Anyone who likes gratuitous cheap laughs at my expense, look this way

Righto, let's get the pretty pictures out of the way first.

Been up to Yorkieland again taking pictures of pretty birdies at the Raptor centre near Thirsk. Don't know what it is about that part of the world; but it smells better than this hole in the east coast, even 24 hours later I can still smell it. Or it seems that way to me. If I didn't have the sort of job that tied me to one place; if I wrote for a living or had done some academia related thing I think I'd have moved up there yonks ago; just a place in a village near a pub that serves ale. That'd do me. Anyhoooo.... birdy pics. Was last over there this time last year; amazingly I haven't found the opportunity to get back over there and take some more, strange considering that the purchase of Bosscam2 was due to the limitations that Bosscam v.1 displayed in this environment last time. But 2007 has been like that, it's roared by defying all my attempts to get a grip on it. Photographing birds is even more fun that photographing jets, but infinitely more frustrating; they're faster, more unpredictable and give the focus a really hard time. Gave up on using the big lens and went for the medium; the bigg'n just couldn't handle the focus times. And Lanner Falcons are just insane; too fast.... the only thing with them is keep the button pressed, hit and hope. I've junked 90% of that session. For some reason, the white headed vulture confuses the focus. Might have to revert to (sharp intake of breath) manual focus for the future.

Amazing I could see anything really, considering that I'd paid a visit to the hospitable house of Jax the night before; once again, the year's been so insane that my socialising has suffered and it's been a full six months since I've been up there. Disgraceful. Took the Mobile Shadey Partybag with me, and we proceeded to drink much of the contents. Midweek blasts aren't healthy you know. Fun though. A slow work south, through Thirsk, to York where I paid the National Railway Museum a visit en route to the theatre. Did a little bit of calculation on the way in, it's a full twenty nine years since I've been to this place. Arrgh !! I don't like numbers like that involved in things that I can clearly remember! Oh, and this is where the gratuitous cheap laughs come in.

The theatre. Found a place to park the car that cost nothing that's in walking distance for my fat and wheezy self; found the theatre itself without any trouble. Found the queue to pick up my tickets, excellent, so far so good. Glanced at the large HGV sat outside, hmmm, a little excessive for a stand up comedy show? The penny slowly starts to droppeth.... a glance at the Runrig tour posters show's they're playing York on the 3rd. The comedy's on the 4th. People walking around in Runrig t-shirts. A picture's forming here. A realisation that last month was a 30 day'er, and I can't remember switching the date wheel on my analogue watch to correct it. Arse. I'm here a day early. You fat fool, you. Oh well, I could always claim to be a die hard fan and first in the queue? Nah, stuff it, I'll go home, via frankly the most decidedly average chicken burger it has been my displeasure to scoff in some time; there's precious little at home other than cat food as there's no point building up stocks before my appointment with the knife.