What have you been up to lately?

[Butterfly Maiden]

Yesterday, Sophia and I just pottered around the garden, doing some tidying up and taking the winter protective covering off our water fountain feature.

We love the gentle tinkling sound of running water. This one is in the shape of a giant ball made up of small pieces of slate, and a tiny led light at the top.

Today, we took the horses out for a ride through the Forest.

[UlteriorModem]

Mowed the grass and wacked the weeds... Thrilling stuff!

[Butterfly Maiden]

Back to work today after the Easter break.

Actually, I don't really regard it as 'work.' I get to express my artistic side, and delight in the pleasure I get from my very grateful clients for the nail designs I create for them.

I don't do it for the praise though, that is just a bonus for me

I also get to choose the hours I work, which is great. Obviously, when I am taking time off I don't get paid, so I don't abuse the privilege.

I tend to adjust my hours around Sophia. When she is not working then I also take time off so we can do things together.

It works really well for us

[Butterfly Maiden]

Hello @DeanD ...

I haven't spoken with you for a while. Is your new Ranger job going well for you?

If I had the time I could volunteer to be a New Forest Ranger, but it is more of a commitment than I can spare at the moment

I am in between clients just now, so I have the opportunity to check out the Forum.

[DeanD]

Hello @DeanD ...

I haven't spoken with you for a while. Is your new Ranger job going well for you?

If I had the time I could volunteer to be a New Forest Ranger, but it is more of a commitment than I can spare at the moment

I am in between clients just now, so I have the opportunity to check out the Forum.

Thanks Vanessa, perhaps you will need to wait until semi-retirement like me (I'm guessing for you that will be quite a few years yet!!!).

Unfortunately while I done a few training sessions, my first proper "gig" (over Easter) was cancelled because I got COVID. However, there will be plenty more coming up.

A similar gig in the New Forest would be wonderful: I must say I feel a certain amount of envy for your beautiful location!

All the best,

Dean

[Butterfly Maiden]

Hello @DeanD ...

I haven't spoken with you for a while. Is your new Ranger job going well for you?

If I had the time I could volunteer to be a New Forest Ranger, but it is more of a commitment than I can spare at the moment

I am in between clients just now, so I have the opportunity to check out the Forum.

Thanks Vanessa, perhaps you will need to wait until semi-retirement like me (I'm guessing for you that will be quite a few years yet!!!).

Unfortunately while I done a few training sessions, my first proper "gig" (over Easter) was cancelled because I got COVID. However, there will be plenty more coming up.

A similar gig in the New Forest would be wonderful: I must say I feel a certain amount of envy for your beautiful location!

All the best,

Dean

Sorry to hear about your COVID infection Dean. I hope you are recovering from that okay.

I am only 27 years old, so there quite a few more years to go before considering semi-retirement

I absolutely love living in the New Forest, a privilege I never take for granted. To be able to walk out of our front door and we are in the Forest is wonderful.

Some people think the New Forest is one gigantic, isolated and fully enclosed area of trees that you drive to and wander around it for miles. Actually, the New Forest covers an area of 124 square miles and has many small villages situated inside it.

I suppose that is what it makes it unique compared to other Forests.

I could talk about the New Forest for hours, but I don't want to send everyone to sleep, so I will leave it at that for now

[UlteriorModem]

Thanks Vanessa, perhaps you will need to wait until semi-retirement like me (I'm guessing for you that will be quite a few years yet!!!).

Read in the news cycle the other day that the oldest park ranger ever has retired at the age of 100!

https://abcnews.go.com/US/national-park ... d=84120620

[GCoyote]

Dropped my wife at BWI around 04:30 (am!) for her next marathon business trip.

[turboscrew]

It looks like my observation season is, again, over before it even started.
Just tried with the 102 mm, but the sky is not dark enough, and it's 11:40 PM and work week.

Well, there's the moon, but now it's far too low. 7° above horizon at highest around 3:00 AM.

[DeanD]

Thanks Vanessa, perhaps you will need to wait until semi-retirement like me (I'm guessing for you that will be quite a few years yet!!!).

Read in the news cycle the other day that the oldest park ranger ever has retired at the age of 100!

https://abcnews.go.com/US/national-park ... d=84120620

You go Betty Reid Soskin! That means I have another 35 years in me!!!

Now, if our local health department would just let me leave the house...

[GCoyote]

Heading to COSTCO to get supplies for the summer.
(That despite frost warnings last night. )

[pakarinen]

Well, there's the moon, but now it's far too low. 7° above horizon at highest around 3:00 AM.

The moon has a lot to offer. Sir Patrick Moore said something like, "Once a moonman, always a moonman".

[Groovy2]

im in desert dust storm testing my gear -

been using Starlink internet for a month its Awesome

[turboscrew]

Well, there's the moon, but now it's far too low. 7° above horizon at highest around 3:00 AM.

The moon has a lot to offer. Sir Patrick Moore said something like, "Once a moonman, always a moonman".

You know where the word "lunatic" comes from...? :wink:

[notFritzArgelander]

Well, there's the moon, but now it's far too low. 7° above horizon at highest around 3:00 AM.

The moon has a lot to offer. Sir Patrick Moore said something like, "Once a moonman, always a moonman".

You know where the word "lunatic" comes from...? :wink:

[notFritzArgelander]

I've modified my sig to delete the Orion Sirius EQG. It's never been the same since the move. I dithered about replacing and/or repairing but since the Celestron CG5 is less favored but at least still functioning I decided to downsize with regret. I think a mount with larger capacity might be the ticket.

[GCoyote]

Transplanting hostas. We have a few problem spots in the yard and they just might be the solution.

[davesellars]

Caught yet another flu-like virus which seems to develop bronchial issues (has affected the entire family in the same way). More annoyed that it was a perfectly clear night last night and wasn't able to get out... grrr

Bought a new laptop to replace a 12 year old desktop system that I built after the Motherboard bit the dust by the looks of it. Now know the meaning of (lack of) customer service trying to get out of them what's happening with the order as it's seems to be dispatched (but not) since last Monday... grrr

Despite feeling absolutely lousy, still had to work as other people are on holiday... grrr.

Just started training myself up on Amazon Web Services to take the AWS Cloud Solutions Architect Associate exam perhaps in July just before they change the exam in August.

[turboscrew]

Caught yet another flu-like virus which seems to develop bronchial issues (has affected the entire family in the same way). More annoyed that it was a perfectly clear night last night and wasn't able to get out... grrr

Bought a new laptop to replace a 12 year old desktop system that I built after the Motherboard bit the dust by the looks of it. Now know the meaning of (lack of) customer service trying to get out of them what's happening with the order as it's seems to be dispatched (but not) since last Monday... grrr

Despite feeling absolutely lousy, still had to work as other people are on holiday... grrr.

Just started training myself up on Amazon Web Services to take the AWS Cloud Solutions Architect Associate exam perhaps in July just before they change the exam in August.

Sounds like bad luck. BTW, what seems to be wrong with the motherboard? The processor by-pass capacitor tops bulged? I've revived a couple of motherboards by changing them. Basically any low ESR elkos do, if the voltage rating and the capacitance are right.

[davesellars]

Sounds like bad luck. BTW, what seems to be wrong with the motherboard? The processor by-pass capacitor tops bulged? I've revived a couple of motherboards by changing them. Basically any low ESR elkos do, if the voltage rating and the capacitance are right.

Connecting the CPU power the PSU immediately trips its safety. Without connecting this certain things work on the motherboard but obviously there's no CPU... :p A cursory look around that area there's some blackness around some of the circuitry and below some heat sinks on the MB - It's actually difficult to see as the MB is dark anyway on the back-side. The capacitors are all fine. I bought a PSU originally thinking it was that (12v supply was actually fine...) but still the same thing. I'm thinking it just overheated at some point to critical amount and burnt out some of the passive heat sink areas.