Cresting waves in the sky

Carparks are always great places to get photos of the sky and clouds. Been a while since I spotted a decent set of clouds, this is a photo of some from the Sainsbury carpark, ground level out the front of the store if you must know.

https://carousel.dropbox.com/photos/cc/lrZXlZIf0oxFTX9

Pastel sunset and clouds from train leaving Waterloo

Cloudy sunset

Lines in the sky. Definitely an interesting mix of lines, if you like that kind of thing.

Clouds over central London

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Sometimes grey skies and clouds are interesting

Interesting clouds, what do you see?

Interesting clouds spotted on way to Alton Station

Fabulous skies around Alton and from the train into Alton

If you like skies and clouds, you'll love these!

Interesting cloud above Alton High Street

Looks like the start of a tornado to me but then I am prone to seeing things in clouds. All part of being in the Cloud Appreciation Society.

Sky, clouds, sunrise, sunset

Well, as you may have noticed, don't worry if you haven't, I am a big fan of looking up. Well, that is up, in the sense up to watch the sky, regard the clouds, ogle at the sunrise and the sunset (freely available, not supported with your taxes, or requiring charitable donations - ed) on a regular basis. I mean, it is just there, every time that you walk out of the door (ok I can think of so cases where walking out does not get you outside - but you know what I mean). Wonderful. (For a small one off fee you can join The Cloud Appreciation Society)

Now, not every day has a great looking sunrise, a fabulous sunset or interesting clouds, but it is forever changing, so take a look, a real look (preferably taking all precautions necessary - stopping whilst crossing a road to enjoy beautiful pinks of the sunset - is NOT recommended for continued life - ed)

Leaving Reading (a town in Berkshire, England, it failed yet again in 2011 to be given city status. Look here to see the typically British way this is managed. More hoops - which I will come to in due course, but not this post) on Sunday after dropping my youngest son, (the taller, hairier one than me, but then so is the eldest - hmm, so how am I supposed to  tell them apart. ) off at Reading Station.

Now we have had a teensy weensy bit of rain since the drought was declared Spring 2012 and the outskirts of Reading, in fact its flood plain, is well and truly flooded (I am so surprised they haven't built houses there - no doubt they will in due course).

I remember in 1976 - the Long Hot Summer where Da Government (tm) finally created the post of Minister for Drought and Denis Howell MP took on the role and within days there was heavy continuous rainfall so much that he was soon renamed the Minister for Rain (this was a  little before Dustin Hoffman played him in the film Rain Man (really? - ed)- and as the rain kept on falling and falling he was renamed Minister for Floods.  Mr Howell reprised this role later as Minister for Snow in the bitter winter of 1978-79 and finally due to these good works (not only these - ed), as is the wont of British politics made a life peer as Baron Howell.

There was me thinking that Da Government did not have a sense of humour (note the English spelling  - for the US audience, use the non-u pronunciation).

Lost track there, where was I, aha I was leaving Reading, heading south towards the M4 and the outskirts are not particularly attractive, as is the case with many towns and cities in the UK, wide carriageways passing cavernous modern showrooms, selling many many things that we don't need, but that is the way that things are.

The sun was setting and particularly pink - and glancing across to my right (paying full attention to the road conditions to ensure that I was not driving without due care and attention (thanks legal department - ed), there was a stunning sunset, trees silhouetted against the falling sun, and a glorious set of reflections of the trees and the sky in the still waters. However, as I was driving I could not take a photo, what a miss. It would be kind of cool if I had a CarSkyCam (tm) to capture this all  - but they are way too expensive. A cheaper thought would be to have a head cam. Hmm - will have to think on it.

Anyhow, fabulous sunset with reflections and no photo :-( . Maybe I should have a go at painting it. But then I have a number of other paintings to do first (dog, orchid, interesting log, face, ship of the line).

So, if you like the sky - then here is a set of sky photos I have uploaded on dropbox.

Unfortunately I appear in one or two, not sure how that happened, but apologies in advance for that.

Mirror Mirror On The Wall

So what is this blog about? Hmmm - hard to say really. I plan to give my views on many subjects - this might elicit opinions from others (assuming anyone reads the blog - ed) - and that would be fine. My views have room to change and I am sure that I will get things wrong and argue both sides on the same subject just for fun - as I find it gives a certain perspective.

But what kind of subjects I hear you say (well not really - the voices in my head have gone into abeyance at present (appears the drugs are working - ed) ).

Software development and project management are a couple of things I have some views on. Do have some hands on experience of that over the last few decades (and didn't they go quickly.) and some of it is very probably worth sharing (don't sound too sure - ed)

Politics will definitely be in the mix - as I am now of an age (gone on tell us how old - ed) where I think I just about know enough to give fair comment (fair? - ed). 

Economics (he reads The Economist - ed)  is a favourite for a good rant about the inability of economics to explain what has happened, what is happening or what will happen.

There will be the occasional photograph - probably of the sky (proud member of  The Cloud Appreciation Society - thanks Tom)  

Above Bristol Temple Meads Station - October 2008

or trees (particularly trees in Autumn - and Autumn 2012 in the South of England has been outstanding.) 

Though this is from 2009!

There will almost certainly be the occasional photo of a painting thrown into the mix - as it is something I have taken up very recently and seem to enjoy. There is nothing quite like the mix of good music, white spirits and oil paints to get the creative juices flowing.

Nearly forgot the books - I am an avid reader (though he appears to have slowed down of late - ed) and will highlight books that I think are worth reading and some that are not, but naturally only of books that I have read. The genres are from software development, economics, business, popular science, history, fantasy, science fiction etc. Eclectic taste moi?

What about music. Well might mention a few of the things that I listen to on occasion, I will listen to anything with no preconceptions (wow - what about Rap? ed)  in case I might like it. Though have to admit I still like my music in physical form - started from vinyl - still lurking in the attic - no turntable any more (sob) - and still buy CDs. Why? I worry about Vendor Lock-In.

There are bound to be other subjects that crop up (though I can tell you for certain that there will be no talk of celebrities or soaps - as I neither follow or watch either)

So who is the ed character that pops up with a certain regularity. Used to read Private Eye and liked the comments by the editor - ed. As this is not edited by anyone other than me - a few asides from an imaginary editor in my head appear to me at least as necessary. We will see how it goes.