Send Off - part 1

Last weekend was a life style change weekend
Ok it was a ceremonial to mark my passing from full time work to my new big adventure.
Friday was a night out with my old work colleagues. Quite good fun - we travelled through the bars and clubs of Cardiff. Talking about great old places in the past (esp the classic Bogies). To me this was a really nice send off. We talked, danced, sung and drank. I haven't really explored the Cardiff night life in ages - so it was great to wander around the city again

Saturday was mainly recovery - after a late night; and then preparation.

Sunday was to be an even bigger day.

Sunday was paintballing. I picked paintballing after a chance meeting with some game organisers. It was an opportunity to get out with a load of old friend - all into adventure gaming but who in the main (like me have never played paintball). It was fantastic really brought us all together.

Today is OWWWWWWW day. I sport a great many bruises from the weekend. I took a few knocks and a few hits but what a great weekend.

I may be in pain but I feel fantastically relaxed and ready to take on the final stage of trip preparation and this brand new stage in my life

Offer

It looks like I have a really serious offer on my house
It's out of the blue - from a couple who viewed the house months ago.
They look like really hot prospects - with nothing to sell of their own.

I can almost smell aviation fuel and feel the blast of a jet engine.

I'm excited.

It may be happening

Website Update

A brief note this time.
There's a new image in my gallery at Photogallery
I hope you enjoy it.
As the accompanying note says - I have my doubts - but I'll let you be the judge

Changes

It's all change.

Last weekend I visited North Wales to collect art work from an exhibition amidst storms and blizzards.

Today I got an website development deal for the day job arranged. Something I've wanted to happen for ages. Then left the company.

Yep left the company. We left on incredibly amicable terms. I'll probably be doing favours for a while yet. I know have to make the art work and the trip happen. Do I feel terrified? I did last night. Today I feel chilled and relaxed. Just heard I have a good prospect to look at my house. Wow! I've also had a load of good feed back on my art work recently.

I'm sitting in air of incredible well being. I haven't been this relaxed and focussed in an age.

I'm taking the rest of the night off.

Tomorrow I hit the road of making dreams happen.

I have no way of explaining me sense of well being.

Proaction is cool.

Life is good

The Book!

It's arrived.

My first photograph in a glossy hardcover book.

The photo is called "Windmill" and is of a wind turbine at the Gaia Centre in Cornwall.

The book is called "A Glance at the Past" and is published by picture.com
(Also known as the International Library of Photographers)

I entered one of their photo competitions quite some time ago and as a result one of my earliest serious pictures ended up in their book.

What about the book?

It's actually fascinating. Page after page of pictures. Some are pure snapshots; others quite arty. What they are do represent is a rather complete slice of our world and the people in it. It's quite voyeuristic. It's very representative. It's a keyhole on lives and moments.

A bit of vanity publishing? Maybe. A collection that catalogues life and is interesting - yes.

Cool

A nice feeling.

This won't hurt a bit......

Oh yes it will!

I know it will!

That's not a slim needle - that's a whirling dervish of gleaming blades. It won't make a small puncture - I'll loose at least half an arm when it goes it in.... I know I will. I can't stop sweating - please no - no

Yes folks I've been jabs (ok inoculations) to get me ready for the Grande Tour.

I'm not squeamish about needles (honest guv), I just don't like pain.

Ok to be fair to my nurse - it didn't hurt - she did a great job and I'm now covered for all the essentials and then some.

I can now breathe again.

No more shiny metal things going near me.

No more impalement

And of course - one step nearer