Archive for December 2007

Wahey! I won a prize from Bob!

Posted by on December 12th 2007 in Thanks

What, with all the fuss about the Bloggers' Panto and with a few other things going on, I forgot to mention that Podcast Bob sent me an email the other day telling me that I had won a copy of Paddy Dillon's new book, The National Trails: The National Trails of England, Scotland and Wales.

I can't comment on the book yet, as I've yet to receive it. Maybe Bob's holding it back to save on postage in case I win the latest prize on offer (a Lightwave S42 Rucksack)? Anyway, if the book's as informative as Paddy's live talks, it'll be a good read.

If you're feeling lucky, get yourself over to Bob's Outdoors Station right now. There's a new competition every week, and there's no registration or entry fee required. Oh, and don't forget the podcasts and other goodies there.

Many thanks, Bob. Merry Christmas!

The Bottle Pod arrives

Posted by on December 11th 2007 in Camera kit, Shiny new kit

Well, the Bottle Pod thing might look like it's a bit of cheap plastic, but it works surprisingly well.

It's marketed for fitting compact cameras and the like to bottles and car-windows, so I overloaded it with my Nikon D50 + 70-300mm zoom, and clamped it to the head of one of my DMM Cirque axes. I had expected the lever-locked plastic ball-head to be a bit naff, but it held the unbalanced camera set-up firmly enough, with no slow forwards-creep. I wouldn't like to load it up too much, though, as the connector might part company from the ball. Still, for short-lens work and compacts, I reckon it'll do a fine job. Time will tell if the plastics used are up to being used in cold conditions... if it breaks, I'll let you know. It weighs in at just 28g.

Don't ask me to test it on one of those festrous walking-poles; I don't own any, and that's the way it's gonna stay.

Scotland 20, Rest of the World 5

Posted by on December 9th 2007 in Just for fun, Rambling on..., Thanks
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I'm not much of a stats-whore, but I do like to use such data to see if there are any trends and/or patterns hiding in the figures. Here is the latest curiosity: Of the 25 most recent comments left by visitors to this blog, 20 have been left by Scots. Further analysis reveals that all of the most recent ten comments left by visitors to this blog have been left by Scots. Now, for every statistical oddity there's usually a rational explanation, so they say. The trouble is, I'm having a hard job finding the correct reason for such a statistical pattern. So far, I've come up with the following possibilities:
  1. Scots have far too much free time on their hands, and they spend too much of it on the internet;
  2. Scots are more sociable than other folk, hence they are better at inter-personal communication;
  3. Scots are highly opinionated and talk too much;
  4. I write good stuff that only Scots appreciate, stuff that's just goes over the heads of other folk;
  5. I write drivel that's ignored by all except Scots, who find it to their taste;
  6. I live in the wrong country.
Looking at the comment-stats in a more local geo-frame, here's the score on a UK basis:
  • Scotland 20
  • England 5
  • Rest of the UK 0
Please feel free to comment on these stats, regardless of your nationality. Maybe you could suggest other reasons? Anyway, thanks to all who have already left their mark here. I'm off to delve a bit deeper, to see if the trend goes further back.

Neat idea? – The Bottle Pod

Posted by on December 3rd 2007 in Camera kit

I was looking at this curious bottle-pod gadget at 7dayshop.com.

According to the blurb, it'll fit onto any suitable bottle-top up to 38mm dia, presumably it'll also fit other objects with a similarly-dimensioned sticky-up bit, such as a walking pole, maybe? It'll also clamp onto the top edge of a car-window, so maybe it'll also fit onto the pick of an ice-axe?

Next time I put in an order, I'll nab one and see what it's good for. At just £1.99, it's not likely to break the bank.

Edit: I just found that Roman has blogged about similar gadgets, have a look here.

Totally barking

Posted by on December 1st 2007 in Pics, Rambling on...
Tags: , ,

I'm not one of those weird tree-huggers, but I will admit to fondling my wood now and again.

Just a few pics of our willow tree, taken this afternoon as the sun was lowering.

 

 

 

 

 
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