a bike day

 Today we sent off the riders, at minute intervals on the Ayr Roads Cycling Club's Hill climb time trial.     This is looking back down from the Nic o' the Balloch as the last spectator breasted the climb by the finish.....and this is the view the other way from the top.

 and here they all are, with the finishing times being read by the top timekeeper.

Then The Pirate and me went to Glasgow for a session on the velodrome....hard work and preferable to this morning....warm and dry!!

blogging hijack

Anyone know where to report an hijacked blog....looks like "The Idle Duck" has been hacked and is being used to sell items on Am....

printing begins

First print....not bad.    I think the lines could be wider and/or deeper.

Trying to remember back forty years, techniques I enjoyed.    Consistency of ink, how much ink, different paper, which cutter for which line....its coming along ok.

Laura Ashley started in her kitchen.....

Spring?

The "May" is definitely NOT out....and the Equinox gales are roaring around the house and puffing down the chimney despite the new cowl (although that has made an improvement)

The shop re-opens....and life

I'm gradually refilling my Etsy shop (see link on the right hand side).

Just as the postal rates rise yet again!!!   Wish me luck!!

I also need a computer geek HERE, not just three and a half hours away by road and on facebook.....I've been given another printer (one which doesn't bend the paper/card in processing) as the last one's brain went AWOL.

As I use Linux, instead of wundows or mac, I need a different download....but as it doesn't come via the Ubuntu software centre (but is still free) it is a bit more complicated (for me) to install....
I'm not brave enough to do this stuff!!!

Meanwhile the Pirate has had his "bits" scanned after having an infection there....painful and worrying...and his (Housemaid's!!) Knee.   All ok.  The worst part...the waiting....and worrying...is nearly over.     His first "meet and greet" appointment at the West of Scotland Cancer centre in Glasgow (The Beatson) for his radiology is in a week's time.   We'll have a day out on the bus for free at the same time as his appointment isn't until 5pm.

The weather? Ah, the weather...like last year apparently ( not that we'd know by personal experience as we were in New Zealand)  and then it turned nasty and windy  and snowy...and even in New Zealand the snow damage on the Isle of Aran made the TV news headlines!!

The BDO Four Day Tour of the Northland is off and riding the first stage as I write....how we would love to be there riding or even just helping. 
We're planning to be back there in 2017 for the World Masters' Games in Auckland....if not before!!!!!!

cutting edge technology...

Thankyou Andrea for your comment on the last blogpost.     It may be forty years since I did this last, but I enjoyed it then.....

Thankyou also to Yeractual, the handle of the tool for pushing fruit pulp through a sieve is also good for rubbing the back of an inkjet printed image to transfer it to the lino.


One's fellow bloggers are there just when one needs them!

First printing tomorrow, then the final cutting if needed.

technology

At times defeats me.   Now the printer is refusing to print, and it looks like a brain malfunction, not something physical.

Just when I thought I could produce something to bring in some income, use my images for an exhibition.....


I'm  warming some lino....back to basics!!