Reasons to be cheerful!

[Dave]

...

It's so nice to be able to wake up in a space that is my own.

I couldn't agree more. It's one of the best feelings ever to have a key to your own front door. Particularly when there is somebody else in there with you that you want to have there.

I'll second that. My place might only be a glorified bed-sitter but it is my place! With my taste in decor, my pictures, my shelving where I want it, my kitchen designed by me  etc etc etc.

It's all paid for as well. 

[Dave]

Just finished a good job.

Andy, my neighbour, had trouble getting up ahd down the rather high step into the street door. I sometimes have a problem with it, if my hips are stiff, and have iften thought about a step outside. Andy asked about it and I agreed to go halves on the cost. His "friend" wanted £60 plus materials to do the job.

But Andy is a disabled ex-builder and he reckoned he could do the job with help. So I drove to pick up the materials (£20) and mixed the mortar, Andy laid the bricks and slabs and I cleaned up after. Joint effort.

Job well done, satisfying both of us, saving £60 and making entry and exit safer. Earned my weekly ration of vino tonight I reckon!

[Tank]

Just finished a good job.

Andy, my neighbour, had trouble getting up ahd down the rather high step into the street door. I sometimes have a problem with it, if my hips are stiff, and have iften thought about a step outside. Andy asked about it and I agreed to go halves on the cost. His "friend" wanted £60 plus materials to do the job.

But Andy is a disabled ex-builder and he reckoned he could do the job with help. So I drove to pick up the materials (£20) and mixed the mortar, Andy laid the bricks and slabs and I cleaned up after. Joint effort.

Job well done, satisfying both of us, saving £60 and making entry and exit safer. Earned my weekly ration of vino tonight I reckon!

Teamwork at its best.

[Guardian85]

G85 conrats on the new job.  You will be grading gravel samples?  Does that have anything to do with getting ones rocks off?

That, and bitumen,  and samples of laid down tarmac.
This is not the white-labcoat-and-beakers kind of lab. I have been issued ear protection, steel-toed shoes, and a gas mask for when we break out the methyl chloride.

[Essie Mae]

Just finished a good job.

Andy, my neighbour, had trouble getting up ahd down the rather high step into the street door. I sometimes have a problem with it, if my hips are stiff, and have iften thought about a step outside. Andy asked about it and I agreed to go halves on the cost. His "friend" wanted £60 plus materials to do the job.

But Andy is a disabled ex-builder and he reckoned he could do the job with help. So I drove to pick up the materials (£20) and mixed the mortar, Andy laid the bricks and slabs and I cleaned up after. Joint effort.

Job well done, satisfying both of us, saving £60 and making entry and exit safer. Earned my weekly ration of vino tonight I reckon!

So lovely when a plan comes together.

[Tank]

G85 conrats on the new job.  You will be grading gravel samples?  Does that have anything to do with getting ones rocks off?

That, and bitumen,  and samples of laid down tarmac.
This is not the white-labcoat-and-beakers kind of lab. I have been issued ear protection, steel-toed shoes, and a gas mask for when we break out the methyl chloride.

Steam Punk scientist, much more your style.

[Velma]

^

[Tank]

New camera.
New lens.
Sunshine!

[Dave]

New camera.
New lens.
Sunshine!

Yay!

OK, Tank, what's the gear then?

I've just ordered the latest, NFC enabled, version of my mobile so that I can remote control the zoom on my Lumix compact camera at the top of a monopod, about 12 feet up, or over or wherever. Or with the cam on a tripod in a garden and watching the picture from round a corner or indoors so the birdies are not disturbed. Main problem is it takes a second or two for the camera to react to hitting the "shoot" icon.

[Tank]

New camera.
New lens.
Sunshine!

Yay!

OK, Tank, what's the gear then?

I've just ordered the latest, NFC enabled, version of my mobile so that I can remote control the zoom on my Lumix compact camera at the top of a monopod, about 12 feet up, or over or wherever. Or with the cam on a tripod in a garden and watching the picture from round a corner or indoors so the birdies are not disturbed. Main problem is it takes a second or two for the camera to react to hitting the "shoot" icon.

That looks interesting.

Sony A68 and 55-300mm zoom ( My Sigma one won't autofocus with the body).

[xSilverPhinx]

  Weekend is finally over!

[Dave]

Weekend is finally over!

Er, most people are happy when it starts! 

[Dave]

New camera.
New lens.
Sunshine!

Yay!

OK, Tank, what's the gear then?

I've just ordered the latest, NFC enabled, version of my mobile so that I can remote control the zoom on my Lumix compact camera at the top of a monopod, about 12 feet up, or over or wherever. Or with the cam on a tripod in a garden and watching the picture from round a corner or indoors so the birdies are not disturbed. Main problem is it takes a second or two for the camera to react to hitting the "shoot" icon.

That looks interesting.

Sony A68 and 55-300mm zoom ( My Sigma one won't autofocus with the body).

My "big job" is a Nikon D5100 (16Mp), bit dated now but adequate for my purposes (wish it had NFC though!,) and my standard lens is an 18-250, a lump but versatile. In some ways the Lumix TZ60 (30x optical, 30-146x digital zoom, 18Mp) is better but has less capability. And it fits in a pocket. And has NFC.

[Dave]

:blow one's own trumpet icon needed:

Being old, retired and without really close friends (nearby) or family can often make one feel a bit useless. Voluntary work helps but, often, the thanks one gets seem just the "usual" reward for offering one's efforts.

Then someone tells you that your name has been mentioned at the Heritage Group meeting as having made a very positive impression and contribution.

Eyes brighter, tail bushier! 

Makes it worth the efort.

[xSilverPhinx]

Weekend is finally over!

Er, most people are happy when it starts! 

I know, and I am like most people, but this weekend was a particularly tough one, with practically no time to rest. Tomorrow and Wednesday I get half the day off. I haven't not looked foward to the weekend in such a long time!