Finally things are beginning to cool down here! About time! We've been getting little showers of rain almost ever day and I am just reveling in it. I'm looking very forward to the day when I can start wearing my polo neck sweaters and big fancy coats again!
Lately the boy has been teaching me some photography theory and how to operate his camera. Yesterday I used my newly acquired knowledge and went about the house with the camera taking pictures and experimenting with ISO, aperture and shutter speed. I also did some messing about with the macro lens which was quite fun. After lunch we planned to go to a nearby park with a lake for me to take some more pictures and experiment with different lighting and the macro lens but upon arriving it unfortunately began to rain. Either way, I still learnt a lot from what a did around the house. I have taken pictures here and there on his camera before but I've never operated it manually, and I must say I am very proud of myself. We both agree that I got some pretty good shots for my first attempt. Hopefully I'll be able to share some of them with you soon! Anyway, this is what I wore that day. When I came home my sister said I looked like Abra from "East of Eden". Ha!
In other news! I've been struck with luck yet again!
A few weeks ago the man that sold me these records left me a voice-mail. He said that he would keep an eye out for any early Pink Floyd records and hold them for me if he came across any, particularly their first two LPs with Syd Barrett present, "The Piper at the Gates of Dawn" and "A Saucerful of Secrets". They are really quite hard to find here in Australia, so I was very pleased to discover that he had found this and was keeping it for me!
Pink Floyd's "A Nice Pair" is a compilation album that was first released in 1973 and consists of the band's first two albums. And so, it is exactly what I was looking for! Its release would introduce new Pink Floyd fans at the time to the psychedelic sounds of their earlier period with Syd Barrett. The album art was designed by Hipgnosis, which you may know were responsible for designing many other album covers for Pink Floyd, and consists of unused ideas for past cover art.
Because this man's record store is quite a few towns away from me I have to set aside time to travel up their and have a visit. I had been quite busy and unable to go up there to buy the record from him, and for a very generous price of only $70.00, and was beginning to feel awful for him holding onto it for so long for me. But kindly whilst the boy was up in there area he picked it up for me and surprised me with it upon seeing me next, also expressing to the seller how thankful I was for him finding and keeping the album for me. Now I am almost there in having all of Pink Floyd's albums in my collection! I know some collectors will not consider this album as enough to cover the first two from 1967 and 1968 but in reality this is the best I can do for now and I am very grateful for it!
I also picked up this LP recently too from a record booth inside one of our local shopping malls whilst waiting to see a movie: "The World of Marianne Faithfull". The man at the booth asked me to mind his store for a little while and for that he kindly gave the record to me for $7.00 instead of $10.00, as well as a lovely compliment, telling me that he thought I looked a lot like Marianne. How nice!
And these here be my latest 45s, some bought from the gentleman who sold me the Pink Floyd album, and some a surprise from my mother. She is always on the lookout for records for my sister and I.
Has there been anything new that you've tried out lately? Or a new skill that you are interested in learning? I'd love to hear!
Title: "The Rain, The Park and Other Things" - The Cowsills
