Litrate news

New Years Resolution

2008-01-01T18:27:00.000Z

1. Simplify my life.
1a. Not to worry that I never add to this blog.
1b. Keep on with Flickr.

Africa phots done

2007-10-14T19:12:00.000+01:00

I have now finished putting up a selection of photos from my Africa trip this summer. In case you are interested, the Malawi photos are at http://www.flickr.com/photos/litrate/sets/72157601422158011/
My Zambia photos (mainly animals) are available at http://www.flickr.com/photos/litrate/sets/72157602197672099/ You can view them whether or not you are signed up to Flickr but you need to belong to flickr to leave comments.

Olympic ideals.

2007-10-05T12:20:00.000+01:00

I heard on the radio this morning that the word Olympic is legally protected and the author of a new children’s book Olympic Mind Games has been threatened for having it in the title. Crazy. To support the word, I am immediately buying his book and have added the tag Olympic fairly randomly to some of my flickr photos.
Although not in Johnson’s (1818) dictionary – the old buffer didn’t like words of Greek origin – the phrase Olympic Games is to be found in Bailey’s earlier (1728) English dictionary.

It all still takes time

2007-10-03T21:38:00.000+01:00

It's taking a long time to put my Malawi and Zambia phots on Flickr. i have now put up the Malawi ones and am going through animal pics from Zambia. I'm getting there....

It all takes time

2007-09-24T20:54:00.000+01:00

Well, uploading my Africa photos is taking a long time. Next is the tea plantation. then I will get to Zambia and the animals. And I am trying not to take any more photos till I have got through these.

Trip to Malawi

2007-08-30T22:19:00.000+01:00

Am back from trip to Malawi and Zambia and starting to put photos on flickr. It all takes time....

David and me at the Tate.

2007-06-08T21:28:00.000+01:00

Went to Tate Britain to watch the flickr screens at the How We Are photography exhibition; had to wait more than an hour till I saw one of my photos. It was the "Care With efficiency" truck.

It was well worth the wait -and I gave a shout and did a little dance when my photo came up. I didn't see my other three photos.

David Hockney was nearby being filmed with his landscapes, which were up the stairs behind me. He seemed much cooler about being exhibited in the Tate - guess he is used to it.

He gave me a smile when he saw me surreptiously camera phone snapping him.

How we are now

2007-05-25T23:24:00.000+01:00

hey, I've put some photos on to this site for the exhibition at the Tate http://www.tate.org.uk/britain/exhibitions/howweare/slideshow.shtm
- That's exciting!

Climbed Ingleborough on a dull day

2007-05-13T21:45:00.000+01:00

Climbed Ingleborough on this dull day and got back before the heavy rain.

Chesil Beach

2007-03-31T13:56:00.000+01:00

Chesil Beach from Portland
Originally uploaded by litrate.

Thought you would like to see it, as Ian McEwan has just brought out a book called C B.

Wollemi Pine: another tree to watch

2007-01-18T20:52:00.000Z

Thought to be extinct, the Wollemi Pine was found in Australia a few years ago. Searching the internet in the middle of the night we found we could buy one and look after it here in England, so we bought this expensive tree. If you expect a birthday present soon, it will probably be a share in this tree and the possibility of watching it grow over the next forty years…. More pics on flickr.

Back in the library

2007-01-08T20:44:00.000Z

Back in the library
Originally uploaded by litrate.

Due back on twelfth night, the tree is now safely back where it belongs

Christmas tree as christmas tree

2007-01-08T20:43:00.000Z

Christmas tree as christmas tree
Originally uploaded by litrate.

Checked out of the library the tree had two weeks of parties, noise and dressing up.

Christmas tree library 1

2006-12-17T21:42:00.000Z

Christmas tree library 1
Originally uploaded by litrate.

Just dug up and getting ready for xmas. At last after many years the tree library has its first tree ready.

Christmas tree library

2006-12-17T21:41:00.000Z

Chrtismas tree library 2
Originally uploaded by litrate.

Yes, the first tree to be checked out of the library and not due back for two weeks.

Animals reading

2006-11-21T21:54:00.000Z

There are 1,948 photos of animals reading on Flickr, at http://www.flickr.com/search/?w=all&q=animals+reading&m=text

First snow of the year

2006-11-19T19:26:00.001Z

First snow of the year on the lakeland fells, viewed from a distance.

2006-11-19T19:26:00.000Z

Mystery cake

2006-10-28T18:04:00.000+01:00

Mystery cake
Originally uploaded by litrate.

The mystery of getting bday cake, not on my birthday w 3 candles and cranberries round the edge, eaten in the dark, during photos of Scottish Islands evening, more on that later, maybe. Thanks O & S.

Berwick-on-Tweed

2006-09-21T13:20:00.000+01:00

Berwick-on-Tweed
Originally uploaded by litrate.

Been through here and am now in Scotland, the train is following the coast, v beautiful. and wild. The postings today have all been uploaded live while on the wifi enabled East coast mainline train from London to Edinburgh.

Scotland

2006-09-21T13:11:00.000+01:00

been trhough Berwick, am prob in Scotland

Newcastle

2006-09-21T12:50:00.000+01:00

Newcastle
Originally uploaded by litrate.

the tyne

2006-09-21T12:17:00.000+01:00

don't follow this on a map as the postings are appearing in a strange order.

durham

2006-09-21T12:02:00.000+01:00

durham
Originally uploaded by litrate.

hey we didn't stop here

Darlington

2006-09-21T11:56:00.000+01:00

Darlington
Originally uploaded by litrate.

just passed trhough

vision

2006-09-21T11:33:00.000+01:00

hey, just saw the angel of the north

darlington

2006-09-21T11:29:00.000+01:00

nearly at darlingtoln, going v slowly. have put some photos on flickr but can't get them to here yet.

york

2006-09-21T11:28:00.000+01:00

york
Originally uploaded by litrate.

been there

en route

2006-09-21T10:48:00.000+01:00

trying to upload from fast moving train just left doncaster.

Befriended

2006-08-10T21:12:00.000+01:00

I leave you for a while with this dog which befriended me and sits like a greek statue.

Getting close up

2006-08-04T19:55:00.000+01:00

Everywhere I look people are taking photos close up, usually of Bees, must be that time of the year in the northern hemisph. Here's my contribution for the bees, it looks to me as if the flower is getting ready to give away some pollen.

Experience and trust

2006-07-11T21:54:00.000+01:00

In my experience the skies are completely clear and the sun always shines in the outer hebrides, certainly from 2.30 am until after midnight, and what calm seas! Can I rely on my experience, and why would I doubt it?

Driver supports literacy programme

2006-06-16T21:57:00.000+01:00

This coach driver supports the government's literacy strategy as he makes his way along the M25.
- taken from today's papers.

Relaxed Troutbeck hike

2006-05-10T17:03:00.000+01:00

Great walk from windermere station, using public transport to get there. See a GPS map view here, walk includes sheep , barns, views, little climbing and ends in a pub lunch.

Stray shopping carts

2006-04-30T19:37:00.000+01:00

Someone had photos of a shopping cart or two. (I think it was one of those literacies bloggers but can't find it this minute.) I immediately reached for my current book of the month, The Stray Shopping Carts of Eastern North America: A Guide to Field Identification.
To summarise the Amazon review: Despite the ubiquity of stray shopping carts, little effort has been made to comprehend the complex relationship between cart and landscape. This is, in no small part, due to the fact that we have until now lacked a formalised language to describe these wayward carts in systematic detail. The five sections explain all you'll need to know to about classifying carts, firstly into Class A: False Strays, Types 1-11 and, secondly, Class B: True Strays, Types 1-22. Each type gets a page with an excellent photo and details about what to look for. A section entitled Selected Specimens, has more than three hundred graphic photos of carts in the environment categorized by class and type. You need this book.

Time flies and no blogging.

2006-04-30T19:28:00.000+01:00

My one known blog reader friend has pointed out I haven't posted for a while, and I realise that if I don't hurry up I won't have an April posting in my back issues. What with Flickr n Skype to deal with, life gets so busy, but watch this space!

The Lone Ranger

2006-03-30T22:51:00.000+01:00

Hmmm... a night out to see the lone ranger - that first programme when he meets Tonto, takes the mask and vows revenge - all interpreted by the vigourous tones of the Millennium choir - quite an evening. Next they are planning to sing along to Dr Who....... It was a benefit evening, we paid to get in and we paid to get out. Lots of fun.

fishie

2006-03-26T12:34:00.000+01:00

fishie
Originally uploaded by litrate.

This is an attractive full body portrait of fishie taken exactly a year ago and is the last known photograph. The cruel picture in Leigaaman's comment below does suggest a striking resemblance.

A question of scale

2006-03-25T17:57:00.000Z

1a. At 7 am looked out of back window – a heron on the top of the chimney of the neighbouring house, looking benignly around. Impressive! Never before seen here. A question of scale, note that a heron measure in at 92 cms whilst a wren measures just 9.5 cms.
1b. Fishie seems to have gone missing. This one aged goldfish (12cm) sharing a small pond with 41 frogs is no more.
1c. Can this be a coincidence?
1d. Is neighbour legally responsible?
2. In Audubon’s Birds of America (which I have looked at) he drew them all life size. The book is published in a print size called double elephant – which would make a good top for a dining room table - another question of scale.

spanglish

2006-03-21T22:20:00.000Z

spanglish
Originally uploaded by litrate.

I'm here to celebrate invented spellings, not larff at them. they tend to reveal sophisitcated phonetic insights. This one is interesting as it's mixing the spanish "pintado" and the english "painted". And be careful of synthetic phonics - you'll end up with a Clackmannanshire accent - which isn't a bad thing.

Stuck in the snow

2006-03-13T21:14:00.000Z

mway snow
Originally uploaded by litrate.

Okay, spring hasn't come; got stuck in the middle of Scotland, couldn't get home from Edinburgh and had to spend the night in Moffat - more on flickr.

Broken HOTPOINT; Crap service

2006-03-10T11:26:00.000Z

Spring, who cares about spring? Currys just delivered a new Hotpoint drier and the door is broken. They will return in three days time but refuse to tell me the time of day they will come.

Its spring 2

2006-03-10T10:20:00.000Z

its spring 2
Originally uploaded by litrate.

The goldfinches return

Its spring 1

2006-03-10T10:19:00.000Z

its spring
Originally uploaded by litrate.

Froggie wakes up and has a good look round.

Nexus of practice

2006-02-24T22:31:00.000Z

Hey, I've just made a film here - don't miss it, including sound, and you can make one too.

The family 1896

2006-02-07T21:51:00.000Z

Caws family 1896
Originally uploaded by litrate.

Here's the Caws family, with Byron the ships' pilot there. I imagine myself as seafaring even though I've hardly been near a boat in the past twenty years.

Pilot cutter Neptune

2006-02-07T21:41:00.000Z

Neptune pilot cutter 2
Originally uploaded by litrate.

This saling boat was a pilot cutter belonging to my great grand father, Byron Caws and it worked in the Spithead, off Seaview, Isle of Wight. I don't mean to get family oriented but my brother keeps sending me these interesting photos. more to follow.

shed art

2006-02-05T15:58:00.000Z

shed art
Originally uploaded by litrate.

A seven year old and father collected all sorts of stuff in the park, for a year, then recorded, classified the stuff and it’s all displayed in a garden shed. There are butterflies and frogs, used fireworks, coins, and much more. Then linked to the historical scientific origins of the 19th century park. Thesaurus Scienta, Lancastriae. More info here - DrKate would love this!

My Great grandfather Byron Jones Caws

2006-02-04T17:50:00.000Z

Byron Jones Caws
Originally uploaded by litrate.

Seaview, Isle of Wight, I thought you would like to meet the relatives, from around the 1890s. The name Caws is a classic Isle of Wight surname - Urry is another one. Every Caws I have met has a link back to the Isle of Wight.

My Great grandmother, Eliza Jane Caws

2006-02-04T17:49:00.000Z

Eliza Jane Caws
Originally uploaded by litrate.

Thought you would like to meet the relatives.

No more stink

2006-01-28T13:43:00.000Z

No more stink
Originally uploaded by litrate.

NEWSFLASH. Nightingale Hall Farm, the animal rendering plant which has sent a disgusting smell over the neighbourhood for more than 20yrs, is to close. This is how neighbours spread the news - I'm not sure about the word 'hurrah' though. More info at http://www.lancastertoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=31&ArticleID=1329089

yan tan tethera

2006-01-26T22:25:00.000Z

yan tan tethera
Originally uploaded by litrate.

Bit of literacy here for you folks out there, an old Cumbrian counting system used by shepherds now gets reinvented as a house name, on a house rented to tourists.

Time to blog?

2006-01-22T22:00:00.000Z

I have not yet worked out what I want to do with my blog, whether I’ve got the time, who I am addressing, and how it fits into my life. It’s partly to play around with things on the edge of my academic identity, like photography, and to converse with some blogosphere people like DrJoolz and DrKate. I am getting sucked into flickr and obsessive about it. Interestingly I don’t see my photos as standing on there own, without explanation but want to explain what I am doing with them, so that’s one thing I might do here.

2006-01-22T20:41:00.000Z

Originally uploaded by snuggle up & read.

Years of Uninterrupted Pleasure

2006-01-22T17:20:00.000Z

Years of Uninterrupted Pleasure
Originally uploaded by sarahfelicity.

2006-01-21T18:13:00.000Z

I've added the instructions for the Christmas game, below.

The Caped Kitty Begins

2006-01-21T18:03:00.000Z

The Caped Kitty Begins
Originally uploaded by Kevin Steele.

Advertree

2006-01-20T14:03:00.000Z

Advertree
Originally uploaded by okkie1.

Christmas game

2006-01-09T23:06:00.000Z

Christmas game
Originally uploaded by litrate.

How many households play this game every xmas??

Ingleborough, a sunny day today

2005-12-28T23:21:00.000Z

Ingleborough, a sunny day today
Originally uploaded by litrate.

I love it when it's clear and sunny here and the media tell us that everywhere is covered in snow and we shouldn't go anywhere.

ART DOES NOT read like a sentence

2005-12-28T18:15:00.000Z

ART DOES NOT read like a sentence Originally uploaded by ForestForTrees who also brings us smellyknowledge....

I prefer cats

2005-12-27T23:37:00.000Z

my, what big teeth you have
Originally uploaded by Splat Worldwide.

and splat has great vegetables too.

Dog signs of Nice.

2005-12-26T17:33:00.000Z

l12Signpoodlegreen
Originally uploaded by litrate.

So many different sorts of dogs make it to the signs. Maybe a fluid time before there's a prototypical dog in the south of France. Compare it with signs for trains.

Xmas walk on Whitbarrow: bent yew

2005-12-25T17:31:00.000Z

avocado pool

2005-12-22T11:07:00.000Z

this seems to work - click on it and get to my flickr site.

Transliteracies

2005-12-21T20:50:00.000Z

Being transliterate. I'm starting a blog, looking at my flickr page, reading emails, that's transliteracy, going between them, integrating them into one activity. Transliterate - going seamlessly across literacies.

Seamless - a good word for webs and textures.

Transliteracy - even better than transdisciplinary, Bob:

It's beyond multi-tasking, where I am also phoning, listening to a message, writing christmas cards and talking to sweetredonion, these are separate activities.

Not much happening

2005-12-21T20:36:00.000Z

Not much happening