Shadows are everywhere, defining scenes, creating stories…
private moments
in readiness
greeting
Rob…
wistful
Weekly Photo Challenge: Shadowed
Tag: love
Adventure…
I love dogs. They are always on an adventure of sorts: sniffing, hunting, playing, searching or simply being the beautiful beings that they are…
Weeeeeeeee….
Stanley being Stanley
Side by side, always…
I know it was here somewhere…
Hmmm should I?
‘Oh I love the car’
And you are?
Dreams & reality…
A friend said to me recently: ‘think about where you want to be in 5 years, then figure out how best to get there…’. On hearing his words, I did not need to think about where I wanted to be, for I already knew.
In 5 years I shall be sitting in a cafe in Paris, sipping a good Pinot whilst watching Parisian life stroll by.
On finishing my wine, I return to my apartment and take a moment to gaze upon the array of red chimney tops that adorn the abundant rooftops. Atop the small table that occupies the space beneath the open window, pots of brightly coloured flowers sit alongside fresh herbs of which I use to excite my cooking. In the small yet quaint living room, an overstuffed sofa bed bought from a second hand store, waits for my two grown sons who are soon to arrive. I am excited at the prospect of time soon to be spent with my beautiful children, who are, and always will be my greatest achievement.
My French is now reasonable and in the last years I have trekked the Annapurna Circuit, floated in the Dead Sea and gazed in wonder at the natural beauty of the Northern Lights. I have spent time teaching in foreign lands and broadened my knowledge in photography.
I ponder where I have left footprints and find I have no regrets, for I have lived and am now living, life…
A catalyst for change…
When life deals us what we define as a cruel card, we are left crumbled and broken in its wake. But what if we were to look at that card as a catalyst for change?
Could that seemingly catastrophic chain of events be nothing more than a key that unlocks the door to personal freedom? And by personal freedom I refer to freedom from those voices that have haunted you for years. Those voices who told you, you were not good enough, smart enough, pretty enough or loved enough.
What if that event allowed you to see you, for you. Allowed you to listen to your soul and hear just how fabulous you really are.
Because you are.
It allowed you to see that you fit. You fit perfectly with yourself, and your self is all that matters.
And best of all. What if that so-called catastrophic event allowed you to forgive? And to say the words:I forgive you and I send you love.
And in the words of the wonderful Julia Stone:
The story is different now…but its all okay, for love will find a way to be where love is.
Weekly Photo Challenge: Family
Until recently, I had been living overseas and for family reasons, I needed to return to Australia, as such this weeks challenge was quite apt.
Introducing Oscar…
In an earlier post I wrote about Stanley’s (my beloved Dachshund) issue with being left alone.
So I researched a number of different sites relating to separation anxiety to find methods that would help overcome his problem.
After following some of the suggested remedies, Stanley has improved, however I feel the main reason his behaviour has improved relates directly to the new addition to our family: Oscar, an 8 week-old Wire-Haired Dachshund.
Stanley is now one happy pooch.
And Oscar, well he is quite simply, divine…
Wild Weekly Photo Challenge: Black & White
My son Max was studying in his room, the afternoon light filtered through his blinds casting strips of light across his hands.
My presence was not noticed, he was too engrossed in his music and study.
On seeing the Wild Weekly Challenge was B&W, I immediately thought of that afternoon when I captured my beautiful son in a quiet, contented moment.
I’m participating in the onlineadventure travel and photography magazine LetsBeWild.com’s Wild Weekly Photo Challenge for bloggersThis week’s Challenge is: Black and White!
quite simply…
There is something to be said for a beautiful day when the sun is shining and a gentle breeze whispers through the trees.
And there is something to be said for the love a mother feels for her children.
Life is really quite simple…
Rob
Max
Rob
Max
Snapshots of Life…
I’ve not had much time to devote to WordPress of late for I’ve begun a new chapter or maybe I could say, snapshot of my life. After many, many years serving the masses in a silver tube, I’ve hung up my wings and entered the world of ESL teaching. And with that has come study, and lots of it. This teaching gig is tough, in some ways tougher than doing my journalism degree. Or maybe I’m just out of sync with study – need to retrain the brain.
But I did take some time yesterday to look at some snapshots, some snapshots of my life. I smiled, I laughed and I cried as I reminisced over special times with special people.
Have you ever stopped to look at the ‘snapshots’ of your life? Looked at images that evoked memories?
My snapshots?
My beautiful children, my amazing family, my incredible friends… I have been lucky to have lived an amazing life so far: travelled to incredible places, experienced irreplaceable moments and loved by beautiful people. Near front row seats at the World Cup, cocktails on a rooftop bar in Capetown, shaking hands with famous people who made a difference, safaris in Africa, white xmas’s,European holidays with my fabulous niece and sons and being able to say I love you to those I love.
Sometimes we think life can deal us a cruel hand: sometimes it does, but look closely at the snapshots, you’ll see that life is what it is: beautiful, sad, funny, frustrating, but mostly, it’s full of love.
To the amazing people who have made my lifes’ snapshots so far, so incredibly beautiful – Merry Christmas to you all and most of all, stay safe, stay happy and stay smiling for your snapshots… xoxo
Sunday Post: Surroundings…
Here is something I wrote years ago for my boys about surrounding yourself with loved ones: they loved it and giggled excitedly whenever I read it …
Excuse me, Pardon me…I do believe it’s time for Tea.
Pardon me, said Flea,
I do believe it’s time for tea,
our friends should be here soon,
so shall I pour a cup for you?
Oh yes indeed, said Bear,
then would you care to share my pear?
Flea replied, Well yes, of course,
and can you spare a piece for Horse?
Oh my, I’d be delighted,
as Horse said, How exciting,
for I’ve brought some chocolate cake,
that we can share here by the lake.
Just then Crocodile appeared,
with a grin from ear to ear,
she carried buttered scones,
and on her feet, she wore orange thongs.
Lion arrived right then and there,
Parading his newly coloured hair
It was purple, like his cake,
which he said was freshly baked.
At that moment Bat flew in
He was sad and without a grin
Oh my, my, I’m very late,
and I’ve forgotten to bring a plate.
Flea said, please do not worry,
you should really not have hurried,
we have just begun to eat,
so please find yourself a seat,
Bat then sat upon a chair,
And chose to try a piece of pear,
That made Bear cheer and smile,
along with Crocodile.
So beneath a big fig tree,
they laughed and drank their tea,
Then right on four o’clock,
They hugged goodbye, and all took off.
stanley & bear 