Ben's picture of the day.

Day 839 – 11th July 2009

2009-07-11T00:01:00.000+01:00

That wasp in the picture is a helicopter. It’s been flying around all day. People set up on the hill below it offering rides above the countryside. That’s been annoying me all day.

I’ve spent the evening installing Ubuntu on my crappy old laptop – it works, but my brother wants to get a crappy cracked game working, and it just won’t. Everything else will, but not this one. The worst thing about it is that it’s Pro Cycling Manager – something extraordinarily boring anyway.

Day 838 – 10th July 2009

2009-07-10T21:11:00.001+01:00

As suggested yesterday, here’s a picture of my new car. It’s a funny shot because it’s parked in a funny place – it’ll do.

I’ve spent a while doing the washing up today – nothing else. Nothing. I was going to go for a drive, but I’m not insured yet. I was going to go for a walk, which I normally do, but it was too hot. Next week I shall be insured, so I’ll go somewhere nice – maybe with my brother if he wants to come.

I’ve said this before, but France seems to really sap any inspiration from me – just typing this is an effort! Maybe it’s just from being stuck in the house all day – I’m sure the picture of the day will be exciting once I start getting about the place a little more.

Day 837 – 9th July 2009

2009-07-09T21:33:00.001+01:00

I got bored so went for a walk today. I noticed that like so much of rural France, this place is falling apart. The houses, including this one, crack up every year because of subsidence and the road has been torn in two. As a result, when you walk through the village (or hamlet) and there’s nobody around, like today, it’s like walking through somewhere that everyone had to flee because it got nuked or there was anthrax or something…

I’ve got a car now, a Peugeot 306, it’s not bad, bit rough round the edges, but I’m sure it’ll run. It’s a bit dull though, so I’ll get a picture of it on a day where there truly is nothing else. Like tomorrow probably.

Day 836 – 8th July 2009

2009-07-08T21:17:00.001+01:00

Can’t say I’ve been up to much today – the morning was spent putting together a voice over project I recorded before leaving on Saturday. Then for lunch we went to the area’s over-priced, slightly average nautical themed restaurant with a few of my dad’s colleagues on a visit from Vietnam. As I said, it’s a fairly expensive place, not over the top – but the food is nothing special at all. Can’t say why they keep going back there…

Looks like I might end up with a Peugeot 306 for next year – I spent the afternoon looking at options, and it seems like one at a local garage could well be the best idea. So there we are.

The heat is taking it’s toll slightly, although it was cooler today, but I have to apologise in advance for any typos I might make – stupid as it may seem it’s more difficult to spot them when you’re all hot and bothered.

Day 835 – 7th July 2009

2009-07-07T22:11:00.001+01:00

Outside my window, right now this very moment, the moon is shining through the clouds like something from a film. It’s like the sun at night. Sadly, my camera only has autofocus and it won’t fix onto anything in the distance at night. That’s annoying.

So, today’s picture is of a rusty chair also slightly out of focus, but when you look at it, just imagine what I’m seeing right now and think about how much better today’s picture could have been.

The moon’s gone now. What a shame. Oh well, you win some you lose some.

Day 834 – 6th July 2009

2009-07-06T20:33:00.001+01:00

The fourth plinth at Trafalgar Square carries a different work of art every year or so. Today, it’s the turn of real people to stand up on there. They get an hour each, 24 hours a day, for 100 days. That’s 2400 people going on constantly until October.

It’s an interesting idea, it’ll be nice when the novelty wears off and people will simply be walking by casually observing the proceedings. It’s being streamed live on TV and online, so I took a look, and took a picture. It’s boring, I think the concept is better than the actual activity, but hey, it’s worth checking out in a bored moment. It’s called ‘One and other’ by Anthony Gormley. Google it and you’ll find the site.

Day 833 – 5th July 2009

2009-07-05T21:55:00.001+01:00

The day started off on the wrong foot when my bag turned out to be overweight upon arrival at Manchester airport. Ryanair, saints that they are, charge £15 for every kilo over the weight limit. I had to shed some baggage – I wasn’t going to pay anything at all at that rate. Luckily it worked and I didn’t, so we boarded the plane without parting with any extra cash.

I might have mentioned last week that it was hot in Somerset. Honest to god, it is twice as hot here in France. Stepping off the plane was like hitting a brick wall – can’t say I’ve felt like that for a long time. I’ve just about managed to get used to breathing normally again, but it’ll be a while before I adjust to cope with the constant sweating.

Last summer I was in Seville, where temperatures hit 53 degrees C, far hotter than here, but at night time the heat is just the same – I’m getting tired just typing. I’m going to try not moving for a while.

Just as I got in from the airport I saw Roger Federer beat Andy Roddick in a five set epic Wimbledon final, beating Pete Sampras’ record of 14 grad slams. It was close though, the fifth set went all the way to 16-14 – the equivalent of another set, and them some.

Right well, it’s time for some more water, then bed. Hope you’re not as sticky as I am tonight.