I had my first visit to an intensive care ward over the Easter weekend, visiting someone who was in there.
I was struck by how serene it is, and – obviously I guess – high tech. Each bed is surrounded by machinery – syringe drivers, drip stands, ventilators, and banks of monitors showing vital signs, etc. Despite this, it is all very quite and peaceful. The alarms on the machine are fairly subtle beeps, and the whole feel of the place was very open and calm. Nobody rushed around – the nurses going from around and about were walking. Even when someone did need attention it was all done in a calm and measured fashion.
I guess it’s partly that in intensive care, the machines are doing most of the work and everything is tightly controlled. The person who I was visiting was in an induced coma, with their breathing being done by a machine, and their heart rate and blood pressure controlled by drugs. Depsite all the tubes and wires, and the fact they were unconscious, there was a diginity and respect about it all, somehow. It was almost pleasant, bizarrely, to sit there for an hour or two, at their bedside, with the gentle bustle going on around us.
I have no doubt that there are moments of high drama and elevated activity, and of course heartache and death. But while I was in there, it either didn’t happen, or happened sufficiently discretely that I didn’t notice it.
It was also interesting to observe how different people deal with and responded to the situation. I personally felt drawn to be introspective, while others tried to externalise it. It is a bit like there was an emptiness, and you either choose to stare down it, or tried to fill it.
I guess as a part of my ministry I can expect a few more visits to intensive care (although hopefully not as a close relative), and at the moment it’s looking like the person I was visiting is at least heading towards the edge of the woods, if not out of them yet.
My new phone does instagram really nicely, and I’m finding myself taking more and more photos from within instagram.
In fact, most of this month’s “365” photos have been on my cameraphone. It’s actually quite nice to be removed from the technical quality constraints. My phone is never going to match the quality of my SLR, by any metric, so the attention is firmly forced onto subject and composition.
My 365s still tend to be the aspect ratio out of the phone, where instagram is square, but if this starts bothering me enough I’ll start uploading the square/processed crops.
One thing that is nice about the workflow is that my phone saves the pictures in the same date format as I use anyway, plus it gets uploaded to Dropbox, and hence pops into my desktop, for upload to Gallery.
My Instagram user name is eutonyjames if you want to give me a follow. Expect many more of this year’s photos to be from my phone!
Well, the exiting news from the household is that I have been recommended for ordination training in the Church of England!
I have felt that God was calling me to ordained ministry for many years. It has been a long and, at times, quite difficult journey. The process of discernment is long and thorough, and deeply searching. Those who were with me 8 years ago will know that this is not the first time that I have been an ordinand (i.e. someone preparing for ordination), but for various reasons we had with withdraw from the process last time.
If I’m honest, I think much of the Church of England is not in a great state. As has been said before, we generally put ecclesiology before missiology – or in other words think “The God of the Church has a Mission”, rather than “The God of Mission has a Church”. To my mind, the role of the church (any church) is to advance the Kingdom of Heaven, and as soon as buildings, committees, or structures start getting in the way of this, we need to take this very seriously. But I am also very excited about the other candidates who were at the same Panel – almost universally I came away thinking “Wow, you’d make a great minister.”
One of the interesting and exciting elements this time is that I will be staying on in my “day job” while I train and minister, at least at first. This gives an unique opportunity to work out theology and ministry in the context of a 9-5.
I’d also like to that this opportunity to say that I firmly believe that God has a specific calling on each of us who follow him, and the call to the cloth is no more or less a vocation than His other callings. It is, I conceed, a bit more public than most!
An exciting road lies ahead – the next 3 years (pre-ordination training) seem fairly clear, but after that.. Well, God knows!
As has been my wont in recent times, I like to list a list of ambitions for the coming year. I’m initially focussing on maintaining rather than improving this year!
So, this year, my ambitions are:
Devise a pocket money system.
Go climbing at least 8 times, and either manage another 6b+ top rope, or advance to 6a+ leading
Continue photography – post at least 100 photos across the year, no less than one a week, no more than one a day, including some on my photography hit list.
Go to the cinema at least once in my own right.
See “Catching Fire”
Continue blogging – at least 20 posts in 2014.
Write a JavaScript “Roast App”, where you put it in the target time and joint weight, and it will tell you what to do when.
Fix my TweetRate calculator to work with v1.1
Improve our hospitality, specifically having people round for meals more.
A rather surprising 1,000+ tweets this year, it would seem! Fortunately I have my scapel to hand… As usual, edited “highlights” of my year on Twitter…
Well, first ambition of 2013 achieved. Times crossword 25,361 completed correctly without looking at any answers. (Sun Jan 06 19:01:19 )
I love waking up to see a snowy scene outside the window. Roads are still black, but trees and grass have turned white overnight! (Mon Jan 14 06:42:46 )
I managed to put on 3kg (half a stone) over Christmas. No wonder climbing this week was such hard work! (Fri Jan 18 13:47:24 )
Son: There’s a huge pawprint in the snow by the gate. Mum: That’s Dad’s footprint. (Sat Jan 19 10:02:04 )
Embarrassing moment when I unplugged my headphones before turning off the radio, and filled the office with Carley Rae Jepson. (Thu Jan 24 12:39:48 )
I reckon that God’s call is always exciting and surprising, and a little scary. No knowing where it will lead either. #WhatARide. (Sat Jan 26 19:28:32 )
“Dad, why are these red?” “because they’re rhubarb – that’s the colour they are” “Oh, I thought it was some sort of celery” (Sat Feb 02 10:18:47 )
Well done all for a fab cabaret at St Andrew’s. Was asked why I didn’t perform – my offer to demonstrate crossword solving was declined.. (Sat Feb 02 23:51:05 )
Penultimate evening on Twitter till Lent. Going to miss y’all. Here’s why, if you didn’t catch it. www.eutony.net/2013/02/09/lenten-tweets/ (Mon Feb 11 19:01:11 )
Christ is risen – He is risen indeed. Alleluia! (Sun Mar 31 06:56:56 )
In other news – I’m BACK as well after my Lenten Twitter-fast. I’ve missed you all so much. 🙂 (Sun Mar 31 06:57:36 )
So, first job is to hide the eggs in the garden for an egg hunt, then tune my guitar for church, then set the oven timer for the roast later (Sun Mar 31 06:59:23 )
Feeling the twitter love – thanks for welcomes back! Currently waiting in the wings for ressurection celebration. Hope rest of band make it! (Sun Mar 31 09:05:23 )
Got my 365 up to date (lots more cheating this time!), and I’m afraid my Easter photos are entirely un-spiritual this year. (Sun Mar 31 18:53:34 )
Slightly amazed at the positive and spiritual articles in today’s Times. You could almost get the idea Christianity was a good thing! (Mon Apr 01 12:19:40 )
We’re all packed (well nearly) for Spring Harvest ’13 at Skeggy. I could crush a grape! (Tue Apr 02 07:09:42 )
“Faith is not a formula, or a commodity to sell, but a person to introduce.” #sh2013 (Wed Apr 03 10:36:44 )
Love that Pete James leads worship in hat and scarf at the big start. #sh2013 (Thu Apr 04 08:57:54 )
No 1 son exploring fruit mine. No 2 son asleep in pushchair. Wife at seminar. I’m tweeting (and shivering) in the sunshine. #sh2013 (Thu Apr 04 13:17:26 )
Almost time for the big start. (Shout wahoos). Excited about Ness unpacking 1 John 3 later too. #sh2013 (Fri Apr 05 07:30:17 )
One of the things I love about Spring Harvest is how all the “names” are wandering around like the rest of us. #sh2013 (Sat Apr 06 10:43:04 )
“Behind every fear there is a lie. Find the lie and replace it with the truth. ” #sh2013 (Sat Apr 06 10:45:15 )
Glorious weather for our last full day at skeggy. Head full of ideas and challenges for life back home. #sh2013 (Sat Apr 06 18:31:48 )
Tears from no 2 when he realised there are no more “play-dough” times (aka Little Springers) 🙁 #sh2013 (Sun Apr 07 06:03:57 )
Wow – pretty windy this evening. Might not be in Kansas when we wake up. Come to that, I hope we’re not in Kansas when we wake up! (Wed Apr 17 20:58:18 )
Great session with the cubs at @HarrogateClimb. Thanks to Kat for keeping us all in order! (Thu Apr 18 19:18:46 )
No.1 son has an interesting homework piece: retell a fairy story in 50 words. That calls for twitter-esque brevity! (Sat Apr 20 09:23:03 )
10,000 reasons is *high* as published. Should have dropped it a couple of tones for a cold 9am service! (Sun Apr 21 10:44:50 )
Wonder how long no 2 son would stay asleep in the Pushchair if I parked it next to the drums? 🙂 (Sun Apr 21 13:58:08 )
Hoorah – finished the times crossword championship qualifier #25451. Suspect my time (5 days) may not get me to the heats though. (Mon Apr 22 11:57:51 )
Trying to work out if doing the crossword has ameliorated my lexicon not. (Mon Apr 22 12:02:48 )
Discovered a ‘professional’ time for the Times qualifier is 12 minutes. Puts my 5 days into perspective. (Thu Apr 25 12:29:13 )
Looking forward to my monthly @harrogateclimb a bit later with Simon. See if I can kick my z-clipping habit! (Wed Apr 24 16:10:24 )
I think I clicked the “philatelist” button on the Royal Mail website – I’m now bombarded by brochures for commemorative stamps! (Fri Apr 26 06:36:04 )
… Commemorative Dr Who stamps. Commemorative Kate’s Expecting stamps. Commemorative Footballers Who Bite stamps… (Fri Apr 26 06:36:54 )
God’s been speaking to me recently about the importance of mission, and how missio dei is the point of church. (Sun Apr 28 09:52:59 )
Good session with @Leach_Mick. Really value the accountability, encouragement and prayers. #IronSharpensIron (Thu May 02 21:15:17 )
Found out that one of my colleagues is leaving. Working with them has been one of the highlights of my job – sad news but exciting for them. (Fri May 03 08:43:00 )
The ice creams at @indulgedelibar at @HarrogateClimb are looking seriously tempting. Not part of my financial or calorific plan though. (Fri May 03 16:05:11 )
Managed to (partially) pull my fingerboard off the wall doing pull-ups. More a reflection of the mounting then my strength! (Sat May 04 11:44:27 )
Just been beaten twice in a row at Chess by No 1 son. #TideIsTurning (Sat May 04 14:30:36 )
Sneaking some Marsala into the gravy. See if anyone notices … (Sun May 05 15:09:39 )
“Think Bike” is all good and well, but when Bikers pull a wheelie at 80 on the Ripon Bypass you kind of think they have a part to play too (Mon May 06 06:59:25 )
Today we celebrate ascension day (in the Anglican church at least). Jesus, bodily resurrected is bodily taken back to heaven! (Thu May 09 06:52:03 )
Here we go. Star Trek: Into darkness, for my likely sole (adult) cinema trip this year! (Sun May 12 18:55:34 )
‘Slept’ in two different beds and two different floors last night. The joys of a sleepless toddler. (Wed May 15 06:20:57 )
Wondering if it’s blasphemous to draw an analogy between the work of the Holy Spirit and Mr Muscle Oven Cleaner? (Sun May 19 08:40:10 )
The day of Pentecost was awesome, and worth celebrating, but I’m not sure about the “birthday of the church” thing. (Sun May 19 10:12:03 )
I think its because it promotes The Church as an independent entity, rather than you, me, and all the other strange people. #ChurchBirthday? (Sun May 19 10:24:12 )
Awesome “worship huddle” this evening. Many thanks to Caroline, Stroma, and Martin for leading us and allowing the Holy Spirit to minister. (Mon May 20 21:12:25 )
Awful news from Woolwich – very happy not to watch any footage. (Wed May 22 20:49:28 )
I think 80s music was genuinely good. Guy on the Morrisons till this eve wasn’t even born, and said “it’s Spandau Ballet – Gold, great track” (Fri May 24 20:29:53 )
Wow – breathtakingly moon tonight as well, when the clouds clear. (Fri May 24 20:37:02 )
Just heard my mum’s had a car accident. No other cars, and she apparently shaken but not hurt. Story is she overturned it?! (Sat May 25 13:37:48 )
Update on my Mum – blow out at 60 on the A11, and ended up in the ditch!! Badly bruised, but nothing broken it seems. Prayers appreciated. (Sat May 25 15:12:43 )
Worrying when the preacher quotes ‘I have much more to say to you – more then you can bear’ (Sun May 26 10:39:48 )
Had my first Irish coffee this evening. All right, but won’t be rushing to have another. (Wed May 29 21:42:18 )
Clubs and bars of Harrogate surprisingly busy for a Wednesday night. Suspect I will regret lateness of hour in the morning. (Wed May 29 21:45:04 )
A bit spooky walking past the ominously dark funfair. Will I ever be seen again? (I expect so, but cool final tweet if I’m not) (Wed May 29 21:48:32 )
Phew – made it past the stray. My Famous Last Tweet will just have to w (Wed May 29 21:52:32 )
I wonder if heaven will involve sitting out in the sun drinking Pimms? #probably (Sun Jun 02 14:33:10 )
Isn’t it part of the point of marriage that it isn’t equal? I don’t mean either party is better, but different; I.e. a man and a woman? (Tue Jun 04 12:06:20 )
Saw the deputy head having a v serious discussion with a parent. Spoiled only by the fact he was dressed as a Morris dancer. With bells. (Fri Jun 07 08:29:17 )
Seem to be a lot of rabbits in the fields on the way to York. #ABitBored. (Sat Jun 08 06:36:07 )
Excitement really mounting now as the train reaches camp Poppleton. Just one last push and the York summit will be ours. #IdRatherBeClimbing (Sat Jun 08 06:42:04 )
I love the diversity of London. Also interesting that the tube now says which side the doors open. Still no phone signal tho. (Sat Jun 08 09:14:10 )
Decided to take a little stroll before my train, and happened upon 5 or 6 horse drawn carriages emerging from the Palace. #LondonLife (Sat Jun 08 09:36:40 )
I’m wondering if the church spends the most time and energy on the least significant activity (in Kingdom terms)? Meaning Sunday AMs. (Sun Jun 09 07:08:05 )
Important to meet together, but institutionally biased toward maintenance not mission. (Sun Jun 09 07:10:04 )
I think Sunday services are the starting point, not the ending point or – heaven help us – the point. (Sun Jun 09 10:50:10 )
I guess the value lies in regular sacrifical worship, and ‘eroding’ a channel of faith and doctrine week in week out (bit like a river.) (Sun Jun 09 10:53:11 )
I think the sorting hat may be broken. Everyone going onto platform 9 3/4 is Gryffindor. (Sun Jun 09 16:56:43 )
It probably says something that F1 is as exciting to ‘watch’ on twitter as it is on telly. (Sun Jun 09 19:43:19 )
Safely back in Yorkshire. 2 stops and a short stroll and I will be back in the arms of my beloved. (Sun Jun 09 19:45:55 )
Oh starbeck, srarbeck, thou Beck of starfulness. (Can you tell I’m fed up with this journey?) (Sun Jun 09 19:47:12 )
I do declare that there are young people so-called “chilling” on the stray on a Sunday evening. #GottaLoveHarrogate (Sun Jun 09 20:03:28 )
Not really pulling my weight at #LoveStarbeck, but I am at least here, which is one up on last year.#LifeWithAToddler (Sat Jun 15 15:00:56 )
Happy Solstice everyone. Hope your days are long in light only! (Fri Jun 21 07:09:36 )
I think the Wimbledon app is broken. Nadal out in straight sets in the first round? (Mon Jun 24 17:09:25 )
Good morning from Amsterdam. Got myself an EU Internet pass, so this tweet should now be free. #HopeSo (Thu Jun 27 06:28:13 )
Travelling for business sounds glamorous. The reality is lots and lots of hanging around airports, hotels, and train stations. (Thu Jun 27 06:53:42 )
Although my room had a cool safe you used by swiping your credit card. Don’t *think* it charged me each time… (Thu Jun 27 06:55:25 )
Standing by the jet2 check-in desk for the flight to Leeds, I just genuinely caught myself wondering where the other passengers were flying. (Thu Jun 27 15:15:44 )
Funnily enough there’s a distinct absence of good looking scandanavians round here too. (Thu Jun 27 15:17:40 )
In Amsterdam we established that Dutch stereotypes are clogs and windmills. English are binge drinking and larger louts. (Fri Jun 28 14:21:02 )
The difference being the Dutch one isn’t true. (Fri Jun 28 14:22:04 )
I also found out that you need an e-passport to use the e-passport machines, after switching queues #BackOfTheLine @samanthajoy2 @leach_mick (Fri Jun 28 15:35:35 )
Stroopwafels were received with universal acclaim in the Handley household. Don’t think the packet will last much longer! (Fri Jun 28 18:56:01 )
I’m reaching the conclusion that there are just always lots of Porsches, Ferraris and lambos around harrogate (Sat Jun 29 12:00:50 )
Doing something a bit different today: off to the church of Christ the Consoler nr. Newby Hall for a celebration of tourism and hospitality. (Sun Jun 30 08:23:30 )
Reading Foolishness to the Greeks by Newbiggin. Found it dense and intractable last time I tried (20 yrs ago). Now seems pretty interesting (Wed Jul 03 20:28:30 )
The highlights of watching Wimbledon with my youngest include “Aunty Mummy” playing, and “people shouting ouch”! (Thu Jul 04 17:51:53 )
Funny that I felt more drawn to being a student at Cambridge as an adult visitor than I ever was as a potential undergrad. (Thu Jul 04 19:53:20 )
Much more importantly, the wedding of the decade is just around the corner! Ex-babysitter trying the knot. Thrilled and excited for her. (Thu Jul 04 19:59:20 )
I’m in a mild but increasing panic about the minor role I have to play. 3 days away didn’t feature in my preparation plans! (Thu Jul 04 20:00:52 )
.. it’s not like I’m playing her up the aisle or anything. Oh, hang on… (Thu Jul 04 20:02:17 )
I don’t appear to be having any withdrawal symptoms after dropping to t-t-two ca-ca-ca caffeineated ddddrinkssss a dDDDday. (Fri Jul 05 11:39:18 )
What a privilege to share in Jess and Edds special day. A very big hats off and thank you to the amazing organizers too. It was perfect. (Sun Jul 07 08:33:41 )
Great meal last night with good friends. Still sitting in the garden at midnight drinking coffee by candlelight. (Sat Jul 13 06:20:51 )
Gearing up for Growing Leaders 2013 – exploratory evening on Weds. Hoping and praying God will use it again as a means of blessing & growth. (Mon Jul 15 07:54:22 )
I love the calm of the office before everyone else arrives and the phones start ringing and the emails fly. (Mon Jul 15 07:57:27 )
Not often a newspaper moves me to tears, but the article on adoption in Times2 today came very close. (Thu Jul 18 12:01:28 )
It’s now the same air temperature outside as in (25 deg), so time to shut the windows! #CounterIntuituve #StayingCool (Fri Jul 19 09:31:01 )
It’s a tragedy of Shakespearean magnitude – no Friday icepop stall at school today. (Fri Jul 19 14:17:29 )
Just so I’m clear – women only spas, gyms,races, and climbing sessions are ok, but not men only golf ? #JustAsking (Sat Jul 20 12:09:56 )
Incredibly dark out. Thunder rumbling. Rain just started. #WetRideToWork. (Tue Jul 23 06:19:30 )
Not seen any lightning yet. I suppose the ‘thunder’ suppose could be everyone putting out their wheely bins. Or clapping the royal birth. (Tue Jul 23 06:22:56 )
Wow – hats off to Kate for being up for a (mini) press conference the day after giving birth! #FutureQueen (Tue Jul 23 20:33:47 )
Using the last bit of loo paper at work and then not fetching a new roll from the cupboard classifies as gross misconduct in my book. (Thu Jul 25 11:28:21 )
Heading out in short sleeves and sandals. In denial over the over being back in British weather. (Sun Aug 11 13:01:05 )
Always a good visit to the NRM in York. Surprising change in the weather though – sweltered on the train home. (Fri Aug 16 16:42:44 )
The Adventures of Abney and Teal. Quirky, folky, musicy-y genius. And best of all heralds bedtime for the youngest. #NearlyFeetUpTime (Fri Aug 16 16:49:35 )
“Abney’s cabbages looked very dramatic in the moonlight.” 🙂 (Fri Aug 16 16:50:06 )
Oh yes, and apologies to the others on the train to York this morning, who had to endure us singing “Chu Chu Ua” repeatedly. (Fri Aug 16 16:52:31 )
Younger asleep. Elder in final approach to bed. I love being a dad, but i also love it when they’re tucked up for the night! (Fri Aug 16 18:24:49 )
Schoolboy error feeding the ducks in Hookstone Wood – throwing in handfuls myself instead of leaving the boys doing a piece at a time! (Sat Aug 17 11:22:40 )
Resuming church life after our Menorcan Furlough. Looking fairly promising for a barbie later too… (Sun Aug 18 09:14:42 )
Finished my paid employ for the week. Now it’s time to do a purple polo-shirt and become a “pirate” for the morning. (Fri Aug 23 06:45:54 )
Surprising straw poll result of preferred potato based food in my KS2 group was “roast”. Even after explaining chips and crisps are potato! (Fri Aug 23 20:37:23 )
Among the teenage helpers there was a clear winner of “mash”. They all looked at my blankly when I suggested saute. (Fri Aug 23 20:38:13 )
Now I’m nearly 40, I am jolly well going to use a duvet and a pillow when I go camping. (Sun Aug 25 17:46:59 )
Just noticed my last tweet was #3333. If we were in base 4, this one would be 10,000. Bless the lord. (Mon Aug 26 13:10:51 )
At the current rate, its about 6 years until I get there for real. (Mon Aug 26 13:12:06 )
I am about to discover whether having out-of-date Key Lime Pie for breakfast is a good idea… (Thu Sep 05 07:05:36 )
Unfortunately the slow puncture on my bike isn’t anymore. #walkingToWorkThen. Still, will burn off some of that Pie (Thu Sep 05 07:48:57 )
There is only one downside to having a haircut in a lunch hour. #ItchyBack (Thu Sep 05 16:22:17 )
Enjoying Test Driven Development. So far almost all the bugs (I.e. fails) found were in main code (rather than test code). Interesting. (Wed Sep 11 07:55:04 )
I’d possibly go as far as to say coding without unit tests is like climbing without a rope. (Wed Sep 11 08:04:38 )
Solved “GCHQ :: Can You Find It?”! Really enjoyed challege 4. Will blog in full once it closes. #CanYouFindIt(Fri Sep 13 13:07:16 )
Fab climbing session this evening at @HarrogateClimb . First time in months, but just about manage to lead a 6a (with some falls on the way) (Wed Sep 18 21:18:48 )
I wonder for how many days you could photograph “today” on date supplying devices? photo.eutony.net/365/2013-09-19 (Thu Sep 19 18:48:13 )
Had a chilling thought this morning. Is “10,000 reasons” this generation’s “shine, Jesus shine”? They even both have commas! (Tue Sep 24 07:58:12 )
It seems to me that most of the Mr. Men books are about people denying their nature, and having to become something they are not. (Fri Oct 04 11:19:36 )
Wife (looking over my shoulder at Twitter feed): “You must have once had so much time to achieve things in life” (Fri Oct 11 20:57:15 )
Garden fireworks were a success last night (thanks @Morrisons) – 3 y.o. covered ears, but enjoyed the show. Next week – the Stray!! (Sun Oct 27 07:48:09 )
The current rage in our household is walking through doors backwards, following the deportment article in The Times. (Thu Nov 07 19:30:09 )
No 1 son is back in one piece from Bewerly Park, albeit minus a welly, which sunk without a trace. (Fri Nov 15 19:15:56 )
St Peter’s bells still half muffled. I first heard half muffled at Di’s funeral, and find it as eerie as I did then. (Fri Nov 15 19:35:05 )
I can confirm the crime wave in Harrogate. Most of the young ladies seem to have had clothing stolen – mainly trousers. (Sat Nov 16 00:12:10 )
Just as well Catching Fire doesn’t open until tomorrow – might have been tempting to pop in on way past cinema, instead of bus to Ripon. (Wed Nov 20 16:35:24 )
I dont know the details of what was voted for, but fantastic to have overwhelmingly positive movement towards female bishops. (Wed Nov 20 16:37:46 )
If it wasn’t an hour to the next bus I’d be tempted to jump out at Ripley for some world famous ice cream. (Wed Nov 20 21:03:27 )
I can safely conclude that this lunchtime’s culinary experiment (toasted bolog sandwiches) is unlikely to catch on. (Fri Nov 22 15:46:17 )
Thwarted in my pedantry this year by the fact that 1st December is actually the start of Advent. (Mon Nov 25 07:42:33 )
@alexbcann I met republica once in the caravan behind the 1fm roadshow rig. Didn’t recognise them until they went on stage! Oops. 🙂 (Tue Nov 26 10:34:02 )
Wednesday night is curry night in the Handley household. Indebted to my big sis for introducing me to Patak’s pastes all those years ago. (Wed Nov 27 18:56:50 )
Suddenly feels like Christmas is on the way, now that the advent calendars are out in preparation for tomorrow. #ComeLordJesus. (Sat Nov 30 16:51:28 )
Very exciting news – my camera just went “round the clock” (again) – back to IMG_0001.jpg (Sun Dec 08 22:01:15 )
Just got the Radio Times Christmas edition. Proper Christmas time now. (Wed Dec 11 12:47:19 )
I suppose it’s not the most spiritual form of preparation, looking through the Christmas Radio Times. It is anticipatory at least. (Wed Dec 11 12:50:39 )
I love it when I come across random cool stuff. Just found someone blogging her way through Mary Berry’s Baking Bible risingtotheberry.blogspot.co.uk (Tue Dec 17 13:00:50 )
I just sent my first snapchat. Should I be proud or ashamed of this? (Tue Dec 17 21:29:34 )
I’ve reached the age where I now need a teenager to teach me the paradigms of social media. (Wed Dec 18 08:13:18 )
Very bored babysitting SQL queries which take long enough to be boring, but not long enough to be able to do something else in between. (Wed Dec 18 10:06:23 )
Not getting too well with snapchat. Out of 3 messages sent, 2 no replies, and 1 “Who are you”. (and yes, I thought I knew all 3 recipients) (Thu Dec 19 12:27:36 )
Starting a new nativity tradition of the jedi shepherd in our household. (Sun Dec 22 09:21:02 )
Much like the shepherds, we are also walking to worship Jesus. In our case it’s cause the clutch cable snapped yesterday at Morrisons. (Sun Dec 22 09:22:17 )
A blessed Christmas to all. Hope peace and love break through this one day at least. (Wed Dec 25 07:04:11 )
I wish I had someone who would carry me to bed when I fall asleep on the sofa. (Thu Dec 26 21:54:16 )
Still got it – Times No. 25,665 in the bag (with Chambers and electronics). (Fri Dec 27 08:03:24 )
Starting our reflections on 2013 – familial and personal highs and lows. A good year, on balance. (Sat Dec 28 09:46:37 )
I went to see Gravity recently – what an immense film.
It’s definitely a slow burner – as has already been commented on, it’s something like 10 minutes before the first cut. But it is beautiful to watch. Sandra Bullock and George Clooney are superb. Most of the screen time is devoted to Bullock, playing Dr Ryan Stone, an engineer on her first space flight doing some work on Hubble.
A satellite explosion causes a chain reaction of space debris, which destroys Hubble, detaches Stone from the space shuttle/Hubble, and kills the rest of the crew except for Matt Kowalski (played by Clooney). He manages to retrieve her with his thruster backpack, and the rest of the film follows their attempts to return to earth, initially by thrusting to the ISS. The filming and special effects are magnificent. Like the best special effects, you don’t really notice them. It really does look like it was filmed in space! I guess post “Apollo”, the need to mess around doing somersalts and spinning pens in the vomit comet is done and dusted, and they can get on with the story.
The plot follows a typical diaster theme – which of the protagonists is going to survive (if any), and will they make it? I won’t spoil the film by answering these questions now, although in this particular film it doesn’t matter too much. I can’t say I built up very much empathy with the characters, but it is a beautiful, absorbing film to watch.
There was just one “oh come on” moment, which almost spoiled the film for me, until I realised what was really happening. Aside from this, there was pretty much no disbelief to suspend. Not having been into space, it’s hard to comment on the realism – but as I’ve already said this had more the feel of a documentary than a movie. Obviously, as with any diaster movie, things go from bad to worse, and it does get a little bit eye-rolling at times, but as a visual experience it’s awesome. Indeed, the biggest technical criticism I’ve read is to do with the difference in orbital velocity between hubble and the ISS making “just” thrusting between them impossible.
Doesn’t top my “films you HAVE to see” list, but if you’ve got a couple of hours space then I can think of several worse ways to spend it.
Well, only 14 days to go, so I think I’ll review how I’ve done this year now!
Continue climbing regularly, 10 times over the year, and improve by a grade (to 6b+, think) – ✔ ✘
Both a tick and a cross! I only managed 8 times according to my climbing log, but I did manage a 6b+, and started lead climbing.
Take a photo got every day – ✘
I managed it up to the start of October, at which point I made the decision to stop the 365 project and just continue on an ad-hoc basis. I’ve posted 37 photos in the 78 days since then, so just under every other day – my aim is probably a couple a week.
Go to the cinema – ✔
YES – and for me! I went to see Despicable Me 2 on Odeon Kids, but also Gravity and Star Trek Into Darkness – both awesome films. I really want to see Catching Fire, but I think this will have to wait.
Go camping – ✔
YES – in the back garden with the boy, over the summer.
Cook something I’ve never cooked before.– ✔
YES – two offerings are Jamie’s Lamb Pot-Roast, but also Mary Berry’s Apricot and Almond Meringue Gâteau (nom nom nom).
Go to Spring Harvest (yay) – ✔
Oh yeah. I’d missed this so much.
Maintain weight at around 72kg – ✘
That’s a big fat no! (literally). Last time I weighed myself I was pushing 78kg, but that was a couple of months ago, and before Christmas snacking kicked in. Ho hum.
Pray and read the bible every day – ✔
.. ok, so maybe not every day, but to within acceptible error margins.
Put my boys to bed every evening – ✔
As above.
Complete a Times crossword (electronic aids allowed) – ✔
YES! Dead chuffed by this one. I’d got to the stage where I was fairly regularly managing to complete them (in several hours, with electronic aids and Chambers), and only rarely not understanding the answer when I saw it. I haven’t attempted once since the summer though, so I suspect I’ve rusted.
Continue blogging and twitter-ing (20 blog posts) – ✔
Yes – I didn’t think I’d posted that much, but this will be my 21st Post. My tweetrate has defintely dropped (and my tweetrate calculator has broken too, it seems.)
Take C# and HTML5 MS exams (towards the new MCSD qualification) ✔ ✘
Did the HTML5 one.
Well, the Practical Photography Photo School is over (although the next one has started straight away), so I thought that I would collate my 6 homework assignments in one place!
Module 1: Landscapes
Bridge over Ure
Taken in Ripon, just after sunset. Tripod, 50mm lens.
Grade: Bronze
Comments:
Image is underexposed
Image isn’t sharp enough
Composition needs more attention
Module 2: Portraits
A Selfie?!
With the homework deadline looming, I could only find one willing model who’d put up with my endless experimentation – me! Taken at 9.30pm(!), ISO 400, 50mm lens at f/4.0, 1/25s fired with a remote shutter release. Silver reflector in my right hand to try and make the most of the light! I pre-focussed on a brush, then took lots, moving myself forwards and backwards until I had one with my front eye in focus. I think the brief has it as out of camera, otherwise I might have cropped the top and left a little to nail the rule of 1/3rds, and given a bit more contrast.
Grade: Gold – Pass with distinction
Module 3: Action
Hotwheels
I made this homework hard for myself! Even on a very bright sunny day I was struggling to get a fast enough shutter to freeze the car and small enough aperture to get it all in focus, and had to push to ISO 400 which gives too much noise for my liking on my (ancient) camera. It also doesn’t do continuous focussing in shutter priority, and only 2-3fps in burst, which was nowhere near fast enough! Still, the ‘driver’ is (just about) in focus, the plane of focus is sharp, the subject fills the frame, it’s coming towards us, and there’s a sense of motion. Setup was camera on the tripod pointing at the end of track and pre-focussing slightly nearer then the end. I let go of the car and tried to fire the shutter as it launched. f/8, 1/640s, ISO 400 (and about 200 attempts)
Grade: Silver – Pass with merit
Comments:
Image isn’t sharp enough
Nice effort, but focus on wrong point.
Module 4: Nature
Sage
The bumble bees absolutely love this plant! Bright sunny day so hand held my 100mm macro. f/6.3 – which isn’t wide – but this close needed the depth of field. 1/250s, with -0.7 eposure compensation (which may have slightly over-egged it, but the highlights were burning out otherwise). I did get some bee’s feeding, but had to use my flash which doesn’t meet the brief!
Grade: Silver – Pass with merit
Comments:
Image is underexposed
Ever so slightly underexposed – even 1/2 stop more would make a huge difference.
Module 4: Black and White
Trollied
I like the pattern these trollies made as they go away into the distance. Choose a wide aperture for a narrow depth of field, and tried to align the focal place with a vertical third. Handheld at f/1.8 and 1/640s outside Sainsburys!
Grade: Gold – Pass with distinction
Module 6: Animals
Feeling a bit sheepish
Full length portrait with my 75-300 @ 300mm. f/8 to try and minimise the softness of the lens, and 1/125 shutter so braced on the fence. Iso 400 which is the most I can go before too much noise kicks in. Tried to frame it to give the sheep some space, but put its eyes on a third. Used focus/re-compose as my camera has limited focus points. I really did try to get one of the neighbours cats, but they wouldn’t play with me. I’m not trying to fleece you, or pull the wool over your eyes!
Grade: Gold – Pass with distinction
So that’s a bronze, 2 silvers, and 3 golds. Not too shabby, but room for improvement.
This is transposition cipher, with “Q”s substituted for blanks.
The big clue is in the frequency/histogram of the letters, which matches normal english, except for Q.
It’s 143 characters, which is 13×11. So try writing as a 13×11 grid:
A W V L I Q I Q V T Q O S
Q O E L G C V I I Q W D L
C U Q E E O E N N W W O A
O L T D N U Q T G A W T S
M D O Q T L A O Q S D C H
P Q Q I Q D Q Q T Q O O T
U D B N I Q H B H H T D U
T E E T F D U E A U M O R
E S Q E Q E M L T M E T I
R E C L I C A I Q A T U N
Q R A L T E N E I N R K G
Then read the columns
AQCOMPUTERQWOULDQDESERVEQTOQBEQCALLEDQINTELLIGENTQ
IFQITQCOULDQDECEIVEQAQHUMANQINTOQBELIEVINGQTHATQITQ
WASQHUMANQWWWDOTMETRODOTCODOTUKSLASHTURING
Which is pretty easy to translate into:
A computer would deserve to be called intelligent if it could deceive a human into believing that it was human www.metro.co.uk/turing
Puzzle 2
This links takes you to a download site, with a single file – “comp1.key”, the contents of which are:
This looks like an RSA private key, so first thoughts naturally resolve around decrypting something.
However it isn’t a valid key. Using OpenSSL to examine it, we discover:
$ openssl rsa -check -in comp1.key"
RSA key error: p not prime
RSA key error: n does not equal p q
RSA key error: d e not congruent to 1
RSA key error: dmp1 not congruent to d
RSA keys fundamentally consist of two prime numbers, and the fact that one isn’t prime is very suspicious. Let’s look at them.
Run each part through a hex decoder, and you get gibberish except for prime2 (notice all all the repeated 0x20s at the end of prime2, and 0x20 just happens to be the ASCII code for space.)
Very clearly a hex stream, but full of non-ascii characters. Convert it anyway and you get nonsense.
At this point I needed a little nudge. Because I knew the RSA key from puzzle 2 was broken, it didn’t even occur to me to use it to decrypt this, although in retrospect in seems very obvious. I’d tried using the key with openssl trying to solver puzzle 2, and it was no go.
The nudge pointed me to the site below, where it transpires you don’t actually need the 2 primes, just the public modulus, public exponent, and private exponent. http://nmichaels.org/rsa.py
Stick these values in from the key, together with the hex string, and what happens:
Obvious guess is that there’s something encoded in it.
Standard first step is to check the HTML page source and URL, no clues there. No mouseover magic or anything like that (there hasn’t been so far) – it’s just an image.
I’m also assuming that the picture itself isn’t the answer.
Let’s look at the EXIF. Nothing there.
Two choices – one is there’s some visual data, two is there’s digital data encoded somehow.
No joy with fiddling with brightness, contrast, or shifting images around.
JSTEG may be promising – download, patch, compile, extract and we get:
Nonsense in ASCII – maybe need to decode it using our RSA key? Nope – still nonsense.
Steghide looks good, but we need a passphrase. Nothing obvious works though (“turing”, “enigma”, “enigma2013”, “bletchley”, “GCHQ”, “lovelace”).
Because it’s a JPEG, the image hiding options are limited.
What about the image structure of a JPEG – it runs from a Start of Image (0xFF,0xD8) to an End of Image (0xff,0xD9), and in theory you can put stuff in the file after the End Of Image marker. This particular file has 2 SOIs and EOIs – so two images, running from 0x0 to 0xcbd3 (52180) and 0xcbd4 to 0xf404?
So, let’s skip the first 52180 bytes, and put the rest into a new jpeg:
