Devon iPods and Photos

Well well well, that's a first, I haven't updated the blog for almost 3 weeks. We have had good reason though, we were in beautiful Devon for one week, I've gone back to work and I'm recovering from the 'death' of my digital camera - god bless 'im. He did take almost 15000 pics in its short life so no wonder it gave up. A new one is on it's way so all tourist traits will be reinstated soon.

I've started to update the visits listings but have initially included a full list, and ongoing script to explain more about the wonderful places we visited - although poor Mart was suffering so didn't get as far as he wanted. Read the list here.

The iPod was a marvell while we were in the car for numerous hours. It played all our wonderful MP3's the whole way there and back and everywhere in between. It was much better than buying a CD changer. Just need to backup a lot more of our CDs onto it. A mate had a great idea of doing a top 100 Eurovision songs.. must do that.

iPod iTunes and MP3's

Finally, after many years, I have acquired an iPod. As I type it is converting some of my music collection (legal MP3'S!) onto the dinky looking machine. The reason behind buying it was to use it as an alternative to a CD changer for our car (only got it in July and it has a unique fit cassette player - bloody thing) .

So far I've managed to fit most of my Eurovision collection on there, what joy!

Talking of which I still need to transfer quite a lot of stuff into MP3 - may be a long Autumn/Winter job...

Brighton Piers, Frontierland and Restoration revisited

Last night the BBC broadcast a follow up to the wonderful Restoration series. It followed the progress of certain properties on the Buildings at Risk register. Unfortunately, the winner of the first series, Manchester Baths, hasn't really progressed but some others have seen some real improvement.

During the show the West Pier at Brighton as mentioned and it reminded me of a superb website I found last year by a photographer Sean Clark, It would be a shame to see so many of the UK's heritage buildings go the same way.

Also on a coastal theme I noticed that the Frontierland Remembered website, by Andrew Love, has had an update. It's a fantastic site covering the history and demolition of the site at Morecambe. It's current state hasn't altered for almost 2 years. The website recreates the wonderful atmosphere it once had. A real shame for the town and area.

My website has had an face lift with a new front end and some alterations to existing pages... this may take some time... :-)

www.garyshield.com

Junior Eurovision and Tales of the city

Talk about contrasts! Junior Eurovision and Tales of the City!
Junior ESC (UK Final) is on ITV2 at 6pm and 9pm tonight - Will someone from Cumbria be representing us for the third year?! ...

In complete contrast to the sugar sweet JESC... I just took delivery of 2 briliant TV series on DVD - Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City and More Tales from Channel 4 DVD - Excellent series from an excellent series of books about 70's and 80's San Francisco. Armistead Maupin is a superb writer - love all his work. Will Further Tales make it onto Region 2 DVD?!?!?

Blackpool Illuminations 2005

I need R&R so we went for a drive to Blackpool and we are jolly glad we did as it was a fantastic day. See the pic for proof.
Hopefully it will last as we go to Devon for a long awaited holiday in a thatched cottage during the next month.

Tonight is the official switch on of the illuminations
http://www.blackpooltourism.com/illuminate.asp
Last year it was Geri Halliwell did the honours, and according to the above website its the turn of Chris Evans in 2005. Also present will be Lee Ryan, Rachel Stevens, McFly, Erasure and Fun Loving Criminals.
Click here to read the history of the lights