Wednesday, February 15, 2017

A little sleuthing , a little light relief


David Hockney's brother and sister

It can all be done on a mobile these days, the Sleuthing research I mean . Put me in a strange environment and  I need books , maps, libraries, people , and binoculars. I like to know the Topography , History and Transport logistics of wherever I am . It must stem from my teenage Youth Hostelling days, or maybe I have it completely the wrong way round. Did Youth Hostelling emerge from the teenage desire to know the Topography and History of places I found myself in or would like to revisit to sleuth away for myself.

When I was fifteen and on holiday in the North Lakes with best school friend and my family , best friend and I would go every evening to the Moot Hall in Keswick for a  free lecture. We sat through 35mm slides presented by earnest men . I learned about the Ice Age and how it formed the Lakes, another night I learned about Geology of the Lakes, next would be History, then Industry and especially Mining and then the Coming of the Railways, Wainwright and Tourism .
My friend Christine and I would tramp the fells with my father's Bartholomew map , much preferred to the OS ones. We got lost in Grizedale Forest , picked Billberries at Tarn Howes, saw Pencils made at the Cumberland Factory and took endless trips round Derwentwater to Hawse End and the Lodore Hotel. We read Mrs Tiggywinkle and had tea with my aunt, the village school mistress at Newlands Valley , in her huge slate roofed house lit by candles , and heated by coal fires only. It seemed to be one long search for information to enhance the delight of the PLACE.

In the 2000s+ , INFO related to  a stay in a strange environment may be accessed in additional ways. There is nothing for provoking study in me , as  a plaque on a wall. All my VAK learning styles now come into gradual use over a few days.
Here  is what tempted me yesterday .

I wonder if the security tapes of the Leeds Building Society   show hundreds of the curious, walking through their door to view the old stone neatly hidden behind the corner of the entrance. It might have been more sensible to have put the stone in plain view from the outside, but perhaps the establishment gets points for footfall stats like Filey Library might. So I now can get an idea of the extent of  medieval Leeds. I did a wander around Leeds bridge the other day trying to find Lamberts Yard, (where our Photograph was part of a Humans of Leeds exhibition several years ago)now not accessible  and for sale. The nearby Queens Court and Blayds yard gave me the idea however. Here I applaud the pubs and small cafes nestled amongst old domestic buildings in Georgian  LEEDS.  It can't be easy for them to comply with all the regulations both for Buildings and Health and Safety to provide good facilities for daytime and especially evening punters . Look up all you students of Leeds, enjoy the old bricks at the start of your nights out.





Sleuthing provided me with much joy at weekend .

The weather was mostly foul, but when Colin had this view from L19, I was entranced by the light shining on a lone gold dome to the West of the more obvious Parkinson building .  The search for the tower began . I googled gold domes in Leeds, victorian towers in Leeds, and got daughter to bring West Riding  Guide to the buildings of England,Pevsner, my 67 edition to the hospital . No mention there, and book now well out of date. 
Eventually after a huge thread (for me) on Facebook I was told it by husband of dear Leeds friend that the tower was the Clothmakers Centenary Hall. I walked to find it the next day, I walked  for ages in and around the University Campus next to LGI. Eldest Daughter held the fort at bedside of her Father.  Google Maps and Google Earth were no help, but after an hour of service roads , dead ends and wheelie bins I turned a corner , and there it was, like a pearl of great price for me on that Sunday . Its actually just a stones throw from the Tesco Express next to hospital , and now I see that Gold Dome everywhere.




Sunday, February 05, 2017

Live chat


And I thought I could already do everything online!
Dear son-in law Nick  always uses the live chat portals when helping me to update software on my Mac or checking to see how I  get a PAC code  when I have one of my frequent thoughts on getting a Fairphone or a WileyFox phone .
 Nick and I are kindred spirits in the Research World. We both love Which and always try and buy their BEST BUYS. No need to buy the books or sign up for their website as Filey Library subscribes for us in the NYCC, maybe one of the only positives I can actually say right now ,as Filey Library becomes a Hybrid , and we lose well loved Staff members to cuts , and volunteers are trained up .

Librarian daughter tells me that the applying for Blue badges  and Bus Passes is big business in Filey Library where many of the  older population cannot work out how to do online at all.



Nine  years ago I offered lessons to Filey People , where they would bring their own laptop to St Johns and using the wifi there I would help them to update their skills . There was hardly any uptake in 2008, but now  many older people are finding that the ADMIN and RED TAPE and BUREAUCRACY of the 21st Century around all the papers necessary for their health and well being can be done very easily online , and so REALLY need the skills .


Ive been in the NYCC chatroom , that is where one asks a question Why hasn't  Blue Badge for spouse arrived yet though applied for 4 months ago ?
I just filled in the dialogue boxes as the conversation with JORDAN proceeded to successful conclusion . The Blue Badge is now en route. 

I am well pleased, THANK YOU NICK for all the skills I have gleaned from you over the years. Don't worry I'm not ready for Tinder . I've got fresh confidence however so I've done Time Machine on the Mac, cleared the pics on ICLOUD on to my portable hard drive so as to avoid paying for space .

Some things will never be the same without paper and pencil .

Measuring the plot


Boys and I had a good session on plot yesterday . They did all the entries and measurements so I can have a ground plan .This will help me each year to make  sure the rotation is done . We couldn't have done this online. I couldn't have done this alone . Building surveyors still need to be on site, still need to measure, even with laser equipment , and then the plans still might have to go on paper , and two people are usually needed in the field. 

Boys and I are not going to upload or download anything . I have a notebook and paper and decent 2Bpencils. When I  get to Leeds tomorrow and am waiting for spouse to have his TAVI heart procedure at Leeds General Infirmary over next few days, I shall spend my time in waiting enjoying transposing the measurements to a FAIR COPY . No computers will be involved. The rest of the time, 2 to 4 days we have been told , I shall enjoy the Museums and Galleries of Leeds in between the strict 2pm to 4pm  and 6pm  to 8pm  visiting times and browse the Computer Department of the new John Lewis , offering a 3yr extended warranty on Pcs and Tablets and debatably the  best prices in UK at present .