We went on a stargazing weekend to the Cederberg Observatory last weekend. The weather was kind, although cold, and we had clear skies the two nights we were there. So I decided to try my hand at astrophotography. I didn't think it would be easy - but what I didn't realise is that taking the photo is just the first part. The processing afterwards is as important. So you can imagine my disappointment when I opened the pics on my computer and mostly saw black with a dot here and there. And as I am very much a beginner at taking and processing star photos, these are not the best you'll find on the web even after processing, but I gave it a shot and will hopefully just get better and better and better and better... (All ISO400, f5.6, taken between 21h00 and 03h00 ) The belt and sword of Orion, just before they set. Canon EOS 350D standard lens, 5 second exposure, processed in PhotoShop. The Large Magellanic Cloud, a neighbouring galaxy (fuzzy blob). Canon EO...
Recently I was asked by a friend why I don't write anymore. The one, simpler, answer is that I actually write a lot, but it's all paid gigs for specific publications and I have this silly little habit of when I get paid for something (as in it becomes work), I stop doing it in my free time. Even when I like it. Or is it, especially when I like it? But my idiosyncrasies aside, the more real, much more complicated answer is... I am currently living mostly in stories that is not mine to tell. Some of them will never be mine, so they will only be written in my heart. Some of them I have been given permission to share, but I need time to do it justice, to unpack it with the care it deserves. Some of them have now become part of my story, and it is possible that I will lay it down in words. Not speak them, although probably that too. Write them. I feel safe in written words. But do not think that I don't have stories. Being quiet does not necessarily mean I have not...
Yesterday I followed a link to a Food24 page with details of Gordon Ramsay’s restaurant, Maze. The link was tweeted by @SamWilson1 commenting on the bad reviews following the dinner on Friday night. I read through many of the comments, and slowly I also started to form an opinion. I wasn’t at the dinner, but have a twitter friend that was thrilled to meet Mr. Ramsay at the Good Food and Wine Show at the CTICC: “it was awesome! I got him to autograph my book "Get the **** out of my kitchen". (Thanks @Janaquar for the pic.) So these are my thoughts, but first some background. Gordon Ramsay is one of the chefs who appeared at the Good Food and Wine Show at the CTICC last weekend, and people seem happy with the R300 (including Food Show entry) to watch him in the Chefs in Action Theatre. On Friday night there was a charity dinner at Maze (R1500 pp), where diners were let to believe they would be interacting with Mr. Ramsay and have a Question and Answer session. T...
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