Monday, August 8, 2016

Photography, White Tip Shark, Plumber,

I get posts from the National Geographic with some wonderful pictures. I have always said I am a lousy photographer, but today they carried the following quote:

 "If you want to be a better photographer, stand in front of more interesting stuff."
— Jim Richardson, photographer
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Of course that's not so easy for most of us. For instance there is an article on the White tip Shark which is becoming extinct due to overfishing. These sharks once ruled the seas and now they are nearly gone. This is a fantastic picture, but how often do any of us get in a position to take such a wonderful shot. Apart from the quality of one's camera of course. Most people use their cell phones these days anyway.


Hey the plumber comes today, finally we will get rid of our aggravating dripping tap. I can't believe it has taken so long to get the plumber here, especially as he was in the building on Friday. I guess they are less concerned with water wastage than we are.

Here's one for you to celebrate the Olympic Games. This is Jamie Oliver's recipe. I checked with my local liquor store and they do sell cachaça in 700 or 750 ml bottles. It isn't cheap mind you.


Caipirinha

The caipirinha is so addictively simple—just lime juice, simple syrup, and the rum-like spirit cachaça—it’s no wonder the drink is Brazil’s national cocktail.

5 limes
12 tablespoons golden caster sugar
2 cm fresh ginger, peeled and finely grated
1 kg ice cubes , crushed
70 cl Cachaça
1 small bunch fresh mint, leaves picked

  • This is a wonderfully refreshing Brazilian cocktail using Cachaça. You should be able to pick up a bottle in most supermarkets these days, I’ve seen it made with vodka as well but if you can, use Cachaça to ensure it’s the real deal.

  • Roll the limes on your chopping board with the heel of your hand to get all the lovely juices going, then cut them into wedges and squeeze the juice into a large 1½ litre jug, chucking the wedges in there after you’ve squeezed them.

  • Add the sugar and ginger then spend a couple of minutes bashing and squishing it all up with the end of a wooden rolling pin to really get all those flavours going. Half fill the jug with crushed ice, and bash again. Pour in the Cachaça and stir well. Have a little taste then tweak the acidity to your liking, adding more sugar if needed. Top the jug up with more crushed ice then tear in the mint leaves and give it a good stir. Serve and enjoy as a refreshing cocktail with friends.

Have a great day

28 comments:

  1. Yummy drink. To get repairs out is a very tough job.

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    1. I thought so, would quite like to try it.

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  2. You had me wondering where you had been to capture that shark.

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    1. Oh it was when I was last out diving LOL. Actually I used to scuba dive Bob, that's how I met my hubby.

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  3. Hi Jo - glad the plumber is coming - while the drink sounds good - I'm just not a lover of rum ... cheers Hilary

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    1. Me too, sitting here wondering what time though. I'm not a big rum drinker, but enjoy it now and again.

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  4. I am happy the plumber is finally coming to fix the issue, Jo!

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  5. I could stand (right!) in front of that shark and still take a crappy picture. Most useless advice ever. Not much of an alcohol drinker. I'll have some lemonade, thanks.

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    1. I think it's great advice Denise. You take super pix anyway, of your flowers in particular. Cheers to your lemonade.

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  6. I'm not standing in front of a shark.
    Their national drink? Party in Brazil!

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    1. Matt has swum with sharks Alex. Don't be a wussy.

      Fine by me, let's party. Have to make sure Mork is with us.

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  7. National Geographic photographers are brilliant in what they capture. I read an interview with one of them once and what they actually have to go through to get these photos can be risky and sometimes take months or even years.

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    1. Think I read the same article Helen. I have seen programmes on TV which show some of what they go through too.

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  8. That sounds like a delicious drink. We're having trouble getting a roofer guy to check for a leak. He was here once but didn't fix it as we found out during the next rain. It's frustrating.

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    1. Doesn't it Susan. What a pain. I would be inclined to give him hell for not fixing it before. The plumber is here now thank goodness.

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  9. Delicious shark, delicious drink but I wouldn't want to let that creature wrap its sharp teeth around me for dinner!

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    1. Trouble is they are delicious SG. The Japanese have certainly been hunting them for Shark's Fin Soup. Maybe if you gave it the delicious drink it wouldn't wrap its teeth around you.

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  10. That's sad there are so few of those sharks left. Such beautiful creatures. I have a whole Pinterest board devoted to the Great White. (For a story I am writing.)

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    1. It is sad Diane. Sharks have not been treated well by mankind. Fear does terrible things. Interesting board I would think.

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  11. I suppose you could adapt that quote to many aspects of life. I bet I'm a worse photographer than you Jo.

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    1. I suppose Pinky, but I did think it was so very apt for photography.

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  12. We've had so many problems with builders over the last couple of years - fine when we had major work to be done (after the flood at our house) but dreadful for the small, finishing touches ... so many broken promises and 'no shows' ... anyway, hoping your dripping tap will finally be cured..

    I'm not a fan of cocktails and there seems to be a lot of sugar in this one ... I'd rather stick to bacardi & diet coke or wine (but don't let me stop you enjoying one of these) Suex

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    1. All builders and their associates seem to be alike Sue. Luckily for us, the plumbers came today and everything is fixed.

      I don't drink cocktails much either, a Roy Roy (a Manhattan made with whisky) is about the only one I drink.

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  13. You will never catch me taking pictures of sharks unless I am behind glass safe and sound. Glad the plumber is finally coming.

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    1. It has been proved over the years Birgit that sharks are not as dangerous as we all imagined.

      Yup, he's been and gone.

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