Hello SeoR. I see you have been busy contributing to the Robert Ballagh article. Thanks for all the extra work you did.

I'm intrigued by this: "One stamp design was rejected by the government, after stamps had already been printed, possibly due to political interference; the stamps and plates were destroyed." What was the theme or design of the stamp that was rejected? It might be interesting to see that explanation added to the article, but if not, I'd be satisfied by an answer here.

I also saw what looks like a typo that needs attention. In the Painting and other plastic arts section, after the following text, "he also painted his family on an extended 1978 holiday near Malaga, in Winter in Ronda (1979)" there is a footnote that looks like this: [5]: 9<167. The page numbering looks improbable in scope (9–167) and there is a less-than sign instead of a dash between the numbers.

Thanks again. Spideog (talk) 03:45, 13 November 2023 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Many thanks Spideog; I enjoyed the edit run. I follow some aspects of the arts and was just a bit shocked at an article on a painter which barely mentioned painting, exhibitions, etc., and thankfully Ballagh has a fairly high profile and it was not so hard to dig up material. And as I happens, I saw grounds for an article on one of his children too (the other has their own car sales operation). On the typo, I appreciate the heads up and will fix this.

So, the stamp - yes, it would probably be good to add that anecdote, as it ties into Ballagh's broader (limited) relationship with Charlie Haughey. In fact, I think a sub-section on that relationship might be appropriate. Ahead of doing that addition - I'll probably only have a chance after work - I can summarise from Ballagh's own writing; the account goes: Ballagh had an agreed design for the bicentenary of the French Revolution (it was part of a pan-European project between post offices), which had been thought to have completed the internal and (often nominal) higher approval processes, with the metal plates made and first batches (at least several thousand sheets) of stamps run off. Suddenly, he got a call to say it was being pulled. He was not happy, and Charlie actually brought it up in conversation, and intimated that it was a (late) Government decision (as, technically, stamp issues should pass the Cabinet, even if it's usually a brief mention, probably with a very small picture, far down an order paper). However, when the second most senior member of Cabinet later spoke to Ballagh, wondering where the attractive stamp had gone to (showing that ministers had indeed seen the design), Ballagh realised that the rejection had been, as it was put, a "solo run" by the Taoiseach (which is not something the process officially allows for - it's the Cabinet's (dis-)approval, not Taoiseach's.) He suspected that the intervention might have been to allow for an artist more favoured by Haughey to have a go but in fact, the late scrapping of the issue simply led to Ireland being (something noted in Paris) one of just 2 countries (the other being the UK) involved not having a stamp for the occasion. Anyway, Ballagh kept the design to hand, and many years later, managed to use a variation of it on another stamp. SeoR (talk) 10:53, 13 November 2023 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Thanks for the thanks. Any chance you know enough about the bogs to update that section and anything else that could be improved so we retain the FA standing? ww2censor (talk) 10:59, 19 November 2023 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Hi Ww2censor, I do actually have some knowledge in the area of drainage and bogs, can try to chip in. Nice not to lose an FA. SeoR (talk) 12:27, 19 November 2023 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Thanks, I see you did some work on the bog! I don't know what you referenced but these might be of use to update Government failing to prevent illegal turf cutting 12 years after ban, says conservation group, [1], [2]], [3], [4], [5] and possibly [6] considering some pushback by the private turbury rights cutters and the termination of large scale turf extraction. I'm sure there are more but there were just a few I saw. I still have some work to do on the renewables so anything you can do on the bogs will be appreciated. ww2censor (talk) 18:34, 9 December 2023 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Hi! Sorry for the long gap - I was unexpectedly caught by a nasty dose, and was off computers most of the last 2.5 weeks - a light sensitivity developed, and my one foray back online had to be cut short. I seem to be better now, but it was an unpleasant surprise. And yes, I did some work, and the IPCC book I used is fairly definitive, with a who's who of relevant academics and neighbouring experts. I'm happy to add more, and will resume during Tuesday. For the article itself, I think it improves. It really did need some work - even on a quick check while approaching the bog section I encountered a few fairly obvious issues (and tackled them). SeoR (talk) 00:14, 19 December 2023 (UTC)Reply[reply]

No problem with any delay. When real life interrupts you, that takes precedence over everything else. Get well soon. ww2censor (talk) 11:33, 19 December 2023 (UTC)Reply[reply]

I'm happy with the renewables sections I added though I may add a few more lines. May also add a few sentences to the turf/bog section but I looked through the rest and it looks good to me. I've asked the nominator to clearly indicate anything they still think needs addressing. Thanks for your help and hope you get better soon. Happy New Year. ww2censor (talk) 16:51, 31 December 2023 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Good to see you active, and all the best for 2024! Even after recovery, my December remained disrupted but I did deal with a query about citations for another section. Having added a bit to the bogs before, I was not sure it needed much more in this article, but there is of course much written about it, and the big question with such an article is exactly what is needed. I certainly think it notably improved last year. SeoR (talk) 19:19, 1 January 2024 (UTC)Reply[reply]

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Will try to do something towards the one-a-week target. Maybe it's possible... SeoR (talk) 19:15, 1 January 2024 (UTC)Reply[reply]

On 29 December 2023, Did you know was updated with a fact from the article Sophie von Maltzan, which you recently created, substantially expanded, or brought to good article status. The fact was ... that Sophie von Maltzan led the making of a submarine that was walked through the streets of Dublin? The nomination discussion and review may be seen at Template:Did you know nominations/Sophie von Maltzan. You are welcome to check how many pageviews the nominated article or articles got while on the front page (here's how, Sophie von Maltzan), and the hook may be added to the statistics page after its run on the Main Page has completed. Finally, if you know of an interesting fact from another recently created article, then please feel free to suggest it on the Did you know talk page.

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Views: 8,649 (>360 per hour)

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On 5 January 2024, Did you know was updated with a fact from the article Robert Ballagh, which you recently created, substantially expanded, or brought to good article status. The fact was ... that having painted a domestic scene depicting his nude wife, Robert Ballagh felt that he had to produce a nude painting of himself as a follow-up? The nomination discussion and review may be seen at Template:Did you know nominations/Robert Ballagh. You are welcome to check how many pageviews the nominated article or articles got while on the front page (here's how, Robert Ballagh), and the hook may be added to the statistics page after its run on the Main Page has completed. Finally, if you know of an interesting fact from another recently created article, then please feel free to suggest it on the Did you know talk page.

Z1720 (talk) 00:02, 5 January 2024 (UTC)Reply[reply]

		Hook update
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GalliumBot (talk • contribs) (he/it) 03:28, 6 January 2024 (UTC)Reply[reply]

I'm visiting next week and might be in the city on Friday or Saturday but not sure you even live there. Drop me an email via commons or enwiki and I send you my mobile number if a meeting is possible. ww2censor (talk) 17:13, 7 January 2024 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Ah, so France let's you go for a little. I'll drop a mail; travel safe! Sorry for delayed reply, offline last few days, sudden guests. SeoR (talk) 23:41, 10 January 2024 (UTC)Reply[reply]

I just saw your Robert Ballagh postage stamp upload. Well spotted that it has recently passed out of copyright!

When my laptop is fixed, I'll be able to attach my scanner to scan the pair of clean (unfranked) Meteorological stamps I have (mobile phone picture, for now) at high resolution and upload them for the Robert Ballagh postage stamp designs article.

Your own scan is perfectly respectable, of course, because the franking mark is unobtrusive and does not excessively obscure details of the stamp, so I'd happily leave that unmolested in the main Ballagh article but since the sub-article is more overtly philatelic, it would be nice to illustrate the virgin stamp-pair there. Happy new year. Spideog (talk) 21:57, 10 January 2024 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Hi Spideog, and thank you! I was waiting for the moment, as very little Ballagh could pass our copyright barriers, so the next few years will be nice in terms of a stream of stamps. And with the article going front page for a day, I really wanted something of his art, to join his own picture (and the house, the TV appearance of which I missed). I hope some of the many readers had a look. On the unfranked images, lovely to see. My friend with the stamp collection only has the lower value stamp, and only franked - he's one of those collectors who only do franked. I think the clean images will look very good in the stamp design article. SeoR (talk) 23:47, 10 January 2024 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Hi there, thanks for your contributions. I noticed you're still using User:Kephir/gadgets/rater and thought you may be interested in swapping to the newer WP:RATER, as it's regularly maintained. -Kj cheetham (talk) 16:57, 11 January 2024 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Hi, Kj cheetham, you're welcome, and thanks! I've also seen you as an active editor, maybe in UK articles, or WiR? Anyway, I think you've given me the prod I needed. I like the old tool - it's fast and straightforward. The newer one is in theory more powerful but I just found it a little less handy and slightly but notably slower. But the old one is freshly challenged by the new under-one-banner ratings approach, so maybe it's time for me to retire it. Just popped over to your page, and I hope you don't mind if I try some of the same status readouts; your set is better than the one I have. See you 'round. SeoR (talk) 21:24, 11 January 2024 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Hi SeoR, I'm active with both UK and WIR articles, so may have been either or both! I don't think I ever used the old tool, but the new one being compliant with WP:PIQA is why I'm gently promoting it. :) Please feel free to copy anything I've done on my user page which is helpful! -Kj cheetham (talk) 11:20, 12 January 2024 (UTC)Reply[reply]

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