Category: Uncategorized

A Day at James and Sons

No images with this post I’m afraid, as I did not do any imaging today. However, I am going to be getting my Nikon Coolpix P520 back from repair this evening (they are delivering it to me at my flat), so I will soon have some really good pictures once again.

My day started with a vigorous warm-up (much needed in view of the weather) consisting of an hour and a quarter worth of fetching and carrying (bringing an entire auction down two floors so it could be laid out in the shop for viewing), continued with some work on the database as I plugged on with the Sisyphean task of simultaneously wrapping up one auction and preparing for another, and finished with polishing off a cup of James and Sons style iced coffee. What is James and Sons style iced coffee? Well it is made in this way:

1)Make yourself a cup of coffee at the start of your working day

2)Be so busy that you don’t get to drink it until the end by when (at this time of year) it will be a more than passable impersonation of iced coffee!

Twitter continues to go well, with @greatauction approaching 300 followers in spite of a certain lack of material and @aspitweets not far short of 800.

Evolutionary psychology, sexual dimorphism, and ideology

whyevolutionistrue's avatarWhy Evolution Is True

(Note to non-biologists: “sexual dimorphsim” refers to any trait or behavior that differs between the sexes, like the ornamented tail of the male peacock, the brighter color of the male painted bunting—and of many birds—and the bower-building behavior of male but not female bowerbirds.)

There are some science-friendly folk (including atheists) who simply dismiss the entire field of evolutionary psychology in humans, saying that its theoretical foundations are weak or nonexistent. I’ve always replied that that claim is bunk, for its “theoretical foundations” are simply the claim that our brains and behaviors, like our bodies, show features reflecting evolution in our ancestors. While some evolutionary psychology studies are weak, and I’ve been a critic of them, the discipline as a whole is growing in rigor and should certainly not be dismissed in toto.

Those who still do, though, should answer this question:

Why are human males, on average, bigger and stronger than females?

This…

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Invoicing, Stock Database and Resolving an Image Issue

Today at James and Sons I have moved ahead of where I expected to be. Not only have I produced proper copies of all paid invoices for the last sale, I also have a complete and checked stock database for the next one, have produced those pre-auction Vendor Advice Notes that I had sufficient information to do and I amongst all that also spotted and resolved a small but serious problem with the December images.

Lot 109 is a piece of Hungarian Postal History which is unlikely to make a fortune, while lot 601 is a pair of binoculars specially designed for use on a U-Boat which will make a fortune. The image for 601 was with lot 109 while there was no image with lot 601. A quick renumbering of the binoculars image and a scan of lot 109 followed by an apologetic email to the people at the-saleroom.com did the job.

The catalogue listing we now have for this auction, which takes place at the Maids Head Hotel in Norwich, is available at: http://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auction-catalogues/james-and-son-auctioneers/catalogue-id-2901714  while those who would like to follow the auction but cannot get to Norwich can sign up to bid via www.the-saleroom.com.

I have a few images of lots that exceeded their estimates (in one case spectacularly so) at the last auction, as well as two items mentioned earlier.

My personal twitter account, @aspitweets continues to thrive, having recently passed 700 followers.

Now for those images…

This sewing machine was estimated at between £15 and 20 and actually made £140 - and with the successful bidder being Tunisian the postage was nearly as much!
This sewing machine was estimated at between £15 and 20 and actually made £140 – and with the successful bidder being Tunisian the postage was nearly as much!

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This whistle managed only to double its estimate!
This whistle managed only to double its estimate!
Lot 109 scanned in by me today as part of the3 resolution of a problem.
Lot 109 scanned in by me today as part of the3 resolution of a problem.
These binoculars were the bigger issue since they carry a four figure price tag.
These binoculars were the bigger issue since they carry a four figure price tag.

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Auctions, Stephen Dorrell and Cricket

Owing to the decision to have James and Sons December auction a mere two weeks after the November auction I am currently in the position of simultaneously attempting to deal with the post-auction side of November and produce pre-auction paperwork for December.

A full catalogue for the December sale can now be viewed at http://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auction-catalogues/james-and-son-auctioneers/catalogue-id-2901714

I have two other topics to mention, firstly the appalling behaviour of the Right Dishonourable Stephen Dorrell who in spite of admitting to a conflict of interest between his role as an MP and his employment by one of the companies who are looking to profit from a carve-up of the NHS has refused to stand down. A petition regarding this is being run by 38 Degrees. To view and/or sign click here: https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/page/s/david-cameron-force-stephen-dorrell-mp-to-pick-a-job-now#petition

Finally a brief comment about Englands performance vs Sri Lanka yesterday, only their second win in nine ODIs. It was not nearly as conclusive as the final margin of five wickets with an over to spare suggested, the match being decided by a flurry of boundaries immediately after Joe Root had been reprieved by the TV Cameras spotting an overstep by the bowler. Since Root, along with Buttler, was one of the two batsmen who carried England victory more than a little was owed to fortune. England looked second favourites for substantial periods, notably between the end of Moeen Ali’s innings (brought about by his partner Alex Hales) and the flurry of boundaries already alluded to.

I have some pictures for you…

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Invoices and Imaging

A somewhat frustrating day today, as just when I was about to start making really serious progress with the invoices I was required to switch to imaging (this is just one of the problems that arises when there is only a two week gap between auctions).

However, I did get to image some interesting stuff as you will see.

Also some good news from my online contacts – a petition which I had signed and shared via both facebook was handed over to its intended recipient Mr Cameron with no fewer than 300,000 names on it.

Here some of the lots that will be going under the hammer on the 13th…

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Christmas Meal and Continuing Twitter Success

Last night was the Christmas meal of the King’s Lynn Asperger Support Society, and an excellent time was had by all. We were delighted to welcome two new members to the group. Although the food was not by any stretch a triumph, the bill came to less than expected as £10 was knocked off it by way of acknowledging a particular fail with one of the main courses (a roastie that was still solid in the middle and in consequence the dish was sent back and replaced with something else.

Although I am still without my Nikon P520 Coolpix I did get some interesting pictures during the day yesterday with my other camera.

My personal twitter account, @aspitweets continues to go from strength to strength, now having 637 followers.

Now some photos…

Moorhen in the Purfleet
Moorhen in the Purfleet

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The first of four shots I have included of "Cormorant Platform" - I have never previously seen this many of them all at once.
The first of four shots I have included of “Cormorant Platform” – I have never previously seen this many of them all at once.

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Auction and More

Saturday was almost entirely taken up with the November auction of James and Sons, which went very well. Those of you who follow @aspitweets on twitter will have seen a few highlights (a very few – not easy to live tweet when you are also recording details of the sale on the company database).

Yesterday was bright and sunny, so I enjoyed a morning walk before heading to my aunts house for Sunday lunch. This yielded some interesting photos…

The James and Sons banner.
The James and Sons banner.
The auction room from "Data Entry Corner"
The auction room from “Data Entry Corner”
Lot 731 - mine for an hours pay.
Lot 731 – mine for an hours pay.

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The path that has been turned into an unbridged ford - and as I learned the hard way it is more than shoe deep.
The path that has been turned into an unbridged ford – and as I learned the hard way it is more than shoe deep.

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The mandarin among the mallards
The mandarin among the mallards

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Preparing for one auction and imaging for another

A split day today, partly setting up tomorrow’s auction down at Fakenham Racecourse and partly imaging for the December auction back at the shop. A full catalogue for tomorrow’s auction can be viewed at http://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auction-catalogues/james-and-son-auctioneers/catalogue-id-2901720, and if you cannot get to Fakenham tomorrow you can also register to bid online at www.the-saleroom.com.

My main imaging task today was producing pictures for the back cover of the next catalogue, some of the highlights being included below. I also imaged some postal history lots after this with what was left of the day.

Now for some pictures…

This is lot 1 in the December sale.
This is lot 1 in the December sale.

165 173 310 312 316 586

This is a composite of five coin lots which I scanned at the same time before separating out.
This is a composite of five coin lots which I scanned at the same time before separating out.

6 7 13

Preparing for Auction and starting to image for the December auction

Today has been a hectic day, with getting things set for the auction coming up this Saturday at Fakenham Racecourse. Those who cannot make it to Fakenham can bid online via http://www.the-saleroom.com. In addition to this it was necessary to start imaging for the December auction since there are only two weeks between the two auctions.

Also a class from twitter: in an example of self-inflicted gunshot wounds to both feet a member of UKIP contrived to mistake Westminster Cathedral for a mosque!!

Here are some pictures for you…

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