Monthly Archives: April 2011

The Edfest

Blasdale Home Posted on by

I missed the Royals tying their knot.  Instead drove over to Combe Martin, Devon for the 50th birthday  celebration party of Ed, an ex Walker/Elevon contractor.  He had arranged a party in his field, BBQ, bands and drink.

Ed Fest, Ed Aldridge 50th Party at Combe Martin
I arrived in the afternoon, and was immediately spotted by other ex-Walker people, Phil Blunt and Paul Dixon.  Tent erected, bacon and egg role duly cooked and eaten, and then a few beers to tide the afternoon over before the festivities.

Ed Fest, Ed Aldridge 50th Party at Combe Martin
Met up with Ed, who was overseeing the stage and bar, had a chat with Mary and was introduced to Ed’s son, Bob who would be entertaining us later in the evening.  It was Bob’s 18th birthday celebration as well.   Now we must not confuse Bob, with the other Bob, who severed beer all night.  Bob the purveyor of beer was to me Glastonbury Bob.

Ed Fest, Ed Aldridge 50th Party at Combe Martin
A few bottles of beer later Tessa and Robin arrived to enhance the crowds.  Music was played,  the BBQ was lit, and a very dedicated villager proceeded to BBQ anything and everything presented to him.

Alas the bands stopped at midnight, and instead the phones were plugged into the PA system to entertain the stragglers around the fire until  6.30 am.  I have a question for those who regularly stay up late, why did the cockerels start crowing when it was seemingly still pitch dark.

Ed Fest, Ed Aldridge 50th Party at Combe Martin

Was left slightly annoyed with Paul Dixon.  He borrowed my camera, and I have to admit his pictures did appear rather more dynamic, atmospheric and generally better than mine.  I can’t blame the equipment.

Made it to my tent for a short sleep, and the breakfast of Bacon and Egg butty before a walk down to the sea.

More pictures from the party can be seen here on EdFest gallery, Combe Martin.  Yes rather too many, but I want everyone who was there to have an opportunity of remembering the event from their perspective.

Gorgeous weather

Blasdale Home Posted on by

The weather has been fantastic for the time of year, expected 22C on Thursday.  On the weekend we were invited over by our friends for a BBQ, roast lamb cooked in the new Weber.  Yes John had a spare Weber in the loft of his house, waiting the fateful day his trusty old Weber gave up the ghost.

While the lamb was slowly cooking, infusing the the flavour of the charcoal smoke, (something the gas machines miss on), we went out to try his lens on my camera.  I am in the market for a new lens, and wanted to compare his lens with my existing lens.  The lens in question is the Canon EF 100-400mm f4.5-5.6 L IS USM relatively cheap by the standards of the Canon professional lenses.  In practice I found is quite easy to use, the quality of the image was better than my Tamron 18-250mm.  There was virtually no  Chromatic aberration at the edges of the picture, which my Tamron has.  The downsides of the Canon lens is its lack of close focusing (1.8m), and range of magnification.  Damn I now see warehouse express have some in stock, and the price has risen, looks like I will be buying it with Tesco vouchers.

I will buy it, it will be great for wildlife photography, the extra magnification and image stabilization will make for some better shots.   I will though keep the Tamron for general shooting and close up photography.   Maybe keep it on the other camera.

Well, after the trial walk around the nature reserve, back for the gorgeous charcoal cooked lamb.  Thanks John and Carol.

On the Sunday fired up our own Weber for roast chicken and Mediterranean cooked vegetable stir fry.  That was the second BBQ at home this year, earlier we had eaten some pork chops BBQed and eaten at a table outside.   I know the saying, don’t cast a clout until May be out, and it was only early April.

This comparison picture was taken using the Tamron and Canon lens at 250mm, so I could expect better detail using the Canon at its full magnification.

Tamron 18-250 lens

Canon EF 100-400mm f4.5-5.6 L IS USM

Canon EF 100-400mm f4.5-5.6 L IS USM

Tamron 18-250 lens

Tamron 18-250 lens

Canon EF 100-400mm f4.5-5.6 L IS USM

Canon EF 100-400mm f4.5-5.6 L IS USM