The last day of the month
And if it were a leap year, then tomorrow would be the 29th, but alas, not this time. Did my chores, had another fantastic dinner and settled back down once more to watch tv and drink beer. In a recliner.
You’ve got to take a little time out now and then, a little me time. Yes, but it’s back to Letterkenny tomorrow, and back to the finances, the tribulations, and the dryer that doesn’t really like being warm.
It’ll be like I never left. Bliss.
Back home
After three weeks, I’m back at home, having a sit down.
Wonderful beef cobbler dinner, a few cans, watching tv with the kin.
It’s nice. The surround sound in the sitting room is buzzing, I have a list of chores to take care of, which include unblocking a toilet.
You know, it’s like I never left.
Still… nice to be home.
The day it all changes
Today, Thursday the 26th of February, The Mad Carpenter finally gets his own camera. No more borrowed, no more low quality, no more webcam (unless for webcam related things)
I bought the Canon Powershot A470. I’ve had it for 3 hours and I’m already in love with it. It has super macro mode, meaning I can take REALLY REALLY close up photos. It’s a fantastic camera, and I’m thrilled to have it. It even make me look good
I know, WHAT ABOUT THE CARPENTRY?! I hear you scream across the internet. Well don’t despair, because by Monday night you’ll have a tool review (of my cheap power tools) and my opinions on flat packed furniture, because I’ve built a bookcase today.
Look at the detail on that… super macro mode rules.
Ash Wednsday
Cycled down to the post office today to look for my social welfare, alas, it’s not there until tomorrow, and I get a chunk of back pay, so Dave is on easy street this weekend. Dave is also going home this weekend, to a decent freakin’ camera.
I only noticed it was Ash Wednesday because I saw a woman in the post office with a cross on her head, and it threw me a little.
Holy hell, the vivitar produced a decent result.
Thinking about cutting my hair, any ideas for styles?
24th – Pancake Tuesday
Yeah, I forgot to make pancakes. Or look for pancakes, or even buy the basic ingredients to make pancakes. But then again, pancakes have always been a vague, failed experiment in my family so never mind.
Vivitar is still giving me shit, so it’s back to the webcam. Today’s picture comes from my bedroom, in the dark, lit only by my laptop screen: my natural state.
Awful awful awful picture. Might buy the powershot tomorrow. Save my bleeding eyes from the crumminess.
Did absolutely nothing today
Not a thing. Well, I finished reading the archive of a webcomic I started reading a few days ago. It’s really good and I suggest you all read it. But you know, be prepared to read back through 4 years of archive to get all the in jokes.
http://www.ctrlaltdel-online.com/
Anyway, today’s picture. In my room again, probably going to get an early night. Cooking dinner tomorrow, so I may put up a recipe, or some action cooking shots if I can get the vivitar working. Ooh, forgot to mention thinking about getting a decent camera - A canon powershot.
It’s hard to disagree with the features for the price, so I think I’ll get it either this week or next, depending on cash flow. If anyone can suggest a better camera for a cheaper price, I’m all ears.
EDIT: Got so wrapped up in all the news and non-news that I forgot to post the picture. There we go, all done.
Hung….over…
Two bottles of wine, and I’ve barely moved from my bed all day.
So today’s picture comes from my bedroom. Though the frame is so small you can’t really see anything except the shirt hanging on my door. Anyway, here’s today’s picture, and on a side note; I love Brylcreem.
Used the webcam today, the shitbox keeps giving me grief
Meet the parents
No not my parents, Sin’s parents.
And you don’t actually get to meet them, because I haven’t taken any pictures of them. We invited them over for dinner and a family friend, Craig, came over beforehand and cooked for them, and us. I got resoundingly drunk (I’m back posting this picture) but thankfully I took the picture in the morning so I look really contented after a great fry. Was delicious.
…The vivitar shitbox has really started to lose its mind. It’s insane. Cool picture though.
The Mad Carpenter: tech hacker
Ok, so I’ve been geeking on tech-hack all night, and I’ve been reminded of something I’ve wanted to do for months.
I bought an old camera in a charity shop, and was devastated when I found that they no longer made film for it. Hours of searching on the internet revealed that some people modified the old film canisters to take 35 mm film. Now, for a camera designed to be ridiculously simple, that seems complicated.
So I came up with an even more complicated idea! Why not strip out the innards and replace them with the innards of a digital camera? Then you’d have the look of a classically designed old camera, with the functionality of a digital camera.
I’ve never tried a tech hack before, but it seems right up my street. As soon as I gather all the relevant materials: digital camera to be wrecked, jewelers tools set, super glue and the instamatic body.
I’ll keep you posted as soon as I get started.
The mario cube project is still on hold, I don’t have paint supplies or a work bench…
Also planning on building a workbench. And I’ve been commissioned to build another coffin, so it’ll be fancier than the first. I’m thinking gold accents. It’ll be great
Seems like the mad carpenter is going to be very busy in the coming weeks and months. Thanks for the support.
Tech-hacking, a marvellous source of inspiration
I’ve been geeking all evening over at some weird blogs based on people who like to tech hack, and tinker with things.
I’m watching a video right now about an elliptical trainer/bike cross. You use an elliptical trainer motion to propel the back wheel, so you’re gliding along and standing upright. I think it’s genius.
They call it the Elliptigo glide bike. Check it out.
Today’s picture.
Proof once more, than blokes in shed are geniuses. Have a wonderful geeked out day.
The 19th
Received money today, and my family came over to see the new house. So it’s been a nice relaxed day. And the 204 euros from the dole came in very handy.
I introduced my brother the other day, and since the old boy is so often working in England and Wales, he doesn’t get to visit very often.
So since he’s over today, I wanted to show you all the man that inspired my love of tinkering, who put me through college, and who’s always there.
My father.
Shall introduce more people over the coming weeks.
Bought lots of wine today too. Hmmm, wine.
What did I do today? Nothing
But tomorrow my family is visiting the new house, and I’ll be getting things. So tomorrow shall be productive.
Onward, to a more productive tomorrow. I’ve had some whiskey to drink, I’m a little tipsy and babbling to Mary (picture forthcoming) about my family.
Had the inspired vision of all 6 of our parents meeting, in our house, for the first time. Very odd idea.
Fix it day
If I look contented in this picture, it’s with good reason.
I love doing things, especially handyman sort of things, so today, after getting back from collecting some money from the government; which had been lying in the post office since last Thursday, and no one mentioned to me until I trekked across town in morning traffic on a bike by the way… I’ve forgotten my point…
Oh yeah! The handle on Mary’s door was all keh-fucked, and I had offered to fix it. So after taking it apart and swapping handles between doors I thought I had it sorted. I moved the handle, and a god awful squealing chilled my handyman soul. I needed to lubricate the handle, but I didn’t have any WD-40, so I did what anyone would do…. Looked for another type of oil. I found cooking oil, and it worked really well.
Feeling full of man-pride, I decided to tackle the doorbell. For some reason, it just wouldn’t ring. Took the button off the door and found a little fuse looking thing which had, well… fused. It was broken. It was glassy in the middle though, not like a household plug fuse, so I set off walking into town as the sun was shining and I was being carried by my man-pride.
I showed my little metal and glass trinket to every shop employee I could find that worked in a shop relating in any way to hardware or electricity. Walked at least 2 miles back and forth around town, each shop assistant telling me to go to a different shop. Cut to 5 shops later. An hardware wholesaler, Irwin’s Electrical on the port road.
And say what you want about customer service these days, but those two old guys were helpful beyond belief! They took their time examining the little thing I showed them, and they told me it was actually a little light for behind the doorbell, and since it was fused, it wasn’t completing the circuit. Sold me a replacement, after making sure it was as close to the right thing as they could sell me, and then give me a receipt. Told me to come back if it was the wrong thing for money back and everything.
Got a taxi home, for I had the feet walked clean off me, and started working on the doorbell again. The copper contacts inside were grubby, the plastic casing was full of dead spiders, the wiring was corroded… nightmare.
So I bent the copper into the right place after cleaning it, stripped the flex cover off to expose clean wire, reassembled the unit, slotted the little fuse-bulb into place and pressed the button with gritted teeth.
My heart has never swelled more at such a simple “Ding-Dong”.
I had a moment of man-triumph today. And damn it all if it didn’t feel fantastic. It’s the simple little jobs that take the longest, but it’s so fulfilling to have something WORK after you’ve put in so much effort.
Oh and on a side note, I bought a decanter today, Put a deposit on it two weeks ago. It’s worth 150 euro, I got it for a third of the price. I’ll do a post about it tomorrow.
The moral of today’s story is: If you can fiddle with it until it works, why would you call someone to do it for you? It’s so satisfying to wipe the rust and grime off your hands knowing that something works better now than it did before you decided to fix it.
Happy tinkering carpentry fans
What a difference a Day made…
I showered, shaved, and discovered Brylcreem.
Once again, going off to the government to ask for the money that I should already be receiving. Pain… in… the arse.
And I feel like a million dollars.
What a difference a day made…
The Day after Valentine’s day
….And nothing has changed. I love my girlfriend more than ever. The day had very little bearing on it.
Here’s today’s picture.
Valentine’s day
I have wine, nuts to you, here’s today’s picture, I’ll check in with a hangover tomorrow.
Stupid bloody formatting.
Friday the 13th, audience participation
I got a reply in reference to my request for readers costume photos!
So now I bring you a Friday the 13th post dedicated to all those people out there following me in my ridiculous exploits.
Nicely done folks.
More pictures after the Jump
Participation Friday, number 1
A merry Friday the 13th to one and all.
Now, I’ve called this post participation Friday, because I want each and every one of my readers to take a picture of themselves, upload it somewhere, as detailed in yesterday’s post, and then send me the Link. Any pictures that I get sent, I shall upload them in a separate post so that my readers can show themselves off to the world.
Maybe I’ll do a participation Friday ever week, maybe just every few weeks when the notion strikes me. So get your freaky gear on, snap yourself a shot, and send me a link.
You don’t want to take a picture today? Then dig up Halloween one, that’ll do it.
Vivitar: Vivicam 3188
I think I’ve sorted the flash problem. I can’t be sure though, because I’m now blind.
…It’s better than what I had before right? Right?
Guys, where did you go?
…Can’t see jackshit.
February 12th
Greetings and welcome to another day with the mad carpenter.
Yes I know that carpentry posts are a bit thin on the ground, but funds are tight and most of the money I have evaporates in my hands.
I cooked an awesome dinner tonight: meatballs and sausage with naan bread and spaghetti. Maybe I’ll make a video next time I make it… hmm… Mad Carpenter / Iron Chef ? Not the worst idea I’ve ever had.
Either way, still footering with the camera to get a better picture, still don’t have my social welfare sorted out, need to go to the community welfare officer tomorrow morning and ask for some more money. Which sucks and feels like begging, but on the upshot…
TOMORROW IS FRIDAY THE 13TH. My personal favourite non-specific holiday of the year. I’m going to spend most of the day siting in front of my house smoking and looking like a time traveler. So I pose a light hearted challenge to my readers – take a picture of yourself, upload it to your Bebo, Myspace, Facebook, flickr, plurk, photobucket OR any other internet repository of choice and link it in the comments for today or tomorrow’s article. I’ll collect your photos and put them in a post so you too can be part of what Ray Foley called “A good blog, you know, when you’re killing time on the internet”.
So dress up for Friday the 13th. Then send me your links and I’ll make you mildly famous.
