Dripping Sand

Egg Timer.  Fuji F10

5th February 2014

There are some technologies that once were common, but are being superseded at an increasing rate.   It is easy to think of the wired telephone and the wrist watch being replaced by mobile phones, film being replaced by digital photography; vinyl by tape, then CD, now downloads.

Although many technologies still have a role to play, such as the low cost of film for gigapixel images when compared to digital, the humble egg timer seems really quite lacking when compared to its digital (or even clockwork) counterparts.

The main feature it lacks is an alarm device to tell you when the time is up; it could be very easy to notice when the time is up.

Although it is quite mesmerising to watch those last few grains of time spin around in the glass and finally run out.

Trainee Compost

Onion Peel.  Nikon D7000

4th February 2014

There are some peelings from the kitchen that the chickens are really not fond of; Onions is one of them (leeks are another).

These guys will just have to take their chances on the compost heap.

Although it is surprising how poorly onion composts; there are nearly always some traces of onion around when I dig out the heap.

Numbers

Numbers.  Fuji F10

3rd February 2014

It is always good to look around and see all the items that us humans need to store information on.

It is easy to think of data held on disk drives and in flash cards, but numbers and letters are really everywhere.  

It is difficult to find a manufactured object that does not have either a letter or number on it somewhere.

Even the car tyres are plastered with them.

Rain, rain, go away

Flooded Thames.   Fuji F10

2nd February 2014

Katie is fencing today; the Thames is flowing past the venue.

With all the rain and gales we have had recently, the trees have become part of the river.

It looks like the squirrels may have been using the boat to get back to the mainland.

K is for cake

Mixer blade.  NiKon D7000

1st February 2014

High-tech gadgets are very interesting, but often it is the simple things in life which are most useful.

Jo's mixer has a couple of different blades, runs at a few different speeds, and is built like a tank.

We have had many different food processors in the past that claim to do everything you ever want in the kitchen; with the exception of washing up the intricate parts of food processors.

The Kenwood was bought off ebay about 10 years ago, but is still going strong.   It pounds dough on a Friday for Pizza, churns crumble mix for my supper once a week, and mashes eggs and flour for cakes and pancakes at the weekend.

Best of all, it is dead easy to clean it.

Yellow Shadows

Banana.  Nikon D7000

31st January 2014

This evening there was some nice blue tinted light coming through the window which I could not resist.

I put the room light on to give some yellow photons and snapped a banana.

It is always interesting to see how the different light colours balance; it is not often you get a yellow shadow :)

EveryDay Objects: The Toothbrush

Alex's Toothbrush.  Fuji F10

30th January 2014

There are some everyday objects that make life just that little bit more pleasant, but often are not treated well.

The humble toothbrush is used by us all a few times each day (although this one belongs to Alex, think 'monthly' use), yet we often do not consider its worth to society.

Breath is more pleasant and teeth last longer, simplifying the process of eating, so I thought it was worth revisiting a toothbrush picture.

Without toothbrushes, the young would have far more work to do pre-chewing all the food for us tooth-less oldies :)