A day of two halves

After swimming I started to watch the tennis in Melbourne and of course couldn't leave it. I had to will Andy on! 4 hours later, he did it. What fit sportsmen they must be, compared to say a cricketer, who might stand out in the field for a day and do nothing much. Or, if you call darts a sport... no, we're getting ridiculous now.

I then decided to go up Calton Hill for a moody (not me, the weather) blip. I've seen lots of terrific ominous grey-skied blips. It was going to snow, so they promised - but no worries - I have my expensive wet weather camera bag improvised plastic rubbish bag and rubber band to cover my camera.

Timed my exit wrong(ly). The neighbourhood was filled with yelling, pushing, crowding, intimidating hooligans teenage schoolchildren. Edinburgh schools have a half day on Fridays, and it's appreciated by the pupils, and even more so by the teachers! Though not, I suspect, by the parents.

My wait at the bus stop was therefore more interesting. One young lad ran for the bus, the crotch of his jeans down at his knees. He could not run. It must be against some 'elf'n'safety rule. They should be banned!

Another young lad was surrounded by admiring girls. He chomped through a bar of chocolate, and I watched what he did with the paper. He folded it. Aha! He's going to put it in the bin as he gets on the bus. Good lad. Then he flicked his wrist, and chucked it on the pavement behind him. I walked over and tapped him and pointed out the bin, not three steps away. He picked it up and put it in the bin. I don't understand the mentality of people who drop rubbish.

Another two hooligans schoolchildren were pushing and shoving near me as the bus came. Then one said to the other, 'Look out for the old person!' I had to smile.

My visit to Calton Hill was a not a success. I left my tripod at my first stop and only noticed ages later and had to hoof it back over at speed as fast as I could. I had wanted to fiddle about with dark skies and light up the foreground (a tree, say) with my Speedlite. It wouldn't work. I think because they couldn't 'see' each other as my camera was wrapped in a plastic bag.

I gave up and walked to the other side, putting my Speedlite in my pocket.

Yes. It fell out. On to the concrete!! The little stand it came with broke. But luckily the flash seems all right. Now I WILL have to buy that gorillapod thingie I've been thinking about.

This shot was one of the few that didn't have rain drop splodges on the lens.

So a successful morning, helping Andy through to the final. And an unsuccessful afternoon almost losing my tripod and breaking my Speedlite.

AND I didn't lose any weight this week.

I need a glass of wine.