Call of Duty
By ·Last week I, when I wasn’t taking Holly to Ikea for her first birthday, I was shooting images for Surrey Police to go into their community policing newsletters. Its a big task (far bigger for those creating each one) that involves several 30 minute slots with different neighbourhood policing teams. Sometimes the photo that goes with the story is easy to shoot…the idea just jumps out at you. Sometimes there’s little more you can than to just line’em up and shoot a group. Then there are the ones where everything conspires against you. You have to pull something out of the bag and that is why I love this one. I got a ’safe’ shot…and to be honest, it will probably be that one that makes the final cut. But I love to see how far they’ll go and for that I gave them this.
Sadly, some rebel yutes (what? You’ve never seen My Cousin Vinny?) knocked over headstones in a cemetery leaving a trail of destructing in their path. So there I was…a cemetery, a headstone, a bobby and the sun at odds with the direction of the headstones. In my best “A Few Good Men” I start to ask myself “what do you do…what…do…you…do?”
NEXT!
Uno
By ·Holly celebrated (as much as anyone her age could) her first birthday on Tuesday. She’s now officially…a one year old. I’m never really sure when you stop referring to kids’ age in months. In any event she’s one…and close enough to it that it doesn’t really matter.
She’s perfecting the art of walking with assistance. The assistance can come in the form of her train, my fingers or Evan. She’s not really that picky. What she is, is proud. Exceedingly so. She smiles and giggles whenever she ‘walks’.
At the moment we have this nightly ritual that involves bathing Holly, pulling her out, setting her on her towel and saying “Holly, you stay right there…DON’T move”. She then laughs hysterically and crawls at top speed, naked and mostly wet, down the hall. Actually the best bit is in the 4 foot between the towel and the hall that is still the lino (linoleum) floor. Her legs slip and she looks like a hot-rod spinning her wheels. She then giggle and shrills her way to our room where I collect her, take her and back and repeat the process. Endless fun I can assure you :)
With Evan I would write about every detail of his life. This time around I’ve been a bit slack. I suppose part of that is because she’s number two. You’re a bit more relaxed…a bit wiser. With Evan I think he had been to the GP 5 times by the time he was 18 weeks old. Holly has been once…I think. Perhaps the biggest reason is that I didn’t really have a lot to say. Where Evan had charm Holly merely had constant crying. I’m pleased to say that the difficult little beast is changing…she’s picked up on her brother’s charm and is actually becoming a joy to be around. She’s adventurous, playful and very wise for her age. She knows things…I know, you think I’m crazy. If ever you wanted to develop a belief in reincarnation I suggest you spend a week with Holly. There is a knowing; an understanding of things that you don’t expect a 1 year old to know. Maybe its just being a little sister to a 4 (nearly 5) year old brother. Who knows.
I suppose that’s enough rambling…here are some photos from her family tea party and opening presents on her actual birthday. For the record she loved her trip to Ikea with her parents on her birthday and her dinner out at Prezzo in Midhurst.
“they say it’s your birthday” – dundundundundundunduh
its all gone so….PINK
I thought 3 was the magic number
Look Dad….two hands
With cousin Josh and perhaps the most INAPPOPRIATE gift for a 1 year old — no, not being ungrateful, just thinking about how long it will be until she escapes and ends up at Costa in Petersfield
Easy Rider
…LOVE the cake
Whereas most kids you have to open their presents for them, there was little hesitation from the Dolly
Buffalo soldier
Continuing on from yesterday’s post, here are a few teaser images from Anita and Adam’s Hampshire wedding at Langrish House near Petersfield. Darren and I really enjoyed sharing part of the day with them and the kids were a blast. Hope you guys have a great time on Honeymoon. BTW — Holly’s 1st birthday is on Tuesday. Goodness me…where has the year gone?
Looky looky
Dangerously close to the oldest cliche in Weddingdom…and you know what, I did actually do it later. It was amusing. Personally all this shot really did for me was make me want to sit down in an exceedingly comfortable chair.
Boy…its a day for GREAT looks
Suddenly visions of Jane Austen novels start flowing through my head
After more than a few warnings we eventually did a Flintsones and tossed Lorna out the window
Its a Bride…its a chair. Are chairs my new fetish?
STOP!…Hammer Time!
Tales from the Crypt
Finally the news sunk in that I wouldn’t be there for the dancing
Funny the things you notice when your time has run out and you’ve got to post the blog (yes, I’ll remove the security sticker in the final image)…
Lady in Red — (confused? took me a while)
Vogue
In winter one should not be to prickly when it comes to available foliage
The Others
My Just One
A Few from Darren and His Technicolor Wristbands
Adam’s brother doesn’t like having his picture taken…
Sailing away
New to the blog…Darren’s Just One
Here is Darren’s take on my Just One set up shot
Well Just One…sorta. Today was a unique day. Working not far from the house and for a short, 2.5 hour coverage. Its something you can opt to do in the bleak mid-winter…however, today wasn’t really bleak at all. The sun was shining, even if it was bum clinchingly cold. Today is also unique in the since we knocked off at 3pm, Darren and I came back to base and reviewed his files and mine. So today’s Just One is actually Just Two…one from me and one from Darren. More on the blog soon.
My Just One
Darren’s Just One
Busted!
By ·No I’m not referring to the mid Naughties boy band (although ‘Year 3000′ was rather catchy). No I’m referring to the recent disappearance of the kids on the blog. I was caught out yesterday when a friend who hadn’t been in touch for a while said she’d been to the blog only to find photos of weddings. Considering the blog was originally founded on the adventures of E it would appear I’ve been more than a little delinquent in my duties of daddydom. So, to redress the balance, tip the scale and generally even the score here are a number of images taken over the past few weeks. Sorry for being a slack*ss.
The real bummer here is that I finally got a proper sledge for him…the day the snow melted. I’m desperate for MORE snow!
Honest…she’s really pleased to be tossed around like a rag doll
Photo taken by my 4 year old son
Perhaps a small clue why we don’t have as many photos of Holly
Mummy…I need a Wii
I wish I could say that this face was put on
Furniture surfing
A brew and a snack…life’s been good to me so far
Brew and a snack on the road
Daddy’s wallet…FOUND!
“You can’t go to playground in a skirt THAT short” – Nicola practices for the years to come
All is quiet
There’s no question I love being busy. Especially in the winter months. With 5 weddings between the 18th of December and the 9th of January I knew things were always going to be hectic. Christmas, New Year, travel to York — twice in 5 days. What I didn’t expect was 2 cases of Chickenpox and 4 days off of school. All in all it put everything behind…a lot. Thankfully everyone has been more than understanding…clients, family…everyone. For that I am grateful. Earlier this week I posted a new slideshow on the website. Here’s a link:
