Sweet nothings

frost bite

Some from today's frosty morning. please click on them to see them better!

 

more on flickr...

 

listen to this...

I love love love this version :)

Observations from a little market town

After a particularly freezing photo walk, I am heading into the nearby town in an attempt to defrost my fingers.This town is a tiny, local one. It's really not much more than- and I offend all residents in moments here, sorry, - a tourist stop off. One of the first places set inside the New Forest, it has more than its fair share of coffee shops, ice cream parlours and completely awful gift shops. The coach and car park is bigger than the actual town...
I do like it here though, despite all of that. Okay; I don't like it here during July/August, when the prices double and the tourists arrive by the coach load. But otherwise; I like the small, the quiet and of course, it's ability to defrost photographers from the forest.

The main street is one long line, from the forest to the church. The buildings all along the street are old and unchanged. During the summer, the bunting adorns the street. During the winter; real fir trees jut from the sides of the buildings. I recall it being identical, when I came here as a little girl, with my Granny. It is exactly the kind of place I bring my out of the country visitors, to ooh and ah over the quaint English style.
 Today, a week day, it is quiet. There are a handful of locals, mostly the well dressed smart 'country woman' in their trousers, quilted jackets and silk scarves. They actually carry, and use, wicker baskets for groceries and errands. I'm in awe, may I grow up to be so classy. They are quintessential ''grown up' Laura Ashley, you know, before Laura Ashley got sort of trendy.

The narrow cars-were-once-so-much-smaller road is a steady roll of traffic, as it's a route through the forest to bigger towns and cities. I spot a fellow photographer, coming in from the cold, wrapped in waxed jacket and wellies. His lens tells me he is here to shoot birds - in the nicest photographic sense. There are also a smattering of dog walkers, with muddy, joyful dogs trotting alongside them. (I never see a badly behaved dog here...only ones that fetch the tennis ball and never seem to need a lead; interesting)

The estate agents windows here are pretty impressive. It's straight out of the Horse and Hound magazine kind of houses. They have land, stables, many bedrooms with annexes the size of my entire family home. This doesn't stop me standing still and picking one out. (I'll have that grey one thank you)
The jewellers is next door. It's also pretty impressive and it's through no fault of his own that I don't stop to admire longer. {It's just when your other half works in the jeweller business, it stops being quite so enchanting after a while. Guess once I learnt what was the best pieces, I learnt fast I can't have the best pieces so I'm not interested. I do wonder if I should get a job in a camera store, and see if the pull of new lenses lessens? No, maybe not....}
Next to the jewellers is a closed sandwich shop - open in the summer only, and then the wine store, grocery store and bank. There's a very popular old fashioned sweet shop here. The coffee shops are all placed close together, jostling for your attention. I break all my own moral rules, and go into the only chain brand here. Today I want peace and quiet, anonymity. Something I wont get if I head for my usual favourite coffee stop, where they greet you happily and ask about your day/family/photos. And no, thats not a bad thing, and yes, I even feel guilty writing it.
Photos from the forest to follow :)

Via my iPhone.

ten on tuesday. 31st Jan 2012

1) So long January. I'm always excited to see the first month go by in a new year. Altho I've gotta say OH you have been FUN,  January. And I met more of a new me during you. If you see what I mean...

2) I want to do this. From both sides of the camera. And what a brilliantly written blog post too ...

3) A little fun quiz that made me feel a little bittersweet yet happy... Are you an introvert or an extrovert?
I was an extrovert it told me. and I laughed very loudly at the result. Because I know I am pretty much that way now. But for a very long while, a little while ago, I was anything BUT extrovert. I spent so long with depression that sometimes, even now, years on, I forget that I'm not an introvert. And I felt a little sad that the young teenage me - who was totally extrovert ;) - had to lose her way before getting back to here again. But -alls well that ends well right? I'm pretty much me again, and am very loud company ;) :) :) LOL

4) I actually have 'homework' to do. And surprisingly ;) I find my teenage self kicking in here too.  I've done a lot of prep, and a lot of everything else in the Universe, but not the actual work. ah... I may need to ground myself...

5) I've drunk more green tea these last few days than coffee. Blimey. I have yet to either turn green nor have skin that looks super amazing healthy... but. It tastes nice, and calorie-wise? Its a winner!!!

6) The very best biggest waste of time thing I have been partaking in lately is silly - VERY silly - text conversations. No, not proper texts like 'Hi what time are we meeting for drinks tonight? do you need a lift? Melanie x' but really mad ones with five or six words per text flying back and forth, ten or twenty a day, getting more ridiculous and silly as the day goes on. Text conversations that are full of in jokes, one liners that you don't actually have to finish and some slightly outrageous wording ;)   Whole conversations that really make you laugh out loud, but that you cant explain to anyone else because, well, you had to be there... Two of my best friends are very good at this, and completely make my day. Plus a whole bunch of friends and I are part of a group text conversation, which never fails to be funny, as its like hilarious Chinese Whispers in seconds :) :)

7) My Son came home for the weekend. He misses his little sisters he says.{And then gets his laundry done and eats the entire biscuit tin... ;) } Its nice to see him, and I am SO very thankful he is not far away, and can pop home like this often. I've asked him to babysit this coming weekend too. As payment for the biscuits you understand ;)

8) I get to plan my birthday party over several months. This is AWESOME because it means I get time to decide what the heck I want, and talk my husband into it ;) mwhahaha... only kidding ;) It is awesome, because this length of time stops me going off at some crazy tangent. And I have had some crazy ideas. But thought better of them the day after!   I know I want a photo booth for part of the night - just need to talk my pro tog friends into the idea ;) LOL - but sometimes I think I might also want some photo props. It doesn't help I find really so bad they are good ones quite easily on the internet....I really like these - *here* or *here* Not that the party has anything to do with Dr Who, I just think he's rather lovely ;)  I truly cant find a life-sized Gordon Ramsay cut out or I'd have got it by my desk by now.... 

9) This is the earliest I have ever wrote Ten on Tuesday. I'm just trying to beat my Sister ;) Actually I just intend to be busy out the house for most of the day so... getting it done and checked off my list. 

10) Because Virgin Media are 'now in our road', because BT are the biggest pile of ...er...rubbish ever invented, but because I am not stupid enough to think any internet provider is actually any freaking good, and mostly because I am about to write a letter like this, but not anywhere near as nice - awesome link :)

and as an special extra -

A coffee, in case you're up as late as me ;)

Happy Tuesday :)

on a radio, far far away....

Georgia's songs have made it on to several far away radio stations....

Like here for example.... where she is top on their playlist A!

thats above Bruno Mars and Bruce Springsteen if you dont  mind ;)

I think we should go visit :) :)

well I won't then...

Run about all morning, be exceptionally cranky as mornings and/or rushing are not your thing, do school run at warp factor 9, go to gym.. beat the heck out of a workout. Rush home, collect son, drop son at station, dash home again.....
and stop.
There is nothing like rushing about, setting the day up  to be free for a looooong appointment. And that appointment being cancelled/altered at short notice.  WTH?!! Because I have this mode - of rush about, be frantic - that once set, I cant get out of very easily.
It's a bit like driving fast on the motorway for ages and then having to slow down for normal town roads...I just find that so hard.  No? is that just me?  ah, well. Try to forget that if you're ever in a car with me ;)

Anyway;  rushing about, being frantic doesn't go too well with a blank day... a bit too restless to do much of the normal day to day stuff. So I took my laundry room apart {aka; horrible room of tumble dryer dust}  and started banging nails in, moving shelves and hauling furniture. Not always a good idea.

Finally a friend, via text, suggested I didnt keep being frantic, but made myself stop, and read a book or something. er...good idea. Phew. I am glad I forced myself to ease up, or I could have structurally damaged the house by dinner time.  I tell you people, I am totally crazy some days. Focus, thats what I like in a day... a purpose and a reason. 

Speaking of craziness, it snowed this morning. Just for the school run - Which is  ALWAYS when the worst weather comes along. It didnt settle, but there is talk of snow again this week. My camera and I are ready ;)

Today's POTD is an instagram from my iPhone. Of the mess my make up drawer has got into again...
Don't be too harsh on judging me here, remember my laundry room is immaculate ;) 

Lets go outside

Handheld, night time, high ISO,  {freezing cold, funny looks, almost getting run over ;) }

I dont know what you do when bored with the television, tired of the housework, and not in the mood for computer work...but I go outside and take photos....

 

 

shuffle shuffle...

The lovely Sarah tagged me a few days ago, to random shuffle my ipod music, and share what pops up here with you :)

I own a lot of music, - well compared to my similar aged friends. a mere drop in the ocean of my teen son, or my friend who collects original recordings, but still...

Yes, I DO like a lot of mainstream but also like extremely quirky hidden who the heck are they groups too.  I also like music, when I like it.
I refuse to be told what to like, nor mocked for liking something 'not cool'. I love 90% of music genres too, we have it all in our itunes library from those singer songwriters, big band tunes, alternative rock and musical soundtracks... it is, like me, a bit eclectic!

Okay - shuffle shuffle...

ahahaha...suddenly I am nervous. You think Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is going to appear? ;) I know its on there...

 

This is first up - Cooler than me...this is one of my workout songs from my gym playlist. It sticks in your head for hours!! I have the slightly more uptempo 'workout' mix.

        

Next up... 

Ah.. my lovely once upon a crush; Robbie. At his very best... a few years ago. Nobody tell me exactly how long ago. It was yesterday, okay?

next...

The Goo Goo Dolls, who sing 2 of my all time most favourite songs ever. This is one of them...Iris.

 

 

and next...

a current fav. I didnt want to like this album... not being a massive fan of how the brothers Gallagher have behaved in the past, but... its a GOOD good album. I listen to it a lot :) and personally, I am not a whole album person, I like to make 'mix tape' playlists :) so that's a compliment, Mr Noel.

shuffle shuffle... up next is

The Black Keys, Run right back.

a song certain to get the whole car  {thats me and the girls then} singing and dancing in their seats. :) I love how Mollie knows all the words...

 

Hopefully this doesnt make me look to uncool ;) and may link you onto a new sound you might like?...try not to see it as an insight into my soul tho, okay? ;)

Major relief no song with swear words turned up, or that chitty chitty bang bang soundtrack...

Thanks Sarah, that was fun :) Linking this forward to....

Trude

Katherine,

Steph

and Wendy :)

 

 

Coffee shop observations...

I am sat in a coffee shop, of a well know variety, waiting for a friend who is running late. This means I get to people watch, something I don't often get time for. It's a truly fascinating insight into people. Okay, sometimes that insight is a little disturbing, but .... LOL;)
There is the lady near me who is using her iPhone as a mirror to apply lipstick. I'm quite impressed, I've never done that with my phone.
There's the older couple, who are eating a very hurried sandwich. They don't look to thrilled by the prospect of wherever they are hurrying to. He is looking after her, quite charmingly, making sure she eats lunch. I pause a moment and wonder about their story.
A group of older ladies sit in the corner. What is the collective noun for a group of old ladies? I don't know, and I shall word it carefully... a gaggle? ;)
They are deep in hushed conversation, leaning forward to share important details. I only catch 'well, then she said...' but it makes me smile.
The man by himself is flicking through the newspaper. In a fast, angry pace. Or maybe he is not angry, but impatient? Mind you , I find one usually leads to the other.
Oh; he was waiting for someone. She arrives, all smiles, and his mood dissipates. There is the usual flurry of hellos, cheek kissing and taking off of coats.
Behind me, two business women take a seat. They bring out paperwork and an ipad. ( Is it me, or does everybody now own an iPad?) I try to discreetly see what business they are discussing but I can't. They speak of altering the images and agree it is much needed.
My friend texts to say just how late they are running. The text is funny and I - literally, laugh out loud. For a moment I stop becoming the observer and become the observed. Oops. Then, thankfully, other peoples conversations continue.
The old ladies leave and are replaced by a young mother and baby. It is now lunchtime, and she has a jar of sickly coloured something to feed the baby. Looks messy. I seriously don't miss that stage.
Nearby an older lady is telling an even older lady how to use the free wifi. Her instructions are spot on and straight forward. I'm thinking the coffee shop should hire her out to explain it to everyone. Signing on here is not a logical procedure.
Only a little more amazing, is the fact the older lady that's listening(I'm guessing aged 75+) has an iPhone.
I didn't start these observations meaning them to be about technology nor the apple brand, but it seems to crop up at nearly every table. It's a good job I'm on Apple's side because they certainly are conquering the (coffee shop) world...
Something I know my finally arrived friend will disagree with :)

Via my iPhone.

a little difficult. but not impossible

A challenge I took on today.... take a photo of yourself reflected in a mirror. When editing it, flip it round so it is no longer the 'mirror image' of yourself.
People {particularly those of us not keen on having pictures taken} find it hard to see themselves when their image is flipped round, because for your whole life YOU look at YOU in the mirror, reversed from real life,  and not the 'right' way people see you. If you see what I mean. 

I tried it once before, a year or so ago, and freaked out totally. - Try it if you dont believe me. you look different!!

I didn't find this easy, but I did do it, and fairly quickly. 
And; because I don't like my image the longer I look at it, I did minimal editing too. It is what it is, right?
Then I stuck it in this layout, here.. the words are very sincere, but yes, the picture is a bit overly serious, LOL- I was concentrating... ;)

:)