Goodbye Andy, Goodbye Alan

As I am sure long-time visitors to this blog will be aware, for over 40 years I've been listening to and thoroughly enjoying the works of Depeche Mode. During that that time, their line up has been more stable than any other band of similar longevity that I can think of. Vince Clarke left very early on, Alan Wilder replaced him for 13 years and from then on the band has been the three ever-present core of Dave Gahan, Martin Gore and Andy Fletcher. They've had a consistent touring members Christian Eigner on drums since 1997 and Peter Gordeno on keyboards since 1998. Today, far too young, Andy Fletcher (60) died. Andy was pivotal to the success of the band: not as a songwriter, not as the voice or the face of the band, but he certainly was the glue and the heart of the band keeping things together through inevitable rough patches. Whilst I sincerely hope that this is not the end for Depeche Mode, it will be in many respects.

It was even longer ago that I heard and liked Yes, albeit thanks to my Dad playing them incessantly. I've not listened to them regularly over that time or kept pace with everything they've released, and their line up is far from stable or consistent. But one of their most persistent members was drummer Alan White - ever-present from 1972. Alan (72) also died today.

Here's a few suitably sombre looking moths from the garden last night ....

Clouded Brindle

Flame Shoulder

Vine's Rustic

Marbled Minor sl

Tawny Marbled Minor sl

Magnificent Magnification

Seth recently posted about some microscopic algae squeezed from sphagnum - namely Desmids. I was vaguely aware of these, and other water-borne micro stuff, but they were way beyond the reach of my old stereo microscope. Seeing these, along with having found a number of micro fungi this year that really need proper scrutiny, I decided it was time to invest in a compound microscope. The entry-level standard seems to be the Apex Practitioner model. As it happens, that was not available on Amazon and in any case I reckoned spending a little more might do me well for a few more years. The Practitioner is monocular, and I at least wanted a binocular model so that I could take snaps without having to fanny about putting an adaptor on/off. A trinocular version with camera mount would be even better.

So, I wanted a binocular/trinocular model with a full mechanical stage to move the subject x/y, course/fine focussing, and a led light source with control. After browsing Amazon and the internet, and mulling it over for a couple of days, I decided to spend some money and placed an order last night. It arrived at just after 11am today ....

I ended up going for a model that should do me well for a few years, and I went for a bundled version that included a microscope camera. This is the Swift SW380T: certainly not the best model available, but certainly more than good enough for what I need and seems to be sturdy and well built enough to feel like value for money. It has 4x, 10x & 40x objectives (and a 100x oil objective that I probably won't use), along with 10x and 25x eyepieces. I reckon the 40x, 100x & 400x I'll get with the 10x eyepiece will more than do, with 250x & 1000x available if I change the eyepiece.

The added bonus that I wasn't expecting is that the camera came with a calibration slide and the software allows for measuring. The camera software also includes some stacking process, whether it works well enough I'll have to see.

Of course today has been the worst day weather-wise for months - continual rain with some very heavy spells, so I'm not going anywhere to collect samples to play with but it came with some typical sample slides that were good enough to get a feel for it. The mechanical movements are smooth and precise, and so far feels like just the job. With a bit more use I need to get the balance right between the light source control and the diaphragm on the condenser. Hopefully the weather tomorrow will be more inviting.

Xexan the Younger

Driving home from work this evening, in snow and sleet, it hardly feels like spring is going to be sprung any time soon. The moth trap has resolutely stayed in the shed, the garden is still sodden to the point that traversing it is precarious, and the floodplains around the Rivers Soar and Sence either side of the road near the roundabout at Jubilee Park have been perpetually flooded for a fair while now. The latter I ought to try and get some photos of as some Agency or other have started work there - it almost looks like they were trying to create some sort of channel or culvert to take up some of the excess but their works and base are, ironically, flooded.

Back on the 13th when sieving grasses at Huncote Embankment, I found a couple of early-instar noctiud larvae. I've retained them to try and rear through, and so far one has doubled in size whilst one has stayed about the same. I think they are both the same species, and I think they are Square-spot Rustic. The large one, which is more distincly marked, has some odd-looking damage to the rear end. I would not be surprised if both turned into bundles of parasitic cocoons but we'll see.

Square-spot Rustic = Xestia xanthographa - or 'xexan' as I enter it into MapMate for expediency.

I've been listening to a lot of Yes just lately. Yes, that's right - Yes. They were my Dad's favourite band and I think it must have seeped in; he's not here playing it loudly so I've felt the urge to do so.

I'm Coming Out .......

This week, I have mostly been listening to ..... YES. I have decided to stop trying to hide my liking for this overly long, ridiculously complicated and slightly hippy 70s progressive stuff with a squeaky Lancastrian singing. Or at least I like the Fragile through to Going for the One period.