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Saturday, 17 January 2015



View from canal, across the River Weaver Valley, towards Church Minchell


21st Century Technology & Camera Group-Canal Boat Trip-Saturday-
Jan 17th 2015.

GREAT FOOD-GREAT COMPANY-GREAT DAY

One thing I did not mention in my previous BLOG, on the Canal Boat Trip, 
was the fact that all that attended did in fact bring enough food to go 
around 3 or 4 times. 

A bit like the 5 fishes and 2 loaves of bread (well a bit like :) ). 
Thank you so very much. 

Over and above the call of duty, I would like to add, and no doubt as a 
result of  LADIES input :)

The SOUP provided by Mal (and Joan ) was very very nice, and there was 
enough to go around BOTH BOATS, and still leave some to go home for 
MAL'S TEA !!!

It will be great to do this again, when it is warmer, and we could stop 
and have a Bar B Q and stuff ??

We will also not have to get back before it goes to dark for me to 
negotiate the last lock :( :( :( As it will not get dark until much 
later :)

Thanks

Cliff


Member Update-Post Photo Outing Trip on Narrowboat, Sat 17 Jan 2015.

A quick post straw POLL of the trip says, EXCELLENT TRIP, need to do 
something like this again, Perhaps in the SPRING when it is a tad warmer.

However, with nearly 20 people attending this MUST be the best attended, 
and most expansive trip we have been able to get organised. :) :) :)

Therefore ALL GOOD.TWO BOATS, 1-75 feet, other 65 feet :( :( :(  ;)

If members wish to get some of their photos up for others to see quite 
soon, then add 10 (ish) to make a small album, and add then to the group, 
but no more than 1 megbyte per photo, please.

Furthermore, I NEED your BEST FIVE from the day to myself, via the GROUP 
e-Mail of the21stctncg@gmail.com. 

They will then be placed in the photos to view on WEDNESDAY NIGHT at the 
Group Meeting at the Willowmerte-Middlewich. 7.00 pm start. See 
GROUP EVENT for more detailed info.

Don't delay make it soon, so I have time to do a good job with your 
photos :)

Will DAVE make it through the BRIDGE?...................................................





...OF Course he did :)

Will now be composing my normal Group Press Release to show just what a 
GREAT GROUP we have, and what we do for photo outings. Nothing NORMAL or 
mundane for the 21st Group :)

PLEASE, around with you friends and family, the more we do the better it 
gets, and the more members makes life easier for us all, and keeps the 
GROUP BANK BALANCE in the BLACK----YES!!!!

Cliff


Friday, 16 January 2015
Member Update-Instructional Photo Outing-ON WATER

 
Ahoy, or Hello SAILOR for those lucky people who have been so brave enough
to book with the Group to come on an "Instructional Photo Outing" adventure
on the Shropshire Union Canal, tomorrow Saturday 17th Jan 2015.

Dave Warren and myself have just been out for a couple of hours, to 
complete the necessary training course for the steering, mooring, and 
general boat handling of a Narrow Boat, hired for the day from Middlewich 
Narrowboats.

A very FIRST for both myself and Dave and when we arrived we found the 
boats were a slight bit bigger than we both thought we were going to get. 
Dave's boat is 65 FEET LONG, and my boat is 70 FOOT.

Anyhow, no worries the instructors said we were both very good, so no 
worries for the rest of the crew.

Anyhow, a few things for those attending so that we all have a nice day.

A) The TWO boats are moored just up from the WARDLE LOCK Cottage, between 
the first and second bridges and both Dave and myself will be trying to 
get there for 8.30 am to get the boats started and the CENTRAL HEATING 
working, and warmed up, before our "guests" arrive. The boats are 
positioned between the junctions of SUTTON LANE and ST ANNES ROAD in 
Middlewich, and the Canal.

There are plenty of car parking space on the roads around there, but you 
can also be cheeky and park on the British Legion Car Park, which is just 
up SUTTON LANE ( 50 yards ) on the right. Don't think they will bother 
about people parking, particularly so early in the morning :(.

If in doubt, and after you have parked you cars) go to the Middlewich 
Narrow Boats, boat yard and they will give directions to where we have 
positioned the boats. PLEASE try not to be late as we need to get away 
quite quickly after 9.00 am.

IT will be COLD and ICY so please get well wrapped up, and watch for the 
ice on the Canal towpath, particularly when getting onto the boats. The 
boats FULLY equipped with running water, cups, pans and both have toilets 
on board. Instructions will be given by Dave and myself, when we are all 
on board both of the boats. So, we should be OK to make hot drinks and 
stuff :)

We will be going slowly, and will go about 2 / 3 hours out and back, and 
told there is much to photograph including KINGFISHERS, so we maybe lucky.

We may be able to stop at the VIADUCT MARINA for a coffee and snack, BUT, 
bring something yourself as we may not make it that far, depends upon our 
driving :( plus some coffee / tea, but Bab's will have with her the normal 
"BAG of GOODIES" with tea / coffee etc if you are stuck for anything.

We plan to be back at Middlewich Narrow Boats about 4.00 / 4.30 before it 
get dark.

IF IN DOUBT...call me  07971 136360.

We will talk about cameras and settings of same, when we finish the BOAT 
info, but again, if in any doubt set the camera to auto for normal quick 
shots, and speak to me if you want to have your camera set to take birds 
in FLIGHT, as these settings are slightly different.

I want you to enjoy the day as much as possible, and if we enjoy the day 
we will do this again when the weather is a little kinder.

PLEASE, get some of your better shots ( NO MORE THAN FIVE EACH) back to 
myself as soon as possible, so they can be included in the member photo 
presentation for next WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

But remember no bigger than 500 k in size or they will not fit onto the 
MS PowerPoint Presentation :) :)

If you have any further questions, please give me a bell, as above.

Cliff

Friday 16 Jan 2015.
Would Group Members please make sure they find time to look at and explore
the New Group Web Page.
This can be found at www.watch-it-and-c.co.uk

Melody would like to see members using it as soon as possible, provided 
feedback, so she can get to grips with any modifications / enhancements 
you may find when first viewing the site.

Thanks............Cliff

Photo added to check out it works. :) and it does. This is a photo of the 
TRANSPORTER BRIDGE that was installed to get passengers from RUNCORN to 
WIDNES and back, in Victorian times.

I did actually see it working for real, with passengers. However, neither 
me or my younger sister Kay would take a trip on the contraption. This 
looks to be at a time when it was first opened in ??? With a TRAM and 
loads of men on bowler hats, note NO LADIES :)




Tuesday, 13 January 2015
Welcome to our new website and blog by Mel Smith (Webmaster)


 
Please feel free to explore our website at www.watch-it-and-c.co.uk and 
make any comments on how you feel it could be improved in the future or 
extra features that you would like to see. We may not be able to cater 
for everyone but we can try!
If any member of the group has a topic which you would like to 'blog' 
about then please submit it to a committee member.
 
Middlewich, Cheshire Cheshire, UK
Sunday, 4 January 2015
Updated Group Description



Main purpose of the group is to engage with ALL members of our Cheshire 
Community in order that they make the best use of technology found in 
today’s modern homes.
Principally about using digital cameras and associated Internet 
technology, the group has both female and male members aged from 14 to 
some in their 80’s.
The group has monthly meetings, with presentations on all kinds of 
technology / photography combined with our very popular “Instructional 
Photo Outings” where members meet at local beauty spots and are taught 
how best to use their own cameras by skilled members, in order to improve 
their camera techniques and obtain quality photographs, rather than just 
photo snaps.
INTERESTED? Then sign up to the group using Facebook, or email Cliff 
Astles on CONTACT US page for more info.


Middlewich, Cheshire Cheshire, UK
Wednesday, 24 December 2014
January Flyer



LAST Update for members 2014.
Our Group is probably the fastest growing Community Group in Cheshire, 
with members from most of the local Mid-Cheshire Towns, with some even 
further afield in greater Cheshire and Lancashire.

We look towards 2015, to gain more interest from TEENAGERS with even more 
members joining the group, from our local resident, and more mature 
members

Jan 2015 will see the group spending some of the £750.00 Grant funds made 
available to the group, with the purchase of a desk top PC 
PHOTOGRAPHIC-WORK STATION, installed with the latest Photo 
POST PROCESSING SOFTWARE and some similar, FREE software, like PICASA 3 
and SMART PHOTO EDITOR etc.

PC will be made available at all group meetings so that members can 
obtain specific one to one training, from our more experienced members, 
or just to help them with there own particular needs. It will also have a 
set of Micro-Soft products installed that are typically used in 
conjunction with photo processing software.

An OPPORTUNITY NOT TO BE MISSED!!

We hope our younger members will take this unique CHESHIRE opportunity, 
to gain FREE specialist training, working with our professional, industry 
experienced members to add that extra line to their own CV, by belonging 
to a local technology group, which will without doubt, set them apart 
from others when they seek employment in the media, photography or 
graphic industry in later years.