A Gathering for Guy (part 1)

 We took a drive up to the Welsh/English border after work for a GNS fancon in Knighton on Sunday. Although was some beautiful views along the way, we didn't stop as we wanted to reach our converted barn airbnb we had booked for the trip before it got dark.

As we settled down for our tea that evening, Mrs E's phone kicked off. One of her apps had alerted her to huge solar activity and that an appearance of the Aurora borealis was likely visible right across the country. And so out into the night we went...

Our barn conversation was surrounded by trees and so, to get clearer view of the sky, we ended up in the graveyard opposite the long driveway to our accommodation. Mrs E is the keen astronomy photographer, so whist she set up her equipment to capture the display, I took a few snaps with my mobile phone camera and then let my imagination roam amidst the atmospheric pitch-black darkness that engulfed the graveyard scene around us. My story-weaving sensibilities did not disappoint and you should, if all things go to plan, read what my mind conjured from the night in my next GNS zine...

Whilst I often say there's no need for real camera equipment anymore as mobile phone cameras excel these days, I guess my argument is proved wrong when you compare what my Samsung S captured of tonight's northern lights compared to Mrs E's digital tripod mounted SLR!

Samsung S22 Ultra Pic

Samsung S22 Ultra Pic

Canon 6D SLR

Crossing the road back to our lodgings, Mrs E's phone-torch cast my shadow rather malevolently along our route - an effect I rather liked and would utilise on our return to the graveyard the next evening... 

A Walk to the Doctor's

I finally found the time to add to my Sweyne's Eye project this morning en route to the doctor's surgery to see about my eye problem. The condition is a known symptom of my dupixent meds, but they sent me away with some antibiotic eye drops to see how I get on with them. The full foto-shoot of the day will be available on the Sweyne's Eye site soon, but I thought I would share a few here as the full Swansea site will be going behind a small paywall soon...

The first two pics are of the central police station, snapped from a number 13 bus. The make the place looker a lot greener than they are in reality.

Next up is this sign outside the Chinese chippie near the top of Pen-y-Graig. This whole area looks over Swansea Bay.

And here is another metal door on the same street. This second one has more of a rustic charm, I feel.

Finally, here are a few shots looking over the eastern end of the city, taken from the bottom of Mayhill.

I returned to work later in the day and captures a curious cloudscape overhead when I left again at the end of my shift.

Tobacco Flowers

The tobacco I sowed whilst writing my GNS zine is now in full flower. It is rather a pretty plant and makes for a great memorial plant for Guy, who was something of an afficiado of the old Nicotiana rustica.

Sleeping Pwscat

Sunflowers

Cacti Intervention

I have attempted to graft a loph. I degrafted from a periskopsis a few years back, but which never grew roots. Hopefully, this will bring the little treasure back to life.  The old, personally sown, old Trich. was looking ugly anyway, and the nice bit I lobbed off should make fresh roots ready to repot next Spring. The loph would have died anyway without grafting too,  so there's nothing lost if this little intervention doesn't go to plan...

Polish Mania

Shortly after my Guy N Smith fanzine was published, I received a message from a prospective buyer in Poland stating their disappointment that Amazon would not ship to his country. As chance would have it, I had been frustrated at Polish bookshops refusing to ship a particular edition of a Guy N. Smith book I wanted to add to my collection. In my return message, I asked whether he would be willing to purchase the Polish book and then post it privately to me. In exchange, I would return the favour by sending him a signed copy of my zine for free. To my delight, the customer was a real gentleman and took the idea of us helping each other warmly. Two weeks later, and just a couple of days after my package arrived in Poland, the postman slid a very special delivery through my letterbox. 

What a great, and rather disturbing cover, eh? Perfect for a Guy N Smith novel, eh? And far superior to the British edition, which can be viewed on my devoted  GNS page.

Cheers Rafal. As I said, you are a true gentleman.