Non-stop present buying.

I often think that there is no chance of ever getting straight with my finances - and it basically stems from rather ridiculous family planning. Father's Day starts the round of present buying - June. Into July, there are 3 family birthdays. We have a respite in August - thankfully or there would be no money to spend on any holiday break. September, twins' birthday; October sees brother's birthday - although to be honest, I don't bother with him now - his wife is too disapproving of anything that comes from me! November brings in eldest daughter's birthday, partner's birthday and my mum's!! And then we're into December... In January I barely have pause to recover, because my twin nephews have their birthday in February.. March and April bring Easter and Mother's Day with them - before one more break, May!

I love this photo - my dad and Flora on Father's Day... just after ordering the next history book on his list from Amazon - as his FD's pressie!

Saturday Me Time

Saturday Me Time, a photo by boo * on Flickr.

On Saturdays I take my daughter for her golf lesson. I sit in the bar and have a latte, (so yummy), read my Kindle and write notes in a pocket moleskine with the glorious Mont Blanc pen my parents gave me when I graduated. I have glasses for reading, and sunglasses for sitting on the terrace, looking out over the golf course and soaking up the sun. Saturday lunchtimes are 'my' times!

Reflect

The last few weeks I've been taking stock and looking back - trying to discover what I need to keep with me to take into the future - what skills, talents, characteristics and emotions will help me find a fulfilling and rewarding future? Although everything changes, all of the time - and life wouldn't be life without change, right now my life is changing at turbo speed. That I haven't put into motion those changes makes it very difficult to plan and to sift. So this is what I am doing now. Reflecting, so I can pro act and not re act.

By the way, I have started a blog for my professional work. You can find that here.....

Improving

Improving, a photo by boo * on Flickr.

My holiday reading is tied in with a desire to improve my photography skills. I want to know HOW to achieve a certain look BEFORE it gets to Photoshop! And although I know what settings to put my camera on to get a particular style, I really want to improve on that. However, no work without play - and I do love to read an inspiring cook book - and this one fits the bill!

Creating A Story

I haven't been out to take photos for a long time - not out, deliberately, with the big camera. I've either caught events on my iPhone, or reworked old, usually very old photos. But today, the sun was shining, the dogs needed a long walk - and I thought what better time to add to the over flowing library stock than now? I persuaded Flora to dress for modelling - and off we went, Flora and I - and the two dogs. But so many people were out walking, that Flora became uncomfortable and wouldn't relax - so I had to grab what I could. What do you think? I think they tell a story!

Keeping Busy

I have been keeping myself very busy over the last few days. I've added to my Etsy store, continued researching the possibilities of setting up as a photographer and tried to keep sane despite the fact that only a couple of weeks remain until redundancy looms. Reworking old photos to make them suitable for selling, is providing an element of respite from all the confusion around me and for a time, stops all the questions and fears from racing through my brain.

I did go to the optician yesterday, and have some new glasses on order! I have noticed over the past 6 months or so, a rapid deterioration in my reading ability - and so it will be some relief when I pick the new glasses up late next week to be able to see cooking instructions clearly again! The children have been getting a lot of strangely cooked food - usually due to me misreading temperatures or timings!

race for life - Norfolk Showground, Norwich, 15th May 2011

race for life - Norfolk Showground, Norwich, 15th May 2011, a photo by boo * on Flickr.

A happy post, tinged inevitably with sadness. Flora has been wanting to run the Race for Life for ages, so this year she trained and entered with her friends Izzy and Karen. Whilst Izzy and Karen remembered their grandma's, Flora ran for our friend Zoe, who sadly died from a brain tumour leaving her husband, a year old baby and an elder daughter who was a week shy of her 3rd birthday. We also remembered Lindsey, another mother, who's two sons were still at school when she died from breast cancer.

But the race was not a morbid affair: women from all over Norfolk dressed up in their pink finery. There was dancing and music and thousands of supportive well wishers. And this team of three far exceeded their target.



If anyone would like to donate to this worthwhile cause which has affected someone connected to all of us, the website is here.

Well done!