Is it ‘Everyday’ or ‘Every Day”? Well, I suppose ‘Every Day’ would describe something we do each day, whereas ‘Everyday’ may mean something ordinary or commonplace. They’re pronounced the same, but written differently. English is a crazy language. I’m going to say that “Every Day I take Everyday photos”, take that grammar schools. That one above is from my morning walk, which I take…hold on…let’s just say each day. I’be been having a forced hiatus (I should definitely see a doctor about that!) with Street Photography. In my last blog post “Testing Times” I told you about our Covid confinement. My wife and youngest daughter tested positive, I had the exact same symptoms, but tested negative. So I’ve been stuck taking photos walking the dogs or at home whenever I’ve thought about picking up the camera.
The thing with that is not very much happens and I end up taking formulaic photos. Fortunately Louis, my youngest son, offers some opportunities. For example: We both watched a James Bond film, namely “Casino Royale”. The next day I was sitting the sofa and in he came. A pack of cards in one hand, pieces from a Draughts/Checkers game for use as chips in the other and dressed in a smart Jacket with accompanying bowtie. Whilst I’m pleased to get him away from his weapon obsession, you know guns, swords and the like, I’m now slightly concerned that his new interest is gambling. Plus, and this is important, he already new the rules of poker. I noted there was a book missing from my '“library” entitled “Casino’s: How to Win” before we began to play. Of course I could have told him that book was utter rubbish, maybe it’s just a case that the Casino’s in Las Vegas hadn’t read it and therefore didn’t understand that I should have been winning after reading it!
My whole gambling ethos is derived from Kenny Rogers’ song “The Gambler”. After all “You’ve gotta know when to fold ‘em know when to hold ‘em”. True of poker and relationships. Especially so when he sings '“You’re all out of aces son”! I take that part personally and my expression is similar to how the dogs look when they’re watching Sam (my wife) leave the house, at least Bertie on the left…she came back by the way.
Well, Bertie is all out of aces, let’s see if I can get any from my one and only trip into Bath. I have to say that the tranquil scene you saw in the opening images is in reality disturbed with me coughing and blowing my nose every morning, the noise must be unbearable. Thankfully that’s eased off now and so I thought a quick hour of Street Photography would be fine.
I never need more than a couple of hours, for me that’s enough. There’s the miles upon miles that you walk, but more importantly I tend to lose concentration. I seem to get my best shots in the first half hour or so. I say “best shots”, but really they’re only ever everyday shots.
The thing about that is I’m perfectly okay with everyday shots, I stopped looking for ‘Glory Shots’ a long time ago. In fact I find that the more mundane or ordinary a photo is the more I see in it. Strange how we evolve. Nothing very interesting happened in Bath, it was just everyday, even when a fight broke out between these young, er, what should I call them, nope, let’s keep it light. No one was particularly interested in their little drama, I’m sure it was ultra important to them at the time. He said that you said that she said…blah, blah, blah. I could hardly be bothered to release the shutter, but of course I did, I’m a photographer.
Let’s leave the inbreds, whoops, I said it. I walked my normal route. Down through the centre, to the bus station, up to the aptly named Quiet Street. Familiar territory and results. It’s the same, they’re the same. It’s just everyday stuff…the last one is a selfie of sorts
Next week we go to Abu Dhabi. Once we manage to get a PCR test which has to be no less than 48 hours from flight time and not later than 6 hours before it. That’s pretty limiting as our flight is at 9:00pm, so we could only get tested the day before and then the results wouldn’t be guaranteed in time, they only promise 24 hours from receipt at a laboratory. That’s too much detail, but give it a thought and you’ll see the only option is an express PCR test, £125 a go, for two of us. When we arrive another PCR Test has to be taken in Abu Dhabi Airport although I believe those are £20 in the UAE. Utterly pointless, Sam has been double vaccinated and had COVID a few weeks ago. By the way, I probably had it, but Sam says that you’re not supposed to drink or eat 30 minutes before the test. I did all of that and finished with a couple of extra strong mints a minute before. Anyway, if that’s the case and you want a negative PCR and your worried you won’t be able to travel simply eat some mints first or have a cup of coffee. Whatever it was I had then copious amounts of Rioja and Marlboro pulled me through, let’s face it, no virus is going to survive those conditions!
As always my sincere thanks go to anyone taking the time to read this blog.
All images can be opened by clicking on the thumbnails and are made using a Leica M with Summicron 28mm Lens fitted.
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