, with everything needed to shoot immediately. All items were purchased new in 2023, barely used, and are in mint condition throughout. No scratches, scuffs, or marks. Everything has been stored with great care and is fully functioning. Included in the Bundle: – Sony A7 II Full-Frame Mirrorless Camera Body: Renowned for its incredible image quality, excellent dynamic range, and in-body stabilisation, the A7 II is perfect for serious photographers seeking a reliable, high-performance full-frame camera. ✅ Mint condition. – Sony OSS FE 28-70mm f/3.5-5.6 Zoom Lens: A versatile all-rounder lens, ideal for landscapes, portraits, and everyday photography. Equipped with Sony’s Optical SteadyShot stabilisation for sharper handheld shots. Includes Original lens cap and lens hood plus Spare lens cap and spare lens hood. ✅ Mint condition. – Samyang AF 35mm f/1.8 FE Prime Lens: A fast, sharp, and lightweight prime lens, perfect for portraits, street photography, and creative work in lower light thanks to its wide f/1.8 aperture. Includes: • Lens cap • Lens hood • Lens shell (protective sleeve) ✅ Mint condition. – Sony F20M Detachable Flash Gun: Compact and effective external flash gun to elevate your low-light photography. Includes Sony velvet drawstring storage pouch and Two AAA batteries. Note: The only minor point is the missing hot shoe cover on the Sony F20M flash gun — this does not affect performance. The flash can be stored safely either attached to the camera or in the provided Sony velvet pouch. ✅ near mint condition. – Cleaning Essentials: • Giottos Rocket Dust Blower — perfect for safely removing dust from lenses and camera sensors. • A handful of lens wipes for easy on-the-go cleaning. – Aodelan Wireless Remote Shutter Release Kit: Ideal for tripod work, long exposures, or remote shooting without touching the camera. Reliable wireless connection. Ideal for starry sky photography and taking solo selfies on a mountaintop! – K&F Concept 64-Inch Aluminium Ball Head Adjustable Tripod: Durable tripod with adjustable height and ball head for precise positioning. Suitable for travel and studio work. Angle and height of legs are adjustable independently of each other which is ideal when resting it on rocky or uneven terrain. It can also be used “upside down” to shoot handsfree at ground level. ✅ mint condition, never used. – Vanguard Camera Kit Case: Sturdy, protective camera bag with organised compartments for carrying and storing your equipment securely. Compartments are adjustable with velcro edges. ✅ excellent condition – Sony Alpha Soft Carry Case: Original Sony-branded protective soft case for carrying and storing the A7 II R camera. This has a velcro lens hammock fitted inside so the camera with lens attached can be carried safely. ✅ near mint condition SD card NOT included. Additional Information: I paid £**** in total for these items. Happy to provide further details or additional photographs on request. Also more than happy to share images I have taken with this kit. Serious buyers only, please.
I apologise in advance if I start to show more photos on these pages, but fear not. It is and will always be a site dedicated to traditional photography, its equipment and repair, and that will never change.
I believe my wife is fed up with me carrying around old equipment and wishes for me to just “Get with it”
There is a definite method in her madness, bless her. Such a wonderful and thoughtful gift. As if I could love her anymore ❤️
Here are four photos taken whilst I was visiting the signal box at Melton Mowbray. This train line is between Leicester and Peterborough and has a number of Victorian era signal boxes still in use today. All pictures taken with my IPhone 14 Pro Max.
No, I’m not talking about secret Russian radio stations, that seems to be all the information you can find, regarding ghost stations on the internet. This Ghost service station has popped up on DAB radio in the Uk, in Leicester, and there is no info that I can find about it online, and all that it seems to be broadcasting is someone making spooky ghost sounds. Have a look at this little video I made of it, only about 30 seconds long.
Spooky
I’m wondering if someone is having a laugh on this channel, maybe it’s on hold, just awaiting a new residency, who knows? I believe this is based somewhere in Leicester city as I’m unable to tune it, anywhere outside of the city limits. I’m surprised that our radio regulators at OFCOM are allowing it, however radio standards aren’t what they used to be nowadays.
Foxes Den 
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