Recent shots

Hi guys,

These are just a few of my favourites that I've taken over the last 4 weeks.  I'm visiting some Japanese Gardens in London in a few weeks and I am already very exited to get to take some photos there.  :-) 

Let me know what you think...

 The New Forest ponies are everywhere and so friendly :-)

 This is in a beautiful little town in the New Forest called Beaulieu.

 Beaulieu is well known for their famous Car museum.

 South Bank books

Skater's paradise on South Bank

Carousel on the South Bank

 Young jewish guys on South Bank

The London Eye

The mother tongue...

This post is going to be in Afrikaans.  It burns in my mouth to be spoken.

Ek is mal daaroor hoe ons goed in afrikaans kan sê wat vreeslik laf klink wanneer jy dit vertaal. 

Hierdie gedig van NP Van Wyk Louw is iets wat altyd iewers in my gedagtes dwaal.  Dit is vir my ongelooflik mooi.  Hoop jy geniet dit :-)

Happy dance time!

Hi to anybody who might be reading this....is anybody reading this? Anyway, that doesn't matter!  So, like I said in my previous post, I have decided to take a leap of faith with this picture taking business.  On Saturday night me and a friend (who knows her stuff) went out to take some night photos.  Armed with a borrowed tripod and 3 layers of clothes I was as ready as I've ever been.  Frostbite fingers later, I have a few pictures I am very proud of!  Right after taking them, I even did little happy dances! A policeman on a motorcycle stopped behind us and he probably thought we were suicidal and trying to jump into the Thames, but he soon set off again...I mean, that would be a pretty yucky way to end your life.  You might not even die, but grow a few extra legs and arms! OK, getting sidetracked here...

Here are a few of the pictures i took :-)

Have a great week! :-)

Spring

Spring has sprung! I always find it such a awesome time of the year.  Soon the trees won't be skeletons anymore.  It's like there are promises floating around in the air.  Well that, and hay fever...eish!!

Work has been a bit crazy the last few weeks.  I have not had to work late in almost 5 years, so it's been a bit of a shock to the system.  Even though I feel a wee bit tired, I wake up before my alarm goes off just because my room is flooded with light.  As I was lying in bed this morning, I had a little chat with myself (yes, I talk to myself) about things.  "We" chatted about dreams, hopes and things to come.  Sometimes I believe you have to close your eyes, take a leap of faith.  Inside of us there are infinite possibilities if we open ourselves up to inspiration.  That can be something different to everybody.  I find inspiration in a beautiful picture.  They tell me stories. So, without getting off track, I have decided to throw myself wholeheartedly into photography.  In learning as much as a I can from people who know what they are doing.  From my own mistakes.  From others mistakes.  From every source available.  Who knows where this will lead, but all I do know is that it gives me immense pleasure and I feel free when I'm looking at the world through the view finder.

I went out into Hyde Park yesterday in my lunch hour and that 30 minutes of sunshine gave me such a boost!  That and the Magnolia trees in bloom took my breath away. (quite literally...atchoo!) 

 

Be encouraged, take heart, get some sunshine, take the route less travelled, let your heart sing.

xx

Make Joseph Kony famous!

Injustice in any form is evil, but even more so when people (especially innocent children) are harmed through it.  I first heard of Joseph Kony a few years ago, and I support an organisation called Watoto who works with these ex child soldiers, helping rehabilitate them and integrating them back into society in Uganda. 

Now, these guys at Invisible Children are taking a stand and they are creating a massive cry all over the world.  If you are on facebook, you would most likely have noticed the links and comments today.  Help spread the word! Pray! Donate if you can!

Below is a video that will thell you all you need to know.

Stop at nothing. Spread the word.  We are going to make Kony famous!!!

x

I know this family...

I know this family.  When you look at them in passing, they look like just any other family with small children.  There is a certain chaos that goes with having young children.  Yet, they have always impressed me with their easy going attitude towards raising children.  They have learnt me a lot!

A few years back, they started fostering.  The first little angel they took care of, was just that.  A little angel and she stole my heart!  Now, 2 years later, the second angel they are taking care of just turned one.  I had the privilege to tag along and took a few pictures of the kids.  While I was editing the photos last night, this one stole my heart!  This is angel baby number two. 

Where these kids will end up in life is a question all on its own, but I know that this family takes care of them as if they were their own.  They are loved beyond the call of duty.  If only every foster family was like this one!  Ruth, and Richard, you are worth your weight in gold and more!


Every child comes with the message that God is not yet discouraged of man. 
~Rabindranath Tagore
x

Laughter

 

Laughter

1. To express certain emotions, especially mirth or delight, by a series of spontaneous, usually un-articulated sounds often accompanied by corresponding facial and bodily movements.

2. To show or feel amusement or good humor.

 

 

I love to laugh.  I don't think I know anybody that doesn't.  It brings a little light into your soul.  It makes you feel alive.  It just, makes you happy.  I went to a surprise birthday party for a friend last night, and I laughed more than I've done in a while, and it felt sooo good! Think I went to bed with a smile on my face, and I woke up with it still firmly in place.

 

A famous quote reads:  "a day without laughter is a wasted day."  Apparently, the average person laughs 15 times a day.  To be honest, some days I don't think I reach that average.  I want to, but sitting in an office on my own, with no one to talk too, I can only really sit and laugh at myself, which in itself isn't that hard...but at the same time a bit worrying. ;-)

 

It fascinates me what people laugh at.  For instance, I am not one of those people that will laugh at you when you fall over, or hurt yourself.  I laugh at jokes.  Good and bad ones. 

 

Here are a few facts about laughter/laughing:

• 13 muscles are used to smile, but 47 are required for frowning. You have to smile nearly a quarter of a million times to make 1 wrinkle.
• Laughter lowers the levels of cortisol in the body. Cortisol suppresses the immune system. Lowering these levels enhances the work of the immune system and may prevent disease.
• You can stimulate your heart and lungs, elevate your blood pressure and improve breathing capacity by laughing.
• In terms of exercise, you can get the same benefits from laughing 100 times a day, as you can from 10 minutes of rowing.
• 15 minutes of laughter equals the benefit of 2 hours sleep.
• One good belly laugh burns off 3 1/2 calories.
• Laughing for 15 seconds adds 2 days to your life span.
• It just makes you feel good!

People smile only 35% as much as they think they do. I think that's sad.  I often think what do people think of me when they look at me, in terms of a friendly face.  I strive to be a "happy face" :-) 

Smile a while, and give you face a rest :)

Here's to laughing more!

x