Well I took the plunge for real yesterday. Aperture on the Mac has had its day, and when I returned from Dehli, I bought Lightroom5 for future cataloguing of my photos, but thought I would view my old photos using the Aperture app. Best laid plans .. I do like to have all of my 48k+ photos in one app — the catalogues should contain all my photos of family and locations. So I have imported all my photos into the Lightroom database. The original photos stay where they are and the metadata already matched is unchanged. What has altered is that the Raw and JPEG files are viewed as originally shot. No enhancements or fancy crops. I will have to start from the beginning. Lightroom like Aperture is a lossless photo editor — this will enable me to look again at my photos and to apply my experience to their enhancement, without permanently altering them. Unlike most things in life, I will have another chance to change. Bigger questions still remain — DAM — digital asset management [1] Backup, backup, backup — this vital subject is also covered by this book. What format should I use? Should I have a mix of different camera RAW formats, or go with the Adobe DNG ‘standard’? I have decided to go DNG for future storage of RAW files, but will keep for the moment my old RAW, JPEG and PNG files. Whatever you do, don’t JPEG your .jpg files. You will just lose more information from your ‘lossy’ files — and you can never get this back. So far, PDF A and DNG seem to be the way to go

The project moves on. I have completed the bones of the ramp to the coaling shed and the roadway is next to be glued. Photos to follow when in situ. The Metcalfe buildings look good when photographed with grunge filters. City of Edinburgh captured against industrial buildings is a good example.

Further work today to complete the ramp and continue work on installing turnouts on the station side of the layout

Wayne has passed on the reins of webmaster (using WordPress) and of treasurer to me.  A steep learning curve, and oh so important to keep my fellow owners informed and involved (a fine line — beware of too much too soon) 

Down to Stone with our dog Hugo.  Met up with Derek and Sue to be shown the ropes of Oasis Too.

Aston Marina late December

The way out to the cut

Top hatch cover art

The boat

Polished brass

All ship-shape

We have bought a share in a narrow boat, called Oasis Too.

She is based for the moment in Stone. Great location and a delicatessen to die for.

She is 58’ long traditional design and oozes charm. First trip late December, so photos to follow.

Can you guess that we are excited

Canal dreams reprise

Off on a narrow boat named the  Golden Goose

Just out of the Monty and now to Llangollen against the flow. These canals have a constant inflow from rivers and are not stagnant at all. They are brown from churned silt as the max depth is only 3-4ft 

Go west young man ¹

My colleague extolled the virtues of West Falkland. Much sunnier, greener and altogether nicer than the east.  There is something magical about the place.

Port Howard … our next stop as we said goodbye to Cat and Brad our hosts on Pebble Island.

The airstrip was a few miles along the dirt road from the settlement.  Wayne met us and soon we were bowling along the tree lined highway. The trees were only 1 metre high but you plant trees not for yourself, but for your grandchildren.

A warm welcome, and then to repair to the typical Falklands institution of the honesty bar.

We wanted to visit the grave of Capt John Hamilton MC who was killed in action in the 1982 war. He is buried in the settlement cemetery.  The graves are surrounded by a white picket fence and is on a peaceful site on the bend of the river. His exploits are detailed in the settlement museum located in a Nissen hut in the grounds of the lodge.

Puerto Yapeyu is the name given by the Argentinians during their 74 day occupation of Port Howard.  The colossal cheek — not only did they invade and imprison the population, but they tried to destroy the Falklanders’ heritage. No wonder Argentina is viewed with such dislike by the farmers here.  Memories are long, life is often difficult here and those that thrive here have developed a fierce attachment to their land. Their ancestors are buried here together with a hero from a distant homeland and their prosperity has been ground out from the sweat of their brows.

Such a peaceful and beautiful place. Safe for kids who enjoy playing sheep and sheepdogs!

Model railway

After a longish gestation period, Giles phoned to let me know that my baseboards had arrived and were being set up
They were then packed and sent up first thing in the am.
I have put the pictures on another part of this website.
The packaging was impressive and the baseboards were well protected.

I used the usual bodge to get them assembled ¹
I then relented and have splashed out on a socket driver and one socket (with adapter) to fit M8 bolts.

Next, the plans …

Baseboards assembled