Focus

I think I might be a little obsessed.  I am in photography overload at the moment. Actually doing everything except taking photos, but should be amending that on Wed when I set off for a couple of days to the New Forest, I have been researching courses, reading up on the latest magazines/techniques, updating my website, picking some photos for my 2010 calendar and just generally dreaming about what I can do next year.

I did get out for a walk today, to the Costa at Crowthorne.  Very nice actually..friendly staff and I had a great vanilla latte…big on calories and sugar but very nice.  Read the paper and then grabbed some groceries.  Had some lunch and then been doing all the photo stuff. I might be obsessed…then I might just have found a passion in life…time will tell.

PS – on unrelated notes, I think I need to get my haircut and I know I need to lose some weight…going to be joining up at the local gym in Dernancourt on my return…they have 1 month memberships…so perfect start…

Leavin London

I am currently at Starbucks in Paddington station on-route to Crowthorne with the rest of ‘my life in London’ packed into 3 bulging (and very heavy) bags.  I manged to get from Brixton to Victoria station via a bus and then I cheated and took a taxi instead of the tube. I am so glad I did as these bags are so heavy, I think I have pinched a nerve in my arm.  Now I just need a couple of trains and then I can add these to the rest of my belongings..ready to be sorted for remainder of trips and home.

Last night was good fun.  I caught up with Deb and Miranda who came all the way over to London for the weekend.  We went to Sloane Square and after a bit of walking found a nice little pub for a drink and some dinner.  We then joined quite a few people on the sidewalk alongside the Thames and watched the fireworks in Battersea park which was good.  After a bit of debate then headed to Victoria to another pub for more drinks.  I had quite a heavy drink load on Fri night so I was being good, so had a sugar hit with some lemonades by the time we had got to Victoria. Headed back in what was then the rain..Brixton was buzzing!

Left my friends in Brixton this morning, where I have been staying, to a bit of peace and quiet before they have more vistors landing on them over the next few weeks!  I have been really lucky to have been able to stay with them and stay in London up until now..It feels a bit strange leaving london knowing that I won’t be living here now…for a while….for I don’t know how long….never say never.

But looking forward to Hampshire (Lymington) next week, followed by a weekend in London with Kath and then Prague..busy few weeks before winding down for hometime.  This vanilla latte is great and I think I am getting the sense of feeling back in my arm again…Will see you again in Crowthorne.

Plan for December

It will be 3 weeks today that I head home, to make some decisions about what 2010 will bring. Looks like the heat is on and I am looking forward to lots of walking along the coast and catching up with everyone.  Hopefully a job to get a bit of cash will also be on the cards.  But, realistically it is going to take a few months to sort some things out, make some decisions etc etc. So I am making a list, which I can go back and look at next month of some of the things that I want to aim to do in December, which will hopefully help me focus .

Susan’s To Do List for December 2009

1. Start learning French – using my 12 week BBC on-line website

2. Join a camera club in Adelaide.

3. Finish researching photography studies options – in Adelaide and London

4. Join job agencies for exploring temp work.

5. Photoshoot weekend – SA coast shoot.

6. Health and fitness routine

I’ll add to this over the coming weeks if required.

PS – check out latest updates in the News section of http://www.furberphotography.com/

Nov 5

Currently watching and listening to a few rogue fireworks from Brixton 3rd floor. A little obscured by the trees and just had to close the window cause it is a bit cold, but a bit of colour was nice. Had dinner tonight at the pub with my friends and a glass of wine…Pig on the spit baguettes..yumo.

Today after a bit of internet, I went into Oxford St and did some xmas shopping.  Went into Hambleys, the big kids shop and had a very successful trip actually – lots of purchases made. A starbucks and a busride later, back home, before I could be tempted to spend anymore money though.

I feel like taking some photos so I might try and scope out a location to go tomorrow. Got to pack up my stuff again on the weekend…I am a bit sick of doing that, but not all that long to go now. I am going to miss living in London though I realised today…what am I going to do next year, I really have no flippin idea at the moment.

Moving on

Nothing to see here – moving on. What did I do today.  Not much?. I did apply for a couple of jobs…lets go with that.  I also picked up my ticket to go to Lymington next week for a couple of days.  Trains trains and trains.

Chilling with wine at the moment…at Brixton..

OK butt into gear for tomorrow.

Not much

Not a lot to report today. Another ‘inside day’ due to the weather and lack of funds…Trying to balance it a bit with a day out and a day in and save funds for Prague and also a couple of days away in hampshire next week.

Went for a walk in the afternoon around Brockwell park and had a coffee and read my photography magazine.  Did some photo research stuff and some job stuff in the morning…Tomorrow will be museum day. hopefully. Only have 4 days left in London!!

Energy levels are a bit low at the moment…end of what has been a massive adventure is in sight.  Looking forward to seeing family and friends again…very much!!

Stuffed

Full of food that is, rather than in general. Just got back from a great meal with one of my ex-colleagues (actually team leader) and we went to this great little restaurant on Baker St. Had main and dessert so feeling a little overfull. we chatted for about 4 hours, good to catch-up.

Good balanced day today, coffee at Starbucks, walk along the river at Hammersmith and then a bit of window shopping in Bayswater while I was killing some time waiting to catch-up for dinner. Also a bit of emailing and interneting and some lunch in between. Good one. Weather permitting some more walking tomorrow I hope.Cat we were babysitting at Brixton went home tonight, so no late night or early morning meowing tonight…he has been fine though, will miss his headbutting and smelly food! Gdnight

Photos

Woops!  Spent pretty much all of the day working on my photos today, between TV and snacks on the couch.  Good news is that Flickr and my photo website are up-to-date.  Still going to work ongoing on some editing and add to the collection, but already getting some nice feedback on Flickr on the iceland shots which is great. It was pretty wet and miserable today, so I though it worth taking the day out and so then this week I can explore london a bit. It is officially my last week in London, moving out of Brixton on the weekend and spending the last 3 weeks in country england and prague. Next week I head to Jeannette’s and I also booked myself one more stay for next week – in a place called Lymington (New Forest). There is a bit of a history/reason for the choice which I will explain later, but it will also give me a chance to explore a bit around Hampshire and spend my last bit of time in country england by the coast.

Not sure what is on the agenda for tomorrow – trying to keep the spending down so it might be a museum or a walk, depending on weather. Anyway, enough computer for the day I think, signing off.

Walk

Forced myself to get out of the house today and walked from Richmond to Kew Gardens, and also a bit around Richmond as well. It was actually a really nice day, although it rained overnight it didn’t rain on me and was quite mild.  Felt a lot better having got out and about, so I will need to make sure I keep that up. I have set myself a task to edit one photo per day, so it means that I will do bits but not go over the top with the laptop usage hopefully.  Also going to try the health kick again for the next month…starting on monday and probably similar to what I did before but not lose the alcohol this time around.

Still feeling sad about not still being in iceland.  Its the definite downside of doing such excellent trips, which are short and intense…they have to be over at some point. Trying to recharge and still have 4 weeks to enjoy before the reality check sets back in again…need to make sure I do it.  One day at a time. Today was a good one…relaxed but a bit of energy. Lets keep that going.

Last month

Nearly into November and today is officially my 4 weeks till hometime mark. Back from Iceland last night after a nice relaxing morning.  Spent a bit of time with JC giving a critique on my photos for the trip which he did with everyone…gave up his whole morning to do so..such a work ethic! Was really good to see which ones he picked out as keepers and which ones will be worth editing. So I have one more plan/idea for completing my 12 month photography journey.  Stay tuned on that one.  I also started working on a bit of a list of what I want to do/achieve next year with it.

Didn’t do too much today – went to the local park for a coffee and started working on my list.  Was quite nice until the dog walkers arrived with about 10 dogs that they were in the process of walking – bit too many at once, together with the kids. Did some grocery shopping on the way back and then a bit of TV and some computer time.

Currently watching a cat go a bit psycho and watching some episodes of Brother’s and Sisters after soup and brownies and icecream.  I wish I was back in Iceland..