Almost didn't make it into work this morning. Man, was I sick! I really don't know if I have caught something of Nikki or what, but I do not feel myself. My symptoms are different from the missis though asI have nausea and don't have the cough, but I do have that awful bone ache.

Early to bed again tonight methinks.

I took this shot (above) a while ago while visiting Nikki's grandma. I do love the symmetry the rows of terrace houses have with their back yards, all bricked up and contained.

My This photo is another from Tenerife. I seem to be having a thing for graffiti at the moment, and M. Night Shyamalan films!? (I watched the Village and Signs recently).

My friend Ian sent me through this which is rather eloquent, (I don't usually put up great swaths of text but this is very good).

Written by George Carlin, a comedian of the 70's and 80's and who you may have seen in the Bill and Ted movies or more recently in Kevin Smith's Dogma. It goes...

'What a difference a sad event in someone's life makes – GEORGE CARLIN (His wife recently died...) Isn't it amazing that George Carlin – comedian of the 70's and 80's – could write something so very eloquent...and so very appropriate.

A Message by George Carlin:

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways , but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbour. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.

We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete...

Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.

Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.

Remember, to say, 'I love you' to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.

Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

If you don't send this to at least 8 people....Who cares?

George Carlin

My poor lady is ill, so I am staying in watching movies with her and scoffing gorgeous casserole.

Looks like I have avoided the bug so far, thank goodness (apart from a wee bout on Monday and Tuesday when I felt a bit nauseous).

I am posting this image (above) as an entry into photofriday. The original image was colour on a white wall but I fancied a more sepia tonal finish. All in all I am quite happy with the final result.

I am missing some 'curl-up-with-the-missus' time so I am not posting for long tonight.

The reason this is called the safe colour is that I just finished watching 'the Village' which put me in the mind-set to make this photo.

I did have some problems with this photo (above). I coloured in LAB then blew the gamut so I couldn't easily return to RGB to post to the web. In the end I had to convert the image, then I used a curves adjustment layer to return to somewhere near the LAB original (all done as usual in Photoshop).

Oh and after a conversation about Lightroom with Ian I used LR to convert this RAW.

Lightroom's not bad but I still love something about C1 Pro.

At last! Got some exercise tonight and feel much better for it. Swimming is just the best exercise ever. I am too heavy to run (it kills me, although I didn't mind it when the open countryside was right on my doorstep back in the flat we had before this house). Working out in the gym is ok but it gets a bit boring. Competitive sports are the best though but Nikki and I just dont' seem to play them anymore. 8(

O,h and on the plus side I have lost more weight bringing me down to 16 stone. Half a stone more and I will be at the heavy end of my ideal weight. Sweet!

We have ordered the gravel to go on our path around the new wall. Not wanting to jinx it but this weekend we may actually finish building this wall. I can't wait.

I am posting a golden oldy tonight (above) which I came across while I was browsing my RAW archive.

The praying Buddha is a classic pose and I really like the stone finish on the shot. I can't think why I didn't post it when I took it? (You find that you get that as a photographer. You can shoot one day and like nothing then come back and see something you missed before). Anyway I am happy enough with the shot now.

On another note there is a possibility I may get to assist my friend Ian at a wedding shoot which I am really hoping comes off. It won't be for a while but to collaborate on a actual live project is awesome. We shall see what happens.

I really didn't feel at all well today but now I am home, after working late (again!) I actually feel pretty wicked. One of the good things about feeling like crap is that when it abates, it's so sweet!

This shot (above) was a quicky I took after I finished a shoot for work at the weekend for a building contractors, coloured in LAB.

I am looking forward to getting some more time building the wall in the back garden tomorrow. It actually keeps me really fit shoveling tons of concrete; so much so that people have commented on me losing weight. God knows what will happen when it is finished. I will have to find something else to build.

Hey, that's a great new fitness routine. Body build – you build brick walls to music and lose pounds. Heh, there's money in that.

Our friend Rachel called this week to speak to Nik (whose wedding we went to) so I am posting another shot from the evening celebration (above). This is of a couple of the teenagers performing in a dance piece over 3 sections demonstrating marriage, its pitfalls, fall from grace and ultimate restoration.

You know? Nothing too heavy! 8)

It was actually brilliant. Which reminds me I still have to try and get the music for Nik's dad.

I have a new game (Crysis) which is keeping me occupied in the evenings.

Leaving me just enough time to post a photo.

This photo (below) is awesome! Check out the babies face as her brother and sister raise their arms in the air.

'Aaaaaaargh! Somebody help me!!!'

Priceless.

OK. I have mixed an entire batch of concrete today and my arms may fall off. But at least we will have a wall for a border away from the conservatory rather than a load of rotting, wooden poles pressed up above the damp coursing.

Which brings me to a huge thank you for all that you have done Malc & Marg (Lets face it, you're always doing something for us). The wall is really looking the biz! Love Noo & Matt x

Which button do I push?

Raiders of the lost archive

Two towers