Occasionally, just occasionally, when we're not heads down in our laptops blogging we like to get out and have fun. Yesterday was one of those days. OK it was only Manchester and there was a legtimate-ish excuse for our trip (to get loads of pictures shot for press use). But still...

Scene of the Shiny shoot was Victoria Baths in Manchester - recently featured on cult TV hit Life on Mars and the winner of BBC's first Restoration series in 2003. It was an amazing place, full of charm and character. But what is amazing is how quickly something can go to rack and ruin if left unloved for a few years. It will take ages to restore to its former glory.

In the meantime, it provided a stunning backdrop for our photo shoot. Check out  just some of the pics on the turn.

Time to meet yet another one of our shiny bloggers, this US-based gadget girl Star...

Name: Star C. Foster (Yes, that's my real name. No, my parents were not hippies. Thanks for asking.)
Shiny Job: Writer for Shiny Shiny
Hometown: Philadelphia, PA USA

Five favourite web 2.0 sites (besides shiny ones): Probably the Gothamist family of websites, and I'm not just saying that because I also write for Phillyist. The whole reason I got involved with the local version was that I loved reading London and New York from the people who lived there.

Last 3 gigs you went to: Jonathan Coulton, The Trachtenberg Family Slideshow Players; and Harry & the Potters (with Draco & the Malfoys). I swear, I'm not solely interested in novelty bands - it's just been that kind of week.

Last 3 books you bought: If Nobody Speaks of Remarkable Things (Jon McGregor), Misfortune (Westley Stace) , & Haunted (Chuck Palahniuk)

Last 3 albums you bought: Fidelity is the Enemy (Jim Boggia), Slaying Since 1996 (Suicide Squeeze Records Compilation), Get Excommunicated (Ed & the Refrigerators)

We now have so many writers it's hard to keep track, so we've asked all our editors, contributors and bloggers to fill out a survey of random questions submitted by the whole team. Kat is the (un)lucky first victim. (Updated 21/01/2008)

Name: Katherine 'Kat' Hannaford

Shiny Job: Deputy Editor of Tech Digest, our flagship title

Location: Originally from - gasp! - Australia, I moved to London mid 2004 and have been living in South West London for the majority of the time.

Five favourite web 2.0 sites (besides shiny ones): Facebook, Flickr, YouTube, Twitter, Wikipedia. 

Best 3 gigs you've ever been to: Always a tough call, but judging by the fact I've seen the Manic Street Preachers five times now, they'd be up there, as would The Cure, and Iggy and the Stooges.

Favourite 3 books: 'The Dice Man' by Luke Rhinehart, 'Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas' by Hunter S. Thompson, and 'American Psycho' by Bret Easton Ellis. Better throw in the complete works of Irvine Welsh too, whilst I'm at it.

Favourite 3 albums: 'The Holy Bible' by Manic Street Preachers, 'After The Gold Rush' by Neil Young, and 'Brighten The Corners' by Pavement.