Photo fun

Mary’s a great photographer.  Unlike me, the point-and-shoot queen, she composes, controls and most importantly, understands what she’s doing.  A few days of enforced residence meant that there was rather more opportunity to spend time exploring the possibilities than normal and Shimelle’s bonus “In Focus” pdfs arriving daily offered rather a lot of inspiration.

First, we played around with candy canes, in and out of focus.  With a manual camera, controlling the focus would be fine, but here we were with two automatics and getting a bit of blur wasn’t easy!

Next, we played around with bokeh.  Once again, this wasn’t easy to achieve on our super-clever cameras which kept on producing the pin sharp shots when we wanted otherwise.  Finally, I discovered a setting I’d not used before and bingo, I got some bokeh shots.

Whilst we were fiddling with our cameras, other members of the family kept their focus elsewhere.

As the days passed, nothing was left unrecorded.  The Christmas Eve breakfast croissants were used to explore the “sharp foreground-soft background” challenge

and I discovered the “food” setting on my camera!

I also discovered the limitations of a point and shoot when it comes to keeping lines straight and minimising the distortion.

When darkness fell, we went a little crazy.

Once the celebrations were over, a new challenge dawned: the choir’s Christmas concert CD cover.  The light outside was super and we were all in need of some fresh air.

We’d noticed how the colour red “pings” off the page in such light conditions, so set up a shot on the theme of “A Taste of Christmas” and three cameras began clicking.

Except that one of us was distracted by the wonderful frost patterns on the summerhouse windows.

This weather has been truly remarkable and now the thaw has begun, it’s hard to recall how very, very cold it was!

As we returned to the warmth indoors to review our work, there was one last chance to capture that strange and rather unusual snow texture.  Surely the Eskimos will have a particular word for it?

Of course, there’s no stopping us now.  Whilst we enjoyed tea with friends, we spotted coloured lights and couldn’t resist getting the cameras out and playing around a little more.

And just to prove I can bokeh, there it is again.

Except there remains one unresolved challenge. 

Introducing Anton

I don’t think it will come as any surprise to anyone who knows us that we are inclined to a little silliness from time to time.

Especially where bears are concerned.

These two small polar bear cubs found their way home with me from Liberty, when we were there just before Christmas and seem to be quite happy in their new home under our tree.

But on Christmas morning, a new face was found nearby!

Whilst in Boston, we’d encountered this small bear at the top of the stairs in an outdoor shop and stopped to take a photo and admire.  Clearly Father Christmas was watching and ably assisted by my hero, a similar bear was tracked down on this side of the Atlantic and made his appearance on Christmas morning.

Anton has made himself quite at home here, has established a habit of moving around a little and tends to pop up in the most surprising places. 

Looks like “Where is Anton?”  is to be the game of 2011!

Good things

With the turkey safely here and more than enough of everything, we’re going into 100% Christmas mode and settling in to enjoy a few days of family, friends and (probably) food.

Time to rekindle the magic and believe in miracles.

Wishing you a Very Happy Christmas. wherever you are.

(nearly) all safely gathered in

We made our way to Cirencester to meet Mary from the coach which arrived on time and without ado.  Having got down our hill successfully, the main roads were OK if a little slow moving.

The “blue sky” isn’t really as you’d think, but the tint in the windscreen that fools us into thinking we drive in perpetual summer!

Whilst Mark went to wait at the bus stop, I took the opportunity to get those last minute things which I’d normally look for on Christmas Eve, together with one or two surprises.  The pavements in Cirencester were not good – this is the main shopping street – and I couldn’t believe that not one single shopkeeper, publican or banker had cleared their bit of the street.  Poor show, Cirencester.

After a spot of lunch, it was time to venture out one last time for a while, to meet our boy from his train.  Delighted to escape from the pressures of Westminster for a few days, he brought his usual gentle humour and kitchen skills with him and I have plans to delegate a few of the kitchen tasks in the coming days.  It’s great to have him home!

So, just my m-i-l and the turkey are still to arrive.  Nearly there.

Best laid plans

I’ve had a lovely few days in the company of dear friends who’d left the sunshine behind, flown across the ocean and generously invited me to share their fun in London last week.  Not wanting them to miss out on a bit of country air, we brought them back here for the weekend and planned a few seasonal entertainments for them.

By some curious coincidence, friends from the opposite, other side of the world happened to be in the city last week too, so I was doubly blessed and had the perfect excuse to linger a little longer than I might have done in Daunts, whilst I waited for them to arrive.

I said goodbye to one set as they went off to enjoy a Danube cruise over the holiday period and then hurried over to meet the others who were already champing at the bit and raring to go out into the bright lights.

Oh my, did we have fun!  With a 23 year old for company, what better place to go than Selfridges new shoe galleries?  Of course, we had to explore Liberty too, which took us into Carnaby Street and beyond.  After a glass of mulled wine and a mince pie (first one for some!), we were tuckered out.  My goodness, I have energetic friends!

Of course, we had to ogle the Fortnum and Mason windows on the way back to our hotel.

Sadly, Thursday dawned cold and wet, so our photography walk was rather more about capturing reflections than we’d intended.  Still, the company (and the chocolate) was good and there were quite a few hidden gems to be found.

I’d not seen the pavement in Plantation Lane with the history of London written into it and must return to take longer and look (and read) more closely.  Much as we all enjoyed the tour though, there was one theme:

Rain.  Until we were returning to our hotel after enjoying tea sitting (wrapped in blankets) on the platform at St Pancras Station, when Kristi looked out of the window and cheered - “SNOW!”

To tell a Californian that snow isn’t altogether good news would simply be spoiling the party.  Fortunately, my hero braved the winter weather on Friday morning and rescued us from the big city, spiriting us away to the peace of the countryside.

Saturday morning dawned white, and of course, we had to go and play

Someone was excited!

Of course, our plans were put on ice.  No “Winters Night” for us, instead an evening of wall to wall “Downton Abbey”.  No Daylesford and lunch at The Plough but a day at home chatting, eating and enjoying each others company, with an occasional venture outdoors to confirm that yes, it was still as cold as it was an hour ago!

But worst of all, there was  no plane home.  Having got everyone back to Heathrow safely and comfortably settled into the Sheraton until it was time to check in, back home we followed Kristi and Diana’s American Airlines flight status.  Half an hour after it was due to depart, we spotted that word “cancelled” appear and both of us groaned, imagining the discomfort and anxiety that was bound to accompany that news.  But somehow, they managed to get themselves onto a flight to Chicago, from where they made their way to LA, arriving just about an hour ago – some 24 hours after they took off from Heathrow.

Today, Mary’s Virgin Atlantic flight suffered the same fate, but sadly, there’s no room for her until the 27th.  There is, however, room for her at the inn…if that’s what we can call our home.  We’ll look forward to an extra one at our Christmas table this year and look forward to her return tomorrow!

At least, that’s the plan…