Downsizing

When the children have flown the nest and a slow, cosy life in retirement is just a few years away, many couples start downsizing. The house is far too big for just two people so the search for something smaller and easier to maintain begins. The car, once the much loved people carrier is exchanged for something smaller and more economical… or perhaps better still, a sporty two seater!

Well we still live in the same house and unfortunately I still haven’t bought that much dreamed about two seater, but I have just taken the first step on the downsizing ladder…. a new grill.

For years I have been a devoted smoker user, indeed I still use it fairly regularly on those family get-togethers when quantities of roast meat, several chickens and all manner of things are cooked for hours to feed the starving visitors.

But for just a couple of sausages or perhaps a spontaneous steak or two for Darby and Joan on a balmy summer’s evening the smoker is simply too big and clumsy.

So, we decided on a “LotusGrill”. A table top, charcoal grill which is ready for action in just four minutes! Actually my first attempts took a good five minutes, but still quite speedy. It has a fan which blows air where it’s needed and therefore the heat is quite adjustable.

The smoke produced by it is minimal, so it can be used easily without coughing, and the outer case stays nice and cool so as a table top grill it really is ideal.

LotusGrill on the Texas Ranger – Pentax K-30; Developed with GIMP
LotusGrill on the Texas Ranger – Pentax K-30; Developed with GIMP
Steaks – Pentax K-30; Developed with GIMP
Steaks – Pentax K-30; Developed with GIMP
Sizzle – Pentax K-30; Developed with GIMP
Sizzle – Pentax K-30; Developed with GIMP

Rae 4/8 1021

The Rae 4/8 1021 was built in 1939 for the Swiss National Exhibition. The so called “Red Arrow” earned itself the nickname “Churchill” when it was used to show Sir Winston Churchill the local sites during his visit to Switzerland in 1946. Today it’s used for private excursions.
To commemorate its 75th anniversary the train was parked in Zurich’s main station this week, and offered restaurant and bar facilities for the passing travellers and thirsty commuters.
On the evening we stumbled across the train, we were treated to a live performance by Star Saxophonist Florencio Cruz who delighted his audience with a mixture of Saxophone and House Music… to be honest I’m not too sure what his particular musical style is called, but it sounded good.

The Red Arrow – Panasonic DMC-LX2; Developed with GIMP
The Red Arrow – Panasonic DMC-LX2; Developed with GIMP
Florencio Cruz – Panasonic DMC-LX2; Developed with GIMP
Florencio Cruz – Panasonic DMC-LX2; Developed with GIMP
Passers by – Panasonic DMC-LX2; Developed with GIMP
Passer by – Panasonic DMC-LX2; Developed with GIMP
From the bar – Panasonic DMC-LX2; Developed with GIMP
From the bar – Panasonic DMC-LX2; Developed with GIMP
The other end – Panasonic DMC-LX2; Developed with GIMP
The other end – Panasonic DMC-LX2; Developed with GIMP

Roof timbers

It’s probably fair to say that no one jumps for joy when a block of flats is built just across the road. The reasons for the lack of jolly excitement are surely obvious. Views of a lush green garden are replaced by a those of walls, windows and balconies. Instead of the sun shining unimpeded through our kitchen window, it will loiter provocatively behind someone else’s walls.

But despite everything, there is something quite intriguing about a building site and these roof timbers were just asking to be photographed.

Roof timbers – Pentax K-30; Developed with GIMP
Roof timbers – Pentax K-30; Developed with GIMP
Roof timbers – Pentax K-30; Developed with GIMP
Roof timbers – Pentax K-30; Developed with GIMP
Roof timbers – Pentax K-30; Developed with GIMP
Roof timbers – Pentax K-30; Developed with GIMP

Yellow

Whilst strolling around the village this afternoon I noticed that, at this time of the year, it’s almost impossible to make a photograph without anything yellow in it.

A late starter – Pentax K-30; Developed with GIMP
A late starter – Pentax K-30; Developed with GIMP
Rapeseed field – Pentax K-30; Developed with GIMP
Rapeseed field – Pentax K-30; Developed with GIMP
Rapeseed – Pentax K-30; Developed with GIMP
Rapeseed – Pentax K-30; Developed with GIMP
Buttercups (I think)  – Pentax K-30; Developed with GIMP
Buttercups (I think) – Pentax K-30; Developed with GIMP

For those who aren’t keen on yellow there were basically two choices: either a sky, or a ploughed field. I chose the latter.

Almost ready to sow  – Pentax K-30; Developed with GIMP
Almost ready to sow – Pentax K-30; Developed with GIMP

Enjoyable Art

You may remember my blog post about the rusty fence, a project that inspired discussions about art, the cost of art, and what on earth has an old fence to do with art. But this art form did motivate me to get out and about on a Sunday morning.

Today’s post shows three images from an art installation in a waiting room on platform 4/5 at Winterthur’s main railway station. “Ich Ist Ein Andere”  is a video installation with five figures. It was created by the artists Glaser & Kunz as part of the towns 750 year anniversary and is on show until 24th June.

I’ve been watching the waiting room with interest during the last week or so from the train window on my way home from work. I wasn’t just intrigued by the figures in the waiting room, but also the many smiling, happy faces peering through the waiting room windows. This must surely be what art is all about… everyone seems to be thoroughly enjoying it. On Sunday I went to view the installation at close quarters. Absolutely fascinating!  Whoever it was who had the idea… well done!!

Artistic Fence – Pentax K-30; Developed with GIMP
“ICH IST EIN ANDERE” – Pentax K-30; Developed with GIMP

One can actually enter the waiting room at certain times of the day and listen to the figures chatting.

"ICH IST EIN ANDERE" – Pentax K-30; Developed with GIMP
“ICH IST EIN ANDERE” – Pentax K-30; Developed with GIMP
"ICH IST EIN ANDERE" – Pentax K-30; Developed with GIMP
“ICH IST EIN ANDERE” – Pentax K-30; Developed with GIMP

Easter

Being Easter, the temptation to post pictures of eggs and rabbits, not to mention crucifixes and things theological, was quite difficult to resist. But I’m sure there will be plenty of those images on show elsewhere, so I decided to stick to Spring stuff. Last Sunday was excellent Spring weather and I was of course out and about with the K-30, totally motivated by colours, blossom and the like. Today, Good Friday, is a completely different story. I’m sitting in front of the TV warmed by a blazing fire and a warm pullover.

Spring Scene – Pentax K-30; Developed with GIMP
Spring Scene – Pentax K-30; Developed with GIMP
Apple Blossom – Pentax K-30; Developed with GIMP
Apple Blossom – Pentax K-30; Developed with GIMP
Cows in Meadow – Pentax K-30; Developed with GIMP
Cows in Meadow – Pentax K-30; Developed with GIMP

The apple tree in our garden has one big disadvantage, it was pruned by me. It therefore doesn’t look particularly fantastic as apple trees go, so I thought the view under the tree was somehow more pleasing.

Under the Apple Tree – Pentax K-30; Developed with GIMP
Under the Apple Tree – Pentax K-30; Developed with GIMPhe Ap

Bleeding hearts are a firm favourite with my wife… and indeed we’re very lucky to still have this example because previous plants have either been trodden on, pulled up by the dog or fallen foul of my trimmer.

Bleeding hearts – Pentax K-30; Developed with GIMP
Bleeding hearts – Pentax K-30; Developed with GIMP

Another blooming tree

There’s currently no shortage of blooming trees and blue skies, so I suppose there’s nothing very spectacular about yet another pink tree. However, I couldn’t resist capturing these views of  St. Jakob’s Church at Zurich’s Stauffacherplatz this morning.

Blossom – Panasonic DMC-LX2; Developed with GIMP
Blossom – Panasonic DMC-LX2; Developed with GIMP
Blossom – Panasonic DMC-LX2; Developed with GIMP
Blossom – Panasonic DMC-LX2; Developed with GIMP

April weekend

This weeks images were all captured very locally. On Friday evening I couldn’t resist a look in the barbecue’s fire box as the coals glowed ready to offer the sausages a warm welcome;-)

Saturday afternoon the sun smiled and I felt obliged to actually do something in the garden….. no photos on Saturday.

Barbecue – Pentax K-30; Developed with GIMP
Glowing coals – Pentax K-30; Developed with GIMP
April1
Blossom – Pentax K-30; Developed with GIMP

Sunday I managed to capture these seasonal images.

Potato field – Pentax K-30; Developed with GIMP
Potato field – Pentax K-30; Developed with GIMP
Rape seed – Pentax K-30; Developed with GIMP
Rape seed – Pentax K-30; Developed with GIMP
Ploughed field – Pentax K-30; Developed with GIMP
Ploughed field – Pentax K-30; Developed with GIMP

Spring blossom

Waiting for the barbeque to get a nice red glow yesterday afternoon, I used the time more or less productively by strolling round the garden. My original aim was to ponder over the work to be done, but having already cut the lawn I decided to forget about all the other jobs and concentrate on  the blossoming bush in the corner of the garden. I’ve no idea what it’s called, but I thought it would make a nice subject for today’s posting.

Pink Bush – Pentax K-30; Developed with GIMP
Pink Bush – Pentax K-30; Developed with GIMP
Busy Bee – Pentax K-30; Developed with GIMP
Busy Bee – Pentax K-30; Developed with GIMP
Pink Bush, a study in B&W – Pentax K-30; Developed with GIMP
Pink Bush, a study in B&W – Pentax K-30; Developed with GIMP