(no subject)

Well, I just got a fair way into an LJ entry when the bloody PC blue screened. It's been doing that a lot recently - it works on cycles, see. Most of the time it's fine, but then it just goes off on a wobbly for a week and then settles down again.

Git of a machine.

Anyway.

I was waxing lyrical about going back to work in the morning, but I'm not sure I can be bothered, now. Terry Jones (yes, that Terry Jones) on one of his BBC history programmes noted that the average serf in mediaeval England owed his Lord 50 days service each year as part of his feudal duties. After that his time was his own to earn his living pretty much as he saw fit - in practice that meant farming and such, but provided the harvest was gathered and it was a good one, there was a fair amount of freedom.

In 2004 the average Briton has to work 80 days to cover the taxes we pay in modern society. An additional 30 days a year before we start working for ourselves. Isn't progress marvelous?

Anyway, that all seems a bit more depressing than I feel right now.

There's a fair amount happening this week. Tuesday sees the start of the quiz league, and then first outing of the team under the new name of the Accrington Cylindricals - there's a story there but I can't be bothered to relate it now. Suffice it to say that it made far more sense under the influence of alcohol than it does now. Thursday is a meeting at Holborn with nortysarah to see Michael Palin's lecture on his latest trip to South America (two Python references in one post, blimey) and on Friday it is the Turkish meal arranged by caffeine_fairy somewhere in Southwark - I must check.

So, mustn't complain. Lots of things to do.

I have progressed a bit further on my Columbine picture, and have scanned the second stage. I now need to start colouring it - probably water colour and ink (and lots of process white). I think once that is done, a further scan will be needed and then I shall try out some Photoshop effects on the picture, leaving the base untouched. Provided it all comes out all right I'll bugger your bandwidth with the relevant postings.

While I was looking for my paints, I serendipitously found a pencil portrait I did of Gillian Anderson back in the depths of April 1996 when X-Files fever was at its height. Now since wallabok thought that my last picture looked like Scully, I have scanned the picture in here just to show that when I have a photograph to copy from, and more time to burn than is strictly healthy, I can get a reasonable likeness.

So. This is the delightful Gillian Anderson (she could still have me if she plays her cards right) as drawn by me 8 years ago. I venture to say it looks nothing like the post I put up last week, even around the eyes.

(no subject)

Well, I just got a fair way into an LJ entry when the bloody PC blue screened. It's been doing that a lot recently - it works on cycles, see. Most of the time it's fine, but then it just goes off on a wobbly for a week and then settles down again.

Git of a machine.

Anyway.

I was waxing lyrical about going back to work in the morning, but I'm not sure I can be bothered, now. Terry Jones (yes, that Terry Jones) on one of his BBC history programmes noted that the average serf in mediaeval England owed his Lord 50 days service each year as part of his feudal duties. After that his time was his own to earn his living pretty much as he saw fit - in practice that meant farming and such, but provided the harvest was gathered and it was a good one, there was a fair amount of freedom.

In 2004 the average Briton has to work 80 days to cover the taxes we pay in modern society. An additional 30 days a year before we start working for ourselves. Isn't progress marvelous?

Anyway, that all seems a bit more depressing than I feel right now.

There's a fair amount happening this week. Tuesday sees the start of the quiz league, and then first outing of the team under the new name of the Accrington Cylindricals - there's a story there but I can't be bothered to relate it now. Suffice it to say that it made far more sense under the influence of alcohol than it does now. Thursday is a meeting at Holborn with nortysarah to see Michael Palin's lecture on his latest trip to South America (two Python references in one post, blimey) and on Friday it is the Turkish meal arranged by caffeine_fairy somewhere in Southwark - I must check.

So, mustn't complain. Lots of things to do.

I have progressed a bit further on my Columbine picture, and have scanned the second stage. I now need to start colouring it - probably water colour and ink (and lots of process white). I think once that is done, a further scan will be needed and then I shall try out some Photoshop effects on the picture, leaving the base untouched. Provided it all comes out all right I'll bugger your bandwidth with the relevant postings.

While I was looking for my paints, I serendipitously found a pencil portrait I did of Gillian Anderson back in the depths of April 1996 when X-Files fever was at its height. Now since wallabok thought that my last picture looked like Scully, I have scanned the picture in here just to show that when I have a photograph to copy from, and more time to burn than is strictly healthy, I can get a reasonable likeness.

So. This is the delightful Gillian Anderson (she could still have me if she plays her cards right) as drawn by me 8 years ago. I venture to say it looks nothing like the post I put up last week, even around the eyes.