[Don_1]

Just finished my tax return - phew!  Only 7 days to go for anyone else who hasn't yet done it.  HMRC owe me money :-D

Maybe they'll send you a taxed message on your mobile phone.

That's about all you can hope for, they sure won't be sending a cheque, they've got no money.

[Don_1]

I don't keep a personal diary, so I'll write on this milk bottle.

Dear dairy,

Bought a new 80 - 400mm lens today, going to pick it up in short while.

[Don_1]

Dear milk bottle,

Well I've got my new lens and it ain't' half bad.

Set at 400mm I can see into the bird box at the end of the garden and I can read the number plate on that car over there and I can see the birds in that tree and I can s....... Whoa, just a minute, what's going on in that bedroom window? What's that young lady doing? She's not going to...... Aw she's not is she? Or is she? Nah, I don't believe ............ Oh I say....... She is, you know......PHOARRRRR

[imatfaal]

Is that for a digital or film SLR?  400mm on a digital (equiv to close to 600 on film) is one hell of lens!  Is it light enough to hold steady? Getting very jealous... 

[demografx]

Dear milk bottle,

Well I've got my new lens and it ain't' half bad.

Set at 400mm I can see into the bird box at the end of the garden and I can read the number plate on that car over there and I can see the birds in that tree and I can s....... Whoa, just a minute, what's going on in that bedroom window? What's that young lady doing? She's not going to...... Aw she's not is she? Or is she? Nah, I don't believe ............ Oh I say....... She is, you know......PHOARRRRR

I found a cheaper solution, I just mail-ordered Wow-X-Ray Glasses from the back cover of this here comic book!

[demografx]

[Geezer]

Bet you didn't know Don's real name is Ivar Biggin.

[Don_1]

That's it! Go on, give away all my secrets. Next you'll be telling everyone about my old mate Ben Dover. Opps, I shouldn't have said that. Bugger it!

[Karen W. (OP)]

Don 1... Neil..going to be Jealous ...That sounds like quite the lens but I think he may have that one whipped with his Telescope! LOL...

[Karen W. (OP)]

Bet you didn't know Don's real name is Ivar Biggin.

LOL..LOL I had to read that fast several times before I caught on....LOL....

[Karen W. (OP)]

That's it! Go on, give away all my secrets. Next you'll be telling everyone about my old mate Ben Dover. Opps, I shouldn't have said that. Bugger it!

LOL...LOL That is so funny.. you always make me giggle...LOL

[Karen W. (OP)]

LOL..LOL I remember those from those old comics!!! LOL Oh my gosh and the chocolate covered ants!!! LOL...

[Don_1]

Is that for a digital or film SLR?  400mm on a digital (equiv to close to 600 on film) is one hell of lens!  Is it light enough to hold steady? Getting very jealous... 

Its on a DSLR (Nikon D300). I looked at a Tamron a while ago, but found it too light. The barrels are plastic. This one is a Tokina AT-X 840 AF, an older model I found on eBay. The metal barrels make it much heavier and keeps the balance feeling nice. Tokina are made by the same company as Hoya & Kood filters.

Hand held? Not a chance, must be on a tripod.

I did give it a quick whirl yesterday, but the light was very poor, so the results aren't really anything to go by. But it is in cracking condition, if a little noisy when focusing.

Of course I don't expect to get results up to the standard of my Nikon 18 - 200mm lens, or even the rather old Sigma 70 - 300mm, but at £175.00 + P&P its a fraction of the cost of a Sigma 120 - 400mm (£715.00), Tamron 200 - 500mm (£870) or Nikon 80 - 400mm (£1072.00) or the Nikon 200 - 400mm (£5120.00)

[imatfaal]

I have never been brave enough to buy a lens on ebay - I am convinced I will receive a tube full of broken glass and an assertion "that it was all-right when I put it in the post".  I know what you mean about the heft of the old lenses being reassuring - my nikkor 55-200 weighs in a less than a quarter of my old sigma 75-200 (but then the sigma stopped down to 2.8 as opposed to 4.5 and  has much large objective - must be almost twice the area to gather light). 

the ebay lens possibility has suddenly reminded me of a project that I fancied doing - building a cut price macro tube.  You need a cheap lens to act as your objective, a tube, and basically some hacked body/lens covers - I could pick up a super cheap cargo that has nothing to do with my camera (but has an external aperture ring).

[Don_1]

Imatfaal,
As I said this lens is in cracking condition, certainly nothing wrong that a new filter wont sort out.

Have sent you a PM.

[Don_1]

Moo moo

Dear dairy,

I have a little job to sort out on the Toy Fair at Olympia tonight, would you like me to bring you a yoyo, or some udder toy?

[demografx]

 []  []  []

[Karen W. (OP)]

Dear Diary tomorrow I have loads of tests at the lab.. Checking all my blood work and cardiac enzymes.
The doctor says I am experiencing Diastolic Heart failure and has restricted my activity even more now.. He says heart rate no more then 60.. apparently the heart rate rises and my heart starts failing.. I am not sure what to expect.. he has upped my blood pressure meds to double the dose upped my lassix to double the dose.. and doubled the pravastatin and has been monitoring me for the last week and a few days.. My swelling is still prevalent in the joints legs, feet, hands! My face has finally gone down some, but legs,feet, and hands are still some  what swollen...
I have been off and on uncomfortable this evening,but it just seems to make me feel worn out..
Now on the good side To day was a gorgeous day.. I went to the pool early and walked laps in the pool stopping when the heart rate rose to 60..
After the pool I Sat in my car talked to a couple people on phone then went had a very light lunch with a fellow from the pool. then Called my Ex and asked him if he would take me to the beach so I could watch the water again.. you tend to really miss little things like that when you cannot simply do them.. The water was lovely the surfers were out in full force having a great day.. there was barely a breeze and it was warm and lovely.. I was not able to get down to the water but I expect to drive to Trinidad head tomorrow and give it my best effort it seems to be the beach with the easies and shortest access... so Tomorrow is my dream for tonight..Tests, beach and if I am lucky There will be some kids playing in the sand and some laughter...etc.. I really miss having children around me.....

Is anyone else having good weather where you are? Its supposed to stay nice like this for another 7 to 9 days...before a change is expected...Seems some what spring like here .. there were Rhododendrons in full bloom and the cherry trees have been fooled into blooming etc.. I saw a beautiful red Camilia tree in full bloom also.. Just so lovely..... Life was lovely today....

[Karen W. (OP)]

Dear Diary.. My tests went off without a hitch today and I had a good day.. nice lunch and coffee with my sister and now a nice evening in here in the forum!

Hope you are all having fun and that you all had a good day also!

[imatfaal]

Karen - I had an awful day, but it's over now and I can go home.  Glad you had a good day - your previous post on this thread on the 2nd was a little emotionally charged and I hope all is OK.  London is getting close to spring - two days ago it was chilly, but this evening it is not at all bad.  No buds on my fruit trees though - and normally would be expecting them now/fairly soon.