How to close focus canon IS 28-135

Ok please forgive me if I'm being stupid ... I have the 28-135 on a 550d on a tripod AF off IS off shooting an egg so quite close, I'm also using EOS utility (ie camera plugged up to a laptop) the eggs in a box/tent thingy with available light and a speedlite flash rigged up above the box ... this is probably more info than you need ... I want control of the aperture (I think) so am on AV ... for the correct framing the lens appears to be in the "macro" area (in the little see through window that let's you see the focus distance) my problem - it seems impossible to get good manual focus. I guess I'm too close but when I switch the dial to the little flower (macro) I lose control of speed and aperture, is there a way round this - again sorry if this is a fundamental issue ... Roger

Don't use the macro mode on the camera, it does absolutely nothing, but limit your options.
Just leave it in either Av, Tv, or M modes and use manual focus to selectively focus.

Also, the 28-135mm has a minimum focus distance of 500mm, so go any closer and you will not be able to get it in focus.

Thanks for that, the 500mm limit must be the cause of the problem ... good of you to take the time - Roger

Though it is 500mm from the focal plane, which is the strange symbol near the back of your camera, so you will get slightly closer.
Also, if you want to get even closer you can use extension tubes.

Thanks again, I have a 1.4 converter but it seems to soften things a bit with this lens, are tubes a better option (as there's no 'glass' involved) ?

Tubes would be a better option for macro work as they reduce the minimum focus distance. Also they shouldn't degrade image quality as they have no glass. So probably buy a cheap extension tube and play around with that.

That's what I'll do then ... thanks again ... Roger