Southbourne

Its been a while between posts on travel, work and blogging. There has been quite a bit of travel, no work (lol) and most of the blogging has been happening over at photo web connect. Just a few updates for the last few months. It has been a challenging few months, filled with some real pain in the but moments and some fantastic hights (a trip to Africa being the main one). Moved house in November, which wasn’t an easy ride and included internet hassles, two actual physical moves and then little time to unpack and get sorted before heading off on trips to Africa and Scotland. They were both excellent trips, but made the last few months very stressful when I wasn’t there. The money situation is now somewhat strained after being lucky enough to take off 6 months to move, travel and focus on my photography, I am now looking once again for full-time employment!  In a way, I am dissapointed as it means I cannot continue on the journey in the way I would like to, but the reality is that I can’t continue on any journey without funds and there is still much to learn, do and try. So, fingers crossed I can find something in the next couple of months, re-establish, do a few more trips and then hopefully go back to full-time development of my photography at some future time…lets see what fate brings.

As I mentioned, Africa was awesome – I am already trying to think of a way to go back – maybe in 2014! Went to Tanzania and Zanzibar, with the main photographic focus being in the Zanzibar island. It was lovely to have some warm weather and the places we stayed were just amazing. Tanzania was the game driving, which I absolutely fell in love with on my last trip in 2004. Serengeti was just an amazing landscape, no time to stop, but plenty of time to take it in on the games drives. Went to Scotland with my friend over xmas. The weather was horrible, but we did manage a couple of days to venture out of the b&b in Fort William to do some shooting and then a couple of days in Inverness – what an amazing landscape location that is, but I think the next visit will need to be in Summer!  Since returning, have started to settle into the place in Southbourne slowly, exploring the local area, job hunting ~(as I mentioned) and trying to spend as much time down by the ocean as I can. Here’s hoping to a successful and happy and healthy 2012 for you all. Thanks for sticking with me

Zanzibar and other musings

 

I have just returned from a 10 day photographic trip to Zanzibar and Tanzania!!. Given my current unemployment situation, it was an extremely expensive adventure to take, but it has been on the travel plan for over 18 months now when it was first posted on the Ocean Capture list of workshops and there was no way I could miss it. We had 2 days in the Serengeti to start with, game drives daily and staying at an absolutely fabulous tented camp, run by the ever present and attentive Obi. We were wined, dined and entertained. The tents were amazing, included with their own onsuite proper toilet and bucket show.  We saw cheetah, zebra, giraffe, wilderbeast and many more amazing wildlife, unfortunatelty the lions were elusive this trip to Africa, but we had fun trying to find them, including an episode of being bogged in the mud when the drive enthusiastically attempted to cross a rather muddy patch.

From there we then chartered a private plane and flew to Zanzibar!  The land of Dhows, spices, amazing tropical fruit and sun, sun, sun. Coming back from 35 degrees to the current windy, wet and cold England yesterday has been a little difficult, but at least I had 10 days of sun. We had an amazing trip with lots of photographic opportunities to shoot the dhows, from land and water, the small fishing villages, people and rainforests. We had guided trips each day, and pool and beach time was also included along the way. We had 3 course meals for lunch and dinner, I have a new ginger beer addiction and on the last night one of the course member, a local from Kenya treated us to a traditional Swahili meal, and cocktail from a local hotel. All in all it was fabulous and I now have the fun task of working through my photos and choosing a few for my latest portolio..

On other news, prior to the Africa trip was the final move, this time for a 12 month least in Southbourne. I can’t say I havw really had the opportunity to settle in yet, but at least we have got the moving and most of the unpacking out of the way now, so will be able to explore. Had a job interview, but didn’t get the contract so the new year will need to begin with a focus on finding a bit of paid work and balancing it with trying to keep the photography going – it is getting really hard to maintain the mental push forward now, 6 months has passed already, and I still don’t really have any leverage or direction, but hey, this is what its all about, so I will keep trying, and keep pushing forward. Got a week and a bit now before a xmas trip to Scotland – the weather could be interesting – I think there is a pretty high chance of snow!!

Till next time!

Counting down

The new header image above is of my current beach in Boscombe, Bournemouth. Been here a week now and now have one more week until we move to our new place early next Monday morning!  It has been an interesting time, these is nothing like being in limbo to slowly drive you stir crazy. In addition to no job, no car and no decent weather, I have also managed to get a sore throat and am feeling a bit average at the moment, so I am extremely keen to move and be able to get sorted. Living amongst boxes and rubble does get a little testing. On the plus side, between some very average weather, I did managed 2 shoots last week and about 3 morning walks along the beach, to Bournemouth. This week, after a day off today to rest, I am going to try walking the opposite way, which is heading towards our new place. We also have the opportunity to have a bit of a look at our place tomorrow night with the agent, so we can start planning where we are going to put furniture etc – it will be great to see it again .

Over the weekend, ie yesterday, we headed for a short drive down to Hengistbury Head – its really close to where we will be and has some lovely walking, coast, rainforest and marshes, a real variety of ‘ecosystems’ as my friend described it. It will be great to have that nearby. Also found a few spots to try some evening shooting as well. Most of this week I have been spending at internet cafes or coffee shops with internet at some point in the day. I have costa susseed…gets busy around 9am, so have to get there by then to get the seat with the power and then can use the unlimited internet and people watch from the window. I am a bit sick of coffee (never thought I would say that)..so having something different this morning, a vanilla latte, just to toss things up.

So, anyway, mood is generally struggling at the moment, but managing to hang in there as I know there is exciting things on the horizon. No luck with the job hunting as yet, plenty more tries and fails to be had there I feel…but I have decided to do something exciting next year to help on that front..a self development thing if you like, so stay tuned for that one!

Boscombe

Now in Bournemouth, blogging from Boscombe, which is the temporary accommodation for a couple of weeks until the new place becomes available. Just spent 3 days packing, cleaning, and then moving on Saturday, trying to make the temp place liveable without packing too much as it will all just have to happen again in a couple of weeks. Place is quite nice, pretty roomy which is good re the furniture situation. TV is crap, average reception and only about 3 channels so we purchased some DVDs yesterday to tide us over. Location fabulous. Just did my first walk this morning, along the seafront from Boscome to Bournemouth pier, was about 30mins each way, nice coffee stop at Bournemouth pier overlooking the water and then a 10min walk or so into the main street where I have found a decent internet cafe to keep me going for the next fortnight!  About to head back home shortly and do a bit of cooking and relax. Hoping to then take the camera out to shoot at sunset, which is now about 4:30pm!  I have plenty of lovely seafront to capture thats for sure.

We got approval for our new place on Friday, which was our last day in Southampton, so at least we know we have a place, just have to move into it!  Geez moving can be a stressful and tiring process..ah well, getting close, then settle in for a week and onto Africa..what an exciting few months I have to look forward….when will I find the time to get that job I now need to fund this all

Moving…step 1

Getting ready for the first of two moves which will be happening over the next 3 weeks. Lease is up in Southampton at the end of the week, and we are still awaiting a confirmation on a new flat in Bournemouth, so are taking on a 2 week, holiday let in Bournemouth to bridge the gap (well thats the plan). Will be near to the beach and also the main town of Boscombe, so I will have a few weeks to explore and hopefully take advantage of the now early sunsets, with some beach shots. It should be an interesting time, hopefully all will go smoothly and we will get the new place approved so we can set-up a new location in Bournemouth for a while. Only downside is the moving around is making it even more difficult to secure any work, and cant really get a car without a confirmed place to park it…but is may just be that these things are not meant to come to fruition next year, and my priorities for now are new location, Africa and then Xmas in Scotland. Its worth enjoying it while I can I think! 

Spent most of this weekend packing, although did managed to fit in a chocolate truffle making session for 2 hours in a nearby town. It was a special offer that I found and booked up about 2 months ago, and they were so busy that this month was the earliest availability. Also followed that with a few hours shooting at Highcliffe beach, followed by a lovely meal at the Cliffhanger restaurant and then a fairly hairy drive home through the new forest in lashing rain, fog and very dark roads (very hairy but my friend manged the conditions excellently). Red wine and some choc truffles (handmade) on our return home.  So, stay tuned, will try and post again from Boscombe, but we probably wont have internet so it many be a bit hit and miss. Next stop, Bournemouth, Dorset!

More organising…and breathe…

More organising to be done this last week just gone, as I get over my jet lag and start to get ready for the rest of the year. Unfortunately my part-time work seems to have ended, so on the plus side I have some time, I just don’t have any more money coming in, but never mind, lets not let that stop us!  So far this week, I have organised the paperwork for a UK drivers license and a visa for Africa in December – paid, posted and now just awaiting the hopefully safe return of said documents in the next few weeks!  Had my travel jab for yellow fever and stocked up on my malaria tablets at the local travel clinic. The travel clinic nurse was extremely helpful, informative and gentle, so other than the price, it was relatively painful!  Spent most of this weekend on the computer organising various things, my photography website has had a bit of a clean-up and a revamp, I have joined a site to enable my prints to be sold (Redbubble) if you are interested in a look, and also planned and paid for Xmas in Scotland – 8 nights, which includes stays in Fort William and Inverness and takes in the overnight caledonian sleeper train on the way over (quick flight back), arriving back just before the new year. The accommodation in Fort William looks very nice, just on the shores of Loch Linnhe (http://www.campfield-house.co.uk/) – should be a great location for some shoots I hope.

Next few weeks now will be househunting with avengence, as we need to move out by 5th November and so far haven’t seen any places – we put our names down with about 7 agencies last week, so hoping something might pop up this week or next. We have quite specific criteria, so may end up having to bend to get something, but will see how we go – will keep you updated.

Also, managed to fit in a shoot last night at Lepe Country Park, photographing, “the dolphins” which are some interesting structures near the shoreline – stay tuned for an article on this on Photo Web Connect blog shortly.  So, I thing that’s all for now folks…

Southampton

It is quite a spinnout, that within a day, you can travel from one side of the world to the other. That’s what I have done for the second time in 2 weeks! Returned back to Southampton yesterday after about 20 hours of flying and 5 hours in Singapore. Managed to get a reasonable amount of sleep, saved it up to the second leg of the flight – also found a stretch out chair in Singapore airport, with a nice peaceful garden view, so managed to get a few hours there as well. Got into Heathrow at 5am and managed to get out of Heathrow and to Paddington station within the hour which was quite impressive – 2 more trains later and a taxi ride and back home by about 11am, not too bad. Managed to stay awake all day, and slept from about 9pm through to the morning. Did wake up a couple of times totally dissoriented as to where I was, but all good. Hoping tonight will be the same and no 2:30am wakeups like my second night in OZ. Having a relatively quiet one today, a small walk, a coffee, organised some passport/drivers licence photos and now home chilling in front of the TV and doing some photo editing. Have the place to myself this weekend, as my flatmate is in London, so I have washing everywhere and have the Tim Tams out for chocolate comfort

Going away on Monday for a couple of days to the Isle of Wight, for my friends birthday, and then I need to see about job hunting and house hunting and getting ready for Africa. Lots to do, easing in slowly. Bye for now.

Oz

A lot has been happening in the general arena of late, so thought I would do a bit of a catch-up post. I have been in Adelaide, since 23rd Sept, leave to go back to England tomorrow – a bit of a flying visit, to visit family, friends and celebrate my 40th. All have been done, all good, and I have been very spoilt with some lovely meals, presents and celebratory drinks over the last few weeks. Going back to lots of things to organise, drivers licence and car, new abode in Bournemouth area to be found, visa and vaccs for my Africa trip in December. Also hoping to be able to get a few more weeks of temp work at the place I have been working over the last month – a housing commission organisation, where I have been doing part time admin. Lots to do in the photography arena, had a lot of time to contemplate a lot of the feedback I have received on that front and start to organise my way forward.

All in all, has been a very enjoyable, relaxing few weeks and I am recharged and ready to get into making a few more big changes. Fingers crossed that we can find a coastal property, as I am going into winter, and winter by the ocean would be fabulous if we can achieve the right place. Anyway, will be back with you again when I am unjettlaged and back (temporarily) in Southampton.!!

Another day….another dollar

It should have been, but unfortunately my agency made a stuff up with my pay check this week, so no pay for me   Seems, when you get paid weekly, you can’t get your pay till the following week if an error is made either…bugger!  Ah well. Just finished my 3rd week of part-time work. This part-time gig is perfect, although i’d like to try and find a slightly higher paid version. But the 20hrs is the way to go. Starting to get a big more productive around the working hours as well, so just need to keep that going.  I have another couple of weeks of work before heading to oz for my birthday celebrations, and then I am on the job hunt again, as well as trying to get this photography business happening, more shooting, more editing and starting study in Nov. Oh yes, did I mention trips to I of W, Scotland and Africa. Geez!

Having a bit of a quiet one this weekend. I am going to try and do some local shooting, but no big trips planned.  Monday night I am heading the Jurassic Coast (Lyme Regis) for a 3 day workshop with my photo mentor (Ocean Capture). Should be good – especially if the weather stays as nice as it has been today.  September already. How exciting. By the time I go into next month, I will be a whole decade older!!!

Still travel work and blogging

Most of the action is, in honesty happening over at my new blog at the moment, but I am continuing to use travel, work and blogging, which has been my trustyblog since 2008!!  alive and updated on things that are not necessarily photography related. On the work front, I have just recently started some part-time admin work in Southampton. A nice little group actually, very friendly. Work pretty easy but that’s ok, giving me the time to sort the rest of things out and a little bit of a weekly cash injection until mid Sept. They are going through an admin review in the company at the moment, so they are using temps to help out while they sort things out, so it has ended up being a great opportunity for me, and something to keep the CV ticking over. Travel front, nothing since Greenland, other than local area exploration. Been seeing quite a bit of Hampshire actually, with people visiting from London and places visited over weekends. So far, my list, which includes photo scoping locations is Hamble, Warsash, Calshot, New Forest, Lymington, Netley, Hythe, Lepe, Milford on Sea, Highcliffe, Beauliu, Portsmouth, West Cowes (Isle of Wight), Woolston and Southampton of course. There may even be some others in that lot, but over a month I think that is pretty good. This weekend it will be Waymouth and Portland, for the long weekend which should be great.

So, ticking along. Really need to do more shooting though – working 3 days has made that harder and I haven’t sorted out the balance yet – time and patience!  Bye for now (and keep an eye on Photo web connect…like the FB page if you are interested..and tell your friends!!