Update on my piercing.

It’s almost two weeks now that my nose had been done and I can’t believe how well it is doing. It gets a quick sea salt soak in the morning and a more thorough soak in the evening when I’ve taken my make-up off and so far so good. I made the mistake with my ear rim of thinking that because sea salt is a natural product, cleaning it more often would help. Let me say now that it’s definitely a case of less is more. The extra cleaning dries your skin out, and mine is prone to being dry at the best of times, and it goes all red and shiny. Needless to say the instructions I got given from the piercing studio clearly states washing it twice a day but then let’s face it who ever reads the instructions for anything??? Must also learn to be patient with it, probably changed my BCR on my ear too early and it made it take longer to heal. Just wanted a barbell in it ‘cos it kept getting caught up, something I haven’t found with my nose as it’s a nose screw and quite discreet. Anyhow so far I’m really glad I had it done, these things are always far easier than you think they will be, wonder if I’ll be saying that about a tattoo someday ;-)

Photo of Paradise!

In case anyone was wondering what Paradise looks like, here it is. This was taken earlier in the year when we had snow, not my favourite kind of weather to be out in. However we have a Winter category coming up in the new seasons photographic club competitions so I thought I would wander outside at lunchtime to see if I could get find any inspiration for the competition :-) Thought the “old world” sepia look rather suited this image, makes the place seem more interesting than it is! Did find some suitable subjects for the competition but can't afford to show them off here until they have been entered into the competition, wouldn't want to ruin my chances ;-) I don't do too bad really, won a shield and a cup last year for the Imagination Trophy and Panel of Four and this year held onto the Panel of Four cup again. In fact I won 1st, 2nd and 3rd, how embarassing. You can never really tell what the judge will go for on the night unless you have seen them before and get a feel for what they like to see. Personally I think likes/dislikes should be left at the door, it's technical ability and composition that count but they are only human after all, at least that's what they keep telling us :-)

Nimrod MR MK II

Known as "The Mighty Hunter", this is the aircraft whose software I work on.

The team has been in existance for 20+ years now and obviously people have moved on and new people have joined. I've been on the project for about 15 years which is the longest I've worked on any project before.

It's a magnificent aircraft and I get a thrill every time I see it fly, which sadly isn't too often as it doesn't often give performances at airshows. I have been lucky enough to have been on board it a couple of times whilst it has been in the hangers, I am not comfortable enough about flying to go up in her unfortunately.

The other aircraft I love to see fly is the Harrier, I'm not really into airplanes but that is such a different sort of aircraft that I enjoy watching it. The last time I saw one was at last years Farnborough Airshow, it was the first time I had been and it was a pretty good day out despite the changeable weather.

My New Piercing

Here's a quick snap of my new piercing, cool or what? It was pretty easy to have done, didn't hurt anymore than having my ear rim done and for you women out there it's a breeze compared to giving birth ;-)

Think this will be the last piercing I get as I can't think of anywhere else I'd really like to get done. I have my lobes done twice and my right ear rim and now my left nostril. Am thinking of a tattoo though which would be really cool if I'm happy to live with it forever. I'd really like a wolf on the top part of my right arm, nothing too big or anything. I really love wolves and can't see that changing so the design isn't a problem it's just the permanence of a tattoo that has to be thought over properly beforehand. At least a piercing will close down pretty well if you decide to "retire" it at any time in the future, a tattoo is not so easily disposed of. I'm also a bit concerned over the pain bit too, a piercing is over so quickly compared to a tattoo but I guess if you want something bad enough you have to be prepared to put up with a little pain. It can't be that bad otherwise some people wouldn't be covered in them!

Piercing

Hi,

Thought I'd share with everyone the fact that I got my nostril pierced last Friday :-) This is my second body pierce, had my ear rim done just over a year ago, not bad for a 42 year old ;-) Next thing could be a tattoo but need to be 110% sure first.

It didn't hurt as much as I thought it might, no worse than my ear rim. Needless to say I got it done at a professional body piercing studio, wouldn't let anyone near me with those piercing guns, not even my lobes. In fact both my lobe piercings were done with needles 'cos that's all there was years ago, now I'm showing my age!

So far it seems fine, got to get back into the habit of salt water soaks but hopefully it'll heal OK and I might be able to treat myself to a new piece of jewellery for Xmas. Ice blue titanium being my favourite at the moment.

From Paradise...

It’s been a long day here in Paradise again, why does the time sometimes drag so much? The sun is shining outside not that I can see much of it from where I am located, sitting here still feeling a tad chilly so no summer T-shirts for me yet ;-) Realised my summer holiday is still ten weeks away, that seems like a lifetime at the moment, summer will have finally arrived once the school’s are out in July. Trouble is Easter was so nice weather wise that we got spoiled and now that it should be warm and sunny it’s taking ages to get going. At least I’m not a hay fever sufferer, mind I’ve got a cold that doesn’t seem to want to come out properly. It’s a pain really as I keep thinking about getting my nostril pierced and I don’t want to do it yet if I have to keep blowing my nose. I keep researching on the internet about it but I guess at the end of the day it’s about biting the bullet and just go for it. My ear rim is pretty much healed now although it took the best part of a year to settle down, mainly ‘cos I’m too impatient and kept changing the jewellery! Have now decided to keep a circular barbell in it made of titanium which seems to keep it happy most of the time. It’s easier to change it when I want to, the BCR’s are a pain to do without pliers and besides reaching my ear AND being able to see what I’m doing wouldn’t be easy. Well soon be home time, roll on Friday :-)

Lazy Weekend

It's been a quiet weekend really, most of the time being spent catching up on all those chores around the house and garden that never seem to be fitted in during the busy working week. Also been a bit of an emotional roller coaster, too much time spent dwelling on a past person I would really rather forget about, still I have these moments from time to time.

Still fighting what seems to be a losing battle with my ISP over slow broadband speeds, I thought computers were supposed to make life easier, why then do they seem intent on filling my life with hassle, be it at home or at work ;-)

I'm sure life was much simpler when we weren't at the beck and call of a mobile phone and snail mail was the only way to communicate long distance. Don't get me wrong, I'd be lost without my PC but sometimes using one just does my head in.

Still it's back to Paradise again tomorrow for the start of another exciting working week, roll on Friday!

Back from Paradise

Back home from the daily grind. Had to face another phonecall to my ISP to try and chase them up about my slow broadband. Seems everyone out there is experiencing trouble with the high speed broadband business. Desperate to move to a company that will hopefully be able to provide me with the I deserve

Paradise

Had to post a quick note to mark today, as they reminded me on the radio this morning that it's the 05/06/07. A date that obviously only comes round every 1000 years and where am I? In paradise, my nickname for that four letter word WORK ;-) Trouble is with bills to pay etc. etc. there's no avoiding it so gotta keep this short.

Bluebells

This is one of my bluebell shots, manipulated of course (!) in Photoshop. It was taken in my garden with my new 60mm macro lens, wicked to use but getting depth of field just right is not easy.

Haven't had alot of opportunity to use it yet but am hoping to use it more when we go away this year.

I enjoy tinkering around in Photoshop to see what comes out, some obviously look better than others ;-)

Can make some useful entries for the Imagination Trophy Competition held by the camera club I belong to, Invicta CC.

Luna

This is Luna, she's the wolf I sponsor at Wolf Watch UK. I've not been fortunate enough to visit her yet but I've been sponsoring her for a while now as my brother started it for my 40th birthday, what a gift!

I'm not sure what it is about them that I really love, maybe they remind me of my dog Max who was a Shetland Sheepdog and so had that sort of long muzzle look about him. He passed away a few years ago now and I really miss him. Would love another dog but working full time makes that impossible for now, roll on retirement ;-)

First Post

Or should that be Last Post ;-)

Just trying to get this up and running so bear with me for a bit, time is very precious at the moment so will do what I can when I can. Check back in a few days and hopefully they'll be more.