Category Archives: personal

memes, personal, photography

Pick One Meme


Pick One Meme, originally uploaded by kcm76.

This week’s Flickr meme is to pick one of a pair; we were given a long list of pairs and allowed to choose our own 12. Here’s my selection; you probably don’t have to know me very well to predict most of these:

1. Pink or Green. Green; much more subtle and interesting than pink as well as being restful on the eyes.
2. Clothed or Nude. Nude; clothing is nothing but a conventional fetish; nudity is natural.
3. Boys or Girls. Girls; well now there’s a surprise.
4. Cat or Dog. Cat; lean, keen killing machines that they are.
5. Beer or Wine. Beer; such endless variety; and thirst-quenching.
6. Theist or Atheist. Atheist; God is another of our unnecessary (and divisive) fetishes.
7. Heaven or Hell. Hell; see above; much more interesting.
8. Bat or Ball. Ball; he who has the ball is in control!
9. Hairy or Shaved. Hairy; unless we’re talking about faces when I prefer them shaved.
10. Gold or Silver. Both; let’s be greedy!
11. Pen or Pencil. Pencil; old habits die hard; as a one time programmer I was brought up to work in pencil; I still do much of the time, using an automatic pencil with soft 2B leads.
12. Sun or Moon. Moon; endlessly fascinating to look at.

As always the photographs are not mine so please click on individual links below to see each artist/photostream. This mosaic is for a group called My Meme, where each week there is a different theme and normally 12 questions to send you out on a hunt to discover photos to fit your meme. It gives you a chance to see and admire other great photographers’ work out there on Flickr.

1. green/purple, 2. Underwater Nudes, 3. Rainbow Girls, 4. Cat’s eye, 5. Beer Bottles, 6. Atheists, 7. Wanna go to Hell?, 8. plazma ball green and blue, 9. Hairy backside, 10. Silver & Gold Oak Ring, 11. Pencils, 12. Harvest Moon

Created with fd’s Flickr Toys

personal, topographical

Family Grave

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David Masey Grave, originally uploaded by kcm76.

This is the grave in churchyard of St Nicholas, New Romney, Kent of David Masey (b 1807, d 1882) who was my great-great-grandfather and his wife. Also commemorated are a number of his family members (none in my direct line). I’ve been told that David Masey was variously a fisherman, greengrocer, fishmonger, boatman and a lifeboatman at Littlestone.

I was there, rather fortuitously on Saturday afternoon but had only a few minutes to find and photograph the headstone. Had I had more time I was hoping to be able to scour the churchyard for other Masey graves – although sadly very many of the headstones are so weathered as to be unreadable; hardly surprising just a mile or so from the sea. I must check if New Romney have yet catalogued all the graves in their churchyard. More research for one of these fine days when I no longer have to worry about working for a crust!

nudism, personal, thoughts

Figleaves or Not?

There’s another sensible item on nudity, especially as relating to one’s children, over on The Political Naturist. Here’s a taster …

For many parents, allowing a child to run around naked at home is perfectly natural, an expression of physical freedom that represents the essence of childhood, especially in the summer. But for others, unclad bodies are an affront to civility, a source of discomfort and a potentially dangerous attraction for pedophiles. […]

There is no rational reason for ordering a toddler to put on clothes. People will always tell you that it’s “indecent”, or “inappropriate”, but they cannot tell you why. It’s transference of adult shame, built up over years of cultural mores and religious teachings. […]

Around the age of 3 or 4, children begin to differentiate between what’s private and what’s public, experts say, and they usually begin to feel modesty soon after. But parents’ attitudes play the largest role in determining whether children are comfortable being naked at home … If someone has what appears to be an overly strong reaction to seeing young children running around naked, it tells us about their own hang-ups, their own inner conflicts […]

What is it about the sight of naked children which causes people to bristle and turn away? I would think most people would smile, or laugh, at the sight of children at play, clothed or unclothed. Bottling up the natural instincts of children to shed their clothes only teaches them body shame, that there is something wrong and repulsive about their flesh. Adults should not be transferring their own guilt, false modesty and irrational fears to their children. We are all born with nude bodies, we all see ourselves when we change clothes or bathe, so why is it so shocking when we see someone else’s nude body? […]

Thanks heaven for another dose of common sense. More please!

memes, personal, photography, pleasures

Travel Suitcase Meme


Travel Suitcase Meme, originally uploaded by kcm76.

This week’s Flickr meme is to list 12 things that you would put in your travel suitcase; 12 things you’d never travel without! Having excluded the obvious (like clean underwear) here’s my list:

1. I never leave home without a camera (if only my tiny Fuji)
2. Mobile Phone (or two if I’m travelling for work or on call)
3. Laptop
4. Breathing Apparatus (otherwise known as my CPAP machine)
5. Moleskine Notebook & Pen
6. Dirty Water (aka Diet Coke)
7. My pretty coloured pills (at least 5 varieties currently required)
8. Passport (unless I know I’m staying in the UK and won’t be getting on a plane anywhere)
9. Waterproof (if only a light nylon one)
10. Swiss Army Knife (you never know when you’ll have to remove boy scouts from lions’ paws)
11. Window Cleaner (for my glasses)
12. Reading matter (if only a couple of magazines)

As always the photographs are not mine so please click on individual links below to see each artist/photostream. This mosaic is for a group called My Meme, where each week there is a different theme and normally 12 questions to send you out on a hunt to discover photos to fit your meme. It gives you a chance to see and admire other great photographers’ work out there on Flickr.

1. In-Camera HDR (Guam), 2. MobiGates with unique mobile phone, 3. laptop_lunchbox 2007.04.04, 4. Breathing Apparatus, 5. Manet Inspired in my Moleskine, 6. Coca Cola Roberto Cavalli, 7. Horse Pills, 8. British Passport 1857 Boucher-inside, 9. Aaah look at this coat now, it’s all ruined and they said it was waterproof!!, 10. 2009 0616 Army Museum 15, 11. Squeegee Girl Mona, 12. Reading

Created with fd’s Flickr Toys.

books, medical, memes, personal, photography, science, thoughts

Rites of Passage Meme


Rites of Passage Meme, originally uploaded by kcm76.

This week’s Flickr meme is about rites of passage. As some might be near the bone for some people we were allowed to choose from 20 questions; of course I’ve had to do them all (well I did write them!). So here is my somewhat off-the-wall interpretation.

1. How old were you when you were born? (No it isn’t a stupid question as some people seem to be born aged 900 and get younger as the years go by) 9224 frightens in Vogon. 1 Vogon frighten = eπi√3 Earth days
2. Who was your first teacher? Me
3. Whose was the first wedding you attended? My handkerchief (see #10)
4. Whose was the first christening you attended? (Not your own!) Mine – and yes it does count as I was 22
5. Whose was the first funeral you attended? A student drinking buddy who fell over dead in the shower one morning
6. Who was your first boyfriend / girlfriend? Sandra, when I was 8; at 11 I was stalking her.
7. Who is/was your role model? Lewis Carroll; we have 3 shared interests: photography, logic and young girls (although I like them to be of legal age!)
8. When and how were you first aware of your puberty? “Razor, meet Face. Face, meet Razor.”
9. Who or what is your guiding spirit, or inner shaman? Zen Mischief
10. Who took your virginity? Mr Dexter Hand
11. At what age did you lose your virginity? I don’t lose things; I put them away somewhere safe!
12. What was your first permanent job? (I don’t count holiday/student jobs!) Being a frightened depressed child
13. How old were you when you married (or entered an equivalent relationship)? Old enough to know better; young enough to still do it
14. Who was (or would you like to be) your Best Man or Chief Bridesmaid? Why don’t men have bridesmaids?
15. What was/would you like to be your honeymoon destination? Garden of Edam
16. When did or do you hope to retire? About 11PM tonight
17. Have you had a “road to Damascus” event? If so, what was it? Nah, that Damascus place it’s foreign innit!
18. How old will you be when you die? (Comment as for age at birth!) Senile
19. Heaven or Hell? Hell – full of much more interesting people
20. Ashes or reincarnation? Both: ashes for the body; reincarnation for the mind/soul

As always the photographs are not mine so please click on individual links below to see each artist/photostream. This mosaic is for a group called My Meme, where each week there is a different theme and normally 12 questions to send you out on a hunt to discover photos to fit your meme. It gives you a chance to see and admire other great photographers’ work out there on Flickr.

1. Baby Vogon, 2. 185/365: I’ve learned not to look too closely, she said, 3. 150. Forget Me Not by Barbara A. Malek, 4. Font, Happisburgh Church, Norfolk, 5. A full moon on the Cam, 6. I can keep a secret if you can keep me guessing, 7. SWAPBOT – QUOTE POSTCARD 21 – #1, 8. Day 226/365 My first shaving brush, 9. Zen Kitty, 10. in the palm of my hand, 11. What? No Way!!, 12. Frightened Child Turning into Angry Teen mask, 13. Keepin’ Bee Z 🙂, 14. Procession, 15. Edam – a lot of cheese 3, 16. I’m so glad I never feel important, it does complicate life!, 17. Damascus, 18. Tiny life of the White Sea, 19. Stoking the fires of Hell, 20. digital reincarnation

Created with fd’s Flickr Toys.

books, memes, personal, photography

12 Favourite Books Meme


12 Favourite Books Meme, originally uploaded by kcm76.

This week’s Flickr meme is to share 12 of your favourite books. This is hard; I love books and to have to choose just 12 is a real challenge. Anyway here’s a selection that would at least get in the frame.

1. Anthony Powell; The Military Philosophers. I figured I wouldn’t choose the 12 volumes of Dance as a single item for once!
2. Lewis Carroll; Alice in Wonderland
3. Anthony Powell; The Valley of Bones
4. Riehl & Baensch; Aquarium Atlas
5. Lewis Carroll; The Hunting of the Snark
6. Oxford English Dictionary
7. Florence Greenberg; Jewish Cookery. As good a cookery book as you’ll find.
8. John Guillim; A Display of Heraldry (4th edition; 1652)
9. Simon Barnes; How to be a Bad Birdwatcher
10. Latham & Matthews; Diaries of Samuel Pepys (yes all 11 volumes, please!)
11. Evelyn Waugh; Black Mischief or alternatively Waugh in Abyssinia
12. Gabriel Chevallier; Clochemerle

“Blimey mate, ‘s all a bit eye-brow, innit like!”

As always the photographs are not mine so please click on individual links below to see each artist/photostream. This mosaic is for a group called My Meme, where each week there is a different theme and normally 12 questions to send you out on a hunt to discover photos to fit your meme. It gives you a chance to see and admire other great photographers’ work out there on Flickr.

1. 100_7347c, 2. alice in wonderland cake, 3. Petrified Mangrove Trees in Whale Bone Valley, 4. 100 Litre Freshwater Aquarium, 5. indian princesses, 6. Lustre, 7. Jewish Cookery, 8. Jeffrey Hedgecock’s Coat of Arms – Lions Rampant, 9. Birdwatching, 10. The Olde Cock Tavern, 11. Afar girl Danakil, 12. Pissoir

Created with fd’s Flickr Toys.

natural history, personal, pleasures, science

Death on the Ranch

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Well not really on the ranch, more in the fish pond. This very hot, humid and airless weather has taken a toll on my pond fish. Over the last 3 days I’ve lost 8 fish, most of them koi carp. None of then were of any great monetary value, but of course as with any “pet” they are of sentimental value. And we are not talking small fish here; we’re talking koi the size of a damn good salmon!


These were my fish last year; the three big ones in the centre of the picture are amongst those I’ve lost in the last few days. The golden orange one was almost 25 years old and one of my very first pond fish.

Coldwater fish do not like this weather. It is well known that water gets starved of oxygen in warm, sticky, stormy weather. This last few days has been especially bad; I don’t remember anything so hot and humid for many years. and of course it hits the largest fish hardest. They have a larger body mass to support, and their body mass to gill are ratio must be higher than in smaller fish. So the big fish get hit first. But then I do also partly blame myself as my pond maintenance has probably not been up to scratch recently.

It’s a timely reminder not just of the fragility of life but of the old adage about fishkeeping: We are not fishkeepers, we are water keepers.

Fortunately it has been noticeably cooler today, and the forecast is for it to get cooler through the weekend and for rain from Sunday; both of which will help.

amusements, memes, personal

Brain Scan

Yesterday evening, after returning from a baking hot Oxford, I had a brain scan! No, don’t panic! A few days ago Emma, aka. Jaywalker, over at Belgian Waffle invited us all to submit maps of our brains as we see them. So in the spirit of not passing up a bit of gratuitous fun, here is my version of what my brain looks like …



While this is, of course, mostly tongue-in-cheek there are elements of truth in there too, and it was interesting to sit back and try to work out what really does occupy most of one’s brain’s processing time. But of course this doesn’t necessarily equate with how the storage in one’s flash memory card is divided up.

memes, personal, photography, sexuality

12 Things I Love About You Meme

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12 Things I Love About You Meme, originally uploaded by kcm76.

This week’s Flickr meme is to share 12 things we love about our significant other (the clean version, of course!). So here is a selection:

1. Still sexy after all these years
2. Shared sense of humour & the ridiculous
3. Another foodie
4. Love of cats
5. You’re an artist, but science doesn’t overly scare you!
6. Support when I’m depressed
7. Love of books and learning – the more esoteric the better
8. Sharing my interests but keeping your own too
9. Allowing me to be lazy
10. An interest in the esoteric highways and byways of history
11. Shared interest in early music
12. And you’re still here after all these years – tho’ I still don’t understand why!

As always these photographs are not mine (except for #11 which is mine) so please click on individual links below to see each artist/photostream. This mosaic is for a group called My Meme, where each week there is a different theme and normally 12 questions to send you out on a hunt to discover photos to fit your meme. It gives you a chance to see and admire other great photographers’ work out there on Flickr.

1. So…, 2. Day 225: Cock Soup, 3. Avocado Heart, 4. I’d love a cat …, 5. star leaf fringed in moon gate, 6. Herbs For Depression, 7. Hf30He63Dg12²Ob276, 8. Florida Fragments, 9. lazy, 10. The Writer’s Soul, 11. Shawm, 12. dance class for meerkats

Created with fd’s Flickr Toys.

personal, sexuality, thoughts

Pearl Letter Day

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No, not a Red Letter Day. A Pearl Letter Day. Much better.

Earlier today I realised that today was a major milestone for Noreen and I. Some months ago we were discussing the times before we were married and trying to work out when we actually first “had it off”; we remember it well (as one would) but not the exact date. Noreen went back through her diaries to find that the relevant page was missing! But in the process she discovered that 23 June 1979 was the day she moved into the Chiswick flat with me. So today was christened “Cohabiting Day”, and it was 30 years ago today. A pearl anniversary.

The day has been celebrated in a low key kind of way. No cards, no presents, no dinner out. (Would that we had some decent nearby restaurants!) Just a normal work day, but followed by Chicken Salad à la Maison, a bottle of good white wine, a large bowl of cherries between us and a liqueur. Hic! Who knows what an early night (if it happens) might bring?!

And fingers crossed that we make our 30th wedding anniversary in early September.

It’s all a bit scary though; we’ve been married for longer than we haven’t! We still don’t know how we’ve done it. We still ask each other “How?”. And we still don’t take it for granted – which I suppose is part of the secret; it makes us keep concentrating! Even in the more difficult times there remains something magic about waking up next to each other every morning.

Oh and for the insatiably curious, the 30th anniversary of “First Fucking Day” was about ten days before last Christmas and we got engaged on 30th December – but that’s a story for another day, perhaps!

And for the even more insatiably curious, here’s a wedding photo. (I’m the plonker with the moustache! – you mean you couldn’t guess!! And best not ask about the “ear muffs”.)


Now how scary is that?!