Love, Passion and photography

So what has been occurring over the last two days, well shopping, bill paying, paperwork and little me doing what I love doing second best, going out with my camera.  Second best I hear you say, yes second best, so what has replaced it from its coveted number one slot?  Simple, being able to experience the love and passion of an amazing lady, simples!  It is a close run thing though and I am sure it is because I have not been out with my camera that much lately!

Still yesterday I managed to get some selfies taken whilst out but today I returned to one of my favourite subjects, churches.  I was on the hunt for a landscape or two but the light was not ideal so I turned my attention to churches.  So after several random lefts and right turns on the outward journey my camera and me found a church I last took photographs of three or four years ago.  It is hard to describe how being behind my camera makes me feel, it is such a special feeling.  It is like make love, the emotions and feelings come alive and the more you explore and share the more intense they become.  Each time is different and the world and its troubles can no longer be heard or seen.  Your senses come alive, you emotions and feelings are allowed to roam free and explore.  The world around you comes alive, its vibrant colours, smells and sounds embracing you. Heaven.

I am a very lucky chap in that I have some amazing friends and know some unbelievable people.  Not for the first time in my life do I feel blessed but this time I am not letting go.  I have lost so many good friends in the pass, some of the best people I have ever known and met.  I am not going to let it happen again that is for sure.  To those I let go and slip out of my hands I am sorry and I miss you, to those in my life now lets have some fun and enjoy this colourful place we call our home, mother earth as it is called in the bigger picture.

Whilst sat in a pub this lunch time I had the chance to listen to two people talk about the Grocery market and demographics and market percentages and tends.  They had laptops out, graphs and papers and were talking percentage points, swings and variations so intently.  It was interesting to listen to them talk, it reminded me of the high of my IT career buried in paperwork, statistics, risk assessments, project management plans and graphs.  Often wondering how to carry the client’s risk when the cupboard was bare.  Thank god those days are long gone, time to leave that sort of thing to those who work and do not how to rest and play.

But before I go I was said to her that the amazingly talented Bob Hoskins passed away.  He has made me laugh and cry so many times, rest in peace BH.  Here are the some of the values he brought is kids up with, values I share.

1) Laugh. There’s humour to be found everywhere, even your darkest days there’s something to have a joke about. Laugh long and loud and make other people laugh. It’s good for you.

2) Be yourself. If someone doesn’t like you they’re either stupid , blind, or they’ve got bad taste. Accept who you are, you’ve got no one else to be. Don’t try to change yourself, there’s no point. Don’t apologise. Don’t make excuses. Be yourself and if anyone else doesn’t like it they can f*ck off.

3) Be flamboyant, it’s who you are and always have been. Be eccentric and unique. Don’t try to adapt yourself to someone else’s view of normal. That belongs to them, not you. Like yourself as who you are.

4) Don’t worry about other people’s opinions. Everyone’s a critic, but ultimately what they say only matters if you let it. Don’t believe your own press. People can just as easily sing your praises as they can tear you down. Don’t waste your time on things you can’t change. Let it slide off you like water off a duck’s back.

5) Get angry, it’s ok to lose your temper now and then. If anger stays in, it turns to poison and makes you bitter and sad. Get angry, say your peace, then let it go. (But Si says don’t be to aggressive, make it measured)

6) Whatever you do, always give it a good go. Don’t be afraid of failure and disappointment. If you fall flat on your face then get straight back up. You’ll always regret not trying. Disappointment is temporary, regret is forever.

7) Be generous and kind because you can’t take it with you. When you’ve got something to give, give it without hesitation.

8) Appreciate beauty, take pictures and make memories. Capture it, you never know when it’ll be gone.

9) Don’t take yourself too seriously. People who take themselves too seriously are boring.

10) Never, ever, ever, ever give up. Keep on punching no matter what your up against. You’re only defeated if you give up, so don’t give up.

11) Love with all your heart. In the end, love is the only thing that matters.

So with the youngish generation looking after the statistics, placing peeps in social groupings and ordering a cob salad with no cheese life is good.  Especially when I come away from a day out with some photographs to be proud off.

Oh and if you are still wondering whether I am drinking, yes I am but not as much as I have been.  I have not given up the battle and it is still my current goal and battle, all is not lost.

This post was brought to you courteous of Elvis Presley and Seasick Steve.

So here they are, I hope you like them.

Well until next time take care.

Si (Socks) x

Tired!

Well what can I say?  Well for a start it has taken me seven days to get to a point where I feel I can write what I feel.  I have wanted to blog but found putting my thoughts down trying to say the least.  I have got so much I want to say yet any attempts to put them in writing resulted in paragraphs of “blah blah blah blah”.  Yes I know that is nothing new but even I could not understand it so it must have been bad.  Very frustrating to say the least, could have been a case of blogger’s block, well I am not sure but something was clearly not working.  Any how today I decided to give it my best shot and see where it and post it regardless.  So you have been warned.

Since my last post things have been very interesting, exciting and colourful to say the least.  It has been a good week that has left his chap feeling good and with a new found confidence.  Yes newfound level of confidence that I seem to be able to trust and believe in.  I have always been a reasonably confident chap but it did get knocked about quiet a lot so I tended to hide it behind humour or completely out of sight.  I think this week saw my confidence grow to the point where I can trust it and not worry about it getting squashed or devalued.  I feel that this newly obtained level of confidence is here to stay.  It has been helped in part by the fantastic response to the pooch photographs I took last Monday.  All very positive and complementary and that felt very special.  It means a lot to have something I am very passionate about and created spoken in such high terms.  I’d like to say a very big thank you to everyone who has commented to me in person or one related posts.

I must be feeling good within myself as this week I was presented with something that well lets just say it would have sent me into a very dark place, possibly into A&E again.  Sadly I cannot give the details out but I can safely say it would leave 99.99999999999999999999999999% of you feeling very sick and disgusted.  Yet I sit here with strength and confidence that I feel will get me through the challenge ahead.

Yesterday was an excellent day as I had my first taste of playing on an Xbox 360 when I was invited along with a few colleagues to spend a very pleasant evening chilling out.  We played Tennis, Bowling, Skiing, and Baseball and I have to say it was a lot of fun.  I have never experience an Xbox game before let alone me being the controller.  The food was excellent, the wine lush and the company warm, entertaining and relaxing.  The intention is to repeat the evening but rather than our excellent hosts provide the food the guests will provide food and wine.  Not only that but team GOL need to wipe the smile off Checkouts.  Not only that but Checkouts needs to remember that was the first time for us on the Xbox, be warned we will not take any prisoners next time.  I also think there needs to be more Checkout staff, say a 50 / 50 split between GOL and Checkouts.

Now on to today, got up with no plans made, burnt the several rounds of toast but enjoyed an amazing cup of tea.  I needed to do some shopping and pay a brief visit to work and then I decided to go out for a drive.  Well the best plans of mice and men went out of the window.  After making a brief visit to work I set off for a drive and that is when the plans, not that I had any, went out of the window.  What do you do when you are presented with a lady stranded by a flat, well you stop and inquire if you can be of any assistance?  I did make the point that it was only flat on the bottom but added that it was not safe to drive on.  Looking in the boot I found a tire changing kit that was still wrapped in its purchase packing so had not been used and a very skinny get you home tire which the lady did not want to use or trust.  She did not want to engage a mobile tire repair company so the only option was to take the tire off and get it replaced.  So off we went to the nearest tire company to get it replace and then back to put the repaired wheel on the car so she could safely go about her business.  Well that was a first for me I must say but it felt good to help.  So what else did I do today, well I spent an hour in a church and lit two candles for my mum and dad and reflected on the week past, how I feel and what lay ahead.  I feel I can do some good in the coming weeks and months and that is something I look forward to, it is a refreshing change and feeling.  Si, Simon, Socks with confidence and feeling very good about the direction he is heading.

I have also made a commitment to becoming a backup driver at work, which is something I am very excited about, you never know it might turn into a full time role if it feels write.  I love the environment I work in, that is the Retail Sector; it is challenging and very rewarding to say the least.  I think I might have found my work place home and it feels so good, hello Retail Si is here.

Now the sum total of events this last seven days has got me thinking about trust and the trust I have historically placed in friends, family and the people I have met.  The two people I trusted the most, my mum and dad, are now longer around and the same can be said for the other people I trusted completely but for different reasons, mostly because they have moved away or I have lost touch completely.  Looking back I lost touch with some very good friends for one reason or another, which is crying shame and does not feel good.  Sat here now I can honestly say that there were only a handful of people I truly trusted and bar mum and dad none of them were family.  I have to say that this is still true today and the people with whom I entrust my feelings and worth can be counted on one hand and none of them are family.  In fact I have one finger and a thumb spare on that hand.  So that is three people I have complete and utter faith and trust in, I am not sure if that is a good or bad thing.  Does the number matter; should I be more trusting in those around me?  Well let me clarify what I mean by complete trust.

Complete trust to me is that I can tell someone anything and if I ask it to stay with them it does.  It means I trust their judgment, point of view, beliefs and comments.  It means I do not have to be guarded around them and relax completely in their presence and when talking to them.  In fact I have known all three for 5 years or less!  Why no family or people who I was meant to share the most of lifes precious moments with?  Well looking back I have plenty of reasons and examples of why, especially family.  The idea that family are special and should be unquestionably loved and respect is to me so miss guided.  Some of the shallowest, cold and calculated behaviour I have ever witness has come from members of both side of my family.  This was especially true during the final months of my mum’s life when the behaviour of a number of family members went beyond any expectable limits.  To witness people lie, cheat and show no respect for someone who was terminally ill was beyond belief.  The fact that a members of the family worked in a pact to try and achieve their goal was equally unbelievable.  The same can be said for people I place my trust in completely, shared my thoughts, feelings and life with only to find out that my trust was drawn out and hung up to dry by lies.  The bottom line each time was financial gain pure and simple, each time is was material objectives that drove them and used my trust as leverage.

I’m a friendly and open chap but the chance to get close to me and get to know me completely is no longer the free domain of all.  I am not bitter as I should have seen it coming and although I am not bitter towards those who chose to lie and cheat I will not give them the time of day any more, what trust was there has gone.  Personally I can think of better things to do than be the puppet of anyone who is a bitter and twisted individual that is for sure.

I beginning to understand and relate to a lot more to the behaviour of those around me and peeps in general, I am finding myself in an increasingly bigger and warmer place of confidence and belief.  I feel I am coming out of my shell and starting to interact with the world around me more.  There is maturity to this cheeky chap now but it is not going to take the shine off his cheekiness and fun loving nature that is for sure.  Just smooth off the rough edges here and there.

I almost forget to mention that the breeder of the Basset Hound (Harvey) whom I photographed last week wants photographs too.  That put a very big smile on this chaps face I can tell you.

Now whilst waiting for the ladies tire to be replaced I did take a few pictures with my trusty compact camera, there they are.

Well until the next time take care.

Si (Socks) x

Hounds, Chest Hair and Commitment

What a day today has been work play and no rest for the wicked.  Why well a little while ago I made a commitment to photograph a Hound dog of a friends friend surrounded by Bluebells near their home.  Now when I make a promise I keep to them unless it is outside my control and given Bluebells are only around for a short period time was running short so today was the day.  Thankfully the weather played its part and I was able to get some photographs in the bag.  Mind you it was not difficult as when Harvey, as his is called, decides to sit or lay down not even a minor earthquake can move him.  He has so much character if he were human I call him a lazy Winston Churchill for sure.  I was able to capture a number of other dogs out for their daily walk along the bridal path, everyone and their Aunt has a dog in these parts.

I am a firm believer that if you make a commitment to something or someone you honour that commitment.  Every job I have had I give nothing but the best I can and my current job is no different.  I signed a contract that said I would work a minimum of 20 hours a week for a set number of days.  I do more than that mainly because it is a pleasure to do so but also it is required as we are so busy and so short staffed.  Today was no different but I also had a commitment to honour.  I feel very lucky to have my current job and I am very grateful to the individual who made it happen.

It is important to try and get the work life balance right; not doing so leads to so many problems and can even prove to be fatal, I know.  Even though I love my job so much I will not put it in front of personal time, when I cross the shop threshold out into the outside world that becomes my time, my space, my world to explore.  At 3:30am in the morning it is a good feeling to cross the icy threshold of the store front door into the warmth and hustle and bustle of the shop floor and equally so when I leave the warmth of the shop floor and venture out in to the colourful world we live in.

I woke up at 2:30 am this morning after very little sleep but so full of life, so eager to get to work and rock the chilled section.  I loaded my iPod up with some suitable tunes, got my drink and snack from the fridge and set off with a bounce in my step.  After doing the little chores I have become accustomed to I selected my trolley and handset and set off.  Just before I hit the shop floor I switched on my iPod and pressed play but instead of the sound of music I got a voice telling me to connect my iPod to my iTunes and upload some music.  I had no music, nothing; my iPod was empty but how and why?  This meant that I had to listen to the music played over the public address system and I have to be honest some of it would make even the happiest person cry; it is so bleak and dreary.  I've solved the problem and come the next time I am in work I will have a playlist to rock to, sorry shop too.

Now I have a question for the lady readers, it is one I have been pondering for a while now and to date never got a satisfactory answer too.  What is the fascination with a mans back, eyebrows and chest?  I am not talking of a sexual nature although the first and last could be included in that thought as well.  No I am talking about the desire to investigate and cause pain.  A chap is sat on the edge of the bed and causally takes his top, shirt, T-shirt off and the next second his partner is crawling over his back in search of anything to squeeze, pick or pluck at.  When it comes to the chest, eyebrows, back, arms or legs you spot a hair out of place, too long or grey it has to come out, no ifs or buts.  Sometimes even the ears are not safe.  You see the slightest hint of a spot on our backs that is it you lay in wait for the time it is ready and god help us if we wash it off or we get there first.  It is as if you enjoy inflicting pain on us, that we need to suffer for some indescribable sin we committed.  I know it is because we breathe to often or say too much or is it because we are always in the wrong?  Well I like my chest hairs; especially the grey ones and a pair of scissors look after the eyebrows thank you very much.  Can you image the fuss that would be made if we wanted to pluck the grey hairs from a lady’s chest or back, we would never get the chance as they would have dyed them before we get a chance!  Mind you it has to be said that the female eye’s attention to detail is very remarkable to say the least but I think the idea of a six pack and firm arms, legs and butt as sexy are a bit miss guided belief myself!

Anyway enough for today, time to move on to the photographs before I get myself in any more trouble.

And here are a few of the other dogs I encountered using the photo shoot with Harvey or H, he seemed to know and a lot of dogs that is for sure.

Well that is all for now, tomorrow is another day, who knows what it will bring.

Until the next time take care.

Si (Socks) x