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Tuesday, February 3, 2015

The way of the future

I often wish I could look into the future, 200, 300, even 500 years time, I wonder what the world will be like then. Probably completely different to what it is now. I would love to be around and see it all. I watched a fascinating programme last week on the BBC iplayer, Gaming: The Rise of the Cyber Athletes. I only came across it by chance because it's in the sports section, a place I rarely venture into, I don't have much interest in sport. My curiosity led me to click the play button.
OJ Borg explores the growth of electronic sports, the professional players who take part, and the debate on whether gaming could be considered as a true sport. The question was asked, are cyber athletes real sportsmen? How does the culture around watching gaming compare to real sport? 
I must say, the programme was a real eye opener, I never knew such events existed. Streaming sites such as Twitch bring millions of viewers to watch online, and tens of thousands to venues around the world. The cyber athlete is no longer a couch potato, and can expect to earn �200,000 a year. They look after their health and fitness, go to the gym and eat a healthy diet, to keep their brains sharp and their fingers moving at breakneck speed. 
This new sport is opening up endless possibilities for sponsorship and advertising, thousands of jobs will be created on the back of it, mind boggling really. Is this the future? They are talking about it becoming an Olympic sport. 
If you want to see the programme it's on the iplayer for a few more days.  
It's also on Yoootooob.
If you want to read a bit about cyber gaming, this is a good site. It seems the internet is buzzing with this programme.
We discussed this topic around the dinner table on Sunday when I was visiting family. My cousins son is a keen gamer and spends many hours in his bedroom, much to the consternation of his mother. After the meal was finished everyone seemed to disappear. I found them in son's bedroom, he was explaining the nuts and bolts of how he designs games and uploads them to yoootooob. He completely lost me as I watched and listened to him. I was dumbstruck. How can a twelve year old lad have taught himself so much.? He was talking ten to the dozen, obviously passionate about his skills, and they are skills, not just wasting time until he leaves school. This lad is on the way to a career already. There is no doubt that he is a sharp as a razor, and I hope that he will, one day, be at the top of his game. I shall watch his progress with interest. 
Computer gaming is not my thing at all, I wouldn't know where to start, but it's the way of the future, and it can't be stopped. 
Toodle pip. 

Monday, February 2, 2015

Twisting, wrapping, and couching

Hello. 
I had a lovely day visiting family in Nottingham, yesterday. Nice to see Auntie and cousins, and kids, again. They made a lovely spread, I came away feeling full to bursting. 

Twas a fun crafty morning at the Village Hall today. A new lady came along and thoroughly enjoyed herself meeting new people. She is knitting some children's dolls. I think she will come again next week. 
A few people asked about the new picture, the techniques I am using. Sue asked what am I weaving onto. This one is not weaving Sue, I'll explain further. Caz asked what is this kind of work called. I don't know Caz. I found a video on yoootooob on how to make cords with a sewing machine, it looked easy to do, then I thought about how I could incorporate the cords into a picture. Rather than splash paint onto a canvas, I decided to stitch the cords on instead. Then I found a picture that inspired me to copy the outline and use it. 
How to make cords, I can't find the first video I saw, so here is my version. Cut strips of fabric about an inch wide, doesn't matter how long they are. Fabric that is the same colour both sides is best, and one that doesn't fray. 
These are the finished twisted cords.

And this is how you do it. Set the machine to a zigzag stitch, probably the biggest one. Start twisting at one end, hold it tight because it will untwist if you let go. Trap the end underneath the foot with a little bit sticking out of the back. You will need to pull it through because the feed dogs won't do that automatically because it is so narrow. 
Twist a few inches of it, hold it with the right hand, then pull through with the left hand. It would be impossible to do this with a hand machine. Use an ordinary foot, keep stopping and twisting a bit more, then sew a bit and carry on like that until you get to the end. One thing you will have to watch out for is the twists coming up through the gap in the foot before it has been wrapped. Try and keep it taught and hold it down as flat as you can while you are sewing, but if this happens keep going to the end because it will still sew if the twisted fabric sits on top of the foot.

I am using a plain piece of stiff, strong fabric, a bit like a closely woven sack cloth, they use it on the underside of sofas at the Lebus factory. You can use any sort of heavy fabric, plain is best if you want to draw a design on it. It needs to be heavy enough to support all the stitching without sagging, and puckering. 
 I am using a couching stitch, some of it is in matching cotton and some in contrasting cotton.

This is what the underneath looks like, hundreds of stitches. 
How to do couching, here are a few pictures to help you. Instead of making cords, you can couch anything onto a piece of work, from fine embroidery thread, to wool, or string. You can use one strand, or several strands, depending on the thickness you require. Basically the stitch is up through the fabric, over the top and down the other side. If you want a really neat job the distances between the stitches should be uniform. As I am going to be adding more detail later my stitching doesn't need to be perfect.



How to go round corners. If the corner is too tight, and the gap gets narrow, I have been cutting the cord to fit exactly in the space, then starting again a bit further down where it is a bit wider.

Anybody going to give this a go? You could start by making a smaller sample picture. I think I shall be working on mine for another two months. You know what I'm like, I faff a lot, ha ha.
Toodle pip

Saturday, January 31, 2015

An update on the new picture

Hello. Today I have been indoors, the weather is miserable, wet, and cold. Woke up to snow, then more snow came down, big flurries. It didn't last long then a bit later it started raining, and now it has all been washed away. It's still bloomin cold though. 
Nothing for it but to get on with picture number three. Here is a little teaser of the work done so far. All shades of green at the moment to represent the fields. 
I have been searching my wardrobe for unwanted clothes, unwanted anything really. Yesterday I bought a ladies green top for �1 from the Age Uk Charity Shop. Jersey type T-shirt fabric is the best for this, it is the same colour both sides, and twists easily into cords without fraying. I'll let you into a secret, there is a pair of my pants in here ha ha, it's the greenest green field, in the middle. I have enough green fabric now, further up I shall be introducing more colours. Although the picture in the magazine is a winter scene, I think I may change it to a summer one, then I can add some flowers. Once I get the base cover done there will be a lot of embroidery and beads going on top. The size of the picture will be 18.5 inches by 24 inches, plus the frame. I have some pieces of wood which I was going to use on a previous picture, they will suit this one better. A long way to go yet.


I have had an email from someone who has connections with The Rectory at Clixby. Her great grandparents were employed there, and got married, in 1901. It's amazing what this internet throws up, you never know who is reading your blog.

Tomorrow is a family day, I hope there is no snow on the roads. Have a nice Sunday whatever you are doing. Toodle pip

Friday, January 30, 2015

Need a longer arm

How many goes does it take you to do a selfie? Lots, ha ha. Ooops, cut his nose off. 
Ooops, cut my head off.

Where did that shadow come from? My nose looks a bit red.

 Oh sod it, smile Rocky.

We went a walk round Alkborough Flats today, it's a wetlands area on the banks of the River Trent. Hoping to do a bit of bird spotting. Not many about, think they have all flown south for the winter. This cold weather is not very good for Rocky's arthritis at the moment, he can walk a little way, then his front leg gets a bit sore. He still wants to go out though, so the pushchair is ideal. I get a walk and exercise, he can snuggle under the blanket and feel the sun on his face. He likes the sun.

We have had a bit of snow here, but not as much as other parts, thank goodness. Most of it has melted, only a bit left on the areas that don't get the sun on it. Have a nice weekend.
Toodle pip

Thursday, January 29, 2015

Smile please, you're on camera

Hello. I think I should get Nellie Knowitall, our guest contributor, to write this post, it's right up her street, but as she is swanning around somewhere in the Bahamas, I won't disturb her. I am sure I am just as capable of stating the bleedin obvious, so I'll rattle it out myself.
Speeding, what do you think of speed cameras, or any cameras for that matter. There is an article in a well know national newspaper this morning entitled 'Know your enemy : there are 20 different kinds of cameras spying on motorists : spot them before they spot you.' Some are used to catch criminals, monitor traffic, or collect data. But large numbers are used to issue fines, which total �284 million pounds a year. They are despised because most of the money goes to the treasury. Every time you drive you are spied on.

Most of the population of Britain seems to hate them, they are labeled as 'cash cows' for the government. Ok, these are my thoughts, my simplistic way of looking at things. If you don't drive over the speed limit you will give the government nothing. If you don't park where you are not supposed to, you will give the government nothing. I have been caught speeding three times in the 45 years I have been driving, all in commercial vehicles, and all when I had a lapse of concentration for a few seconds. Not slowing down enough from 36mph when I hit a 30 limit, at 6am when there was no traffic about. Passing through a roadworks on an the A1M and didn't get down to 50mph quick enough, on a Sunday when it wasn't very busy. And coming out of a built up area on a wide road thinking the speed limit must be 40 when in fact it was still 30 for a little while longer. All my fault. My licence is clean now, and has been for some time, I have learnt my lesson. Driving over the speed limit costs money, so why would I put myself in that situation now.

You can get a speed camera detector gizmo for your car, it will bleep as you approach one, they can cost around �180. Why would you want to pay that much, when all you have to do is watch for the speed limit signs, make a mental note and adjust your speed accordingly. Simple really, it costs nothing to concentrate.

There are web sites out there which show where speed cameras are located. So, say you are planning a journey in an area you are not familiar with, would you spend time searching a map to find where all the cameras are? What if you decided to go off route during your journey and you didn't have the correct map, you are stuffed then, unless of course you have access to the maps in a sat nav. Jeez, there are enough distractions on the road without introducing more. For safety's sake you are supposed to be watching the road ahead, not eyes up in the sky searching for cameras. Wouldn't it be a lot easier to take note of the speed limit signs, then glance at your speedometer and make sure it is reading the same or less than the speed indicated on the sign. What could be chuffin easier than that!

Then there are web sites which tell you how to avoid paying fines, for goodness sake, you got caught, you pay. Don't speed, you won't get a fine. Simple.

A lot of the comments on the article are from people who object to Big Brother watching them, and I can't understand that. If you are doing something you shouldn't be, or if you are somewhere where you shouldn't be, then you have cause to be worried. Security cameras and speed cameras can work in your favour if you have nothing to hide. My car is street legal, no worries there. I don't mind the cameras in the High Street, I would rather someone be watching out for my safety. I don't mind cameras inside shops, useful tool to deter thieves.

When I retired the pressure came off to drive anywhere fast. I did take some risks, that was the nature of the job, but now I can go about my business in a more leisurely way. I have forgotten how to rush, everything I do is at my own pace. And it's lovely, I have time to smile at the cameras.
Thanks for reading. Toodle pip,

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

A windy walk in the Lincolnshire Wolds

Hello. I've had a smashing day out with my walking buddies, Paul and Paul. It was my turn to drive,  pick the route, and lead the walk, and I chose a ten mile walk starting at Nettleton near Caistor in the Lincolnshire Wolds. I have done this one before, and wanted to make a return visit to the Old Rectory at Claxby. 
Just as we were getting ready this morning it all went black and the rain was blowing sideways. It didn't look too promising so I texted Paul, and rang the other Paul, should we give it a go or would it be best to abandon the idea. We decided to go for it. We parked at Nettleton at about 10.50am and set off down the Viking Way. The path passes a farm gate and this notice caught our eye, and gave us a chuckle.  
The path follows Nettleton Beck for a mile or two, It goes past the old chalk quarry, and crosses a wide track. Several 4x4 vehicles were parked there, and men with guns and dogs were setting off to go and blast some poor defenceless pheasants out of the sky. The beaters were behind the trees down there, where we have just walked past.


We arrived in Normanby le Wold to find the church door unlocked so we could sit inside and eat our lunch. It was a bit too gloomy for me, and I found a bench against the wall in the sunshine. It was nice and sheltered from the wind.

It was a short walk to Claxby, and we made straight for the church where the Old Rectory is behind it. And here it is. If you have been reading my blog for a long time, you will remember I did a post about this building, it was abandoned left to be swallowed up by the creeping ivy and overgrown bushes. I am sad to say, it is still in the same condition, one year and five months later. Such a beautiful building, such a shame. 







If you want to read the post from the 12th of August 2013, it's here. You will see that someone who was a gardener there a long time ago read it and put a comment on it. It really does need someone to come along and look after it. 
We headed north out of Claxby on Pelham Road, and took a path along the bottom of the hill back to Nettleton, joining the main A46 for the last half mile. Mostly it was along the edges of fields, which were very muddy in places. Paul, the one on the left, likes to go wading straight through the mud whereas I like to try and skirt round it a bit. When you put your foot down you don't know how far you are going to sink into it. 

We were well wrapped up against the wind, and got back to the car at 3.50pm. An exhilarating ten mile walk, I shall sleep well tonight.

Thank you for visiting my world, and thank you for your comments. Catch you tomorrow.
Toodle pip.

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Create a new way

Hello. Someone very kindly compared my posts to self help books. Wow! I am chuffed that what I consider as my simple way of looking at things, is making some sense with some readers. I don't profess to be an expert in anything, except lorry driving, ha ha, but I like to think that my experiences at the University of Life have given me the grounding that I need to live a contented and fulfilling life.

I have always liked writing, gathering together the thoughts in my head, and putting them down in some sort of order. I wasn't very bright at school, I couldn't be bothered, just about scraped through, and hoped no one noticed that I wasn't taking it all in. I was hopeless at exams and couldn't wait to leave and went at the first opportunity. So for someone to say that a post has more wisdom that ten self help books, makes me very chuffed indeed.

I am sure that many of my readers have a wisdom far beyond my own offerings, going by the comments coming in. I love the little sayings and words of wisdom that you come up with from time to time, I write them down because they trigger more thoughts and ideas which I want to hang on to. You inspire me to explore issues further, to hopefully gain a better understanding of how things fit together.

Something that N said, struck a chord, 'I always make time for things that allow my creativity.'  She was talking about learning new hobbies to distract herself from events she would rather forget about. It got me thinking about how creativity can play a key roll in how we can deal with putting the not so perfect past behind us.

The way I see it, if someone has no creative instincts at all, they mostly rely on learning from others, they see how their friends, family, and work colleagues do things, and they follow suit. This takes less effort than thinking up new ideas. It's like going down a long straight road, and ignoring all the roads off it in favour of keep going mile after mile in the same direction, with possibly no end in sight. Changing direction would require a new way of thinking. I don't know anything about how a brain works, but I reckon that if you only stuck with the road you know, always doing the same thing in the same way, then you are only using half your brain. It's a bit of a waste, not using it to it's full potential. If you are not creative, how are you going to find your way through the ups and downs of life? Relying on others to show you the way will not work, you need to be creative in thinking up new ideas, and new directions.

So, back to distraction, N could have done nothing, and gone nowhere, but she made an effort, she recognized that by allowing herself to be creative, she could move on. Creativity means going in a different direction, give yourself a good talking to, to push yourself into something outside your comfort zone. It could be something quite simple, like bake a cake if you have never made one before. Or sign up for a pottery class at college. Or taking up flower arranging. The end product of creativity is learning new skills and expanding your outlook on life. It's looking at situations from a new angle, and finding a better way to get where you want to be. Surely that's got to be a good thing. Well that's how I see it.
Toodle pip