Ben Oliver Artiste takes a picture everyday!Ben Oliver Artiste takes a picture everyday!I am taking a picture of something everyday, just to see what changes! Articles
Day 412 - 10th May 2008
2008-05-10 23:44:00 This is the first real picture of the day from the new camera, although there wasn't really much to take - it's been muggy and sunless all day. Still, I'm quite pleased; there's an interesting array of colours there...Otherwise, I worked today; a rare thing for a Saturday in my world. I hate to talk about bed so soon - but lying down is probably a pretty good idea right now; looks like it's going to be a long hot night. More About: 2008
Day 411 - 9th May 2008
2008-05-09 23:47:00 The new camera arrived today, and I made a Stoke city montage when I was playing with all of the effects. That's probably the first and last time I'll be using that one...The end of an old camera era came today then, as did the end of the week. It's been a funny day really, for reasons far too long to explain - can't wait for the weekend; I think I might bring it on by going to bed right now, goodnight then! More About: 2008
Day 410 - 8th May 2008
2008-05-09 00:11:00 There it lies - my magical ice sculpture. Three days of freezing and careful building came to its climax tonight and I set it up outside for all to see. People kind of looked but not much was going on and it was just melting down slowly without any action. So I went to stand by it and talk to people about it.It's important to understand that this was in no way serious, and yet the success it had was very interesting indeed. People spoke to me, played along, suggested future projects, I got a chocolate and even an offer of a poem to be written about it.I made some stuff up about it being 'ever changing' but there is truth behind the jargon - no two groups of people ever saw the same thing twice. Some walked past six, seven, even eight times and just for today, corny as it sounds - I felt happy to have put a smile on people's faces.That pretty much made a bad day a good one, tomorrow is Friday, so I've got to say I'm feeling pretty good these days! More About: 2008
Day 409 - 7th May 2008
2008-05-08 00:49:00 This is my first serious attempt at a picture without a screen, apart from yesterday's lame duck of a number plate picture. It's not bad really - not brilliant, but I can live with it until I get a replacement.Anyway, went to see Iron Man tonight - good film; far outshone what I was expecting so overall a good night out then...It's late - bed time of course! More About: 2008
Day 408 - 6th May 2008
2008-05-06 22:48:00 Driving up to, let's say, a job interview and the first thing someone sees about you, written on your car is 'wank'. It's not funny, clever or remotely witty. However, this guy seems to disagree; ugh, personalised number plates make me sick - such a lot of money for a piece of shit!Otherwise, the sun shone and we went out and played football; in fact - the sun really shone hard and I'm probably going to be red in the face tomorrow. Talking of red in the face, the Chinese next door have started smoking in the corridors again and I shouted through the door at them. We've complained, argued, and reported them but it just never stops - time for a good old smack in the face. More About: 2008
Day 407 - 5th May 2008
2008-05-05 22:54:00 A storm has hit Burma - 10,000 people have been killed. That number is still rising, and I cannot even begin to imagine how many people are in desperate need of help. I am frankly having trouble imagining just quite how many people that really is - it's just such a huge number.And yet, here in Lancaster; the sun sets with its ever ethereal quality - not a sign of a cyclone anywhere. It seems so trivial and yet so big, considering I take a picture everyday, but I must mention that my camera is broken - the screen is dead. Luckily it still takes pictures, I just don't know what of. Even luckier, I have a found a better, cheaper alternative - a stroke of luck on all counts; I never really liked this one anyway, I hope all shall be well for the future.So, there will be pictures for the next few days, just not very good ones as I'll be shooting 'blind'. Good job today's was half-decent then... More About: 2008
Day 406 - 4th May 2008
2008-05-05 00:03:00 A rainbow shines, and Stoke City are a premiership team! Oh my goodness! I still haven't got over it! Wow, wow, wow, wow, wow; I'm speechless. Next year, Man U, Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal and best of all - we'll be on match of the day! Yeah baby! All these years of support and I always (sort of) knew they'd do something in the end! Promotion at last!Anyway, my heart rate has gone back down, although I can't help but smile every time someone mentions it on TV - finally we're getting some attention!As I said, and as I hope you can see, there was a rainbow today too - obviously it rained all day then, but tonight, looking out of my window I couldn't help but notice an orange light, despite the rain. So I went out and would you believe it, a full rainbow had formed - it's so rare to catch one where you can see it end-to-end. I did actually take a more vibrant, colourful and generally better picture, but it sadly didn't contain the rainbow so I had to make a choice; great sunse... More About: 2008
Day 405 - 3rd May 2008
2008-05-03 23:33:00 En garde! Avast me hearties! Land ahoy! And so on, and so on. That's right, I went to see some fencing today, and came over all piratey. Not much to say, I didn't really get stabbed if the picture shocked you.I quite enjoyed the afternoon really though, although some weren't impressed with the questions I was asking - I only wondered if any of the matches were going to end up like in Die Another Day. Otherwise, it's the big game tomorrow - Stoke vs. Leicester. One point, a draw, 0-0 is all we need to go up; COME ON YOU POTTERS! More About: 2008
Day 404 - 2nd May 2008
2008-05-02 23:57:00 Never, never before have I come so close to missing a deadline; 20 seconds from the end - printer troubles amongst other things meant I had to sprint, literally, a mile. I think I maybe came quite close to death at that point.The picture of the day is maybe a bit weird, but I quite like it - nothing else really came up so it'll have to do.Tomorrow, well, let's not think about that - to bed with me! More About: 2008
Day 403 - 1st May 2008
2008-05-02 00:08:00 Forget your nukes and guns, make terrorist lick a coffee shot glass like the one I just made and they'll probably just collapse there and there - I know I nearly just did. Ugh; probably the bitterest, most inedible thing I've ever tasted.Talking of icy shot glasses, normal water ones, ones that look like glass, have proved to be the all time great stress reliever. Basically, you can throw a glass at a wall and the debris just melts away - ingenious!It's very late, talking in the kitchen is a truly fatal pastime and I've done it again; time for bed methinks. More About: 2008
Day 402 - 30th April 2008
2008-05-01 00:54:00 This strange caveman outfit was created today - that just about sums it all up really. I don't think it got used though, the wearer isn't gay and doesn't particularly want to look it.Otherwise, I hate to bore you with football again, but it's that time of year, Chelsea just beat Liverpool in London today to get through to the European cup final. We had it all, belters, penalties, disallowed goals, dodgy calls and a photo finish after extra time.I won't go into too many details, needless to say I don't regret going to see the game. The Champion's league final stands as being between Manchester United and Chelsea then; an all English final is great for us but so much for Europe... More About: April , 2008
Day 401 - 29th April 2008
2008-04-30 00:13:00 There's not been much worth taking a picture of today at all really. Well, apart from this here 'midget' accordion. I got this yesterday cheap at the music shop, and today I've been learning. This particular specimen plays just like the harmonica, so with that I'll soon be into making my next 'artiste' record; lookout world.Tonight, after a pretty good day at the office so to speak, I watched Man U beat Barcelona to go through to the final of the Champion's league, 1-0 after a wonder goal from Scholes. Not a bad game, not brilliant, but two brilliant sides always cancel each other out somewhat; at least there were plenty of attempts on goal though...Tomorrow is Wednesday once again, my personal Sabbath - slightly longer than usual but this only makes that pig of a Thursday an hour shorter; a price I'm willing to pay. More About: April , 2008
Day 400 - 28th April 2008
2008-04-28 23:59:00 This is it, I've been doing the same thing, going through the same process for 400 days now - goodness me, it sounds so sad but it feels so good. It's a real landmark, a milestone; break out the champagne - actually, maybe I'll save it for day 500.Looks like the Top Gear guys did the mowing today, sit-on mowers are brilliant, especially for the huge stretches of land on site here. However, when the finished product looks like a five year-old went apeshit with a spade, one does begin to wonder if the old style ones aren't so bad after all...I think it's important to mention something in the news right now too, just so it doesn't get forgotten more than anything else. One man in Austria was found yesterday to have been holding a woman in captivity. It was any old captivity though, she spent 24 years in his cellar. It gets worse. The woman was his daughter. His own daughter, locked up for 24 years. It gets worse still. He raped his daughter, then fathered her children. Seven chil... More About: April , 2008
Day 399 - 27th April 2008
2008-04-28 00:32:00 Aside from the fact that I'm poorly attempting an old Rolf Harris joke from generations ago, there is a lot wrong with this picture. My third arm appears to be grabbing my face which is a slight problem when it comes to sight - that poor old third arm, good for typing and surprise slaps, not so good when it loses control and starts wildly slapping me in the chops.Yes, it's almost a symbol of boredom when I think it's a good idea to do Jake the peg; it never really is though - hindsight's a wonderful thing.It's late and work starts again tomorrow, so I'd better go off to bed; amputating that third leg could take some time yet... More About: April , 2008
Day 398 - 26th April 2008
2008-04-26 23:55:00 Oh-my-goodness! Stoke city have one game left to play - after today's win at Colchester, one point is all that's needed. One game, one point; can the mighty potters do it? I bloody hope so.More football, Man U lost to Chelsea today, so they're now level on points but united have a 16 goal advantage over the blues. One faux-pas, one mistake and it's all over for either one of the teams...In the real world, I thought I'd go to Sainsbury's today for a quick weekend shop - never again. I'm not going to go into it too much; but I think it's what I'd get if I go to hell. More About: April , 2008
Day 397 - 25th April 2008
2008-04-26 00:57:00 I didn't go out last night, but even I could tell something hadn't quite gone well - there was a bike on the grass outside my window this morning, as far as I can see, nobody's claimed it. I wanted a ride, but the saddle was ridiculously high. Otherwise, it's been two days, 6000 words. I managed to reach the five O'clock deadline with less than one minute to spare; it was close - too close for comfort.The weekend starts tomorrow, goodness knows I need the break after all that frantic typing... More About: April , 2008
Day 396 - 24th April 2008
2008-04-24 23:10:00 So the pictures of the day are getting somewhat similar, but I can't guarantee how long this weather will last. The only other picture was of a picnic bench some of the Chinese next door dragged in after a piss up.That brings me on quite nicely to what I want to talk about; the Chinese. I have always tried my best to stay fair and equal in life, but why is it just them that are a constant nuisance next door?What with the smoking indoors, endless parties and last night, about thirty people dragged a bench in which was previously bolted down. I don't want to put a blanket covering over everyone, it's probably just a coincidence that the only people who cause a disturbance are Chinese. Anyway, we complained and the porters came and almost literally kicked some ass; I felt a cold lack of guilt - it's strangely satisfying.Thursdays are looking pretty good for the future, today's was somewhat stressful because I had around 6000 words to write for tomorrow. I did 3000 today, and it's... More About: April , 2008
Day 395 - 23rd April 2008
2008-04-23 23:06:00 It's not been a particularly brilliant day, and the picture is really that good either.The weather was dire this morning, but the afternoon made for a beautiful springtime day. The first Wednesday of term went well then, nothing much happened to speak of though. I did go and see Barcelona-Man U; it was so packed we had to stand outside - the score was 0-0 as ever and Ronaldo missed a penalty.Despite the miss, this is nonetheless a good score for United; Barcelona are nearly unbeatable at home and I can't see them winning in Manchester - looking good for the British teams then.Tomorrow is Thursday, which was previously bad news, but now the culture part of my courses are over; the day has changed from starting at 9am to midday - great news! More About: April , 2008
Day 394 - 22nd April 2008
2008-04-23 00:49:00 There's only one thing sure about a day in my life, as in anyone's life; the sun rises, the sun sets, and somewhere in the world it looks pretty great either way.Luckily here in Lancaster the sun sets beautifully quite frequently and it's often a useful fall-back for when nothing else was worth taking a picture of. Tomorrow is the first Wednesday of the new term and I'm already starting to look forward to it. We had a sunny, breezy day today and if tomorrow's the same it'll be just brilliant; why I might even do a little jig - to myself of course.As nothing much was going on we thought we'd go and watch Liverpool-Arsenal in the Champions League semi-final after the absolute belter of a quarter final round. Sadly, the game was quite dull; Liverpool were ahead 1-0 for nearly all the game, until Riise scored a 'blunder-goal' in the back of his own net; we almost all felt his pain - even the Chelsea fans among us. Manchester play Barcelona tomorrow - once again three out of fou... More About: April , 2008
Day 393 - 21st April 2008
2008-04-21 22:55:00 It was quite a strange day today, the first day back in lessons went pretty well. It wasn't the lessons that were the best though, I did a thirty second keyboard cameo in a concert tonight; it went pretty well considering I've rarely played the keyboard ever - never mind in public.The days are getting longer and on my way to the concert just look at what I saw - a brilliant almost purple sky; a sunset like I have rarely seen before. Who needs the wild west when you've got Lancaster as the real land of the setting sun? More About: April , 2008
Day 392 - 20th April 2008
2008-04-21 00:15:00 This morning I got up and went off to play what turned out to be the best personal performance as a goalkeeper I've given for a long, long time. We only won 1-0 in the end, but I don't think I've made so many saves in an hour ever!These things come at a price though, and I paid it through a ripped shirt; it got repaired, just look at that darn job - oh such sexy stitching.Aside from this, I can't say much has happened - lessons start tomorrow again so it's time for Benny Byes Byes I'm afraid! More About: April , 2008
Day 391 - 19th April 2008
2008-04-20 00:47:00 Only one more person remains to make it a full house here in the flat. It was someone's birthday too, and despite the fact we bought a cake, next door's flat made this big mother. Nothing much else happened really; personally, I've been in a bit of a strange mood. Stoke, however, were not and decided to go and beat promotion rivals Bristol City 2-1 - luckily all the other potential premiership sides lost, apart from West Bromwich, in my eyes the only side who really deserve to go up.So, we're back in second place, this time three points ahead of third place though; finally a slightly secure position! Not many games left now... More About: April , 2008
Day 390 - 18th April 2008
2008-04-19 00:33:00 I finally managed to connect my iPod to my stereo and as a result I thought it'd be nice to make a holder for it above my desk. It's a little unstable and if I hear a cluck in the night I'll know what it is.One more flat mate arrived today, bringing the total up to three; the bulk arrive tomorrow with, I think, the last one arriving on Sunday. A largely unsuccessful trip to town accounted for most of the day, now I'm just recovering from the hours of walking around not quite finding what I was looking for... More About: April , 2008
Day 389 - 17th April 2008
2008-04-18 00:13:00 The ducks have arrived. They seemed to linger around outside the flat so I took the picture of the day. Two flatmates arrived today and the presence of these birds sparked a discussion; ducks are pretty good really. Waterproof, good swimmers, great flyers and popular in China - being a duck isn't at all bad... More About: April , 2008
Day 388 - 16th April 2008
2008-04-16 23:03:00 I apologise once again for the slightly boring nature of today's picture, but I decided to actually get some more work done; it's becoming a record now! I did go out for a walk though, and it was a pretty nice day. If it's boring again tomorrow, I might try to fiddle with photoshop a bit; make it slightly more creative whilst there's nothing going on...Looks like the England rugby squad have dumped Ashton as their coach and have taken on Martin Johnson, the cup winning legend - this could stand us in good stead for the future then. More About: April , 2008
Day 387 - 15th April 2008
2008-04-15 23:42:00 I surprised myself today by actually having done some work, which was always the plan, but I find that I usually waste a day doing nothing before I start - not this time.Sadly, when you're locked away doing essays all day there isn't much to take a picture of; so I had to go out in search of one. I eventually settled on this tree, I'm not sure why but I quite like it! More About: April , 2008
Day 386 - 14th April 2008
2008-04-14 23:26:00 It's back to Lancaster time, and despite being a whole week before the start of lessons, it's also very much back to work time. So far I'm alone, although the uni itself seems far from empty; looks like many have had the same idea.Sorry about the car park picture, but my camera went funny and made the sky really blue; none of the others I took were any more interesting. More About: April , 2008
Day 385 - 12th April 2008
2008-04-14 00:32:00 Oh the fens, the fens, the fens. I can't think of a worse way to end a holiday than by even having to think about going to such an area. Flat, lifeless and soul destroying, the fens hold nothing for me; except of course my grandparents.The picture is of the building site next to their house, which gave them plenty of material to complain about during our visit - no change there then. Our real aim was to to help them find a bed, and we managed; after a few hours.Anyway, back to Lancaster tomorrow; slightly further away from East Anglia than my current residence, this can only be a good thing... More About: April , 2008
Day 384 - 12th April 2008
2008-04-13 00:28:00 Maybe I have taken this picture before, and not so long ago, but the clouds probably weren't anywhere near as black as today.Black because of the fact I've got to go to East Anglia tomorrow - enough said. More About: April , 2008
Day 383 - 11th April 2008
More articles from this author:2008-04-12 00:05:00 Not much on today, caught up with a few people I suppose, but generally nothing much of interest. I did rediscover my slightly shite pair of 'see behind you spy glasses' though; maybe there's something to be said for that.I'm off to bed now to get rid on the headache the cheap glasses have given me - goodnight. More About: April , 2008 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 |
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