Black Country news and blogs Tuesday 11 November 2014
Mike Maynard
622 storiesRSS feed for Mike Maynard
Blog feature
Principle centred leadership? 
Mike Maynard 9 Nov 14
I was sent a book this week.
Blog feature
The Review: autumn events
Mike Maynard 8 Nov 14
We are half way through Autumn and winter is fast approaching.
Blog feature
Thrifty Thursday: preparing for winter
Mike Maynard 6 Nov 14
The Aldi super-six this week are Royal Gala apples, conference pears, cocktail vine tomatoes (250g), sweet pointed peppers (2), large flat mushrooms (250g) and persimmon (3).
Blog feature
Photography: autumn pictures
Mike Maynard 4 Nov 14
I usually go out and take photographs on a Sunday afternoon because there is less traffic and I can drive around more easily.
Blog comment
The Sunday Ramble: Wonderful Walsall
Mike Maynard 2 Nov 14
Last week I went to Walsall Art gallery.
Blog comment
The Review: Sex and Drugs
Mike Maynard 1 Nov 14
It seems the European Commission is asking the government for 1.7 bn pounds because our GDP is more than they thought it was when they add in the illegal sex and drugs trades.
Blog feature
Thrifty Thursday: Halloween Bargains
Mike Maynard 30 Oct 14
The Aldi super-six this week are plums (500g), satsumas (600g), cox apples (6-10 pack), mixed peppers (3), butternut squash and mushrooms (380g).
Blog feature
Photography: focusing
Mike Maynard 28 Oct 14
On digital cameras, you press the shutter release button part way down, until the camera has focused.
Blog feature
The Sunday Halloween Ramble
Mike Maynard 26 Oct 14
It’s Halloween this week, when spooky things happen as the darkness of winter begins.
Blog feature
The review: the modern world
Mike Maynard 25 Oct 14
I’ve been checking the weather forecast it seems this could be a good weekend for photography.
Blog feature
Thrifty Thursday: Early Christmas presents?
Mike Maynard 23 Oct 14
The Aldi super-six this week are plums (500g), satsumas (600g), cox apples (6-10 pack), mixed peppers (3), butternut squash and mushrooms (380g).
Blog comment
Photography: Around the Black Country
Mike Maynard 21 Oct 14
The settings on modern cameras are great, just set it on landscape for landscape photos and the camera does the rest.
Blog feature
The Sunday Ramble: changing seasons
Mike Maynard 19 Oct 14
This was Forge Mill Lake in February; I wonder what it looks like in Autumn? I might find out today.
Blog comment
The review: I want to be different
Mike Maynard 18 Oct 14
The reason for today’s picture is that I want to take the same picture this weekend to see the changes in autumn.
Blog comment
Thrifty Thursday: Halloween preparations
Mike Maynard 16 Oct 14
The Aldi super-six this week are chantenay carrots (500g), parsnips (600g), cauliflower, leeks (500g), mild onions (4 pack) and baking potatoes (4 pack).
Blog feature
Photography: Autumn events
Mike Maynard 14 Oct 14
Now it’s Autumn there are fewer events to photograph and the weather is even more unsettled.
Blog feature
The Sunday Ramble: they are among us
Mike Maynard 12 Oct 14
This week Walsall Healthcare NHS trust was fined £120,000 for delays in A E and long waiting times.
Blog comment
The review: Manor House vintage fair this weekend
Mike Maynard 11 Oct 14
I’ve used a photo from the summer today, but Autumn is still quite mild.
Blog feature
Thrifty Thursday: Autumn food bargains
Mike Maynard 9 Oct 14
The Aldi super-six this week are chantenay carrots (500g), parsnips (600g), cauliflower, leeks (500g), mild onions (4 pack) and baking potatoes (4 pack).
Blog feature
Re-thinking values in society
Mike Maynard 8 Oct 14
I watched Professor Brian Cox on T V last night, looking at the enormity of the universe and our part in it.
Blog feature
Photography: creating illusions
Mike Maynard 7 Oct 14
I took this photo in January out of the window.
Blog feature
Black Country common sense?
Mike Maynard 5 Oct 14
I am old enough to remember when The Black Country was a powerhouse of industry.
Blog feature
The review: signs of autumn
Mike Maynard 4 Oct 14
It’s been quite a mild autumn in England this year, but the leaves are starting to fall from the trees and the seasonal illnesses are starting to appear.
Blog comment
Thrifty Thursday: Aldi or Tesco?
Mike Maynard 2 Oct 14
The Aldi super-six this week are fun-size apples (8/9/10), fun-size pears (7/8/9/10), baby corn (135g), salad potatoes (1Kg), plums (500g) and chestnut mushrooms.
Blog feature
Photography: Moorcroft Wood
Mike Maynard 30 Sep 14
I went to Moorcroft Wood on Sunday.
Blog feature
The Sunday Ramble: music, politics and photography
Mike Maynard 28 Sep 14
The sun is shining this morning and it could be a good day for photography.
Blog feature
The Review: Does art need to reach out?
Mike Maynard 27 Sep 14
I’ve started with one of my more artistic pictures today.
Blog comment
Thrifty Thursday: Aldi or Asda?
Mike Maynard 25 Sep 14
The Aldi super-six this week are fun-size apples (8/9/10), fun-size pears (7/8/9/10), baby corn (135g), salad potatoes (1Kg), plums (500g) and chestnuts mushrooms.
Blog feature
Tipton Canal and Community Festival in pictures
Mike Maynard 23 Sep 14
I photographed the Tipton Canal and Community Festival on Sunday.
Blog feature
The Sunday Ramble: The alternative Nobel prizes
Mike Maynard 21 Sep 14
It’s Tipton canal and community festival this weekend.
Blog comment
The Review: Tipton Canal & Community Festival
Mike Maynard 20 Sep 14
It’s Tipton canal and community festival this weekend.
Blog comment
Thrifty Thursday: save and invest
Mike Maynard 18 Sep 14
The Aldi super-six this week are cherry tomatoes (300g), savoy cabbage, carrots (1Kg), celery, onions (1Kg) and snack pack grapes (170g).
Blog feature
Photography: Camera setting
Mike Maynard 16 Sep 14
The settings on cameras can be difficult to get used to.
Blog feature
The Sunday Ramble: Last days of summer
Mike Maynard 14 Sep 14
It’s only a week now to the Autumnal equinox and the beginning of Autumn.
Blog feature
Heritage weekend
Mike Maynard 13 Sep 14
It’s heritage weekend and lots of museums will be open and have special events.
Blog comment
Thrifty Thursday: Keep on saving
Mike Maynard 11 Sep 14
The Aldi super-six this week are cherry tomatoes (300g), savoy cabbage, carrots (1Kg), celery, onions (1Kg) and snack pack grapes (170g).
Blog feature
Photography: Choosing a Camera
Mike Maynard 9 Sep 14
There is a bewildering array of cameras available and there are also smart phones and tablet computers that take photos too.
Blog feature
The Sunday Ramble: referendum
Mike Maynard 7 Sep 14
I have some new readers today, so I thought I would remind everybody that I live in the heart of England, here in the Black Country.
Blog feature
The review: an interesting week
Mike Maynard 6 Sep 14
It was an interesting week.
Blog comment
Thrifty Thursday: Late summer bargains
Mike Maynard 4 Sep 14
The Aldi super-six this week are figs (3/4), mangetout (150g), garlic (4), cocktail vine tomatoes (250g), nectarine (4/5) and fun size pears (7-10).
Blog feature
Photography: Random shots
Mike Maynard 2 Sep 14
I’ve taken a few photos of this pub, but I think the addition of the horse and cart outside makes it more interesting.
Blog feature
Who are we to judge
Mike Maynard 31 Aug 14
Charles Darwin was born into a moderately wealthy family in Shrewsbury.
Blog comment
The review: Do speed cameras help?
Mike Maynard 30 Aug 14
Today’s scenic picture was taken in Woden Road South.
Blog feature
Thrifty Thursday: gluten free sausages
Mike Maynard 28 Aug 14
The Aldi super-six this week are figs (3/4), mangetout (150g), garlic (4), cocktail vine tomatoes (250g), nectarine (4/5) and fun size pears (7-10).
Blog feature
Photography: suggestive images
Mike Maynard 26 Aug 14
This looks fun, photos of children enjoying themselves gives a very positive image.
Blog comment
The powers that be…
Mike Maynard 24 Aug 14
There was news this week that Sandwell Council have been culling the geese in Sandwell Valley and Victoria Park in Tipton.
Blog feature
The Review: August Bank Holiday Weekend
Mike Maynard 23 Aug 14
The sun’s shining today and we have a Bank Holiday weekend.
Blog comment
Thrifty Thursday: Cutting motoring costs too
Mike Maynard 21 Aug 14
The Aldi super-six this week are cucumber, spring onions (100g), mixed chillies (80g), pointed cabbage, carrots (1Kg) and broccoli.
Blog feature
Photography: Kids and horses at the Frying Pan
Mike Maynard 19 Aug 14
This is one of the first photos that I took on Sunday.
Blog feature
The Sunday Ramble: Back to square one
Mike Maynard 17 Aug 14
You are probably wondering why I’ve started with a picture of my runner beans.