Oxford ♥

Magdalen College

::inspiring Mondays::

I cannot believe this is the last Monday in September. Where has this year gone? If someone is keeping it in their pocket, please return it to LMJ as she seems to have missed most of it. 

I've finally realised why my photographic niche are the little snippets of life, most commonly known as stuff. Are you ready for it? It's because it is indeed what I appreciate in life, the little things. I like the good routine, the small gestures, the little bits that make the whole. It finally makes sense! And I like it.  

:: postcards from afar. with little notes making an itinerary. LOVE! 

:: seeing my boys running the Oxford Half Marathon! 

:: cycling. :: living in Oxford. 

:: ice cream (I'll never get tired of this one). 

:: Spooks! Spooks is back, oh yes it is. (I'm ignoring the fact that this is the last ever series of Spooks!) 

:: knitting. 

:: receiving handmade socks as a gift from a lovely lady. it's a wonderful feeling!

:: sunshine. 

:: my duvet. pure love. 

:: homemade meringues. lush! 

:: smiling. 

:: laughing. LMJ loves. 

:: chamomile tea. peace. 

:: friends. mine. special. 

How are you doing on that side? How's your Monday inspiring you?

Thursday blues

Foz, Porto, Portugal

I sit with a cup of chamomile tea and my laptop and I feel I have nothing to say. LMJ is not here today, it's just me and we all know she's the funny one. This will be a nostalgic post. If you want haha and other silly things leave now and return tomorrow. You have been warned. Stay at your own risk.

***

I'm prone to nostalgia and soft thoughts of vague longing and gentle gestures. I miss the sea. I miss the sea everyday and I miss the sea a bit more when my head is so full it feels empty. I miss the sea a bit more today. My hands pause on the keyboard, the nostalgic music on makes me smile. I'm predictable. I'm also quiet. I miss the smell of the sea. I miss its sound. The sea soothes me. I used to sit on the beach for hours just emptying my head of thoughts I had and thoughts I should have never had. Just sit there. For no reason. For all the reasons in the world. And today I wished to have gone to the sea and just sit there until I felt nothing. And then I could start all over again tomorrow. Sitting here, so far away from the sea, I close my eyes and I'm still not there, and my throat has a little knot, but I close them anyway and I can almost feel it and it's cold and fresh and I can indeed start it all over again tomorrow. 

::inspiring Mondays::

Little Miss Joey is back. And LMJ would like to apologise for the sudden leave of absence. Of course there is a perfectly good reason as to why I have been missing from this cosy space, but not a good enough reason as to why I did not let anyone know. So... LMJ has been away. I have been to the wonderful Low Countries (only to realise I could live there!) and then home to Portugal for a little bit of warmth. Yes, there were times I had internet access. Yes, there were times when I could have blogged. Yes, I did think that would happen and hence failed to say bye bye for a week to everyone. No, it did not happen as LMJ had planned and instead she had a wonderful rest from the real world and this one. Forgiven? I hope so. Otherwise, I'll do the cute puppy eyes!

I cannot bring myself to plan my posts really far in advance. One of the things I enjoy most about blogging is indeed just to write whatever is on my mind that day and share the images that keep my eyes bright at that particular time. Whilst this is great, it doesn't really work when on holidays. And especially not when I thought I would come here with beautiful images of my roadtrip (yay! more on that as the year progresses, judging by the speed at which I post edit photos) but then didn't. Live and learn, Joey, live and learn.

:: yellow roses and sunflowers in a bouquet. for me. with a note. or two. ♥♥♥

:: Tommy. squeeze! ♥

:: chatting with Little Brother. all the time. about everything and nothing. and some.

:: family.

:: skype.

:: air travel. isn't it wonderful?

:: sunshine. and warmth.

:: sunshine. even without the warmth.

:: Portugal. 

:: Porto.

:: grilled sardines.

:: laughter! 

This has been a wonderful Monday. Wonderful! And it got even better when Bella, from the 52 Photos Project, did a little feature about LMJ here. Head over there and explore her websites, it's pure eye candy!

And how was your Monday? Do share, as I really *really* enjoy reading what you're up to :)

about a friend

This post was long overdue (about 9 months) for if there is one person LMJ owes this blog to, that person is Nicky. 

I created Little Miss Joey the blog because of him and I guess it's fair to say largely for him. It has evolved since then, and I grew to appreciate and enjoy having readers and people who comment and share bits of their day and silliness with me, but that came after. 

Nicky is one of my best friends. He encourages me to be the best I can be and the sensibility to do that for others is something I find rare. He was the one to first call me Joey. He motivates me to go out and photograph and gives me feedback and words of incentive. He pushes me to run and it was very much thanks to him that I was able to complete the Oxford 10K Town & Gown so smoothly (Jamie has now joined us in our running adventures, my boys!). When I said I couldn't do the half marathon we've been training for this September, he found one we could run in March to give my body some time to learn a few things. He bakes for me when I'm very upset and baked my first ever proper homemade apple muffins (an all-time favourite). He teaches me English grammar and vocabulary and only once was he not that patient with my constant questions. We sit next to each other in work; if we both stretch our arms our hands touch. I see him almost everyday and it feels weird when I don't. He has no telephone manners and I find that funny. He teaches me about cricket and although he moans I never learn he still tells me the rules pretty much every time I ask and actually makes me want to watch cricket by myself to see if I can catch up. He explained all the Tour de France tactics to me until I enjoyed it, for the first time ever. Thanks to him I was able to do the most hideous impression of a Scouse accent and that was priceless for as long as I cared to do it. He makes the best impressions ever and makes me laugh every single time. He has a short temper on certain things because he cares too much and that is endearing. He mocks and teases me and that's fine too. 

He will probably dislike this photograph, but I love it. We clearly don't agree on all things and that's just perfect!

::inspiring Mondays::

This week LMJ does not have the privilige of a four day weekend, so inspiring Mondays actually come out on a Monday. Hoorah for normal service!

I love the sea. I love going to the beach any day any time of day. The sound and smell of the ocean make me happy and appease me. I could go on, I lived by the sea 26 years of my life, 7 of which only 10 minutes away. Landing at Porto airport when I go home, I smell home, that familiar scent of the sea so close by! I miss night fires at the beach and blushed faces, midnight swims, and the taste of salted skin.

:: morning light.

:: my iPod. 

:: Flickr. what a pleasure.

:: blog reading.

:: Nicky.

:: the smell of fresh coffee.

:: porridge.

:: my home.

:: smiling.

I went for a minimalistic style this Monday. I'm feeling minimalistically happy, even if that is not a word. I could replace it with simple. I could. But I won't. 

How are you this Monday? Inspired? Minimalistic? Happy?