Pressure

So here I am, vowed to keep my camera on manual, determined to capture something good, it's a glorious day, and the best I can offer you is a slightly fuzzy, not very well lit female goldfinch (I think).

It was glorious when I got up but I had to be good and devote some time to work. Next term is going to be hectic and I had to create the magic timetable that will attempt to keep us all sane. It's spread-sheeted, colour-coded, timetable magic - if it works it will be flipping magic!

By lunchtime I was twitching to get a shot so whilst munching lunch I noticed some of the wee birds beginning to return to the oak tree outside our living room window. I knew they would fly away if I even attempted to get outside so had to do the best I could from the window. It was hard to get a decent focus with all the wee branches, and there are lots of mickey mouse functions which my camera only automates so with a limited amount of control I pulled this off, I was frustrated by the light which I couldn't seem to improve as the bird was directly facing the sun which was still round the corner of the house..

After lunch I went down to Lunderston Bay for a wander, the kids came too for their daily dose of fresh air and exercise and I got some nice shots of them relaxing in the trees, one was whittling, one was drawing. There wasn't much wildlife to be had but the navy helicopters were out in force, just as I was getting the hang of zooming and panning my blooming battery ran out! As my camera is fairly new I had not yet got round to getting a spare but there's one now in my amazon basket as I type. It was fully charged yesterday but must have been worn out by my lessons.

We returned home for afternoon tea, my new favourite thing, then we all went off to the Arts Guild to see The Man Who Planted Trees performed by The Puppet State Theatre Company. It was excellent as always and everyone else loved it too. Next followed a chippy eaten in the car on the front overlooking the Clyde and an ice cream from the Esplanade Cafe eaten in the car on the Esplanade.

I missed the sunset as the camera was in the house charging. Carlos suggested I use my iPhone, and although it served me well for 307 and blips I just knew it wouldn't compare to what the camera can do. (Although you wouldn't know it looking at this shot!)