Saturday, 12 November 2022
Sat 121122 Anglican Windows salesman came to give me quote...
Friday, 11 November 2022
Fri 111122 Government help: British Gas/Council rebate...worries about rising costs, in future.
Thursday, 10 November 2022
Thu 101122 Lidl 99p Hot Dog in a box(found spider inside packaging)
Wednesday, 19 October 2022
Thursday, 28 July 2022
Thu 280722 Sign on/Shopping Aldi
Thu 280722 11:59 AM GMT Had to walk all the way into Streatham/and, then, back...a journey of about a mile/then, another mile long return back journey
Wednesday, 20 July 2022
Tue 190722 Bike puncture/Collected mini-PC box/Shopped: cat food/bananas...
Tue 190722 A bit of a strange day...
-----I started the day off with 4 things on my mind...
1> The 'heatwave'...lasting, at least, a week or two...; so damn hot...that I totally refused to go out, anywhere...; not even to go visit seeing my favorite public galleries/museums; not even to go down the road to do any shopping. I just stayed inside of the house...feeling sort of 'roasted'...!
Normal temperatures in England...low, single digit figures...usually, wind/cold/rain...; or, under 20 degrees, at least; now, that same temperature figure has just gone and shot up to over 40+ degrees...which is just totally ridiculous...quite simply, because we in England are NOT used to having to go deal with anything like it...?!
2> I need to dump some smelly food...half-way down the road where the public dumpsters are. (If the food remains inside of the house...it just goes off more and more...; so, I had to get rid of it.)
3> I wanted to give up 2 x large glass/wooden frames/plus, 2 drawings I did...to the local second hand shop. (Don't really know if they will accept these totally 'amateur' drawings/or, not...?)
4> It was important to go and collect my computer from West Norwood high street electrical shop(located next to, Iceland supermarket store).
The current old computer I have runs really 'slow'...; the new computer was 'fast'...but, the 2TB/Terrabyte SSD/Solid State Disk HDD/Hard Disk Drive I'd ordered through eBay -coming all the way from China- had stopped working...?! So, the guy at the electrical store said he would fix it for me...by sticking in there a new SSD HDD...albeit of much smaller capacity.
Last week I recall asking him when can I come in and collect it...; and, he replied, during the weekend; but, I was far too 'lazy' to have gone out during the weekend...'heatwave' being far too much. But, this time I firmly made up my mind...heatwave or not...I'm going out to collect my computer...as I need to work so much faster...than, using the old computer.
------
GOING OUT/EXPERIENCING THE HEATWAVE AS SOON AS I WALKED OUT THE DOOR
The first really odd thing I experienced going out...even as soon as I'd opened up my front door...was the sheer strength of the really bright sunshine....it was around 11 AM almost midday...and, 'baking'; I was surprised...as it felt quite as 'hot and uncomfortable' going out/as it was staying in.
You see, the problem over here in England is...there is very little 'breeze/wind' blowing...; and, this fact makes experiencing really high temperatures feel even 10 times far worse...!
BIKE, FLAT FRONT TYRE
As I'm riding my bike going off down the road...then, all of a sudden, I heard a 'wind whistling' noise...; and, I'm thinking to myself what sort of noise is that...; and, where the hell is it coming from...?!
Pretty soon, I managed to figure out why...; my bike's front tyre had been severely 'punctured'...possibly, be either glass/or, a nail...I didn't actually see anything; and, the noise was all of the air very slowly come 'rushing' out of it...; until when I looked down and saw the bottom of tyre had gone down totally 'flat'...! Now, rather than quite happily riding my bike going off down the street...I had to, very sadly, get off and 'push' it, instead.
My original thought being...if I take it down the street...to get as far as the electrical store...I might be able to push/drag it all the way over to Brixton Halford's bike shop...where they can fix a punctured tyre...albeit for a price.
(The thought that Brixton is a whole entire 3 miles away...when we are in the middle of having 'a heatwave'...didn't exactly sit too very well inside of my mind...?!)
REACHED THE DUMPSTER
I dumped the smelly food waste inside of the public dumpster; at least, that was a feeling of some relief.
SECOND HAND STORE: EMMAEUS/HOMELESS CHARITY
Some weeks back, travelling half way down the road...to where the public dumpsters were...to go dump some smelly food waste; I had found 2 large sized glass/and, wooden frames...which contained somebody else's photo's.
Normally, I wouldn't bother...as I don't usually go down to the dumpster to find frames; ordinarily, 99 times out of 100...I would buy my frames from second hand shops, instead; but, as these frames were both large/heavy/made from good 'quality' wood/glass...and, otherwise, I'm sure, would have been rather costly to 'buy'; therefore, I was really quite happy to get them entirely for FREE.
So, I went off home...; and, washed the frames really very carefully...; after all, we are living in a time period where Covid still remains extant; and, of course, I left the frames to dry out, properly, for some days.
I didn't actually throw away the persons photo pictures being inside of the frame...; instead, out of respect for the original property owner, I left their pictures being still in there...just turned over showing only the white part at the back, instead; then, I included my own drawings inside there going on top of the white.
Eventually, I took both frames/drawings off to my local Emmaeus second hand store to give away. (Keeping the frames inside of the house somehow didn't quite feel right..; therefore, I had wanted to...and, was happy to get rid of them both.
I think, what made me feel it was 'jinxed' somehow...was the thought that somebody might have died; and, that was why they had turned the frames over to go leave it at the dumpster; otherwise, why not just re-use it, instead...?!)
Another troubling thought I had was...I really don't think my own drawings were good enough to be truly worthwhile selling. So, although the lady at the second hand store, very kindly and politely, accepted the offer of 2 drawings/plus, frames...I really don't know if she will actually choose to either sell it/or, throw it away...?!
I said to her...one of the drawings is rather 'raunchy'...to which she just chuckled; showing the upper torso of a naked lady having an orgasm on her face/also, with one breast exposed. The other drawing was a copy of a Da Vinci painting...which was meant to be a well rounded female head...; but, actually, came out looking -(I'd drawn the head far too narrow)- rather like a man!
Anyway, at the end of the day, I don't care less, anymore...; as both frames/drawings/photos are, now, all gone. (And, that makes my mind feel a lot more at peace.)
I COLLECTED MY COMPUTER FROM THE ELECTRICAL SHOP
I continued walking going straight down the road...past West Norwood train station...; and, down towards the main high street shops.
I tied up my bike just outside of the electrical store(located next to Iceland super market)...where there is a metal bike stand post you can latch/tie your bike onto.
Walked into the the electrical shop. -(I do remember promising the guy behind the counter...I would buy a second computer from him...costing £130.00; but, I was just far too broke...had around just £100.00 being left inside of my account. So, I told him I would need to go off the the bank, first...; before I can collect the second computer.)- For, now, thought, I just came to collect the first computer which he'd already gone and repaired. (All the time, going through my mind...is it going to work when I return back home...?)
SHOPPED AT COOP SUPERSTORE ACROSS THE ROAD
After collecting the computer, a mini-PC box...which I placed inside of 2 plastic shopping carrier bags. I walked across the road to buy some food: mostly, bananas (3 x bunches)/and, the rest being cat food (the cat food was fast running out). I brought...
2 x boxes of meat pouches (each box contains 12 pouches)
Now, both my hands were really full...with 2 plastic bags filled with shopping/plus, the computer box...; only as my bike ain't working properly -(I would normally place either plastic bag on either side of the bikes handle bars; and, then, have a leisurely ride off back home)- I realized I now have to walk back home in the 'heatwave'...a very long/slow journey home...with two heavy bags to carry...certainly, being 'out of shape' -I haven't practiced walking anywhere in ages- I didn't hurry walking it all the way up the hill. My walking pace must have been somewhere around: 2-5 mph.
TESTING OUT IF THE COMPUTER WORKS/CONFIGURING IT/DOWNLOADING, AND, THEN, SETTING UP SOFTWARE
Luckily, the computer did work when I returned home...; I basically stuck into the back of it 5 separate leads.../2 spare, and, 3 transferred from out of the old computer...
(...spare leads...)
- power leads
- HDMI monitor leads
(...leads transferred from out of the old computer...)
- mouse leads/
- internet leads
...turned it on...; the HP logo appeared on screen; and, being SSD HDD...Windows 10 Pro operating system loaded up really fast...within only just a matter of seconds.
One major problem I found was...the SSD HDD drive the guy installed was so incredibly 'small': 118 GB...; that when I'd gone and downloaded just a few programs...it already said 3/4's of the HDD is full...33.4 GB FREE of 118 GB; and, this is after using it for just 'one' single evening; nevermind, what's going to happen after say a month/3 months/6 months/a year...the HDD won't have any space left available on it at all, of this I'm sure...?!
Luckily, I have 2 x other external drives that I can plug in...which are large 16 TB capacity each. But, I prefer having a large internal HDD instead; (will have to find where I can acquire an internal 2TB SSD HDD going on the 'cheap').
Continued testing...speed works well even when I have multiple web browser windows all opened and running together, at once. I must have opened 50+ browser windows...including YouTube/live streaming content/-etc.
I spent most of rest to the day...both configuring, and, setting up my new computer to work, properly. Downloading/and, setting up different software:
(...web browers...)
- Microsoft Edge
(...configuring...)
Created both folders/and, then, sub-folders...to store work: files/graphics/programs/creating, and, running 'test' programs in order to make sure that certain programming languages are fully up and working/-etc.
WALKED BACK DOWN THE ROAD TO COLLECT MY BIKE
I believe the time was around 8 or 9 PM...when I finally decided it's time to go and collect my bike from being left outside of the computer shop down the road; I'm not going to leave it there overnight...after all, I didn't want anybody to steal it...by using wire cutters(they did do that already to, at least, one of my bikes before); £180.00 is not something I can afford to replace very easily.
Luckily, as soon as I stepped outside...I noticed the sky looked rather bleak/dark...; and, then, all of a sudden, 'rain'...lol...it was no huge amount of rain/as in a downpour...but, more of a slight drizzle...which made my walk down the road to collect my bike a hell of a lot easier. I never thought I'd so look forwards to seeing rain...; until when I encountered being in a 'heatwave'...lasting whole weeks long.
My conclusion is, 'global warming' is, certainly, no joke...instead, it's something to be taken, very seriously, indeed.
Thursday, 16 June 2022
Wed 150622 Streatham Pound Store/Tate Britain gallery: Walter Sickert exhibition
-(NOTE: The text below was 'copied and pasted' in from a Facebook post I wrote.)-
Wed 150622 5-6 PM TATE BRITAIN: WALTER SICKERT EXHIBITION
I was already out and about on my bike...; after going down to Streatham 'pound' store...to buy some sketchbooks/and, drawing pens.
Next, I decided...since, I'm already out here...rather than go straight off home...why not go visit seeing Tate Britain, instead...? So, purely on a whim, I found myself riding off straight towards there...
TATE BRITAIN GALLERY/WALTER SICKERT EXHIBITION
I arrived at Tate Britain gallery, somewhere around 5 PM/and, they close at 6 PM...so, I knew I didn't have too long to stay. In fact, I only got to see just 1 or 2 rooms...; it was 'great' work...the guy used to be an actor/before he become a painter...he was interested in drawing/painting normal ordinary 'working class' people...; and, I found I could NOT just simply rush straight past each one...; but, instead, I 'paused'...and, 'paused', again...and, again...and, again...the 'quality' was so excellent!
Eventually, though, closing time came...; and, therefore, I had no choice but to leave...I did try rushing past all the rest of the paintings...I'd seen just 2 rooms...but, there must have been, at least, 8 rooms full. I just had to promise myself to return back to re-visit, again, another day.
-----
SKETCHED OUTSIDE SCULPTURE AT TATE BRITAIN: DIRGE
When the gallery had closed down...I went outside, and, started sketching an outside sculpture called: Dirge, by Charles Lawes-Witterronge. The drawing, I'm afraid, came out rather badly...; so, rather than stay there and try drawing some more of the same sculpture...I decided to just, simply, 'move off'.
-----
SKETCHED RODIN SCULPTURE: THE BURGERS OF CALAIS
I kept on riding my bike towards Westminister... where there is a park...right beside the Houses of Parliament. Unfortunately, I keep on forgetting exactly what the name is...? What I do remember, quite clearly, is this is where one finds Rodin's sculpture: The Burger's of Calais...so, I drew that.
And, rode my bike onwards...going towards central London.
-----
SKETCHED: GHANDI/CHURCHILL SCULPTURES
I reached Parliament Square -(I think, it's called)- which is located at Westminister Bridge/opposite Big Ben...; and, there I noticed other sculptures: Gandi, Winston Churchill. I decided to sketch both.
Both sketches were not very good; but, the Churchill one, in particular came out wholly unrecognisable...?!
-----
SKETCHED LION SCULPTURE/AT THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF WESTMINISTER BRIDGE
I continued riding my bike going across Westminister Bridge...when I came to the end of the bridge...I saw a Lion sculpture...; so, I decided to go and draw that one, too.
By now, the evening light was slowly darkening...; and, I decided to return back home.
-----
RODE THROUGH LEAKE STREET GRAFFIT TUNNEL
At the side of Westminister bridge...is the entrance to Leake Street Graffit tunnel...which I 'love' to ride through...so, couldn't resist it...had to go and take a 'quick' look.
I saw young kids...practicing learning to break dance...; but, I wasn't too interested in watching them...instead, I wanted to see all of the 'graffiti' drawings of the walls...some of it really good/some bad.
At the end of Leake Street graffiti tunnel...I saw a guy juggling 2 sticks...with fire coming out of each end. (It's times like this when you wish you'd taken a mobile phone/or, camera with you....; but, most unfortunately, I did not. Looked for a while...then, moved on.
-----
BROUGHT SOME CHIPS AT LAMBETH NORTH
I was feeling slightly hungry...so, went and brought some chips across the road just above Lambeth North tube station.
Then, continued to stop and eat it...at the side of Morley College...which is where I used to go for, at least, 5 years long...class: Art for people with Learning Disabilites. So, I know that area really well.
Continued down the road...I think, it's King Edward's walk...going towards the park on the other side...which is also the location of the Imperial War Museum building.
Keep going upwards towards Lambeth Bridge...and, then, walked beside the River Thames...down to Vauxhall Bridge.
-----
BIKE BROKE DOWN AT VAUXHALL BRIDGE
As reached Vauxhall Bridge...I noticed that although I was pedalling hard...the bike stopped 'moving'[...?! So, I got off it...and, tried to place the chain back on to the cogs...thinking the chain must have slipped off...; tried riding, again...and, still the damn thing wouldn't 'move'...? In the end I had no other choice but to walk home/whilst, at the same time, pushing the bike along...going from Vauxhall.
-----
DREW STOCKWELL SCULPTURE: MOTHER AND CHILD
I pushed the bike all the way through Vauxhall up to reach Stockwell...where I encountered seeing another street sculpture...this time of a woman holding her baby up, high. I stopped to draw 2 sheets of her.
At that point, I looked up at the tower clock...and, it said...15 minutes to 12 midnight...I decided time to continue going home.
I pushed my bike through Stockwell/Clapham/Streatham...all the way to West Norwood, home, again. By the time, I arrived home it must have been past 1 AM morning.
CONCLUSION
Man, that was a long walk...; I used to walk a lot when younger...but, not so much when I've gotten older. It was tough, and, extremely 'slow' going, I'm afraid...still I was really glad to have, finally, made it home.
The bike still needs to be fixed, though...; well, that can wait, at least, until when tomorrow comes.
WHERE ARE ALL OF THE DRAWINGS...???
I'm afraid, it was not a good drawing day...in terms of my creating good work that is well worthwhile posting...; instead, nearly everything I drew came out crap...! For this reason...I'm extremely embarrassed to post here any drawing that I actually went and did...; nevermind, go and post them 'all'...? I need to learn 'precise copying'...and, I just don't seem to have managed to acquire having that skill, yet, I'm afraid. Maybe, I need to do a lot more copying...
Wednesday, 8 June 2022
Thu 090622 Early morning walk...thinking about drawing outside/Discovered PDA-Pathalogical Demand Avoidance
3 AM EARLY MORNING WALK
Walked down the road to go empty some smelly rotting food stored inside of a plastic bag...in the communal bins...which is located half way down the road.
All the time, I'm thinking about doing some drawing...buildings/streets/trees/-etc.; but, so far to date, I still haven't done any of that, yet...?
20:36 PM DISCOVERED LEARNING ABOUT: PDA/PATHALOGICAL DEMAND AVOIDANCE
Wed 080622 SSD HDD WENT DOWN/PAID BRITISH GAS/VISITED CEMETARY
Wed 080622 MINI-PC BOX SSD HDD WENT DOWN
Most unfortunately, and, from ever since very early morning...the SDD HDD drive went down. The error message stated: 'no hard disk found'...which, in turn, meant I could not get to use 'auto-repair' tool to fix it.
Right now, I've unplugged the mini-PC...with the intention to take it down to the West Norwood electronic shop I did originally buy it from in order to be fixed/or else, to have the SDD HDD drive replaced with a brand 'new' one, instead.
LATEST UPDATE
I delivered the mini-PC box to the electric store down the road to be fixed. Explained that the problem is...it's telling me 'no hard drive'. The guy said he will take a look...; I took one of his business cards in order to get in touch when the work is finished.
-----
I switched on the old computer machine...to find it's still working...; only trouble is, that uses a normal HDD drive...and, booting up is 'slow' as hell...10-20 minutes long just waiting for the thing to go boot...?!
Used CCleaner Professional to set up the machine/and, clear out too much junk/also, update drivers/optimise performance by putting unused programs to sleep/-etc..
-----
PAID £50.00 -(FORNIGHTLY, REPAYMENT SCHEME)- TO BRITISH GAS/ELECTRICTY
I'm afraid, funds are extremely 'low', at the moment...; so, this all amounts to being financial pressure that I don't really need.
Even worse, just this morning British Gas sent me a letter stating that I've missed a payment on the Electric bill repayment scheme of £50.00, fortnightly...; therefore, I just went and paid it...now, remaining inside of my bank a/c is less than £10.00 left...which is meant to last me for 2 whole weeks...?!
-----
Visited West Norwood cemetary. Discovered the grass there is pretty much over grown; I might have to return with a pair of sheers to cut the grass down a bit.
Found a £5.00 note lying on the ground; used it inside of West Norwood CoOp superstore to buy some cat food -(8 x tubs)- before I came back in.
Tuesday, 7 June 2022
Tue 070622 Attended WMCollege online art course: Drawing for absolute beginner's.
Tue 070622 Attended WMCollege online art course: Drawing for absolute beginners.
I attended WMCollege.ac.uk online art course: Tue/5 x weeks/10:30-12:30.
The teacher is called: Cleo Harrington.
The conference software used was: Zoom. I used my iPad to connect to it.
There wasn't a ton load of students there...; or, if there was, I didn't see them. I saw, maybe, only 3 or 4 others there.
The class wasn't really that deep...; but, then, if it's for 'beginners', only; therefore, what the hell else can you expect...?!
The only reason why I decided to join in with this 'beginners' class...is I wanted to get 'started' with having a WMCollege/Working Men's College student a/c.
-----
In all I believe I executed doing around 3 drawings...
1. Fill 6 squares with different shapes/patterns.
2. Copy drawing some mountains...; and, fill the simple 'outline shapes' in using patterns of your own choosing.
3. Create your own landscape work...purely from your own 'invention'.
-----
The teacher said she will set up a WordPress site for us to go and visit...; but, so far, I haven't seen any link to it, yet...
Thursday, 19 May 2022
Thu 190522 Sign on/A/c. top up/Shopping/Paid for 2 online art courses
Signed on at Streatham Job Centre, 9:50 AM/next due sign on date: 16 June 2020 9:30 AM.
CURRENT A/C. TOP UP
I went and deposited £100.00 into my current a/c.; as I have 2 x online art courses to pay for at the discounted price of: £32.50 each/total cost £65.00.
SHOPPING
I went to Streatham Aldi -(I think, it's called...located at the top of Streatham Job Centre)-; and, inside there I brought 10 x tins of sardines...at a cost of £3.40/(0.34p each).
When I returned back home I made 'sardines and rice'...; the rice had already been cooked from around 2 days back...just wanted something to be able to eat it with.
PAID FOR 2 ONLINE COURSES: WMCOLLEGE.AC.UK
As soon as I returned back home...I decided to go and pay for my 2 online courses...
- https://www.wmcollege.ac.uk
-----
1 - Absolute Beginner's Drawing/DRAW11CB/5xWeeks/Tue/10:30-12:30/£32.50(half-price/benefits/JSA)/Start date: 07/06/22
This course is designed specifically for Absolute Beginners and those returning to drawing after a long while. An open mind and interest in learning more about drawing by practice is required, as well as access to Wi-Fi and the ability to use Zoom on a tablet or desktop computer. You will need paper, pencils, a biro and small brush & an ink pot. Your tutor will provide details, but a normal HB pencil and some A4 printer paper will be fine for the first session.
During this course, you will:
• Spend time experimenting with a variety of techniques and materials via creative exercises
• Develop personal project work in drawing
• Extend your range of techniques and strategies in drawing, using a wide variety of drawing media
• Evaluate you own and others’ work and the results through informal, friendly discussion and feedback from both your tutor and the group.
The tutor will introduce the subject using demonstrations and presentations, and then work with students 1-1 to make sure they understand and learn at their own pace. As the course progresses, the tutor will discuss with students individually how they would like to develop and personalise their work during the course and will tailor advice to suit.
Recommended follow up course...
- https://www.wmcollege.ac.uk/courses/foundation-art-and-design-diploma/
-----
Required materials...
A very basic acrylic paint set
A very basic watercolour paint set
Charcoal
A4 landscape-format spiral bound sketchbook
Biros
Marker pens/basic felt tip pens
Pencils HB/2B/6B
Paint brushes/acrylic brushes: one large and one small - a number 4 and a number 10
Watercolour brushes: one large and one small - a number 4 and a number 10
A4 printer paper
A4 (hot pressed/smooth) watercolour paper
An A4 canvas or canvas board
During this online course, you will spend time experimenting with a variety of techniques and materials via creative exercises; recording any visual research over the 5 weeks; developing personal project work in drawing & painting; extending your range of techniques and strategies in drawing using a wide variety of drawing media; and being introduced to the basics of painting in watercolour & acrylics and to the work of 5 established artists (one per week via presentation online). You will evaluate your own and others’ work, as well as evaluating the results through informal, friendly discussion and feedback from both your tutor and the group. The tutor will introduce the subject using demonstrations and presentations and then work with you 1-1 to support you learning at your own pace. As the course progresses, the tutor will discuss with learners individually, how they would like to develop and personalise their work during the course and will tailor advice to suit. Your experienced tutor will set simple visual exercises as well as help to develop your drawing & painting into personal projects beyond the course.
Recommended follow up course...
Once you have completed the course, you may choose to enrol on a further term in this subject as each term is unique and covers additional themes, or another course in Arts and Design. Advice and Guidance for all further study is available from the Curriculum Manager by request.
LATEST UPDATE: Course cancelled due to 'low enrollments'. Students can request a refund.
...so, everything is set up to 'start'....except...
b> I need to check exactly what materials are needed for both courses(so, that I can have everything ready and available 'before' the course starts)
The suggested donation at Life Drawing London...was £15.00; but, instead, I just decided to pay £2.50.
It was an enlightening talk...; so long as I was awake...; and, the young female teacher fairly engaging.
But, truth to be told, I missed most of it...maybe, 1 & 1/2 hours. (So glad I didn't to try paying them £15.00...as was their original suggestion.)
As to doing any drawings...no, I did none. Just stayed and watched the references appearing on screen.