An ordinary life in an extra-ordinary place
Archive for May, 2011
A plan to windsurf was abandoned due to a lack of wind, so we took a drive down the coast to Sai Keaw beach.
The beach is inside a Navy base, so it was time to hand over my driving licence again, and then pay 60 baht to drive along a narrow road over a hill to a pleasant enough stretch of sand. Not much to there, so took a few shots and moved on.
On the way out, we visited a little shop that sold plaster soldiers, including one that looked suspiciously like Thaksin:
A couple of final shots on the way home. The first one was processed by the camera to give the “Velvia” film look (allegedly); looked more like the “ingested too many recreational drugs” look to me.
A fine little outing for the Fuji which produces sharp images in luscious Fuji colours; I could learn to love it.
Fujinon F2 23mm (35mm equivalent) lens. Optical viewfinder with information overlay; flick the red switch to change to an electronic viewfinder.
A rather hard to access menu button and a very unnecessary RAW button, to turn RAW shooting on and off.
Set your aperture with the control ring on the lens.
Set the shutter speed and exposure compensation; then press the button. Only one user-defined function button, and ISO control tucked away in the menus.
It may not be perfect; but it is certainly beautiful.
Photos: Panasonic GF1 with Voigtlander 25mm.
Fuji X100 1/125th at F2.8, ISO 640
Fuji X100 1/125th at F2.0, ISO 1600
Fuji X100 1/125th at F2.0, ISO 500
Fuji X100 1/125th at F2.8, ISO 2500
Fuji X100 1/160th at F2.0, ISO 3200
With the son away, I was feeling rather down yesterday morning. My condition was not helped following a review of my finances. More eating out than usual, plus a few trips, plus a recent TV purchase on credit; meant that the Spike banking system was feeling a little Greek. Some restrictions on spending will be required over the next couple of months, which may also be a challenge because I had promised she who must be obeyed a “just the two of us” holiday.
Suitably crestfallen, I was wandering around Central while she who must be obeyed attended to some banking, and I came across something which is very hard to find. The only one in Pattaya and just arrived that very morning apparently. I had a play with it and it was beautiful. But I didn’t need it and couldn’t afford it; and was proud of my willpower when I walked out of the shop empty handed.
In the car and heading for the exit, I told she who must be obeyed about it.
That’s the gorgeous thing that’s in short supply isn’t it? she said
Indeed, I answered; amazed that she remembered previous Spike ramblings.
It’s an instant classic.
It is.
You should get it.
I can’t afford it and don’t need it.
You should still get it.
So we re-parked the car and I bought it. It’s all her fault.
If you have no idea what I am on about, click here.
The Son and his girlfriend arrived in Thailand in February. They returned to the UK yesterday, after four months of flitting around the region and chilling out in Pattaya. When they were away, we had the company of she who must be obeyed’s sister.
So now the condo seems strangely quiet, with just us and the cats. It’s been great to have company, and I do wish that I lived closer to The Son so we could see each other more often; but that’s life and I will just have to look forward to the next time we can meet up.
Now I have to get back to a list of outstanding tasks which I have conveniently ignored while we had visitors. Some photo books to prepare, some lights to shoot, more condo decoration, and a return to windsurfing and radio controlled car racing on a more regular basis. Oh, and some outstanding games that need attention.
On the plus side, I can return to my normal dress code in the condo, T-shirt and underpants. Not an acceptable sight for visitors, and probably not an acceptable sight to she who must be obeyed; but she married me so she will have to put up with it. Every cloud has a silver lining.
The considerable disappointment that accompanied the failure of the end of days event has not been explained to Pattaya baht bus drivers, who continue to advertise judgement day. I do wonder who paid for this nonsense….
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