Blood Bath – Weekend Coffee Share 9/4/16

If we were having coffee I would tell you that, between interpreting jobs, I had a fun and creative week with my daughters. My eldest has a photography project due, so we set up a few spooky photo sessions (one of the artists she chose, Sarah Thompson, creates haunting images). The original shots are manipulated to create mood and atmosphere, which is an interesting process – especially the layering effect. We have a ghostly image that resembles a scene from the poltergeist movie (spooky doesn’t even begin to cover it); a blood bath;  rainbow tears (okay, so that one’s kind of sweet), and a few others that may just give me nightmares!

This might lead to a discussion on photography in general, and hopefully you would share your favourite images with me, or the kind of shots you enjoy to take.

If we were having coffee, you might ask if I enjoyed the movie last weekend, and I would deflect by rambling on about the fun I had with my brother. There’s also the fact I went to the movies twice – my girls chose the second (The Huntsman: Winter’s War) and I enjoyed it more than Batman v Superman, so that would speak volumes.

I would ask if you’ve seen anything at the cinema recently, at which point, if we felt so inclined, we would chat for a while about films or our favourite programmes.

If we were having coffee I would tell you I spent the day with my nephew, and as the general theme appears to be photos this week, I would share my snaps from the animal park we visited.

Then we would replenish our mugs and chat about our other adventures, the large and the small that made up our week. I would tell you that next Saturday it’s my birthday, and share that I have absolutely no objections if you want to bring cake to have with our coffee!

After that, I would head over to Diana’s place and check in.

Thanks for stopping by.

Mel

Hugh’s Weekly Photo Challenge: Week 20 – Solitude

I haven’t taken part in Hugh’s photo challenge for a while, but I felt compelled to this week. Perhaps it’s because my week has been consumed with photography – my eldest daughter has three projects to complete for her photography class and she likes to involve the whole family!

The theme also spoke to me. I’m a solitary person, I think writers are in general; we’re never really alone – what with the characters in our head! I’m at ease in solitude, it soothes me, and allows me to recharge my batteries. It’s not that I don’t like being with people, it’s that I like my own company, too. I can write anywhere and at any time. It’s easy for me to switch off, even in a crowded café, but there’s something to be said for the quiet peace of nature.

When I’m on holiday, I tend to be on the go; exploring a new place so I can soak it in. I usually find a quiet spot to reflect. The first photo, a place named Durdle Door in Dorset, gave the perfect backdrop and I almost got lost in my moment of solitude!

I lived in Dorset for a while, and loved the area. When I got time off, I went exploring with my family. Bournemouth beach is wonderful, especially at six in the morning when there are few people around and the beauty of it settles like a calming breath. The second photo was taken on one of my early morning outings. I took a notebook and a cup of coffee, and let the inspiration flow.

The last two photographs are here because the garden used to be one of my favourite places to relax and find time for myself. The garden was built below the house, and though you can’t see it in the photograph, a decking area provided the perfect viewpoint. I would sit out in the evening or in the morning, and enjoy the scenery.

Thanks to Hugh for providing the inspiration and, as always, thanks for stopping by.

Mel

Hugh’s Photo Challeng: Week 8 – Charity Christmas Tree Topper Challenge

I could not resist taking part in this awesome Christmas Tree Topper Photography Challenge run by the lovely Hugh, from Hugh’s Views & News. This year he is donating to The Dogs Trust.

Here is my tree topper…

I bought this star in January 2000 from Tenerife, and it has shone from the top of my tree every year since. It was the year of my grandfather’s 70th birthday and the whole family went on a cruise to the Caribbean. At the time I was saving to get married, so I bowed out and took a trip to visit my Aunt instead (I didn’t miss the party. He was a Christmas baby, so we celebrated in style!)

In Tenerife, celebrations generally start on the 24th of December and continue until January the 6th. As I flew out on the 27th of December, I timed the festivities perfectly and had an absolute blast! I tasted local cuisine with my Aunt’s friends, and didn’t come back down to earth (there was a lot of drinking), until a few days after I arrived.

The atmosphere was wonderful, and it’s always enjoyable to experience another culture. I learned so much on the trip. I also bought some great decorations, starting with my star.

Thanks for stopping by.

Merry Christmas or, sticking with a Spanish theme – Feliz Navidad.

Mel