Wednesday, November 16, 2005

Lakeland

Despite my great love for my spider hoover, Lakeland does sell some truly weird things. And whoever writes their catalogue descriptions is clearly on some sort of mind-altering substance:

Microwavable slippers: "Unzip the heels, remove the special rubber
insoles which attract microwave energy instantly, " - presumably microwave ovens and mobile phones will come flying towards you while wearing them. And in an emergency you could always eat them.

Colour-Changing Bubble Sphere - "Creating an air of calm and tranquillity, the mesmerizing effects of this enchanting centrepiece are truly spectacular." What do people do that's so spectacular while under the mesmerising effects? Bound to liven up any party or family gathering...

Telescopic Magnet Stick -"The size of an average pen, the brilliant Telescopic Magnet Stick extends to 21" (53cm) long, so that without bending over, you can effortlessly pick up metallic bits and bobs from the floor." - it's unclear whether these metallic bits and bobs should be there already, or whether the TMS calls them into existence through some sort of quantum effect...

Anyway, more here.

Tuesday, November 15, 2005


Creepy shot of the moon behind a pulley thing in next door's garden. Posted by Picasa

Monday, November 14, 2005


Glittery candle pictures inspired by Jane and Wolf's glittery candles and the Christmas cards I just got through from Amnesty. This also solves the problem of Michael not believing in Christmas decorations, as everything in the house (including him) is now covered in glitter, and from past experience is likely to stay that way for several weeks... Posted by Picasa

Candle group Posted by Picasa

Single candle Posted by Picasa

The moon. Now I can fake lots of pictures of things with the moon in them... Posted by Picasa

Wednesday, November 09, 2005

Cambridge Panorama


Panorama of the view from the top of the Castle Hill, using the extremely cunning AutoStitch. You just give it a bunch of photos and it stitches them into a panorama with no further intervention. (It looks a good deal more impressive than this, but I can only get the blogger to publish a very small copy).

Panorama

 Slightly smaller slice of the panorama.
 Posted by Picasa

Hazy library and church spire at sunset Posted by Picasa

Spire, clouds and moon Posted by Picasa

Ivy against the sky Posted by Picasa

Monday, November 07, 2005

Overheard

When I was in Waterstone's today I overheard a guy ask one of the booksellers if she could recommend a book to him. Apparently he was looking for something along the lines of D.M. Thomas' "The White Hotel" or something by Ian McEwan - so presumably something fairly weird and depressing with lots of sex. Or as he put it "Dark and disturbing, but in a positive way." I'm not sure what she recommended, but he wandered off happily, bag in hand, while the booksellers fell about laughing.

However, it's still not as good as some of the requests Alasdair got in Waterstone's (correct me if I'm wrong Alasdair):

"It's about this size with a blue cover."

"How often do the annuals come out?"

And my personal favourite,

"Do you have any books on how to raise the dead?"

King's chapel and contrail. Posted by Picasa

Clare bridge and punters Posted by Picasa

This is what passes for a traffic trail photo in Cambridge. As you can see, it's a bustling hive of activity - and very dark.

The city council seem to run on an entirely different principle from Glasgow city council who believe in plenty of floodlighting and streetlighting and decorative lighting. Indeed, people have been know to fall asleep on park benches and waken up half an hour later to find themselves floodlit. However, Cambridge not only don't believe in anything as appallingly common as floodlighting, they try and keep streetlighting to a minimum too.

This means that many streets in the town centre are plunged into Stygian darkness during the winter. These are also the streets most likely to be populated by people flitting about in long black gowns. Posted by Picasa

Can't remember how you spell this building. It's a bit of Trinity anyway... Posted by Picasa

People (and shadows) taking photos on Jesus Green. Posted by Picasa

Another photographer. The place was knee deep in them... Posted by Picasa

Polarised chestnut tree Posted by Picasa

Possibly beech leaves Posted by Picasa

More chestnut leaves Posted by Picasa

Hazy hill picture Posted by Picasa

Office buildings Posted by Picasa

Bike shadow Posted by Picasa

Friday, November 04, 2005