bestoftimes.bsky.social
@bestoftimes.bsky.social
Born when there was there was only 319ppm of CO₂ in the atmosphere. I get excited by books, music, photography, walks and beaches, fountain pens and inks, malt whisky. And learning new things.
He/Him.
He/Him.
I finally managed to declutter and reorganise our important paper files today. I got rid of old stuff and created new files appropriate to where we are now.
There’s one new file labelled “death” that no-one has noticed yet!
There’s one new file labelled “death” that no-one has noticed yet!
November 16, 2025 at 11:10 PM
I finally managed to declutter and reorganise our important paper files today. I got rid of old stuff and created new files appropriate to where we are now.
There’s one new file labelled “death” that no-one has noticed yet!
There’s one new file labelled “death” that no-one has noticed yet!
Once I get over my flu I’m looking forward to working right-to-left here. Scottish Tayberry sour; then cherry, strawberry and almond; then hazelnut imperial stout.
November 14, 2025 at 9:35 PM
Once I get over my flu I’m looking forward to working right-to-left here. Scottish Tayberry sour; then cherry, strawberry and almond; then hazelnut imperial stout.
Only in Waitrose do small children run past shouting “we’re allowed to have sushi and pizza!”
November 14, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Only in Waitrose do small children run past shouting “we’re allowed to have sushi and pizza!”
Over on the big blog a long post on my new Leicaflex SL film camera and film photography in general.
November 9, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Over on the big blog a long post on my new Leicaflex SL film camera and film photography in general.
Enjoyed a long walk in the muddy hills yesterday with a camera from 1974.
November 9, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Enjoyed a long walk in the muddy hills yesterday with a camera from 1974.
I’m enjoying an IPA brewed in Leith using hops picked in New Zealand between 20:15 and 21:45 on the evening of March 14 2025 while the moon was in total eclipse.
November 7, 2025 at 7:03 PM
I’m enjoying an IPA brewed in Leith using hops picked in New Zealand between 20:15 and 21:45 on the evening of March 14 2025 while the moon was in total eclipse.
I’m really liking my new Ansø pen developed with tactile turn. I’m not normally a fan of narrow pens but this nails it.
November 7, 2025 at 4:31 PM
I’m really liking my new Ansø pen developed with tactile turn. I’m not normally a fan of narrow pens but this nails it.
I’ve just seen a Ford Mustang hearse!
November 7, 2025 at 2:39 PM
I’ve just seen a Ford Mustang hearse!
I finally found the perfect use case for my phone’s ‘action button’. Now I just need to train my brain to actually use it!
October 31, 2025 at 7:37 AM
I finally found the perfect use case for my phone’s ‘action button’. Now I just need to train my brain to actually use it!
Another stationery-related post on the big blog. It’s planner season!
October 30, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Another stationery-related post on the big blog. It’s planner season!
For the last 4½ years I’ve been using a Philips SmartSleep ‘sunlight’ alarm to wake me up. It’s been ok but with a few rough edges in the design choices mostly that it’s not easy to clear an alarm when it’s still in the sunrise mode.
Anyway I’ve finally ditched it for a Mudita alarm.
Anyway I’ve finally ditched it for a Mudita alarm.
October 29, 2025 at 10:35 PM
For the last 4½ years I’ve been using a Philips SmartSleep ‘sunlight’ alarm to wake me up. It’s been ok but with a few rough edges in the design choices mostly that it’s not easy to clear an alarm when it’s still in the sunrise mode.
Anyway I’ve finally ditched it for a Mudita alarm.
Anyway I’ve finally ditched it for a Mudita alarm.
Over on the big blog, my thoughts on trying the Postcrossing service for exchanging postcards across the world.
It has been great fun!
It has been great fun!
October 29, 2025 at 8:06 PM
Over on the big blog, my thoughts on trying the Postcrossing service for exchanging postcards across the world.
It has been great fun!
It has been great fun!
Bill Nighy’s ‘ill-advised’ podcast is the perfect antidote to the stresses of life.
October 28, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Bill Nighy’s ‘ill-advised’ podcast is the perfect antidote to the stresses of life.
I like the design of Mark + Fold planners but I’m glad I didn’t get the linen planner again this year. That ‘6’ looks smaller than the ‘2’ for some reason. I think it’s because the ‘2’ has a bigger surface area.
Very nice gong though.
Very nice gong though.
October 28, 2025 at 12:45 PM
I like the design of Mark + Fold planners but I’m glad I didn’t get the linen planner again this year. That ‘6’ looks smaller than the ‘2’ for some reason. I think it’s because the ‘2’ has a bigger surface area.
Very nice gong though.
Very nice gong though.
Tonight’s first malt whisky is a 20-year-old Auchentoshan and it’s everything you’d expect from that combination!
October 24, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Tonight’s first malt whisky is a 20-year-old Auchentoshan and it’s everything you’d expect from that combination!
As we approach Halloween this seems an appropriate book to start on my train home today.
(railway ticket bookmark for scale)
(railway ticket bookmark for scale)
October 23, 2025 at 4:42 PM
As we approach Halloween this seems an appropriate book to start on my train home today.
(railway ticket bookmark for scale)
(railway ticket bookmark for scale)
I have just finished reading Nevil Shute’s Trustee From The Toolroom. it was very, very, good!
October 22, 2025 at 4:23 PM
I have just finished reading Nevil Shute’s Trustee From The Toolroom. it was very, very, good!
Welcome to the strange world of Leica R lenses… It turns out that the secondhand lens I bought that was advertised as a ‘3 cam’ is actually a ‘3rd cam’ lens. That means it won’t work with older cameras such as a Leicaflex SL.
A 3 cam lens has three cams while a 3rd cam lens only has the 3rd cam!
A 3 cam lens has three cams while a 3rd cam lens only has the 3rd cam!
October 17, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Welcome to the strange world of Leica R lenses… It turns out that the secondhand lens I bought that was advertised as a ‘3 cam’ is actually a ‘3rd cam’ lens. That means it won’t work with older cameras such as a Leicaflex SL.
A 3 cam lens has three cams while a 3rd cam lens only has the 3rd cam!
A 3 cam lens has three cams while a 3rd cam lens only has the 3rd cam!
Our AirBnB in Malta has one feature that’s sufficiently grim we are booking a hotel for tomorrow onwards.
October 13, 2025 at 10:10 PM
Our AirBnB in Malta has one feature that’s sufficiently grim we are booking a hotel for tomorrow onwards.
One of my highlights of 2025 was visiting this place.
October 12, 2025 at 9:18 PM
One of my highlights of 2025 was visiting this place.
This is lovely … I just need to find a lens for it now.
October 10, 2025 at 5:44 PM
This is lovely … I just need to find a lens for it now.
The answer to the question “how many film cameras should I have?” is one more than is sensible.
On that basis I’ve excelled, buying a body where I don’t (yet) own a compatible lens.
But it is a Leicaflex SL in beautiful condition!
On that basis I’ve excelled, buying a body where I don’t (yet) own a compatible lens.
But it is a Leicaflex SL in beautiful condition!
October 8, 2025 at 7:57 PM
The answer to the question “how many film cameras should I have?” is one more than is sensible.
On that basis I’ve excelled, buying a body where I don’t (yet) own a compatible lens.
But it is a Leicaflex SL in beautiful condition!
On that basis I’ve excelled, buying a body where I don’t (yet) own a compatible lens.
But it is a Leicaflex SL in beautiful condition!
October 2, 2025 at 12:27 PM