Tales of Arise I thought I’d start the year with a video game update. Over Christmas I’ve been replaying Tales of Arise as I’d purchased the DLC ‘Beyond the Dawn’ for this. Even on a replay I ended up doing every side quest and spent time going back and forth because it’s so engaging to… Continue reading New Year, New Post – Role Playing Games
Festive Reading
I was asked this morning what books I was reading at the moment and it prompted me to think about festive reading because I have some traditional reads at this time of year. The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe I first read this when I was about 5 years old, and then for my… Continue reading Festive Reading
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas
This past week I’ve taken a pre-Christmas holiday to the south coast of the UK for some shopping and sight seeing. And this included visiting stately homes that dress up for Christmas. Two National Trust properties – who do a nice job with limited budgets – and the very grand Blenheim Palace Hinton Ampner Hinton… Continue reading It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Another Eden
A recent holiday in the southwest let me make another trip to the beautiful Eden Project. Taking with me my trusty Canon EOS M-50 and its shiny new dedicated macro lens it gave me a chance to capture some photos I like. The lens is great as it can be used as a fixed 28mm… Continue reading Another Eden
A return to FFVII Crisis Core
I’m a PlayStation person – I’ve got a PS5 now and prior to that have had multiple versions of every previous generation of consoles and also both handhelds. Square Enix’s epic series Final Fantasy is one of the main reasons for my affection for the console – as Final Fantasy VII on the original was… Continue reading A return to FFVII Crisis Core
A door to nowhere
I’ve always liked the quirky and hidden doors you find at stately homes. This old door propped against a wall in the stable yard of Calke Abbey made for a perfect scene last weekend. The random items near it, the ivy covering, and why there’s even a door there (and a bricked up door shape in the wall behind) just add to the intrigue
Words to live by from William Morris
And that’s why I don’t have any William Morris in my house! Ok, sort of joking there as if I lived in an Arts & Craft House I probably would consider some Morris prints but it wouldn’t look right in my home. This quote occurred to me when looking at those twitter accounts that post… Continue reading Words to live by from William Morris
Cheesecake – Ruby Tandoh’s excellent recipe
Some time ago I wanted to make a cheesecake and I’m not a fan of the chilled gelatine types, I like a good baked cheesecake and preferably it should feature ricotta. Having found this version by Ruby Tandoh for a blackberry cheesecake I decided to give it a go. I think it turned out really… Continue reading Cheesecake – Ruby Tandoh’s excellent recipe
Daytime / Nighttime
I look back at older photos and see slightly wobbly & fuzzy night shots. And then I just use my iPhone and manage to get these shots of the harbour at St Ives without even trying. I can understand people thinking there’s been a loss of skill in photography and I’ll generally use a real… Continue reading Daytime / Nighttime
Reading for fun, not profit
I grew up reading a ridiculous amount. As a child I was a member of 2 libraries and also bought a book a week. And more recently because I used to have solid commutes by bus or train that would also give me focused reading time (including the bus journey where unexpectedly heavy snow let… Continue reading Reading for fun, not profit