Swarm

To clever for my own boots sometimes, I pre wrote this post for Photo 101Photo, as I was sure we would do Swarm again (we did in October 2014) Anyway I had the post, and I figure why not use it anyway? It was a fairly funny incident. So here it is; Photo 101 -Swarm…

Read More

Photo101, Photographyphoto101, Photography, swarmLeave a Comment on Swarm

Lights, Camera, Action!

In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “The Show Must Go On.” If you were involved in a movie, would you rather be the director, the producer, or the lead performer? (Note: you can’t be the writer!). Never the performer……….no way. I hate being in front of the camera, maybe as a kid I would…

Read More

Blogging, Daily Postblogging, daily post, daily prompt, director, movies, the show must go on2 Comments on Lights, Camera, Action!

Family Time

In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Food for the Soul (and the Stomach).”

Tell us about your favorite meal, either to eat or to prepare. Does it just taste great, or does it have other associations?

We don’t really have a favorite family meal, maybe my spaghetti bolognese, it’s more about family time. My children are adults now, living adult lives, even if they are living mostly at my house. But they usually at Uni during the day and working evenings, so we do not eat together very often. However when we do, it does not really matter what we eat. Sure we have our favorites and if I know everyone will be home for dinner on a particular night I always ask what every one wants. We have a very stable favs which get brought out every now and then

• Grilled Lamb Back strap and Fried Rice
• Chicken Schnitzel and Caesar Salad
• Chicken and Beef Tacos
• Spaghetti – either Chicken and Bacon Cabonara or Bolognese

But it is more about bonding time, than eating. We usually discuss current events or joke about who is doing what. Normally it is a light hearted affair, with lots of jokes and laughter. And if you add in some extended family or friends, it becomes a impromptu party.

One another note, when my children were smaller it was always a chance to sit down and discuss what was going in in their day to day lives, school, friends, reminiscing about stories of our youth. That sort of thing….family bonding time.

– Julz

Blogging, Daily Postblogging, daily post, daily prompt, Family Time, Food for the soul, MealLeave a Comment on Family Time

Walking the line – 5 rules to live by

In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “I Walk the Line.”

Have you got a code you live by? What are the principles or set of values you actively apply in your life?

There are quite a few sayings, morals, fables if you will, many of which I live by.

1. Treat others as you would have them treat you – In general I do this to everyone, I treat them politely, with respect and courtesy. This is how I would like to be treated by complete strangers. You do not know me, my troubles, my joys, my life. So please be nice, share a smile, it does not hurt anyone to share a smile………and it might just make someone’s day! But if you are a complete a**hole……….expect it in return, in shades! I cannot tolerate rudeness and I will hand back two fold! Especially rude shop assistants/ clerks, drivers, random strangers on a street. You have no right to treat someone you have never met as dirt, regardless of the color of the skin, nationality, what clothing they are wearing, how skinny or fat, or any other possibly reason. But, if you are rude to me, do not expect me to be nice back.
2. You get more bees with honey than vinegar – It is a continuation on number 1 in some ways. If you want something, ask nicely. Do not demand, ask and be polite. If you yell and scream or tell me to just do it, I will not react well. I do not really do this to other people and I do not like to have it done to me. So be polite and ask.
3. Charity starts at home – I may not be popular with this one, but I believe in helping out my family and friends. There are so many charities and disasters these days, it is hard to know where to begin. It’s not that I don’t want to help, it just that if I give a little to everyone of them I have nothing left for me and my family. So I have a few trusted places I donate money too, Red Cross Shield Appeal, Good Friday Children’s Hospital – these are once a year and I always give my spare change. I will offer food and clothing for some natural disasters (if I can spare them) and help out with the CFA Xmas appeal. But apart from that I am sorry, but my family need to eat too.
4. Honesty is the best policy – I am a terrible liar anyway, so if I do something wrong I will always confess. I am sorry but people who do the wrong thing (whether intentionally or accidentally) and then lie about it a very low. They usually get caught out anyway, so why go to all the trouble, the lying, the sneaking around, making up cover stories? I mean if you break something by accident, just admit it, mistakes happen. Apologies and move one. If you intentionally do something really bad………..perhaps you need to talk to someone who can help! Remember Karma is a bitch!
5. Be True to yourself – this is probably the hardest one. As a child you don’t really know who you are, as a teenager you are just trying to fit in, as a young adult you are usually trying to ‘find’ oneself. It’s not until you are older, that you know who you are, what you want. It’s not until you have lived a little do we truly embrace the unique, strange and unusual. I guess what they say is true in a way, youth is wasted on the young!

So that is it, the 5 main rules I live by and tried to instill in my children. Not always easy, I am no angel, but I think they are good solid rules that apply to anyone. I don’t care where you come from, where you live, what nationality or religion you are, I think these rules should apply to everyone.

– Julz

Blogging, Daily Postabout me, daily post, daily prompt, rules, walk the lineLeave a Comment on Walking the line – 5 rules to live by

Tales from Middle Earth

In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “What a Twist!.” Tell us a story — fiction or non-fiction — with a twist we can’t see coming. I will not say this is fiction or non-fiction, let’s face it truth can sometimes be stranger than fiction. It’s possibly an urban myth, but it’s still a…

Read More

Blogging, Daily Postblogging, daily post, daily prompt, Lotr, twistLeave a Comment on Tales from Middle Earth

Weekly Photo Challenge – Ephemeral

In response to The Daily Post’s weekly photo challenge: “Ephemeral.”

Lasting for only short time; transitory, short lived, pleasure.

An image as fleeting as sunrise, filling the day with such promise. The pale light that brings the dawn. In the cold pre dawn hours, a photographer awaits her Ephmeral prize. Today she will have it.

Photography, weekly photo challengeart, Ephemeral, Photography, sunrise, weekly photo challenge11 Comments on Weekly Photo Challenge – Ephemeral

Black and White 5 Day Challenge – Day 5

Day 5 – All done. Thanks Chilly Bella for Nominating me Last but not least my beautiful new model Miss T For Day five I challenge Taylor Vincent from Darkroom Nerd, I really like his images and would love to see more of his work So Taylor, the criteria is to post a black and…

Read More

5 Day B&W Challenge, PhotographyDay 5, Photographic Challenge, Photography2 Comments on Black and White 5 Day Challenge – Day 5

Photo101 – Triumph

Sometimes it are the little things that are triumphant, that really make a big difference. Not everything is about the Big Things in life. And if nothing else Triumph is intensely personal. A few weeks ago I was out on a shoot at Cape Schanck, Victoria with some Photographic friends with Social Snappers. I had…

Read More

Photo101, Photographyabout me, photo101, Photography, Triumph2 Comments on Photo101 – Triumph

Close, but No Cigar

In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “But No Cigar.” Tell us about a time things came this close to working out… but didn’t. What happened next? Would you like the chance to try again, or are you happy with how things eventually worked out? If you had the chance to do it all again,…

Read More

Blogging, Daily Postblogging, but no cigar, C.lose, daily post, daily promptLeave a Comment on Close, but No Cigar

Black and White 5 Day Challenge – Day 4

Day 4 – Seagull………..I think this was shot somewhere in NZ, but it could have been here as well? For Day four I challenge Stacy Fisher from Visual Venturing, I really like her images and would love to see more of her work So Stacy, the criteria is to post a black and white photo…

Read More

5 Day B&W Challenge, PhotographyDay 4, Photographic Challenge, PhotographyLeave a Comment on Black and White 5 Day Challenge – Day 4