Dreaming of Electric Sheep

Dreaming of Electric Sheep
Originally uploaded by Ian Wilson.

Taking photo's of people when they're asleep is terribly rude but sometimes it just can't be helped. What's more amazing is that she'll sleep through my stomping around the house, cleaning, playing music, etc... but one almost inaudible camera shutter sound and she's bolt upright, wide awake, and scowling at me.

This image did make me laugh though, and I'm terribly happy that she consented to my sharing it with the world. If makes any difference I know that Damien has a very similiar one of me somewhere, except I'm holding a beer.

One Foot in Thirty

Conan and the Mockasins
Originally uploaded by Ian Wilson.

Urrrgh. I woke up with the biggest stinking hangover this morning! It's been a while since the last one so when I first cracked my lids open I was completely unprepared for the shock of it all. I was facing the window when I fired my peepholes up so my initial experience of the day was a lazer burst of early morning sunlight frazzling my retina's. I was blind for the first half of the day!

Then I tried to speak... only to find that my mouth was completely sans saliva. After a couple of slow motion lip smacks and oral contortions I finally managed to remove the taste of that last Tiger and summoned enough strength to let out a reverrrrbing groan into the bedroom.

At this point Nat was being a champion hostess for Vern and Abs, who had crashed on the floor after the late night shenanigans. She was up and about making coffee... I was close to death and feeling absolutely sorry for myself.

The reason for all the drinking (and yes, debauchery), if you're interested, was joint birthday celebrations for Nat and I. As Dan's band, Grok, were playing at the Spice of Life we figured we'd invite some friends and all head down there for some beers and entertainment.

The bands were fantastic. Grok, as usual were great. Ghostclub were good (great technical talent) but to be brutal I expected more given that they were the headline band. Biggest suprise of the night was Conan and the Mockasins, who absolutely stunned me. So different, but absolutely fantastic.

Thanks to everyone who came down on the evening. The beers flowed and good times were had!

Egads... 27 is looming on Tuesday!

Mr Happy Comes to London

If you're never been to London before then this could cover as a tutorial video.

Shamelessly stolen from Nat after she sent me an email with the video attached and I thought to trawl YouTube for it before she did.

Haha! Avast!

Rockit update

Carling Leeds Festival 2006
Originally uploaded by Ian Wilson.

My lovely girlfriend who has been posting regularly for years to the same address has recently changed domains. Her new domain is www.rockitgirl.net and you can continue to catch her thoughts at that address. Please update your links.

She is kindly hosted by Adrian of sevitzdotcom.


PS. It's also her birthday so you'd better all wish her!

This photo is arbitrary

Tower Bridge
Originally uploaded by Ian Wilson.

I love driving over Tower Bridge. Not only for the fantastic views of central London, but also just for the feeling it evokes. Driving under those huge towers is like being transported into another era. A more regal era.

Unfortunately, shortly after crossing the river I plow through Bermondsey and Peckham and the image is shattered as reality reasserts itself. The sign reads, "Welcome to South East London: You Really Wish You Didn't Live Here".

Ahh, maybe I'm being a bit too harsh. We have an alright flat and we haven't heard any gunfire in absolutely ages now!

Moving on, if you have a web page... and let's face it, if you're reading this then you probably do... you need Google Analytics. Via Life Hacker. But that was completely aside.

I've been secretly lusting after the Canon Digital Rebel for the last couple of weeks. I've looked at all the kits, all the online and high street options, and even decided on where to purchase the camera. Mentally I've actually already paid for it and adjusted my cashflow shape to reflect the impact. However, in the last couple of days I've somehow made peace with the fact that I don't need an 8 megapixel DSLR right now. I really don't! And that in all honesty there are a million very cool things that I could be doing with my existing camera. And until I really start to use it more I shouldn't be shelling out 600 beer tokens for a penis extention. This is more evidence that I may finally be growing up.

So the plan moving forward is to use my camera for more than just chonicling my life and to start to use it more as a creative outlet. I have some great ideas for stitched pics and I'm quite excited about getting to grips with them. I'll see what can be done this weekend if the weather plays along. If everything pans out then maybe in a couple of months I'll be in a position to actually justify a new camera. Perhaps even the new 400D Digital Rebel XTi.


** Update: I've finally set up an Atom feed for the site. RSS is putting up more of a fight and just won't validate right now. It's something to do with the head of my index file.

Eight legged FREAK!

Eight legged FREAK!
Originally uploaded by Ian Wilson

I found this bad boy in the kitchen tonight. I turned around and there he was, right in the middle of the floor, one leg in the air, all like "Shit, I think he's seen me!".

While Nat called for bloodshed and slaughter I chose instead to do the humane thing. I placed a oversized beer mug on the monster and proceeded to take macro photos of him (with the flash off... I wouldn't want to blind all of his million little monster eye balls). I then placed some card under the glass and chucked him out the second floor window. Usually I'd just use paper but I reckon this guy could have bitten me right through a normal piece of A4.

Hopefully he'll find his way into the annoyingly loud neighbors flat and bite him on the arse.

Long weekend in Dublin

Dublin Trip 2006
Originally uploaded by Ian Wilson.

Pheeeeew... it's been an pretty manic month!

After Leeds 2 weeks ago and Dublin last week I'm pretty knackered... me and my bank account both.

Dublin was great though. Temple Bar, although tacky and touristy and expensive and dirty, is still a great place to stay when you're in the city. There's so much life and culture there, so much more than you would expect in Dublin. In fact the thing that struck me most about the city this time around is the massive mix of cultures. On a par with London I would reckon.

We had the best hotel room ever (thanks to Nat's organisational ability) overlooking Millenium Bridge and the Quay and within walking distance of a number of great pubs. The Porterhouse Brewing Company included.

Suprisingly we didn't drink too much for being in Ireland, which would indicate that I may finally be growing up. My parents will be thrilled to hear!

Many thanks to Matt and Nikki for hosting us on the Saturday and dragging us up hills and through harbours and to great restaurants. Without them we may just have gone to another pub and drank some more Guiness.

The next Irish trip will definitely involve more country side and less concrete. I've yet to discover the 'emerald' part of the island.

Photoset up here.

Tomorrow I have to go make a presentation to 16 people who have just joined the company that I work for. It wouldn't be so bad if I hadn't recieved the presentation the day before I have to make it. Doubly bad that I've just come back off annual leave and have a friggin' mountain of email to catch up on. Can you say "ad lib"?