This was my attempt to send a photo to my son (who'd gone off to Wensleydale with my wife) to prove I'd made it to the top of Penyghent. I sent it but it didn't get there because neither of us had a signal! As you can see it's impressively lopsided, I forgot to take off my reactolites, I'm frowning for England (no change there then), I look like I've been dragged through a hedge backwards and most of my arm's disappeared. My great flickr friend anamae, however, tagged me about a month ago, so I have to make up 10 things to say, and this snap seemed useful for that at least. Here goes: 1. I bought a Nikon FE and 2 lenses when I was18 (32 years ago) and fell in love with it. I made a home darkroom in my bedroom and did all sorts of damage to the skin of my fingers from using too much selenium toner! The skin still peels all these years later! 2. From my late 20s there was a short gap of around 20 years when I rarely took a photo, then went digital after a few years of poo-pooing it, as is my way 3. I always wanted to go to art college and never did, but got a (late) psychology degree, which helps me explain to myself why I am so mixed up 4. When I was 43 I started to need glasses to read. I got to the opticians and he said: "You're 43 aren't you?" I asked how he knew and he said the eyes of most men are buggered at about age 43. He may not have used precisely that terminology 5. I've always loved to walk on the high hills / mountains and by rivers. The general absence of people has a lot to do with it, but also the photos I've most admired over the years are from the likes of Paul Caponigro, Fay Godwin, John Blakemore, Ansel Adams et al. A Wainwright has always been my personal hero, however, and I've owned all his guides to the Lakeland Fells since my mid-20s. A role model curmudgeon - you just can't beat 'em. 6 I bought Adams'Yosemite and the Range of Light when I was 17 and it blew me away, even though it cost me ?55. I still have it. 7 I read a lot. Just finished The Summer Book by Tove Jansson. Loved it. It's full of the wisdom of an old woman and her relationship with her grandchild. My old friend Graham's been recommending it for years, and he was right so to do. 8 My wife has applied the words "Very Grumpy" to my screensaver, but hasn't told me why 9 My mother and uncle's hair went snow white when they were in their late 50s. Looks like I'm well on my way, judging from this photo 10 Almost everything about the pace of modern life frustrates me and I can get very, very cross, which often causes my wife to have fits of hysterics. I have been known to rant for minutes on end to inanimate objects when they refuse to work. It's a conspiracy you know... That's quite enough. I don't think I'll tag anyone else, it's just too traumatic!

Considering the success of the above, I think it is about time that Canon offers an extension tube adapter for this camera or at least explains to us why they will not offer one. We Canon SX30 IS, SX20 IS, and SX10 IS camera owners should not have to make our own extension tube adapters or worse do without this remarkably successful accessory. Also, I contacted both Canon and Nikon Technical Service about this extension tube adapter about two years ago and they said it would not jeopardize their factory warranty. I was also advised to say that "the extension tube adapter is for my personal use only" so please do not ask me any questions about it or how to build one of these simple TRK extension tube adapters. BTW: the TRK extension tube adapter (pictured above) is the adjustable version which may also be adjusted to be used on Canon models SX30, SX20, and SX10 IS cameras. Canon PowerShot SX30 IS with a 1.7 Telephoto Conversion Lens using a TRK extension tube adapter for 59.5x Zoom. IMG_4870