Days Out with Dogs.

It feels like I've been pretty busy lately, if not generally then at least with sorting little things out.

Did you notice that I got round to picking up a domain name? It's something I've been meaning to do for ages but it's taken me a while to be willing to take the plunge, I guess because I still have a 'photography' site (which needs a more than serious update) too and I wasn't sure if I should have both. But why not? For a few pounds for 3 years, it's hardly going to break the bank.

I've been looking forward to sharing these photos with you from a couple of weekends ago since I took them. I'm so pleased to be up to date in the right order though, it's a little more satisfying than it should be.

So, the weekend before last, once Moon and I had returned from our week away in Ireland, we popped over to The Cotswolds with my catsitter sister for a Sunday afternoon of sausages, meeting dogs and so many children. It was my cousin's 5th birthday so we took the opportunity to have a bit of a nose at my aunt and uncle's home just outside Moreton-in-Marsh, as well as keep my Gran a bit of company in between party guests.





Moody Twin #1


Discovering how crazy-un-PC Punch & Judy is, as performed by Professor Moon.
Not that Moon, another one, with a beard and glasses.



I think Moon had forgotten my aunt and uncle have a whippet - his favourite dog.
Definitely saw him fall in love with lovely Floyd.


My uncle and the Moody Twins #1 & #2.




It's funny that sausages or not, Floyd would be our friend.
I sure hope we bring a dog into our own home some day, think of the love (!) ♥



Tubbs: Lover of all the tennis balls.


Moon managed to make friends with a small boy through playing with Tubbs, it was pretty funny.



So wish I'd taken a better photo of the ponies, darn flies.

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It's pretty nice over there, they have their own woods and fields but most of all it was just nice to hang out with their dogs, who had more sausages than the three of us put together! It was just pretty laid back and a nice way to finish up our break before heading back to work, little bit better than lounging the day away with Come Dine with Me anyway...

In addition to frolicking with dogs, we got given leftover sausages and so many blackberries. I've been seeing quite a few posts, such as Catherine's and Rosie's, about blackberry picking and I must admit that I'm feeling a little guilty that I've not picked my own yet.

I've found on great spot by the canal and am hoping for a free evening this week before everyone gets wise to it. I quite like this season of free fruit, it's great, especially since I already made some tasty apple & blackberry turnovers with our gifted ones.

I'm definitely hoping to freeze any I do gather though as mentioned over at A Thrifty Mrs, I'm not quite ready for crumbles and stews just yet, Indian summer, plz. ♥

Fam.

Last Tuesday saw me finishing work early and heading all the way back to Dorking for my cousin's 21st birthday. I know she's not really all that much younger than me, but it's so strange to me that she has finally reached the grand age of 21, especially since it really doesn't feel all that long since it was my 21st birthday - I'll be seeing in my 24th in a matter of months (eeep!). Although we do get together in clusters, it's pretty rare that everyone makes an appearance so it was great (even if my sister didn't manage to make it) that we were all able to be there.


I love my auntie's interior design, I've totally had my eye on similar string lights for ages.


Speaking of realising how quickly people grow up, I don't recall the last time I saw my twin cousins, but they certainly weren't full-on toddlers before. Luckily this time they didn't make us all ill, I can't believe how blonde they are, or how mischievous. It's lovely to see their sister turning into a real little lady, but it makes me feel so old to see them grow up so fast.










Of course, it's just as important to pay as much, if not more, attention to your animal-hosts when attending any kind of gathering.I do relish in catching up with my family, I only wish moments like these lasted a little longer. Perhaps it would have been more relaxing if it wasn't on a weeknight, but it did mean the day felt longer and that I wasn't just pottering around the flat looking for things to do. I look forward to summer, when the days are longer and there are more opportunities to spend evenings like this.

Oscar Night.

So here are the photos from Saturday - I've whittled the 740 down to 228, which is still too much but they have a bit of everything thrown in. I think that I'll send everything off on Thursday. It was fun and it's great that I can add it to my work experience, but it was hard work and stressful, especially when it came to my lights - ahh.

© Ruth Johnston 2010.

A Night at the Oscars.

I finished taking the photos for tonights party just after midnight, it was really fun to play observer for the night, it's very strange being with such a large gathering of people, not knowing anyone but taking their photo anyway.
I enjoyed myself, maybe I didn't enjoy the 6 hours stood up, but it was a fun experience that I wouldn't mind doing again..

In the end it turned out that I didn't need to bring my studio-lights as there was too much interference and I was working too quickly anyway. Annoyingly, I messed up the modelling bulbs on the journey down - well, one on the journey down, I dropped the working one on the floor when I got home. I'm so angry with myself. I think the only circumstances I will do this again is if I'm in the area. I don't like having broken everything, especially when it's through no fault of anyones but my own. Luckily the damage is easily fixed and the flash tubes are safe.

I think I'll be able to use my external flash for the shoot I have on Monday if the replacements don't arrive by then - I was so angry, I ordered them the second I got through the door, it was hard not to let it play on my mind all evening.

But anyway, watching people dance and making them feel like celebrities isn't a bad way to spend an evening, especially when it's a paid job. I'm quite proud of myself really.
Aperture is still processing the 740 photos I took tonight, that's the next day and a half filled up then, I guess.
I think once it's done I'm going to go to bed and catch up with X Factor - it's barely halfway through yet :(
I have another busy day tomorrow, it's my mum's birthday so we're going out to lunch and after that I have to get myself back down to Portsmouth, hopefully without breaking anything else important and in time for tomorrow night's X Factor.
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.....

Birthday Partay.

Ok, so I didn't take that many at my party - but hey, photography is like work to me, yeah?
It was a great afternoon, I really enjoyed it and I'm so thankful to everyone who came.
A full set of photos can be seen on Facebook because if I put all the ones that I like on her each post would be tremendously long and the whole blog would be mega cluttered.

My cake was huge, I think that there's still loads left, despite all the guests having been fobbed off with some. It was really tasty though.

Once I got back from a few drinks at the Kings Arms - and after realising why I cut myself off from my friends at home for a bit - I set off some sky lanterns with Moon and my sister. It was quite cool to do it myself, just remember that I'm not a copycat.

© Ruth Johnston 2010.