Yours truly is going to Rio.
Yes, that's right, Rio de Janeiro, Cidade Maravilhosa, Brazil!
That alone has made my Monday absolutely superb!
No photographs today... I still have no images of my story in Rio... but I will.
See you soon :)
Joey x
::inspiring Mondays::
It is Monday. It is a beautiful Monday here in Oxford and one can dream looking at the bright beautiful sky. I like my Mondays, I like my new beginnings, I love clear blue skies on a crispy morning... but my mood is fragile... I barely slept last night, insomnia I think the little bugger that kept me awake is called, and if her and I meet again she's in for a treat. You've been warned, insomnia, enter at your own risk!
I'm not a great fan of clothes shopping, but I can spend hours in a fabric or knitting shop. I like to see every item and feel its texture and absorbe the atmosphere. No matter how tidy and organised (or not, for that matter) the shop is, it's always a treat for me to go in and explore! I just *love* it. I love everything about it; the possibilities of all those materials, the colours, the textures, observing other people falling under the same spell. If they start serving tea and cake at these places I'm never coming out again!
:: email from Little Brother first thing this morning :) just when I needed it.
:: sewing.♥
:: the golden hour.
:: watching films.
:: chamomile tea.
:: Mason's, in Abingdon. It is chaotic and you struggle to find what you want, but it is a real fine fabric shop, with real people.
:: my sewing machine. thank you, Mum!
:: custom orders from Christmas presents. gosh, some people trust me!
:: Sunday coffee with friends.
:: Sunday run. Breathing the fresh air!
:: a beautiful Monday.
How is this Monday where you are? Crisp and clear? Hot and sunny? Grey and wet? A combination of all of the above? Do share :)
when Nicky met Mr Bull
This Saturday, Nicky and LMJ went to Boars Hill to photograph (or attempt to, in LMJ's case) the amazing view of Oxford one has from there. What I bring you today are none of those views, but something else... the fascinating story of how Nicky befriended a bull.
Hello Mr Bull. You look very nice on this lovely Autumn afternoon.
Gosh Mr Bull, you're really close to me... hum...
What, Mr Bull?? Now you're licking my tripod? Really?
Ok, that's it, Mr Bull... I'm calling for help... Help!
Right, fine Mr Bull, have it your way... I'm ignoring you!
Nicky left tripod and camera to Mr Bull, who after a few more licks on the tripod went about his business (with a bit of persuasion in the form of shouting, maybe!). In spite of the licking, Mr Bull was ever so careful with the camera and managed not to drop it. Nicky made sure the tripod got knocked to the ground with the camera on it later on; he blamed the wind!
Little note: no bulls were harmed in the making of these images. Nicky may have a dented ego.
::inspiring Mondays::
This was one cold Monday for LMJ. Cold. As in three layers, one of which was a thick fleece. Winter socks you shall be coming out! Yes, you shall! The upside is that I'll be able to wear those handmade socks I received from the Dutchman's lovely mother. Lucky moi, as always!
I like the silence. I bet those who know LMJ and are reading this are laughing hysterically, but it is true. Stop laughing now. LMJ does like the silence, in the right amount. I like the sound of a cold day and the buzz of a warm afternoon by the beach. I *love* my morning walks, me myself and I. I like enjoying the silence with the important people in my life. I read once you know when you are truly comfortable with someone when you can be with them in silence without it being awkward. I agree.
:: Little Brother and I talking about the future. because each other's opinion really matters.
:: sunny mornings.
:: coffee. the smell of coffee.
:: smiling.
:: the beautiful card I received from the Muppet just because.
:: catching up with dear friends.
:: watching the rugby with people who know about it and explain it to me.
:: hot water.
:: always having someone to turn to!
:: my bed.
:: hot water bottle... we're back together!
Hope you're Monday was warmer than mine :) Do let me know what you were up to, I really like to know! x
52 photos project
Last Monday, I was lucky enough to be interviewed for the 52 Photos Project. It was a great experience, I really enjoyed thinking about those questions and make a bit more sense of what photography means to me and how it came about in my life. And that's all very nice and lovely, but what I really wanted to tell you today is not that.
I would like to tell you a little bit about the project and about the other interviewees. Oh my, the other people interviewed so far really are inspirational and have amazing stories to tell about their love affair with photography. I may not be the most romantic little bee around, but even I like a good love story!
The 52 Photos Project is "a community for photographers to display their work and a place to meet people with a shared passion for photography." And it feels just like that. Bella has a brilliant schedule for us to know what is happening when, and in addition to the interviews (on Mondays!) she runs a photo challenge (released on Sunday).
If I may, I suggest you go over and explore all those interviews, with a cuppa and some happy music. And why not join the challenge? Say hi for me!
::inspiring Mondays::
On the second Monday in October, unlike the first one, we have normal Autumn weather. For the UK, this means temperatures around the 15C during the day and a little bit of wind (or a lot, like today!).
I love Autumn. Ages ago, I thought about what was my favourite season and I could not work it out. I simply could not pick. Turns out, I love all seasons, I love having all seasons. At a push, I'm able to select two, Summer and Autumn, but please don't make me. I love the variety that comes with having all seasons and being able to do different things at different times of the year because it is that time of the year. I love being able to wear all the things I knit in the colder weather as well as indulge by the sea in a bikini reading a book when it's warm.
:: Little Brother. seriously, Mum and Dad, he's the best thing ever, and definitely the best thing you've ever given me. him and my cheeky face.
:: pyjama Sunday! yay!
:: dresses. gotta love dresses.
:: dinner with friends.
:: picking fabrics for a sewing project. a bag, if you must know.
:: Spooks on a big screen again. love Sunday routines :)
:: my favourite podcast on the iPod for my morning walk.
:: early morning phone calls.
:: friends recording documentaries for you because they know you'll like it.
:: no rain.
:: my first interview :D this is so exciting! go over and read all the others too! Thank you, Bella!
How's your Monday thus far? Inspiring? Or the promise of an inspiration? Looking forward to hearing what's making your day :)
These Moments
enjoying Portuguese vinho verde (green wine) in Bristol. the joys of a little bit of home away.
Simple is a word I love. I love its simplicity (ha!) and I love its meaning. There seems to be a tendency to look down on simple and that bugs me. Simple is great. A simple life, simple pleasures, simple gestures. It seems to me some people often mistake simple with basic and therefore fail to enjoy the simple things.
All this talk about simple and my love of it, was to be a simple introduction to the These Moments project I'm involved with before it grew a life of its own; you know what it is like with words, don't you? So let's move on smoothly to These Moments, shall we? Nobody noticed the little detour...
Awhile ago, I came across the These Moments Flickr group. I joined it and shared a few photos and found myself really enjoying the simplicity of everyday life. As the name suggests, the group is about capturing moments. When you're doing it daily, you really become aware of the simple things that are made special by the fact you've noticed them. This made me somehow happier, being aware of all these simple things around me that could be so beautiful if only I saw them, rather than just seeing through them.
Eventually I contacted Kate, the founder of the project to be involved with curating for the blog and she said yes. This is proving a great experience for me. It is more work than I originally thought it would be, mainly because I had never done anything of the sort, and in fairness I don't do that much, but oh my do I *LOVE* it! I see amazing moments every day, I discover new photographers and bloggers regularly, I pick my brains trying to look at photos differently to select themes every other week, and most of all, I get to chat with a wonderful lady on a regular basis, Kate.
Kate has a vision for the project and she's slowly building that vision. Her photos illustrate the lives of so many of us in great colours; the good, the bad, and the ugly (yet it still looks cool!) She brought a new feature to the blog where contributors to the Flickr group can share their experiences and talk about their photography. She created a challenge group on Flickr which is really taking off. She plans giveaways and brainstorms on how to improve the project. And one day we will have a self-hosted These Moments project website.
::inspiring Mondays::
This was the first Monday in October and it was hot. Proper hot. Indian summer, at last! This Indian summer I never really believed in until a week ago, and now I do. For it is real! A meteorological phenomenon, wikipedia calls it, and I agree. And love it!
I am 31 years old. And I have at last learned to appreciate what I have and realise that the little things you may moan about today you may come to miss tomorrow. Sounds so simple and yet realising this makes me feel I've achieved something great. And therefore I have, as LMJ's opinion of her own accomplishments is important.
:: Indian summer. but of course!
:: Bristol.
:: vinho verde with friends.
:: sunbathing on the balcony.
:: massages.
:: Little Brother's emails. I think you'll really like this.
:: calling my parents just now. I miss them. and Dad asking me about the weather, of course!
:: friends recording series for me because they know I'll like it.
:: Spooks. Spooks on a big screen.
:: baby kittens. life is indeed beautiful!
:: water.
:: sunshine. oh the sunshine!
:: cycling.
Today this list could go on and on. I think it's trying to compensate the fact that on this Monday, my friend T. was not on the train... life goes on and his most certainly will, just as he deserves. And I'm so happy for him... it's just that my mornings just got a little less bright, a little less Dutch, a little bit different... and that is what saudade is all about.
How was your Monday? Inspired? Inspiring? Filled with new beginnings and sweet expectation?
Little note: I had a bit of a play with the photo in Photoshop, but turns out I prefer the original (no edit whatsoever). I still put the edited version on Flickr, if you want to comment.
Little note: I had a bit of a play with the photo in Photoshop, but turns out I prefer the original (no edit whatsoever). I still put the edited version on Flickr, if you want to comment.
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