Photo Diary

Archive for August, 2008

IMG_0898

Monday, August 18th, 2008


IMG_0898, originally uploaded by michael_jecks.

At last, it’s happened. My profound gratitude to Dave and Dawn Hatton for Dave dancing with me, and Dawn for being at such a loose end she actually wanted to photograph us! That’s Dave with the purple back to his waistcoat, while I have the rather snazzy turquoise with the chestload of badges!

I’ve been wanting to get a picture of us dancing this dance because it’s rapidly become our signature dance. We try to do it at every opportunity because those three pound weight iron bars make a really good noise when they clash. And audiences always like to watch them I guess because it’s the same as watching cars racing – there’s that vague urge to watch a crash! Well, luckily no one has been bashed with one of our bars yet. In fact I’m the only one to have any injury – my partner and I missed a clash one day, and I was so desperate not to brain the great lummock that I tore the muscles in my forearm to stop the bar hitting him! Three pounds in weight creates a lot of momentum, and the torsion as well can do serious damage. Painful damage, too!

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Wednesday, August 13th, 2008


DSC_0063.JPG, originally uploaded by michael_jecks.

It is that weird and wonderful time of year again. Now I’ve acquired my new computer to help me work – or catch up with the work that the school holidays have irreparably destroyed or delayed – the season of festivals have struck again.

This is no great pain to me. In fact, since I’ve already had to give up skiing (haven’t been able to afford that since I took up writing) I’ve grown to appreciate the lunatic joys of folk festivals – especially that of Dartmoor Folk festival.

For one weekend a year, the place is overrun. People come from all over, just to drink, sing, play music, and have fun. And they succeed. Sadly in recent years half the pubs in the village have been forced to close, due to ever more extravagant laws prohibiting anything which could be construed as enjoyable, but the two remaining still do pretty well. Especially during folk festival time, when they make one third of all their profits for the year!

This lot, sadly, weren’t with us. This photo I took the week before at the Sidmouth Folk Festival. These gentle fellows (Hah!) are the Great Western Morris side from Exeter. I will not try to explain what they do, nor how. Suffice it to say that if you get the chance to see them, do so! They are magnificent.

Goodbye, old friend . . .

Thursday, August 7th, 2008


DSC_0039.JPG, originally uploaded by michael_jecks.

There are some folks no doubt who wonder what their favourite author gets up to in the summer months. Well, if you’re a boring devil like me, this is the sort of thing you do. You wander out and buy a new computer.
It’s been necessary, though. I intended to get this last year, but it was the wrong time, for many reasons (most of them having a pound sign in front of them). Now, though, I have this lovely little Apple iMac, which isn’t so little, which means I can blast through photos, run powerful applications, and, most important just now, use Scrivener.
It’s a strange little package, Scrivener. But perfect for authors. Since it’s been designed by an author for authors, I guess that’s no surprise, though. Still, I’m looking forward to starting my next book using that package, and with any luck it’ll mean I get the work done sooner.
In the meantime, now I’ve taken all the important stuff off the old iMac, it’s time the poor old beastie got retired. A faithful friend for six or seven years, but time to say goodbye!