Today was International Fest day at school. The annual fund raising event with all the different nationalities all having a stall to sell things, goods, food etc from their country. Packed again, nice Belgian beer on sale for a change, plenty of food from all over the place and live music. Which is where Tom played in 2 acts. The first he, Laura and Harry, both classmates played an Adele song.
Have to say, Laura needs to stop with the singing lessons, they’re not working. more »
We all went to whats called ‘Tanzania Night’ at the school last night. It’s an event held annually to raise money for Tanzania schools that the school here has been doing for 20 years. Many of the students make groups, perform dances, sing etc and we all drink, eat and watch. So, Tom played piano with some of his grade 10 friends, playing a Red Hot Chili Peppers song. He’s very good.
Short post this one. Lovely Autumn day today, cold, sunny and a heavy mist this morning when I got up. So having taken the kids to school I got home, picked up my camera and Annie (the dog) and I went off into the woods.
A nice stroll, steadily getting cold hands and stopped every now and again when the light was right to take a photo. Didn’t really find a good shot until almost the end, with the light shining through the trees the foliage just lit up an managed this shot. Has to be my favourite, and the only one I kept.
Update: Added a second photo to this, much better I think, taken in November 2012, see below
A while ago I bought myself what’s known as the ‘nifty fifty’. A 50mm 1.8 prime lens for my camera. No zoom, you ‘zoom with your feet’. Bought it because it was not only cheap, but, very very good in low light so no flash needed, great for street shots, fantastic narrow depth of field and best of all, pin sharp. Well, that’s what it said on the tin. Finally, after 3 attempts I’ve got a lens that does all that; and I love it.
Went into Düsseldorf last night for a meal and wander around seeing as there was triathlon on and a nice summers evening. Took the nifty fifty of course and a few photos.
Started off with something simple, just a plain old ashtray. Nothing special, and quite liked how it turned out.
So whilst sat in the restaurant, outside as it happens seeing as it was quite warm. All you can eat Asian (Chinese) food by the way, 11.90€ so a good deal. But whilst waiting took this shot of the chap opposite waiting for his meal, messing with his phone. So sharp. Love it.
Looked good in colour, but better in black and white. So on a walk afterward we came across this fellow, one of those living statues. Obviously worth a snap too. And again better in black and white.
Until finally we wandered along the Rhine and an old Chinese fellow was cycling towards us, pulled over and got off his bike. Fully laden with who knows what.
Nto sure if he was advertising something or homeless. And the original version was very nice too, but, preferred this more subdued, less saturated colour version. Both are on flickr and always open to advice. In fact, I welcome it.
As usual you can see all the Düsseldorf photos below, note some are quite old now:
Seems like most of the UK it never stops snowing at present. Snowed about 15cm a few weeks ago, topped up daily and then went over a couple of days before reappearing with a vengeance 2 days ago. Snowed every day since.
But, like most of Germany they seem to just get on with things. Schools stayed open, people went to work, drives and pathways were cleared and occasionally you see a gritter on the roads but most people have their winter tyres by now so the snow doesn’t become much of an issue. It’s a legal requirement now by the way to have winter tyres on your car. Why the UK doesn’t have such a rule I don’t know, makes the ‘British’ look pathetic when it snow and nothing moves. And it’s not like this part of Germany gets snow usually. Speaking with the locals they say it very rarely snows, but they are prepared for it.
So, camera in hand, of I went to take some photos of the street where out house is, and the forest at the back where we walk the dog. Very nice it was too, even if it was a bit nippy.