I just processed my first Black and White film from my 120 camera. Actually, my second. The first film was completely blank and I still have no idea why. Which is a bit concerning.

Anyway – I took 10 snaps as soon as I realised it might be a camera issue and they were of nothing in particular. 5 were tests with numbers on them to check the camera was ok. So, really, these are the first real snaps taken using my new film camera. Ilford HP5+ processed in HC110 – dilution of 1:31 and process time is 5 minutes at 20C. Grainy images but pleasing to have started! I scanned them using an Epson V550 and only scanned at 2400 dpi to save disk space. Lots to re-learn and a lot to learn for the first time.

I would not do it the same next time but I have now tested the processing and made tentative steps to scanning the negs. Next – back into the darkroom with some images I actually want to print and keep :-)

It stayed dry all afternoon. Some strange light and fields made it enjoyable.

As I got near East Linton this Quarry appeared in front of me! I had no idea it even existed.

A lovely walk. It was a hard frost when I set out but sunny and warm when I arrived in East Linton. I had a small pocket camera and wanted to take some arty tosh :-)

I want the UK to “remain” in Europe.

The world is getting smaller and smaller and smaller. It is disappointing.

Unaccustomed as I am to making speeches – I recognise there are certain ‘tricks’ to assist me if I ever was called upon.

A common ruse is the ‘best man’ method – trying to make humour of an embarrasing or humorous anecdote. Being relevant would be nice.

Another common technique is the Dictionary ploy. It follows the line of “Marriage – I looked marriage up in the dictionary – and guess what I found!’.

Using the dictionary technique I decided to look up Trump. There was little of surprise – it can be noun or verb.

1. (n) Cards: A card from a suit which outranks other suits
2. (n) To outdo
3. (v) To take a suit at cards

Then there was the verb phrase:

The accusations against his political adversaries were little more than trumped up scaremongering.

The addition of the word “up” makes the rather conceited word “trump” into a far more interesting collection of letters.

I visited Thesaurus.com and discovered these:

bogus, concocted, cooked-up, deceitful, devised, dishonest, fabricated, fake, false, falsified, fictitious, fishy, framed, fraudulent, imaginary, incorrect, invalid, invented, lying, made up, misleading, phony, sham, unfounded, unsound, untrue

Such a small addition to a word illustrates how careful we have to be with the things we say. The phrase can become so dangerous – even when constructed of such seemingly innocent words. A word which initially seems strong and righteous suddenly becomes deceitful and mischievous.

Words are also sounds. The word Trump is very close to the word trumpet. As in “blow your own”. The dictionary also defines this. Another section on “trump” states:

1. (n) a trumpet.
2. (n) its sound.
3. (v) to blow a trumpet.

Origin
1250-1300; (noun) Middle English trompe < Old French < Old High German trumpa, variant of trumba trumpet; (v.) Middle English trompen < Old French tromper, derivative of trompe

Suddenly “trump” is not only deceitful it is also suggestive of “blowing your own trumpet”. A triumphalist squawk of a noise.

One of the most immediately recognisable and evocative pieces of music played by a member of the Trumpet family is the “Last Post”.

All of this made me consider other words. Unfortunately “Donald” is a proper noun and so I do not like to try and consider meaning and derivations of it. All I associate with Donald are:

• a Duck
• “where’s yer troosers”