One hell of a brave copper. Especially when he was targetting women

"But Giles, if Eli typically reserves her evenings for painting... I was under the impression that artists require the light of day for their work, do they not?"

"Jeremy, old chap, I forgot to mention that, prior to Eli taking up residence in her atelier, our resourceful friend Susan installed lighting from the twenty-first century."

"Oh, indeed?"

"Indeed, yes. This futuristic illumination allows Eli to modify the lighting to suit her needs at any given moment of the day, be it while she's engrossed in her painting, taking a moment of relaxation, or even whilst she's in the land of nod. It includes natural sunlight lamp bulbs, also known as full-spectrum light bulbs, which are not available yet. Quite remarkable, wouldn't you agree?"

"Giles, old boy, how does Eli manage all these advanced lighting and security features in her atelier? It seems rather complex for an artist's studio, doesn't it?"

"Eli assures me that managing it is all quite straightforward, although there's nothing out of the ordinary to see. Believe me, I inspected the place quite thoroughly, as we are accustomed to doing, but I found nothing that would suggest anything unusual. Just new wiring and plumbing. However, Eli confided that Susan told her that it's all quite standard for a twenty-first-century setup."

"So, how is it done, Giles?"

"Jeremy, my dear fellow, I posed the same question to Eli. With a charming smile, she sauntered over to one of her overflowing bookshelves and retrieved a rather large, oblong tome titled 'Jackson Pollock: An Illustrated Appreciation', published by the Artisan Alley Press in 1959, three years after his death. Upon opening this seemingly ordinary book, I was taken aback to discover a hollowed-out space within, housing what Eli referred to as a 'digital tablet'. When she held this device up to her face, it sprang to life, revealing an intuitive array of controls. Quite ingenious, wouldn't you agree?"

"Indeed so, old boy. Could you shed some light on why Eli chose that specific book to conceal her digital tablet? It seems a rather curious choice, wouldn't you agree?"

"Eli explained to me, with a grimace that delightfully wrinkled her freckled face, that she has a distinct lack of appreciation for Pollock's 'drip technique'. She finds the method of pouring or splashing liquid household paint onto a canvas, also known as all-over painting or action painting, does not resonate with her. She explained that Pollock used the force of his whole body to paint, often in a frenetic dancing style. The random effects, in her opinion, lack the precision and control that she values in art. Hence, she found it fitting to repurpose his book in a way that serves her artistic process much better."

"Giles, old chap, could you enlighten me on how Eli managed to adapt that particular book to conceal the digital tablet? It seems a rather ingenious solution, don't you think?"

"Jeremy, my dear fellow, Eli shared with me the process she used to modify the book. Let me explain. She began by selecting the book. In this case, she chose 'Jackson Pollock: An Illustrated Appreciation', a volume of suitable size and thickness to snugly accommodate the tablet whose measurements she had carefully noted down.

"Next, she marked the cutout. She opened the book a few pages in and marked the area that needed to be excised, leaving a border around the edges. Then came the cutting. Using a sharp craft knife, she carefully cut along the marked lines, going through several pages at a time. This step was repeated until the cut was deep enough to hold the tablet securely.

"Once the cutout was made, she carefully applied glue to the sides of the pages to hold them together, creating a solid block. The first few pages at the front of the book were left unglued, so it still looked like a regular book when opened.

"Finally, the finishing. After the glue had completely dried, the tablet could be placed into the hollowed-out area. The book could then be closed and placed on the bookshelf, effectively concealing the tablet. It's a testament to the creativity and resourcefulness that Eli brings to her everyday life."

"Indeed, it is. She is a very resourceful young lady!"

"Of course, Eli emphasised the importance of responsibly modifying books in this manner, particularly avoiding those that are valuable or rare. When she was a child, books were few and very valuable. Her choice was symbolic, reflecting her personal views on Pollock's work. Quite a fascinating process, wouldn't you agree?"

"I certainly do, Giles. But, back to Eli at work."

https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=33436.0

Also:

https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=33908.0

I am dearly trying to discover how to post photographs inline and the searches have failed me 

Is there a guide on how to do this?

In today's paper:

Thanks Di, some very good layouts and some bonus chill-out music from Deep Purple!

Cheers.

Tim

"Intermingled among the visual elements are snippets of poetry and quotations about nature and the earth, serving as philosophical and spiritual inspiration for Eli's interpretation of Gaia."

"Do you recall those excerpts, Giles, old chap?"

"Indeed, I do, thanks to our memorisation training, Jeremy. Here they are, as I recall them, Jeremy: "Nature's first green is gold, Her hardest hue to hold..." that's by Robert Frost from "Nothing Gold Can Stay". Then, "I wandered lonely as a cloud That floats on high o'er vales and hills..." from William Wordsworth's "Daffodils", and "The woods are lovely, dark and deep, But I have promises to keep..." Robert Frost, once more, but from "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening".

"And here are the quotes: "Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better", Albert Einstein, "The earth has music for those who listen", George Santayana, "In every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks", John Muir, and, last but not least, "The earth does not belong to us. We belong to the earth", Chief Seattle."

"These excerpts and quotations indeed encapsulate the beauty, enigma, and wisdom of nature and the earth, Giles, aligning with the theme of Gaia. I can comprehend how they would serve as philosophical and spiritual inspiration for Eli's masterpiece."

"Indeed, Jeremy. Each fragment on the pinboard murmurs its own narrative, contributing to Eli's stunning depiction of Gaia. Her masterpiece is a celebration of the earth's natural splendour, diversity, and resilience, encapsulating Gaia's essence as the mother of all life."

"Is there anything else of significance on Eli's pinboard, old sport?"

"Indeed, there is, old chap. Among them, a monochrome depiction of the Thames at the break of day has her attention. She is already musing over her forthcoming creation, leaning more towards the naturalistic rather than the abstract, she informed me. The mist clings to the river, silhouettes of vessels materialise from the fog, and the promise of a fresh morn lingers in the air."

Stand outside and watch/listen though the window. It's cheaper too 

I had visitors here from Sweden, who decided to go to Sydney for the day yesterday, as you can imagine it was bit stressful until I heard they were ok. Luckily they only did the best touristy things, Manly Ferry, Opera House and Queen Vic building.