Back to Skool

  

Back to Skool

1 Mar 2021 11:44AM   Views : 471 Unique : 339

I've been reading the blogs for a while and commented on a couple but never really thought about writing my own. Today I thought I'd have a go and give an insight into the strange isolated world I inhabit. (I've been more or less living the lifestyle of a hermit for quite a while now, even pre pandemic).

I'm too old to be at real school but since we have to stay indoors here in good old Blighty (other than be dragged out to get a needle in the arm) I've been learning new skills.
I did start with the Amature Radio and re-learned morse code and all that was needed for a licence, I was a minesweeper radio operator way back when so just a bit rusty....Well after I got licenced and bought my cheap handheld Chinese voice rig I made a few contacts , maybe it was the luck of the draw but I found the true meaning of an anorak. ( I really DON'T care how they made their rig out of flattened red bull cans and a long piece of taught string!)

Next came photography. I was already into it but not in a big way, I'm 20 years into the learning process so I now consider myself an improver rather than a beginner, My aforementioned radio makes for a good photo prop as seen in the photo with the old Helios lens depicting surveillance in the cold war period, and as it can play commercial stations, I usually have the local BBC Radio Suffolk in the background.
My subjects are usually small and arranged on a Lazy Suzan (rotating cake stand) set on my tabletop with a window for light. Sometimes I use a torch to boost on dull days.
Just for fun I've recently started buying 40 year old lenses costing no more than £20 from charity shops to use on my ASPC camera bodies, it obviously alters the focal length but it's still cheaper than paying up to £1000 for the latest gear and I get great results which compare favourably to those with bottomless pockets. One recent purchase in particular was a punt, an M42 mount 28mm f/2.8 Derek Gardener. I can't find much about it but it's a great little lens.




Finally I've decided to fill in any other time by learning to play the Harmonica. (You should hear my dogs singing along). Personally I can't carry a tune in a bucket so I'll leave it to your imagination...however, I can just about play the rift to ♫"Walk on the wild side" ♫ 4 beats suck and 4 beats blow....Divorce imminent

So that's it for my first attempt at a blog, notice how all of my ventures keep me isolated from "She Who Must Be Obeyed"? well 40+ years married and a lifetime of sea duty and long distance lorry driving. I need my space

Stay safe everyone.
Bob