Alternatively : Oh dear I think he did so much better last year don't you?
“Isn’t it funny how day by day nothing changes, but when you look back, everything is different...”
C. S. Lewis I have started this blog with a quote from C. S. Lewis who wrote about Narnia, lots of snow there which is my tenuous link to Christmas. Not that we have a lot of snow, in Harlow, UK, at Christmas, but don’t we all think of Snow being a Christmassy thing. If we do have snow, and I am talking a light dusting, the transport network grinds to a halt causing all sorts of problems. People can’t get to their destinations, food deliveries are held up, panic ensues and all the toilet paper disappears!
Who likes snow anyway Bah Humbug (Dickens, has to be a bit of Dickens at Christmas).
A brief interlude where happy festive thoughts and two mince pies were consumed and …. normal service has been resumed my apologies. As the song goes “It’s the most wonderful time of the year”.
How perceptive that quote is, I am sure that most will agree that we go about our daily business always trying to keep up and without even noticing, we forget about all the little things that happen in our lives. Sorry to spout the “now I am older” routine again, but “now I am older” (not really sorry there has got to be some privileges to getting old. You young whipper snappers groan all you want). I feel it makes even more sense. Let’s face it the older you are the more information you have to hold, more memories, more things, just more everything!
Photographs, art, design (by design I am thinking that tea towel, fridge magnet, kiss me quick hat, beret, sombrero, deerstalker – this one is for Sherlock fans, or any trinket) help to remind us of a place, a time, a thing, a feeling or a person. See it wasn’t just the Narnia snow, Christmas link, it’s a photography / art / me just having a rant “kinda thing”, also. Well, it is a photography / art blog after all, so as Meatloaf once said “two out of three ain’t bad”. The third I am afraid is my catharsis and your? Well, I have no idea what it is for you but whatever it is I / we are very grateful. Speaking for myself, I still think and feel that I am 18, however a quick look in the mirror soon dispels that bit of self-indulgence. So, I look back and everything is different. I think last year as I was writing the Christmas blog, Jack Frost was on the TV. This year it is the news in the background, they are talking about all of the strike action that is and will be taking place. Now whatever your position is on the strikes, we all know what will result. The transport network grinds to a halt causing all sorts of problems. People can’t get to their destinations, food deliveries are held up, Christmas cards and presents won’t arrive on time, panic ensues and all the toilet paper disappears!
Hang on a minute I can feel a Dickens coming on, nurse two shots of coffee cream liqueur (you know, rhymes with taileys) STAT!
So, it’s been another whirlwind of a year and juggling those plates has been a challenge. I know I keep saying that time is flying, but truly if it goes by any faster, I am sure I will start to get younger again (Benjamin Button). Now there is a time space conundrum for someone to consider (all Sci Fi fans), however when talking about the progression of time sadly resistance is futile (Star Trek fans in particular). If only we could jaunt back and forward in time (sort of Dr Who combined with the Tomorrow People – ah remember the Tomorrow People)? I could literally do this all night……. Just as an aside I have picked this blog back up, 4 days later, and we have had snow! Yes, real snow, and lots of it, the deepest that I have seen for many years. Therefore, I am putting on my thermals and wet weather gear to go and get some of that toilet roll, just in case it runs out. Seriously though what a shame it is a bit early, this kind of snow on Christmas day would be rare indeed. Who knows there could be magic in the air?
A few more days later, I am having to write this as and when I can, and there is now a possibility of snow at Christmas. That would be great at Christmas, however at the moment the temperature has dropped and stayed there, making the UK the largest ice rink in the world. Really it is just ice on the small roads and on, it seems all of the pavements both big and small. If you do need to go out, please be very careful. This change of weather could not have come at a worse time, with nearly all worried about the heating bills. Food prices are rising and there are presents to buy too.
A good reason to make this Christmas more about loving and giving the priceless gift of time, far more important than any physical present. Just being with the ones you love at this time of year is more than enough. Sadly, it is also the time of year when we think of those that are no longer with us and raise a glass whilst taking comfort in the fact that those people were part of our lives and that our lives would have been lessened without them. So, I look back and everything is different. It is also a time to be joyous for all those that have only just joined us. New nephews, nieces, grandchildren, sons, daughters, or children of friends and how this will also enrich our lives.
Here now is a quick catchup with things that happened earlier that we may not have yet shown and some new things.
We start with April when family visited from Australia. We went for a walk and these are some of the results.
Ooops! sorry about this one.
Next, late October not long before Halloween, my wife and I were walking through the park when one of the young boys here commented about me holding a camera and asked if I would take a picture? After getting the ok from their father this is what we got before carrying on our walk. We obviously sent these via email to their dad. It was lovely that the young boy asked all on his own. I only wish I was quite as brave.
Of course, then Halloween came and went. The doll picture that was created as a bit of a laugh, was quite popular. I have since seen an advert for batteries using a doll on the floor. Have you seen it? It didn’t air until after Halloween as far as I know. Where do you think they got the brilliant idea from? Graveyard Bill was also created, catch the video here. The last one is a slightly haunting version of the Point of Ayr Lighthouse Talacre.
November saw Autumn in full swing at our local Parndon Wood Nature Reserve.
Which leaves December and a few images created during this latest snow fall.
Could this be a frozen guard of Narnia or Aslan himself?
Maybe it is a cheap B&M lion statue in our garden, but tell no one.
My wife is very clever you know. Doesn't this make you want to straighten it? There is always method in the madness.
We never did find out who the people were in this image so if you do recognise them tell them to get in contact and we can email some images to them.
Well, we are nearly at the end and I am staying with C.S. Lewis quotes for the moment.
“You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.” Not a truer word spoken and something to inspire. It doesn’t matter where you are now you can alter your future. It may only be something small and insignificant but if it matters to you change it. Alternatively, it could be a really big thing. It might be difficult to do but isn’t anything worth doing difficult for one reason or another. Break it down if you can do a little bit at a time until you have achieved what you wanted to do. Don’t give up, don’t get disheartened and don’t beat yourself up if you get things wrong. Learn from the mistakes you make and carry on. If the ending isn’t quite what you expected then don’t worry, keep fluid, things change the future isn’t set (sorry that last bit is Terminator isn’t it. Good though). The future is for the curious (Einstein) so be curious. Come on where else do you get this kind of combo, Arnie and Albert, I ask you? Really couldn’t all of this just be considered your New Year resolution? I know, I will try harder, I am very aware of my own failings and I will continue bit by bit to improve on them for a slightly better ending. Phew that was heavy again. Many thanks for staying with it, assuming you are still here and if you aren’t, well I have started so I will finish regardless. One last quote and possibly the most important one yet, and yes, I can say with all smugness that I have this one covered. “Some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again.” C. S. Lewis
Look we even take pictures of our toy dog. He has his own chair and he has his own facebook page.
No we don't talk to him, well maybe.
Some would say I never grew up but I prefer to say I am now old enough!
This is a new update to the blog. We can now announce that we were finalists in the Harlow Chair (Harlow Council) Photographic competition. The competition had the theme of "The best of Harlow". We were invited to a private showing on the 15th December with the other finalists at the Gibberd Gallery, The Water Gardens, Civic Centre, College Square, Harlow CM20 1WG. It was a very pleasant evening and it was very nice to chat with some of the other finalists there. We were very pleased and honored to have been chosen to display one of our images amongst the other very talented photographers.
Lastly, thank the stars I hear you say, we return to Dickens and what has become a blog tradition.
So here is looking to a very bright and prosperous future for everybody. Happy Holidays to all. Be careful, be safe, enjoy what you have, eat, drink be merry and stay warm. In our best Dickensian voices, we say (imagine in your head the voice of Brian Blessed, you know, he said Gordon’s Alive in Flash. One last sci fi reference).
May we wish you a Merry Christmas and to one and all a Happy New Year.
If you made it to the end thank you. Please like, comment and share here and on our facebook page.
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