But it's better to do them regularly.
I have just under 800GB to back up from this computer to an external HDD (USB3) with Duplicati doing the backup, indexing files etc. It's been going since around 1.30am this morning, and is about 40% finished. Most of that is images & related sidecar files. :-P
*edit*
As of Monday morning it's about 85% done. I left the Dell behind to complete and took the Macbook to work instead: it's really odd using OSX again, and a bit clunky after using W10, plus everything runs ssllloooowwwwwwwlllllllllyyyyyyyyyyyy despite the SSD. Guess there's no substitute for raw computing power.
*edit 2*
Backup completed around 1.11pm this afternoon - that's 2.5 days almost exactly for >700GB data.
Saturday, 8 April 2017
Good morning
Also known as another night where sleep is scarce. Had a glorious 6 hours last night, from 11 until 5am, and tonight the sleep thing isn't happening, at least from 11.20 to 1am.
I'm told it's over-rated anyway.
I'm told it's over-rated anyway.
Wednesday, 5 April 2017
Just when you thought it was safe.
I got a cold back in January, with a vicious cough and a body that really didn't love me. Re-infection came along at the end of Feb, at the same time a Chris went down with a nasty cold, although that time I managed without time off. It grinds you down. The end of last week and beginning of this one was the first time I could reply, when asked how I was "I'm great, thanks".
Just when I thought it was safe.
We had a great weekend, out all day Saturday with some guys we'd never met before from talkphotography.co.uk all using their *film* cameras around Oxford. Pleased with my output from that, even though it was digital.
Monday night - nearly no sleep - and crept into work on Tuesday. Today I'm coughing again, though not as badly and don't feel as miserable as I have. It makes me want to ask sometimes, will I ever be well again?
Probably. Eventually.
Just when I thought it was safe.
We had a great weekend, out all day Saturday with some guys we'd never met before from talkphotography.co.uk all using their *film* cameras around Oxford. Pleased with my output from that, even though it was digital.
Monday night - nearly no sleep - and crept into work on Tuesday. Today I'm coughing again, though not as badly and don't feel as miserable as I have. It makes me want to ask sometimes, will I ever be well again?
Probably. Eventually.
Friday, 31 March 2017
Mythology (again)
In a few months time we're off to Israel for an organised tour, and part of the prep involves reading a guidebook supplied with information on Jerusalem and various other parts. There's something that makes me want to corner the author of such guidebooks while I have something sharp in my hand, asking them to tell me what the supporting evidence is for the 'fact' they just listed, and poking them hard with it each time they cannot provide it.
I don't mind you telling me "this is the third place Jesus stumbled" on the via dolorosa if there is some good solid evidence, but if it's just invented stories passed down through church traditions then I'm liable to be grumpy with you.
I don't mind you telling me "this is the third place Jesus stumbled" on the via dolorosa if there is some good solid evidence, but if it's just invented stories passed down through church traditions then I'm liable to be grumpy with you.
Monday, 13 March 2017
I have ear-worm.
Not an unpleasant helminth parasite, but yesterday I played guitar in Oxford at a celebration with several churches together, and snippets of a couple of songs won't go away. That's fine, but they are intrusive when one is trying to concentrate.
Chris and I have been down with colds again last week, and we're just up & down, feeling OK and a little energised one minute, then really tired and quite ropey the next. It's just a case of keeping going when you need to & then recuperating when things can be neglected.
Chris and I have been down with colds again last week, and we're just up & down, feeling OK and a little energised one minute, then really tired and quite ropey the next. It's just a case of keeping going when you need to & then recuperating when things can be neglected.
Wednesday, 8 March 2017
I saw this and thought of you.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-39201090
"Someone has been on the beetroot again." ;-)
"Someone has been on the beetroot again." ;-)
Saturday, 25 February 2017
It's all very well having a global economy
Photobucket have an offer of 85% off canvas prints this weekend, and I know they sell some printed products in the UK, so I checked out the offer, prep'd a set of images, got ready to upload, only to discover the offer was US customers only (and Canada?).
Poop.
I was really looking forward to seeing how some of my mono images would print up at 20" X 10" ready for the common room at work.
Poop.
I was really looking forward to seeing how some of my mono images would print up at 20" X 10" ready for the common room at work.
Saturday, 18 February 2017
Give me what I want!
I am the way I am - why should you have a right to tell me how I should live or feel.
Over the years I have learned to be proud of who I am and that I'm different.
Surely Jesus accepts me like this, so why shouldn't I be fulfilled?
How can you possibly object to love, and in the name of religion too.
This image is so profound (linked from the BBC website and article)
I read the report that was rejected recently - it is both radical for the CoE and orthodox in it's understanding - and it looks remarkably sympathetic and healthy, returning to scripture as it's source for understanding coupled with a desire to welcome and embrace people with same-sex attraction.
Over the years I have learned to be proud of who I am and that I'm different.
Surely Jesus accepts me like this, so why shouldn't I be fulfilled?
How can you possibly object to love, and in the name of religion too.
This image is so profound (linked from the BBC website and article)
I read the report that was rejected recently - it is both radical for the CoE and orthodox in it's understanding - and it looks remarkably sympathetic and healthy, returning to scripture as it's source for understanding coupled with a desire to welcome and embrace people with same-sex attraction.
How do people find the time and energy
To keep up with social media?
I see Ello is now quite busy, and I was wondering about posting photos there, but I can't even be bothered to keep up with groups on Flickr, let alone ANOTHER social platform.
I see Ello is now quite busy, and I was wondering about posting photos there, but I can't even be bothered to keep up with groups on Flickr, let alone ANOTHER social platform.
In the light of the film mentioned below
It's interesting to read this article on the BBC website that asks "Is Sweden's feminist agenda working"?
I wonder what the feminist agenda is doing to the men there?
I wonder what the feminist agenda is doing to the men there?
Friday, 17 February 2017
The Hundred Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared
I've been to Stockholm a couple of times.
If you wanted to see a film that encapsulated everything idiosyncratic about Sweden then I can't think of anything better than this. Just watched on Amazon Prime.
Pretty sure I even worked wth one of the characters in Sjukhuset Karolinska.
Maybe it's time to visit Sigtuna.
If you wanted to see a film that encapsulated everything idiosyncratic about Sweden then I can't think of anything better than this. Just watched on Amazon Prime.
Pretty sure I even worked wth one of the characters in Sjukhuset Karolinska.
Maybe it's time to visit Sigtuna.
Monday, 13 February 2017
It's been another week.
Weekend before last we went away for Chris's birthday, but apart from that life has continued in it's stumbly nominal fashion. The lurgy has taken its toll, and I've not felt like writing anything, discussing, arguing, or anything really.
It was a nice weekend though, and we've both decided we'd like to retire and live there immediately. :p It was also really good to see our friends Sue & Ian again, and to see where they live now.
Here's a couple of pics to 'prove' we were there.
There's more in the Devon Flickr album.
Saturday just gone we went for a stumble round Blenheim in the sleety-snow & mud. It was a down day after a previously good Friday, and I could barely keep up with my wife, while coughing and walking simultaneously. The cascades looked 'enthusiastic' from rain water.
The other thing I find myself doing at the moment is wanting to check the news, almost hourly, to find out whether America has imploded yet. I have the same set of feelings as when 9/11 happened, the same sense of irrevocable change for the world unfolding, except that this time it's in secret, mostly, and self-inflicted.
It was a nice weekend though, and we've both decided we'd like to retire and live there immediately. :p It was also really good to see our friends Sue & Ian again, and to see where they live now.
Here's a couple of pics to 'prove' we were there.
There's more in the Devon Flickr album.
Saturday just gone we went for a stumble round Blenheim in the sleety-snow & mud. It was a down day after a previously good Friday, and I could barely keep up with my wife, while coughing and walking simultaneously. The cascades looked 'enthusiastic' from rain water.
The other thing I find myself doing at the moment is wanting to check the news, almost hourly, to find out whether America has imploded yet. I have the same set of feelings as when 9/11 happened, the same sense of irrevocable change for the world unfolding, except that this time it's in secret, mostly, and self-inflicted.
Thursday, 2 February 2017
It's been a week
And I've had a nasty head cold that's left me tired and stupid.
A friend posted some of the wisest words I've read in a while about a certain trainwreck that that the world seems to be watching, almost open-mouthed in amazement as it unfolds.
On the wireless a day or so ago the presenter was playing a recording made at a church prayer meeting in the US, where they were thanking God for their new president, and how he was such a changed character, now rolling back the wickedness and evil of the last 8 years. It made me wonder if they were seeing the same man as the rest of us. I can see why they might view the past in that way, and it's likely, now that the conservative right is in complete control, that some of the more liberal and less morally oriented policies from the previous government will be unpicked.
High price to pay for unpicking though.
Makes me wonder if there's a process every culture has to go through as it matures: internal wars, a religio-political structure that is deceitful and cruel, enslavement of weaker nations and empire building, accompanied by a roller-coaster ride that swings between licentious debasement and up-tight morality.
I guess that at some stage I should blog about why I support the idea of Brexit (but not for the reasons given in that campaign of factoids). Politics though - yuk. Alternative facts - double yuk.
A friend posted some of the wisest words I've read in a while about a certain trainwreck that that the world seems to be watching, almost open-mouthed in amazement as it unfolds.
On the wireless a day or so ago the presenter was playing a recording made at a church prayer meeting in the US, where they were thanking God for their new president, and how he was such a changed character, now rolling back the wickedness and evil of the last 8 years. It made me wonder if they were seeing the same man as the rest of us. I can see why they might view the past in that way, and it's likely, now that the conservative right is in complete control, that some of the more liberal and less morally oriented policies from the previous government will be unpicked.
High price to pay for unpicking though.
Makes me wonder if there's a process every culture has to go through as it matures: internal wars, a religio-political structure that is deceitful and cruel, enslavement of weaker nations and empire building, accompanied by a roller-coaster ride that swings between licentious debasement and up-tight morality.
I guess that at some stage I should blog about why I support the idea of Brexit (but not for the reasons given in that campaign of factoids). Politics though - yuk. Alternative facts - double yuk.
Wednesday, 25 January 2017
Place names that shouldn't be funny - but are.
Talking with an American colleague this afternoon, he mentioned driving past a place where they couldn't believe the sign.
Westward Ho!
It's a town in north Devon, on the coast, and the name is all about direction and interjection. Apparently the place was entirely more mundane than the obvious translation of the sign would suggest.
Westward Ho!
It's a town in north Devon, on the coast, and the name is all about direction and interjection. Apparently the place was entirely more mundane than the obvious translation of the sign would suggest.
Monday, 23 January 2017
Afternoon sunshine.
We had a nice walk at Stowe (again) and Chris found herself a tree to stand inside.
Tuesday, 17 January 2017
It never ceases to amaze me
That I can get flights and a hotel in Europe for the 2 of us for less than the price of staying somewhere nice in the UK. Nuts.
Monday, 16 January 2017
Traditions are odd things
especially when interpreted/created by the English. Loosely connected with faith and expectation: on Sunday evening we went to the local Wassail.
It's a little bit of syncretism with roots in Norse culture, plus a little bit of Christianity (well, God gets a mention in a song) stirred in either because of appropriation or to give a veneer of acceptability. It is performed on 12th night - 12th night according to the Julian calendar, that is - and the 15th was the nearest convenient date possible. Folded into that is the Morris dancing (Morris may have been adapted from Moorish, possibly Syrian, dancing, but hankies and bells are almost certainly pure English since few other races ritually self-mock) that's now an essential part of such things too.
The idea is that the apple tree for making cider needs to be awoken after winter, encouraged to make it's roots grow and to produce a good harvest. On this occasion the weather should have been snowing hard, but global warming has changed things and it was just drizzling, so the dancing was held indoors. There was also consumption of choice baked comestibles and rough cider (spiced wassail was available in the form of hot apple juice punch).
The actual ceremony is supposed to take place at sunset, but with leaden skies it was more like night time. The tree was ringed with flaming torches with the Morris inside, a song sung by the crowd on the outside, then the words read:
Wassail! wassail! all over the town,
Our toast it is white and our ale it is brown;
Our bowl it is made of the white maple tree;
With the wassailing bowl, we'll drink unto thee
The sound of a shot being fired was then made and a simple dance performed inside the torch circle. After that everyone drifted back inside with imprecations from the hostess to eat up the cake left over. Eventually we all pushed off back home.
Brackly Morris, practicing the mystic art of levitation while dancing.
The 'fool'. He's a tall chap, and I actually find him terrifying, even though there's probably nothing to be afraid of.
Dave The Morris leading proceedings.
Thank you to Victoria and Sebastian for inviting us.
It's a little bit of syncretism with roots in Norse culture, plus a little bit of Christianity (well, God gets a mention in a song) stirred in either because of appropriation or to give a veneer of acceptability. It is performed on 12th night - 12th night according to the Julian calendar, that is - and the 15th was the nearest convenient date possible. Folded into that is the Morris dancing (Morris may have been adapted from Moorish, possibly Syrian, dancing, but hankies and bells are almost certainly pure English since few other races ritually self-mock) that's now an essential part of such things too.
The idea is that the apple tree for making cider needs to be awoken after winter, encouraged to make it's roots grow and to produce a good harvest. On this occasion the weather should have been snowing hard, but global warming has changed things and it was just drizzling, so the dancing was held indoors. There was also consumption of choice baked comestibles and rough cider (spiced wassail was available in the form of hot apple juice punch).
The actual ceremony is supposed to take place at sunset, but with leaden skies it was more like night time. The tree was ringed with flaming torches with the Morris inside, a song sung by the crowd on the outside, then the words read:
Wassail! wassail! all over the town,
Our toast it is white and our ale it is brown;
Our bowl it is made of the white maple tree;
With the wassailing bowl, we'll drink unto thee
The sound of a shot being fired was then made and a simple dance performed inside the torch circle. After that everyone drifted back inside with imprecations from the hostess to eat up the cake left over. Eventually we all pushed off back home.
Brackly Morris, practicing the mystic art of levitation while dancing.
The 'fool'. He's a tall chap, and I actually find him terrifying, even though there's probably nothing to be afraid of.
Dave The Morris leading proceedings.
Thank you to Victoria and Sebastian for inviting us.
Tuesday, 10 January 2017
New year, new flavour
Of Linux, that is.
Just trying Solus Linux, and so far it looks pretty nice in a slightly retro-gnome-ish kind of way. Mostly it's been very, very easy to use, pre-installed audio & video codecs, immediate networking, simple to update and add new software.
Hiccups? I've not managed to add the Samsung printer yet - that usually installs right along with the rest of the system software, but setup won't let me do anything. I also had to do the same as with Mint regarding audio, since both distros use Alsamixer, and switch the audio output in the command line mixer console to change from front to rear audio output.
Otherwise it seems reasonably quick, and is certainly nice to use in a way that most gnome-based distros aren't. If it had a dock then I'd think it an Apple imitator.
To think it is to add it: Cairo Dock is now added, though a little dark & flat for Apple. I could have a lot of fun with this one, but I need to go to bed.
Just trying Solus Linux, and so far it looks pretty nice in a slightly retro-gnome-ish kind of way. Mostly it's been very, very easy to use, pre-installed audio & video codecs, immediate networking, simple to update and add new software.
Hiccups? I've not managed to add the Samsung printer yet - that usually installs right along with the rest of the system software, but setup won't let me do anything. I also had to do the same as with Mint regarding audio, since both distros use Alsamixer, and switch the audio output in the command line mixer console to change from front to rear audio output.
Otherwise it seems reasonably quick, and is certainly nice to use in a way that most gnome-based distros aren't. If it had a dock then I'd think it an Apple imitator.
To think it is to add it: Cairo Dock is now added, though a little dark & flat for Apple. I could have a lot of fun with this one, but I need to go to bed.
Tuesday, 3 January 2017
Sunday, 1 January 2017
The tree is outside
and the decorations are in the loft. Not exactly our usual routine for either a Sunday morning, nor so soon after Christmas, but that's how it needs to be this year.
In a few days we'll have Phil & his daughter Katie from Oz arriving, so need to move stuff around.
Christmas is a funny time. Emotions flap from possibilities and things that might have been but now can't be. Getting older does provide understanding, but that's not always either helpful, nor a source of pleasure moving forwards. For those I've hurt or offended during 2016, I'm sorry - sadly I can't wind the year back and I can't recapture words once spoken or typed.
In a few days we'll have Phil & his daughter Katie from Oz arriving, so need to move stuff around.
Christmas is a funny time. Emotions flap from possibilities and things that might have been but now can't be. Getting older does provide understanding, but that's not always either helpful, nor a source of pleasure moving forwards. For those I've hurt or offended during 2016, I'm sorry - sadly I can't wind the year back and I can't recapture words once spoken or typed.
Saturday, 31 December 2016
I wonder, if all the anger
That was put into smashing this or protesting that were used for something positive, what benefit there might be to the angry one - not to mention everyone else.
Wishing anyone who reads this a peaceful, successful and benevolent 2017, and that any scars 2016 gave you will heal quickly enough.
Wishing anyone who reads this a peaceful, successful and benevolent 2017, and that any scars 2016 gave you will heal quickly enough.
Wednesday, 21 December 2016
PHS waste collection services are cultured
Swan Lake is their call holding music at HQ.
However being transferred to an internal phone got some kind of Brit pop. :p
Ah well, nice while it lasted.
However being transferred to an internal phone got some kind of Brit pop. :p
Ah well, nice while it lasted.
2016 seems to be a year of loss
I was discovered yesterday via a friend that Andrew Jones (better known as Tall Skinny Kiwi) lost his wife about 6 months ago, then via the same friend today of someone's wife being mauled by dogs and dying in Bolivia. People die all the time, but for reasons I don't really understand it seems much more significant to me in THIS year than ever before.
There's a feeling of helplessness that goes with it all.
I've been trying to re-connect my faith and understanding with who God can really be in the light of the suffering and death of those we know and love, and keep coming back to the idea that our suffering and death isn't really that important to God in itself. Starting with Jesus, He came to suffer and die so that we could have life. His disciples expected to suffer and die because that was His example and a likely outcome of following the other things He did. The early church expected to suffer and die because that was the natural outcome of trying to live as a Christian in a pagan society that knowingly embraced the demonic. There are occasional instances of people missing out on suffering - Peter gets released from prison in Acts - but only for a time before meeting an even less pleasant end.
Chris and I were talking about one of the songs done by Gospel Bell at the gig last night "Give me that old-time religion". The lyrics are almost funny in their niavity about church history: one line suggests that 'old-time religion' was good enough for the pilgrim fathers, who actually fled to America to escape the influence of 'old-time religion'. If there weren't enough suffering in the world then the historic church would bring some more to make sure the necessary quota were met. Not that I'm suggesting God instigated that.
And then I read a gospel or 2.
Jesus quite clearly appears to go around alleviating suffering, bringing comfort and a sense of worth to people. It's at odds with every other period of history.
There's a feeling of helplessness that goes with it all.
I've been trying to re-connect my faith and understanding with who God can really be in the light of the suffering and death of those we know and love, and keep coming back to the idea that our suffering and death isn't really that important to God in itself. Starting with Jesus, He came to suffer and die so that we could have life. His disciples expected to suffer and die because that was His example and a likely outcome of following the other things He did. The early church expected to suffer and die because that was the natural outcome of trying to live as a Christian in a pagan society that knowingly embraced the demonic. There are occasional instances of people missing out on suffering - Peter gets released from prison in Acts - but only for a time before meeting an even less pleasant end.
Chris and I were talking about one of the songs done by Gospel Bell at the gig last night "Give me that old-time religion". The lyrics are almost funny in their niavity about church history: one line suggests that 'old-time religion' was good enough for the pilgrim fathers, who actually fled to America to escape the influence of 'old-time religion'. If there weren't enough suffering in the world then the historic church would bring some more to make sure the necessary quota were met. Not that I'm suggesting God instigated that.
And then I read a gospel or 2.
Jesus quite clearly appears to go around alleviating suffering, bringing comfort and a sense of worth to people. It's at odds with every other period of history.
Monday, 19 December 2016
I have 2 posts running round my head
One is about coping with depression while trying to be normal, the other about liking the idea of an Amazon Echo Dot in the house.
Neither seem like a great idea really, but both could help you keep going when things might be more difficult otherwise. I'm doing one, but not the other, but would prefer them to be reversed in some ways.
Some stuff.
One post isn't helpful, the other self-idulgent - I'm not sure which is which. Time to stop then.
Neither seem like a great idea really, but both could help you keep going when things might be more difficult otherwise. I'm doing one, but not the other, but would prefer them to be reversed in some ways.
Some stuff.
One post isn't helpful, the other self-idulgent - I'm not sure which is which. Time to stop then.
Saturday, 17 December 2016
We're all christmassed up
Tree up - check.
Lights - check
Garland over the fireplace - check
Meat bought for next weekend - check
Yup, looks like it.
Lights - check
Garland over the fireplace - check
Meat bought for next weekend - check
Yup, looks like it.
Tuesday, 13 December 2016
Christmas humbug
Writing Christmas cards.
The not-remembering spouses names.
The not-managing-to-align-words in a pleasing manner.
The nagging feeling of having forgotten someone.
The mis-spellings that you spot immediately after writing.
Hah-bumhug!
The not-remembering spouses names.
The not-managing-to-align-words in a pleasing manner.
The nagging feeling of having forgotten someone.
The mis-spellings that you spot immediately after writing.
Hah-bumhug!
Wednesday, 7 December 2016
I have a dilemma
A friend here at work has a bundle of trouble going on in their life right now. He's talked to me a little, opened up a bit about things, and is in a horrible situation.
The dilemma I have is that I want to pray for him - to offer to pray for him and bring some comfort - but after recent events I just don't feel that I can do so in good conscience. From the time I heard about our friend Jo's cancer I prayed every day for her, as did many others. The answer was NO then, and I could cite other non-trivial NO instances too, so why should I raise someone's hopes and offer to pray for them when in all likelihood the exact same answer will be given?
What do you do when there's no faith left, nor any expectation that God will do anything? It's curious how, having fought traditional church for so long, suddenly I find myself there, with a faith that's barely worth the name.
The dilemma I have is that I want to pray for him - to offer to pray for him and bring some comfort - but after recent events I just don't feel that I can do so in good conscience. From the time I heard about our friend Jo's cancer I prayed every day for her, as did many others. The answer was NO then, and I could cite other non-trivial NO instances too, so why should I raise someone's hopes and offer to pray for them when in all likelihood the exact same answer will be given?
What do you do when there's no faith left, nor any expectation that God will do anything? It's curious how, having fought traditional church for so long, suddenly I find myself there, with a faith that's barely worth the name.
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