A bit of a day off today from routine course-work. Since the lock-down started, even in our sparsely populated part of the world, mundane tasks such as the weekly shop have become rather more demanding enterprises – at least today it was no more than a half hour queue to get into our local Waitrose and I was able to get almost all of what we need.

As a reward to myself (after a couple of hours sorting out the veg garden as well as walking the dog) I finally got my darkroom sorted out! Having failed miserably to buy a suitable table from IKEA (nothing suitable in stock or only deliverable at too high a cost) I have improvised with an old cupboard shelf and two stacks of wine rack as pedestals. Just the right height and big enough to accommodate an old tripod that my wife bought years ago to use with a video camera (the old compact VHS type for anyone who remembers) in the absence of a proper copy stand. (I have an Intrepid 4×5 which converts into a developer/enlarger with a back mounted light source and timer unit.)

Otherwise, to my surprise, making sure the room in my undercroft that I am going to use light-safe proved to be easier than anticipated. So all done! All I need now is a power extension cable to serve the enlarger light source unit, timer, and safe-light (the power sockets down there are just that bit too far away from the work area), which will not be difficult to get. Developing trays, chemicals, paper, and all the other bits-and-bobs, are ready. There is unfortunately no running water but a couple of plastic jerrycans will suffice.

So, at last, the next step is actually to print some of my own work. That might sound pretty mundane but in these days of digital dominance that is, for me, a pretty important thing.

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