I'm at risk of reinforcing Mairead's belief about what subject guys go for when they're in need of a "desperation" PAD, but it's not at all true in this case. I've always had my Black & Decker 10mm hammer drill in mind as a subject. And now that I have a good macro lens, its turn has come.

There's something industrial about this shot, harking back to the days when the west actually produced stuff by industrial ingenuity rather than "unlocking the value" of other people's work, and stealing... sorry, I of course meant "bringing forward"... income that is correctly owed to future shareholders and taxpayers via financial chicanery.

There is a truism that held in the middle ages, in the Renaissance, in the Victorian age, and in the 20th century and it still holds true today, much as many of our "leaders" would wish that it would go away. Leading powers were so when they produced things that people needed for their health, comfort, welfare and happiness. When they "outsourced" that and used their accumulated wealth to buy cheap products from elsewhere, their wealth declined. Ultimately there's only one path to national wealth and security, and shuffling digits around on screens from one bank account to another isn't it.

I really will try to get outside to do an outdoors PAD tomorrow, but truth be told the weather's been rather grey for that anyway recently. Coupled with long hours, there hasn't been much chance to do so.

Last Year