CitroJim's AX, C3 Picasso, Cycling and Running Tales

[mickthemaverick]

Aah!! Strawberry has become Blackberry and not the better for it!!

[CitroJim]

Aah!! Strawberry has become Blackberry and not the better for it!!

[MattBLancs]

It's just occurred to me Jim (following Strawberry to Blackberry "conversion" , above) quite how much you are someone who enjoys colour (from comments often about the colours of cars, particularly in the classics threads) and yet here you are reveling in glorious monotone!

[CitroJim]

It's just occurred to me Jim (following Strawberry to Blackberry "conversion" , above) quite how much you are someone who enjoys colour (from comments often about the colours of cars, particularly in the classics threads) and yet here you are reveling in glorious monotone!

That's very true Matt, never really thought of it like that! I'm a very colourful character who loves to live in a world full of vibrant bright dazzling colour - hence my love of yellow, orange, bright blue and bright red cars. I really cannot stand dull, dreary colours and yet I love black and white photography...

To me, black and white photography is an art and although I'm not a naturally artistic person I do love the artistic challenge of trying to produce, to my eye, a good black and white photo. I'm not vey good at it, it's still a very new endeavour to go in this deep and I'm on the lower regions of a steep learning curve. One I'm enjoying immensely.

Also, there's the technical aspect that draws me deeply into the subject. The photo of Blackberry (that makes me giggle ) was taken with a 50 year old camera I've repaired from dead and processed the film myself. To do this I've had to learn the chemistry of film emulsions, the nature of different films and what they are best suited to, the developer, stop and fixer chemistries, the process of developing the film and finally learning to get the best out of the negative image via some less than intuitive rather niche scanner and post-process software.

I've a long way still to go. It's a fun journey and once I have black and white mastered I may well move up to processing colour... I don't need to get any more kit except the chemicals and a temperature-controlled water bath.

It's all a bit of a fun adventure... And, for when it's wet I have two more broken cameras in the queue awaiting repair!

[MattBLancs]

I'm with you on several points there Jim! Using something you've fixed: love it! Picking up a new skill and learning all about some new topic - also very enjoyable.

In fact, I'm on similar mindset with respect to loving colour - Sarah and me often have a collective groan if either of us spot, e.g. yet another house updated with those drab grey window frames that everyone seems to want nowadays!

[Stickyfinger]

You lot who are saying Grey is boring and drab..... I'm watching you !!

It really can bring out the beautiful.......

[CitroJim]

Great photos Alasdair

[CitroJim]

Speaking of bright, vibrant colours... Yesterday I received a package containing some new running kit

Loving those shorts They're truly tasty and look good enough to eat

Very comfy too...

Happily, my recovery from the serious relapse that occurred at the end of January appears to be almost there It's been a very bumpy road to recovery and I hit a particularly deep low early in April - sadly coinciding with the trip to Norfolk with Mick

As has happened after past relapses, I've emerged from this latest one a very different person; there's no doubt now a little more cerebral damage has occurred. My cognitive function has deteriorated, along with my intellectual ability. The latter is particularly distressing.

Oddly, I've lost my love of coffee and often go days without drinking it at all.

I was hoping I'd be good to drive a reasonable distances again now my general recovery is well under way. I gave that a test last week to enjoy lunch with Mick. Sadly, whilst the lunch and company was excellent, the drive was anything but. I've barely driven since.

Plans remain to SORN one or even both of my AXs once their current VED and insurances expire. I will be keeping them though.

My general interest in things automotive, electronic and radio-related is currently now almost zero Hopefully it'll recover at some point. Fingers crossed.

Happily, I can once again enjoy running and cycling along with the great social scene surrounding those activities Just as long as it doesn't involve drinking coffee - thank goodness I can still enjoy a cup of tea!

[MattBLancs]

Fingers crossed for swift recovery Jim, I'd think the urge to tinker was relatively "hard wired" and so soon to resume

P.s. the shorts are suitably mad, I like them!

[CitroJim]

Thanks Matt I'm still tinkering despite my fine motor skills not being so good lately.

P.s. the shorts are suitably mad, I like them!

I ran in them this morning They're awesome

[Skull]

Speaking of bright, vibrant colours...

Happily, I can once again enjoy running and cycling along with the great social scene surrounding those activities

Looking on and wearing the brighter side of life Jim good effort!

[CitroJim]

Speaking of bright, vibrant colours...

Happily, I can once again enjoy running and cycling along with the great social scene surrounding those activities

Looking on and wearing the brighter side of life Jim good effort!

Definitely on the brighter side in all respects Certain lifestyle decisions have been made and implemented to ensure that remains the case as far as possible... The word 'no' and the expression 'f off <said politely>' has proved helpful in such endeavours

[CitroJim]

Things continue very good in my corner of the world - I'm as recovered perhaps as much as I'll ever be now and well back into running and cycling amongst much other stuff that's largely off-topic and of little interest to this forum...

As I'm still not driving in any significant way - just local errands - I have nothing to report whatsoever of an automotive nature except that I now know Polly is happy to sit for a couple of weeks unused and gathering dust and is then perfectly happy to instantly start and do as I ask of her... I needed her today for an errand and yesterday had to give her a quick wash to remove all the dust from her. I could barely see out of her windows and was worried using the wash-wipe on the windscreen may have given rise to scratches...

I did take a photo of Strawberry yesterday

She's blooming

And on Thursday evening I was proud and honoured to lead my eldest's Rainbows Unit on a 4Km hike around a local wood I know well in order for them to be awarded their Rainbow Ramble badge

It was huge fun

Not only did they get their badge but so did I

Actually, I got two!