Justine Gordon Photography

Winter sunshine

2012-02-10T09:02:00.001Z

I took this shot on my iphone in the afternoon sun a couple of days ago, I love that winter golden hour and luckily someone was feeding the seagulls at just the right moment.

It's so cold!

2012-02-04T09:56:00.000Z

Too cold to do anything but stay in bed with a good book...

Hope you are keeping warm this weekend.

Amaryllis

2012-01-30T09:44:00.000Z

A bit of pink for monday morning

Experiments with film

2012-01-27T18:38:00.001Z

I am having a great time experimenting with film again and using a really old Nikkormat that my mother had lying in the back of a cupboard for years after she had stopped using it. When she gave the camera to me she also gave me two rolls of expired film from 1999 so this is the result, grainy and underexposed but I like the rawness and grain of the shot and the fact it is in it's natural state, two, not three dimensional, not sharpened, textured or contrasted. I am enjoying the whole process of waiting, to take the shot, see if it will come out and waiting till I can go back to pick up the pictures. What about you? are you tempted to pick up a film camera again?

A different perspective of Hong Kong

2012-01-23T08:37:00.000Z

Just a few streets away from the street markets in Hong Kong you find all the upmarket shops, Louis Vuitton, Prada and Tiffany. Over Christmas Tiffany placed a carousel in the middle of a square for all to enjoy. I decided to sit on a bench and watch everyone for a bit. It was such a contrast to the basic day to day atmosphere of the markets, it was all about everyone concentrating on their phones and cameras, oblivious to all around them, very much two sides of Hong Kong, one side old and one side new.

I was able to do quite a lot of people watching completely unobserved.

This last shot was taken on my iphone, I love the red Hong Kong taxis

Street shots of Hong Kong part two

2012-01-16T12:34:00.000Z

Here are some more shots of the markets

Street shots of Hong Kong

2012-01-11T12:41:00.000Z

I decided to take my camera into the lanes and markets of Hong Kong where all the meat and fish are sold, there is the most amazing atmosphere there, so vibrant and exciting and of course very smelly!

Quiet Time

2012-01-09T09:33:00.001Z

On our travels over Christmas we also visited Hong Kong which was fantastic. It is such a busy, vibrant city, there is so much going on, so much noise and traffic and chaos. I am not sure whether this man is sleeping or meditating but I admired his ability to chill out with so much going on around him on a very busy ferry. Think I might try it during 2012!

Resolution

2012-01-06T09:33:00.000Z

Whilst on holiday in Sydney last week I went to this amazing stationery shop called kikki-k.com. I love spending hours in stationary shops and I was inspired by this wonderful booklet. It is one of my new year resolutions to tick the boxes every day and hopefully in twenty one days my bad habits will be a distant memory....Linking up with project 52 today, if you are wondering what projects to start in 2012, this is a great one to go for, do check it out.

On the beach

2012-01-05T10:57:00.001Z

We spent some of Christmas Day on the beach at Manly in Sydney. I don't know who this man in front of me was but I liked his straw hat and basket. It was so lovely to be out in the fresh Sydney air.

Friends and serendipity

2012-01-04T08:34:00.000Z

We had a wonderful time in Sydney over Christmas catching up with family and old friends. One of my favourite catch ups was with my closest friend Simone who also hosts this wonderful blog. Simone hosted a wonderful dinner for four of us who had got to know each other in mothers group when our girls were born (they are now all nearly turning 21!).
Simone lives in the most beautiful house overlooking the water, a view to die for don't you agree?

It is wonderfully light and beautifully decorated.

We had such a wonderful evening with delicious food and far too much wine

Thanks Simone xx (do go and visit her blog!)

Looking forward

2012-01-02T09:32:00.001Z

Hope you all have a wonderful new year, now is the time to start thinking of the year ahead and everyone seems to be talking about their word for the year. I haven't had a word before but I have been thinking about it for the last few days and thought that my word for the year would be POSITIVE. I am a glass half empty sort of person, I am a worrier, I worry when I have nothing to worry about and molehills become mountains most days so from now on it's all about being positive and opening up to new challenges without worrying about it. I have decided to be more involved so have joined facebook and twitter (justinegordon1) so do please add me and say hello! 2012 is going to be the year to embrace new things! I am busy sorting out my holiday shots, here is the top of the Opera house, I miss it already!

Linking up at the wonderful creative exchange today

Introducing Film26

2012-01-01T14:51:00.001Z

There is something so magical about using film, picking up an old camera and imagining who used it, whose hands held it, it all adds to the moment. As from tomorrow we are starting a fantastic new project using film so grab your cameras - they can be polaroids, 35mm, medium format, fuji's, diana's, whatever you want as long as they are film cameras - start taking pictures! Film 26 is based on 26 two week periods where we will be taking pictures representing a letter of the alphabet. Tomorrow we start with A so come and join us here on flickr and here at Girl's guide to gear hosted by the wonderful Tammy. At girl's guide to gear we will also feature photos from the flicker group, tips, prizes and wonderful other film related things - look forward to seeing you there!

Happy New Year!

2011-12-31T12:01:00.000Z

We got back yesterday after a wonderful trip away - I am currently suffering an enormous bout of jetlag but just wanted to pop in to wish everyone a very very happy new year! look forward to seeing you all in 2012

A merry Christmas!

2011-12-19T08:51:00.002Z

We are off on a whirlwind trip today, first Hong Kong and then Sydney to catch up with friends and family, ten days in total so it is very quick. I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and I look forward to catching up with you all very soon.

Instagram love

2011-12-17T09:30:00.000Z

I have now got an iphone and I am absolutely loving taking pictures on it using instagram, I love the freedom of it all, do you use instagram? my link is @justinegordon, let me know what yours is.
This is a picture of my cat ling ling, as I have mentioned before she is a funny little thing, she was a stray in Hong Kong and we bought her back to England with us, she doesn't like many people and is not one for cuddles. I was trying to flea her last night so she hid under the Christmas tree!

Wordless Wednesday

2011-12-14T09:12:00.000Z

Linking up here to this fabulous blog faith called hope and a whole lotta love, do check it out

It's beginning to feel like Christmas

2011-12-13T10:12:00.000Z

The tree is up and decorated, I am beginning to feel festive, how about you?

Father and Son

2011-12-10T12:43:00.000Z

I loved watching Michael teach Harry to tie his bow tie before he went to an 18th birthday party last night, such concentration and a very poignant moment.

Winter in the garden

2011-12-09T12:05:00.000Z

Vintage take two

2011-12-04T10:54:00.001Z

These cameras and the ones in the previous shot were all on a stall in Portobello Road in Notting Hill, sadly they were rather too expensive to bring home.

Vintage

2011-12-02T17:14:00.000Z

Ice Skating and the Natural History Museum

2011-11-30T13:37:00.001Z

It still seems hard to think that this time in a month Christmas will be completely over, the weather is still so mild and not a glimpse of snow. I walked past the Natural History Museum in London today and they have an ice rink there at the moment with a ferris wheel, it all looks very lovely set against this magnificent building. If the children were with me I would have given the skating a go, something I haven't done since I was a child, I'm sure it should be on my bucket list!

It was full of people of all ages and abilities, sadly no budding Olympic skaters today.

I really enjoyed watching everyone from the sidelines.

London is great for these sort of events, last year it was in Hyde Park, it's a great way to spend the afternoon.

Autumn colours

2011-11-25T08:40:00.000Z

Hope you all had a lovely Thanksgiving yesterday, here in the UK we don't celebrate it so I spent the afternoon on Wimbledon Common enjoying all the fantastic autumn colours in nature.

Yellow

2011-11-23T10:01:00.002Z

A burst of yellow for Wednesday on a very foggy day.

Polaroids

2011-11-18T10:37:00.000Z

When I first started blogging I met some wonderful new friends including the lovely and talented Lisa Gordon who takes amazing polaroids. I mentioned to her that I wanted to buy a polaroid camera and she sent me one of hers!! I have had it sitting waiting and this week I finally got some film, the PX silver shade. Here is the other side of my sitting room, I love the morning light streaming in. Thank you again Lisa!

Light

2011-11-16T08:35:00.001Z

Yesterday was one of those beautiful autumn days, I took the first picture with the morning light streaming in through the blinds in the sitting room.

The second shot I took in the park near the water in the afternoon sun. I do love natural light. I bought a canon speedlite for my course but just can't get enthusiastic about using it, how about you? do you prefer natural light or speedlite?

I am linking up at through a photographer's eye today, this is a great blog I have stumbled across.

Finishing touches

2011-11-12T10:12:00.000Z

Finally I have finished doing everything I needed to in the house, we have been here six months - time has gone so quickly. A man arrived yesterday to fit the headboard in my daughter's bedroom and my window seat cushion in the book room so now I can just sit back and enjoy it all. I think I will sit reading a biography of Charles Dickens by Claire Tomalin that I have just started. What are you reading? I am hoping it will inspire me to spend 2012 reading all his novels, I should start with a Christmas Carol as soon as possible, anyone care to join me?

Clematis flower

2011-11-10T10:59:00.001Z

London is looking very grey and dull at the moment but as I tidied up the garden yesterday ready for winter I found that the clematis is still flowering. I love these colours together, purple and green make such a wonderful combination. Hope you are having a colourful autumn too.

Autumn in the park

2011-10-31T15:19:00.000Z

This is the local park where I walk the dogs, now the clocks have changed it feels like winter is just around the corner. Makes you want to curl up in front of the fire with a good book.

More lomography

2011-10-24T06:01:00.001+01:00

When I spent the day at a lomography workshop recently I took some black and white film shots like the one above but I also got to play with the Diana camera and took some colour film. It is like a toy camera, so light and easy to take streets shots etc because it doesn't really look real. I quite like this one, it gives you a feel of a cold rainy London day.

I am also linking up to Lisa's fantastic creative exchange, do have a look.

Lomography

2011-10-18T09:04:00.002+01:00

I had great fun recently using a lomo lc wide camera to take street shots, it was wonderful to use film again.

Autumn evenings

2011-10-16T17:40:00.001+01:00

It is getting darker earlier, the evenings have a distinct autumnal feel to them.

Street scenes

2011-10-13T05:01:00.001+01:00

I took some street shots at Southbank near the Tate the other day, there is so much going on there. I loved this man reading a book oblivious to all around him. This couple were absorbed in face painting.

More simple things...

2011-10-11T18:16:00.000+01:00

simple things

2011-10-10T17:16:00.000+01:00

Enjoying simple everyday things at the moment. Thought the cotton wool looked so good in this little jar I had to photograph it.

Learning new things

2011-10-07T11:03:00.001+01:00

Yesterday we spent the day in the darkroom learning how to make photograms. These are made by placing objects directly on photographic paper and switching the light on and off to make the exposure. No film or camera is involved.
I decided to use the wonderful clematis heads that look all fluffy and woolly as they die on the branches, I added some lavender and scattered some seeds across the whole page to make it look like everything was blowing in the wind and this is the result.

I really enjoyed being in the darkroom learning this technique but I am finding the rest of the course hard as it is all very technical and maths based (I have never been able to do maths). The theory is that once you know the maths the passion will come but I am of the view that it is passion first, a bit of technical and then a bit of luck! what do you think?

The last flower in my garden

2011-09-26T13:32:00.001+01:00

This has just bloomed, everything else in the garden seems to be getting ready for autumn.

I am very excited but nervous too as tomorrow I start a diploma course in photography, it's three days a week and covers all aspects of photography, it should be fascinating. I am not very good at meeting people and starting all over again so wish me luck!

I am also linking up with Lisa's wonderful creative exchange, do join in.

Ta Dah!!

2011-09-21T20:25:00.000+01:00

I have finished my 365 journey, it started on the 27th August 2010 so I missed a few days here and there but I did it! It has been a great discipline and I have learnt a lot throughout the process, I don't think I will do it again for a while but I am so glad I persevered. I felt I should have finished with a flourish and an amazing photograph but I just got this fellow slightly out of focus, he didn't mind though! What shall I do now??

A rainy evening in London

2011-09-17T21:40:00.000+01:00

Autumn

2011-09-13T18:56:00.000+01:00

This plant (can't remember its name) is hanging on pretending it's not autumn in my garden. I love using this vase as it has bees all around the middle of it.

books, books and more books....

2011-09-05T10:18:00.000+01:00

The builders and painters have left and I have finally got my lovely book room that I have always wanted. I am still waiting for the white shutters to be installed and for the lampshades above the window seat to arrive but otherwise my room is done. I have always loved books and cannot imagine life without them. I thought I had a lot but there are still quite a few empty shelves so I will have to keep reading! I am linking up with the wonderful Lisa over at the creative exchange, do take a lot at her blog for some fantastic inspiration.

Some pink for Friday

2011-09-02T12:01:00.000+01:00

The sun is shining, it's a beautiful day, hope you are having a lovely day.

Green tomatoes

2011-08-29T09:56:00.000+01:00

These wonderful green tomatoes come from my mother's greenhouse, I'm hoping if I leave them out on the windowsill they will be ready to eat soon.

A relaxing long weekend

2011-08-27T11:41:00.000+01:00

It's a long weekend here in England, time to relax and enjoy the last of the summer. Hope you are having a nice weekend where ever you are and I hope you are staying safe in the USA at the moment.

The August Break

2011-08-24T11:12:00.005+01:00

Harry's boots

Summer fruits

2011-08-22T11:39:00.000+01:00

It is only two more weeks till school starts again, I can't believe how quickly the summer has gone. It is getting darker earlier and there is an autumnal feel in the air. We still have peaches and nectarines to enjoy though...

The August Break

2011-08-18T16:33:00.002+01:00

Roses from the garden

2011-08-15T19:29:00.004+01:00

Linking up to Lisa's wonderful creative exchange too.

Clematis

2011-08-11T13:48:00.000+01:00

My clematis has just flowered again.

Summer baking in black and white

2011-08-08T10:57:00.000+01:00

Linking up with the creative exchange today too

Summer pastels

2011-08-05T15:19:00.000+01:00

Wishing

2011-08-04T11:04:00.000+01:00

The heatwave seems to be over and it hasn't stopped raining, I wish I was back in Italy standing looking out of this window....

Cornflowers

2011-08-01T08:25:00.000+01:00

I went to visit my mother yesterday, she has a huge garden bed full of cornflowers - perfect summer blues. I am participating in the Lisa's wonderful creative exchange today.

A white rose for the weekend

2011-07-30T16:26:00.000+01:00

365 days - a long journey

2011-07-28T16:10:00.000+01:00

I don't know about you but I am struggling to get to the end of my 365 day photographic journey, I must confess that I have lapsed a few times but I am now up to day 309 so the end is in sight and I am determined not to give it up. Anyway, I have decided to spend the next 26 days doing letters of the alphabet to get me through, they don't have to be in any order, just whatever you feel like on the day. As an example today I am going for the letter A - for attitude.
My 17 year old son Harry doesn't see what is wrong with riding his skateboard in the kitchen with odd socks to match - it's all about attitude!
I am starting a flickr group if anyone wants to join - just click here

Capri

2011-07-27T08:50:00.001+01:00

After we left Positano we headed across on the ferry to Capri for four nights. On a couple of occasions we went to a restaurant called La Fontelina which is situated at the foot of a 300 metre cliff only accessible by foot or boat. It is the most beautiful Lido, you hire the deckchairs and beach towels and relax watching the world go by on the water.

I am linking up to a great blog - a beach cottage and good life Wednesday!

A wonderful summer holiday

2011-07-26T08:52:00.002+01:00

We have just got back from a fantastic week in Italy. We started our week in Positano where we stayed for three nights in a wonderful hotel. A short stroll took us down to the town and the beach. It was perfect - the food, weather, and people were all wonderful. Hope you are all having a nice relaxing summer too.

Signs of Summer

2011-07-16T17:29:00.000+01:00

More from Notting Hill

2011-07-14T20:09:00.001+01:00

More images from my day in Notting Hill. I have had such a stimulating three days on the course which sadly is now over, I urge you to try something out of your comfort zone, it is great.

These were boxing gloves on sale in the market on Portobello Road

NOTTING HILL THROUGH THE LENS | Make Your Own Book

Street photography

2011-07-13T20:51:00.002+01:00

I am into the second day of a three day course on street photography at the Victoria and Albert museum in London, it is absolutely fantastic - we spent yesterday with the curator of photographs who gave a fantastic talk on the street photographers since 1860 and then we had a talk from a wonderful man called Charlie Philips who photographed life in Notting Hill in the 1960's from a political and historical point of view. I am now so out of my comfort zone but it feels good! Today we spent the day walking through Notting Hill taking pictures and were told that it's all about shooting from the hip, or asking people if you can take their portrait and seeing what is around you.. Shooting from the hip means actually putting your camera on your hip whilst you look the other way, cough so they can't hear the click, then take the picture. We were told to set our cameras to F11, shutter speed 125 and to be about 3 metres away from our subject, it is best to work in pairs so one distracts and one shoots. I found that by the end of the day even though my hip shots were very much hit and miss (putting my camera onto multiple shots does give you even more shots with a small chance of success), I found that my confidence was up so I was able to ask people if they would let me take their photographs!

Whitecurrants

2011-07-11T11:29:00.000+01:00

My mother came to visit yesterday and bought with her the most magnificent whitecurrants and redcurrants from her garden. The whitecurrants look like baby lychees or little eyes glistening in the sunlight. I am going to make this fool tonight for pudding from a Gordon Ramsay recipe.

This quick and easy mousse makes the most of luscious berries and cherries and is loaded with vitamin C, making it a healthy dessert for children. You can use whatever fruits are in season, varying the amount of sugar accordingly.

250g redcurrants, plus 4 sprigs to garnish
250g whitecurrants
250g ripe black cherries, pitted
4 tbsp icing sugar
200ml double cream
Seeds from 1 vanilla pod
200ml Greek yoghurt
4 sprigs of basil

1 Wash and strip the redcurrants and whitecurrants from their stalks. Cut the cherries into quarters. Place two-thirds of the fruit and two tablespoons of the sugar into a blender or food processor and whiz to a purée. If you wish, push the mixture through a fine sieve to remove the seeds.
2 Whisk the double cream, vanilla seeds and remaining sugar until stiff. Fold in the yoghurt, followed by the fruit purée. Finally, stir through the remaining fruit, being careful not to overmix, so as to retain a rippled effect.
3 Spoon the mousse into 4 chilled glasses and garnish each with a spray of redcurrants and sprig of basil. Chill until ready to serve.

I am also linking up with Lisa over at the creative exchange, do check out other entries.

texture Thursday

2011-07-07T18:25:00.000+01:00

I have never got the hang of textures, I use lightroom and don't have photoshop so this is my interpretation of textures for Thursday!

Gerberas

2011-07-05T18:16:00.000+01:00

I bought some white gerberas today, thought they looked nice in black and white.

Home

2011-07-04T17:18:00.004+01:00

It will soon begin to feel like home..

I am linking up with the fantastic creative exchange at Lisa's too where I have serious barn envy!

Originality

2011-07-02T13:32:00.000+01:00

Our next creative exercise for the course at raining umbrellas is to write about, draw, design, or photograph our perspective on the word originality. It's at times like this I wish I could draw or paint , I don't know about you but I find with photography it is hard most of the time to take an 'original' shot but I suppose originality comes from the angle or the composition .

I have been thinking about the word for a couple of days and walking past the Vespa shop today made me realise this a perfect prompt. There is something so beautiful about a Vespa, it is instantly recognisable and has remained true to all of the above with only a few changes since it was first manufactured in 1946. It epitomises everything about style, glamour, Italy, taste, and above all originality. When you see a Vespa it's hard not to wonder what it would be like to sit on one and be transported back to the 60's, Italy, and the days of real women like Sophie Loren. I don't think the same could quite be said about the originality of mass produced iphones and ipads and the women in the media today. What do you think?

Serendipity

2011-06-30T15:24:00.001+01:00

I have just started a four week course called 'raining umbrellas' over at simply hue. Our task this week is an interpretation of the word serendipity in any artistic form. This is a word I have always struggled with the interpretation of - my amazing and fantastic friend Simone has a wonderful blog by the same name but other than that when I think of the word I always think of that rather sweet soppy film with the happy ending and John Cusack. Today for me serendipity is about finding this beautiful magnolia flower out in bloom in my new garden that I didn't know I had and it is also about having my gorgeous daughter Alice back from Uni for the summer and realising that she is happy to pose whenever I ask her!

A bouquet from my garden!

2011-06-27T19:16:00.000+01:00

The poor hydrangeas were wilting today in the mini heatwave we are having. it feels like there is a big thunderstorm coming, think that was our summer!

Happy green Friday

2011-06-24T19:24:00.002+01:00

couldn't find a fence for Fence Friday so thought I would create my own green Friday!

British summer time

2011-06-21T09:47:00.002+01:00

What is it about the British summer and Wimbledon? it is always guaranteed to rain! it's also the longest day today, I have just been reading an interesting article on the 250,000 pagans who will be in the woods tonight to eat, drink, dance and drum to celebrate the summer solstice. Apparently paganism is the fastest growing religion in the UK, despite being non -evangelical and with no single deity, no holy book and no permanent dwellings. Wiccans, Druids, witches, shamans and those who worship Norse gods come under the pagan umbrella. I do hope they don't get wet.

Busy Bee

2011-06-19T11:06:00.002+01:00

Golf

2011-06-17T08:49:00.000+01:00

I don't play golf, years ago I thought I would give it a go but found it all rather boring but my son loves it and where ever I go in the house there seems to be a golf club somewhere so today I thought I would photograph the club I nearly tripped over. I actually held it up to the window to get the green from the garden, I pretended I was out on the course!

Lunchtime

2011-06-15T12:53:00.000+01:00

Even though it is supposed to be summer it's a dull day and not very warm, perfect for a bowl of pea and ham soup (shop bought, not homemade - oops). I love how the colours of the soup blend so well with my china too!

Happy purple Tuesday!

2011-06-14T10:10:00.003+01:00

These flowers are out of my new garden!

Radishes

2011-06-11T11:45:00.000+01:00

I just bought this lovely bunch of radishes, such a summer vegetable with a wonderful peppery taste, so perfect dipped in mayonnaise. They always remind me of Peter Rabbit and Beatrix Potter - apparently Peter Rabbit is actually eating a radish from Mr McGregor's garden, not a carrot!

Yellow

2011-06-08T13:25:00.000+01:00

These are the poppies that are in bloom from my previous picture, I assume they are from the poppy family although I could be completely wrong, anyway, they are in my new garden and provide a wonderful burst of colour on a rather cold and windy day.

New life

2011-06-06T19:44:00.000+01:00

something green

2011-06-05T11:18:00.002+01:00

Kimberley June at Human behaviour is hosting a wonderful 30 day challenge, I am a little bit behind but today is day four and the theme is something green. The list is great and Kimberley is hosting the pictures on her wonderful blog.

A dry spell

2011-06-03T09:14:00.001+01:00

I do love the green shades in this wheat I picked in the countryside the other day, sadly with all this wonderful hot dry weather we are having the crops are going to suffer though.

Things to do....

2011-06-01T18:30:00.000+01:00

So many things need doing to the house, curtains and blinds and painting being first on the list....

Our new home

2011-05-31T10:37:00.000+01:00

After four days of non stop unpacking we have finally finished! we are in our new home and it's lovely, there is still lots to be done but for the moment we can sit back and relax and get to know everything. The dogs and cat are home too, it is so lovely to have them back after two months away. They are still quite unsure about everything after two days and Ling Ling (the cat) spends her days meowing through the house, hopefully they will all settle down soon. This is a picture of my garden shed in the corner, the garden is really lovely, pocket handkerchief sized and predominantly white which I love, I will show more pictures over the next few days.

Reflections

2011-05-24T08:11:00.000+01:00

After nearly eight weeks in the rented flat we get the keys to our home tomorrow and move on Thursday! It's very exciting but it means more packing and unpacking but hopefully this will be our final move....I always say that but we have moved every three years for the last nine years so who knows. Apologies for not commenting on your blogs but I am down to about five minutes internet a day but hopefully that will all change by the end of the week in our new house.

Black and white for summer

2011-05-18T09:09:00.000+01:00

I love black and white in the summer, they always seem such perfect colours for this time of year, clean and bold and uncluttered. They look great together in clothes or on a sofa, as a colour scheme for a room or just as a table setting. What are your favourite summer colours?

Ingredients for dinner

2011-05-14T19:05:00.000+01:00

Tonight Michael is cooking lamb, he has just got cross with me for taking the rosemary and garlic but I thought they looked so good together they needed to be photographed.

Waiting for a friend?

2011-05-10T18:50:00.000+01:00

A lazy quiet monday

2011-05-09T16:26:00.002+01:00

Borough Market

2011-05-07T15:58:00.000+01:00

We went to Borough Market this morning. I have been dying to go there for ages having read so much about it - Jamie Oliver and various other chefs always talk about it and it really is the most fantastic place to visit, so vibrant and full of colour, wonderful food, great atmosphere. I would definitely recommend it if you are visiting London.

So many different types of cheeses as well and of course there was lots of parmesan.

Wonderful fish too

plenty of drinks too

and finally plenty of olives

Colours

2011-05-06T17:14:00.000+01:00

I seem to be using a range of colours this week and here is some more purple. We have the tiniest selection of plants on the balcony of our rented flat and these plants are just about to come out.

Milan

2011-05-05T06:53:00.001+01:00

I just spent a couple of days in Milan, it was lovely sightseeing and walking around everywhere. The Duomo looked particularly beautiful. It was so full of tourists that I didn't venture inside.

Everywhere you could buy slices of coconut like these ones, and of course the wonderful gelato too.

Now for a splash of green

2011-05-03T05:09:00.000+01:00

Lily of the valley

2011-05-02T06:32:00.002+01:00

Some purple for the weekend.

2011-04-30T17:20:00.001+01:00

The Big Day!!

2011-04-29T09:12:00.001+01:00

I went out at 7.30 this morning and walked to Westminster Abbey then along to Horseguard's parade, down the Mall and along to Buckingham Palace. The atmosphere is absolutely amazing, every nationally is represented, everyone is dressed up, waving flags, it really is such a great party atmosphere. I really didn't think I would get so caught up in it all but because we are staying just around the corner I have seen it as a wonderful photography opportunity. Thank you all for indulging me even if you have had enough of it all, I promise these are the final shots!

Westminster Abbey, this is as close as I could get due to the crowds.

Horseguard's Parade - they will travel through this archway

Obama is being represented!

The balcony!! this is as close as I could get.

Royal reporters

2011-04-27T22:19:00.002+01:00

I took a quick walk to Westminster Abbey this evening and the crowds are gathering, people are pitching their tents and the media is in full force opposite the Abbey. I thought I would take some shots of the various presenters, I have no idea who they are, do you?

These people are gathering below the media scaffolding, here is where people are pitching their tents opposite the Abbey

This presenter was eating a sandwich whilst putting his microphone in place, no idea who he is.

The man in glasses is our Royal Correspondent Nicholas Witchell.

These ladies had pitched their tent in prime position and were being interviewed by all channels but the lady on the right didn't seem too happy about it all.

This lady was American and signed off for Channel 5, maybe you know who she is.

The media circus

walking away from westminster

Rehearsals

2011-04-27T09:18:00.003+01:00

I turned on breakfast television this morning at 6.30 and saw that they were doing a dress rehearsal for the wedding so I dashed out with my camera but sadly I only got the tail end with some of the soldiers. They started rehearsals in the early hours of this morning but of course didn't tell anyone it was happening!
I also took a short video with my 7D, the first time I have used it to film so it's a bit wobbly and shaky as I got so excited!

The green rooms behind are where the worldwide television stations are watching from

No one was outside Buckingham Palace this morning, the calm before the storm

Alice

2011-04-24T20:59:00.000+01:00

Alice was watching television lying down on the sofa today, she looked so peaceful and contented and didn't even notice me taking her picture.

A splash of purple

2011-04-21T17:08:00.001+01:00

Saw this allium through a fence today, I do love them, they always remind me of summer.

Scenes from London

2011-04-19T16:40:00.000+01:00

This fellow didn't catch me taking his picture, it's easy when they are asleep!

shades of green

2011-04-18T18:45:00.000+01:00

I thought today I would show you another view of the flat, this time it is our bedroom in the early evening sunlight. As you can see it has quite a few shades of matching green in it. I am still slightly out of my comfort zone with my daily photographs, I wander around London trying to find things that catch my eye, I can't seem to connect with anything. I long to ask strangers if I can take their portraits but I am not brave enough, hopefully inspiration will come soon! I am also struggling with the internet and just using a dongle to get connected in the flat so please be patient and if I don't get to comment on your blogs it isn't through lack of trying.

Guards caught off guard

2011-04-16T17:09:00.001+01:00

Everyone is getting ready for the Royal wedding and as we walked past Buckingham Palace today I caught a glimpse of the guards getting ready to march and practice.

Here they are heading off to the Palace.