The diary of a cheeky chap: 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.