Happy Birthday

Best Birthday

It’s your birthday...
and I’m thinking how glad I am
that you were born.
You have given me so much--
supported me, encouraged me,
cared for me;
I didn't even need to ask.
I celebrate your wonderful self!
I am in awe of your boundless generosity,
your infinite kindness--that gentle inner glow
that you so freely use to warm my life.
Your birthday is as much a celebration for me
as it is for you, maybe more,
and I wish for you the best of birthdays,
the best one ever.
May each birthday be better than the last.
Most of all, I hope you will always be
As happy as you have made me.
By Joanna Fuchs
Happy Birthday Alex !!!!!!!!!! Thank you for the gift of Love!

Swan Lake..

It's lovely to be out for a good walk in a park near us. It's only now that I visited this place and would love to go back there in the summer.
While taking photos I caught sight of these two swans.. I thought hey, they look lovely..so I snap, snap and snap..

Then they started moving towards me and I still took some more..
I heard Alex behind telling me to get up and MOVE. I said 'no, they probably think we have food.' He thought they could attack people. So last minute, oh dear it's closing in I decided to run.. I know, it sounded ridiculous. When we saw them crossing the path going to the other lake we both burst into laughter.. the swans probably thought we were crazy when all they wanted was a bigger lake ;-)

Pictorialism or Vernacular

I saw a program in BBC regarding the earlier history of photography and although I don't know much of the subject ; two forms were mentioned- Pictorialism and Vernacular Photography.
I looked for further reading about the differences of the two
Pictorialism- an approach to photography that emphasizes beauty of subject matter, tonality, and composition rather than the documentation of reality. The Pictorialist perspective was born in the late 1860s and held sway through the first decade of the 20th century. It approached the camera as a tool that, like the paintbrush and chisel, could be used to make an artistic statement. Thus photographs could have aesthetic value and be linked to the world of art expression. (Encyclopedia Britannica)

Famous Pictorialists:
Leonard Missone, Belgian
Alfred Stieglitz

Leon Robert Demachy

Vernacular photography refers to the creation of photographs by amateur or unknown photographers who take everyday life and common things as subjects. The pictures about the 'Migrant Mother' by Dorothea Lange and Henri Cartier Bresson's 'The Decisive Moment' are for me very good examples of real life subjects.

the sun is setting

"I'd like to see a sunset... Do me a favor your majesty... Command the sun to set." -Little Prince

Have you experienced watching the sun set? It's a strange feeling but there's something mystical about it. Such encounter I had today..

"Then my sunset?" insisted the little prince, who never let go of a question once he had asked it.
"You shall have your sunset. I shall command it."
































'You know ...when one is so terribly sad, one loves sunsets..'-Little Prince

Tranced

Hi there!!! It's been a lovely Saturday here in the UK. The sun is out shining brightly. It actually feels like summer has arrived ;-)

I had the opportunity to get on my exercise bike earlier and what a refreshing thing to do whilst listening to Chicane's music in the background. Alex introduced me to this sort of music, a contrast to those I listen to but very relaxing.I also managed to catch up reading the book 'Dog Whisperer' which I swear was a very good buy. Have a lovely weekend ;-)

YJ's Cam Part 2

Most of us have probably seen the Premium Days photo collection. Wow! The photos were carefully selected and truly heart stopping. During that event I kept wondering what sort camera he used. Obviously it was a Canon EOS 1. But which one? I looked through the net for possible camera.

Exhibit A :I thought of the EOS 1D Mark III because of the body but nope, not guilty. Those parts marked are not identical to YJ's cam.

Exhibit B: Marks correct but been handled by an unidentified hand..plead? Not guilty.Insufficient proofs.

Exhibit C. Same size of lens release button and Ah! same position of whatever the lower button is for. Canon EOS 1D Mark II? Guilty as charge for producing stunning photographs of BYJ family during the Premium Days Event in Osaka, Japan. Investigation closed.. ;-)


Canon EOS 1Ds
Most common opinions on this camera

Source: Canon Info
Pros:
High resolution
Large viewfinder
Low image noise
Orientation sensor

Cons:
Requires the best lenses
Soft images at default settings
Heavy and large
Expensive

At least we've got the same strap...that's good enough ;-)

Premiun Days Photos

These are my favorite pictures..thank you very much to arayo and kaorin who shared them.

Arrival at the airport..he was delighted to see the family hence the camera to capture this memorable encounter.

Casual or not, whichever profile you look..picture perfect!

The youthful expression was captured in this photo..the true essence of a smile and the warmth it gives.

Cambridge

I have fallen for Cambridge. It took us two years to finally explore this city which is actually an hour away. Since we were confined to the city center during our visit, I didn't get the chance to see more of it-the architecture, the colleges, arts and culture. It's a pedestrian haven and because of the presence of the Cambridge University, it's basically more of the intelligent student's world.. You could tell by just walking down the streets.The way they dress, the manner they carry themselves and even how they ride their bicycles which were parked everywhere. There was a noticeable number of Chinese students also and a good number of restaurants. I have high regards to this very reputable school after all it has educated important people in history from Newton to HRH The Prince of Wales.

So here are the photographs I gathered...

a day and a half

So it's official! hehehehehe but before I share about today's big event let's pause to remember Junsang!!! Yep! My next door neighbor M remembered his birthday. We all love him but more the person who made him real..
So came back after the oath taking which actually made me felt like I graduated when I started hearing the music 'Land, Hope and Glory' and asked to march with other candidates while our guests were watching. I was nervous and a bit proud yet still nervous because I never thought of the magnitude of the event. Well, it was truly formal and we were sworn in a courtroom. Now that was my first so it was slightly daunting plus a picture of the Queen before us and the great British flag with two dignitaries seated in front meant business.

It only took half an hour but we were in Cambridge prior to the event for 4 hours.. so imagine us wandering in the city with my high heels trying to explore its beauty. Cambridge is a big pedestrian city so cars are very much limited in the city center so a good pair of shoes is needed. And guess what?? I forgot to bring trainers but can't really wear them since I was wearing a dress..I suppose I could but never mind I had to walk barefooted for 5 minutes to relieve my feet. It's the third time and I should have learned..It happened in Venice, London then Cambridge..always the wrong shoes..next time I shall remember.
So what did I have today apart from affirming my allegiance to her Majesty which was like the one below? I also received the leather cover of my new passport.Not bad and some paperwork from the home office.

We decided to have lunch before the event and the restaurant we intended to dine in was not open till seven. So we ended up in an Indian restaurant. We didn't have time for anything else so we ordered a sizzling Tandoori dinner. No time for hot stuff since we only had an hour to spare..

The faux pax that I committed today was when I was talking to one of the dignitaries and was asked what made me want to become British.. I unfortunately replied 'I don't know.'Thank God he wasn't the Queen otherwise she would have taken it back. But then I said 'This is my home now.' I actually told him that when I was in the Philippines I was itching to go back to the UK and told Alex I wanted to go home. And yes this is home indeed.

Now since Alex couldn't drink we ended up the day at home with this bottle of Chateau Pey La Tour. I couldn't help adding this other bottle to my collection. It's half price so couldn't resist.Jaime asked before if I would recommend it. After trying ..definitely. Great with roasts and cheeses.. Peppery taste and very easy to drink..So cheers everyone or should I say long live the Queen?!

one fine day..

Have you experienced looking for dresses or anything to wear but seem to be getting nowhere? That's exactly what happened to me today.
Tomorrow would be an important day of my life here in Britain and like many, I leave preparations (sometimes) to the last minute. Perhaps I was thinking , yes, I could find something in my wardrobe and the event is not really that important so why bother.
Then came the realization and I started panicking..just a tiny bit..more when I couldn't find what I want!
So Alex dropped me in the town center on his way to work. Remember? I mentioned in the past that this town doesn't really have many shops, so the choices are truly limited even so when you are an Asian like me who isn't towering at all.
So, I had an hour and a half to look considering, there were only three major clothing shops. I perused there , walked here, tried some and still couldn't decide. Typical!!!I went back to the second shop because I liked the brand name. I was a little bit optimistic and convinced I could find one. I was opting for a suit but guess what? They didn't have petite sizes. Bummer!! Apart from that I'm one of those who would prefer to be comfortable without sacrificing style and elegance therefore I just don't buy for the sake of buying because the thing is expensive or labeled.

Time was ticking so I left the shop empty handed. I felt like crying because I was getting tired and frustrated. I literally said, "God I want to cry! Help!"I started thinking what clothes have I got at home.

On the way to the station, I saw the first shop I went into and thought let's try again. Straight away I asked the lady if they had petite sizes and she directed me to my left. Voila!! I saw the right colors..obviously greens are 'in' this spring and pretty purples.. In less than a minute I saw the dress I want.. It's the right size, length and style! I hurriedly tried it on and Perfect!!! Plus it's discounted..even better!
Next to the shop was a very good shoe retailer..Ohh, I know what you're thinking. Like I said before I don't buy things straight on. I agonized for a long time before buying it. While looking for the dress in one of the shops I was checking for that pair of shoes I saw but to my disappointment it's gone so I thought it's never meant for me.
For some reason I went in this shoe shop and looked for bargains. I wasn't disappointed at all. I saw the exact shoes that I want and guess what?? From nearly a hundred pounds I got it 70% cheaper! How cool is that?? It's one of those winter sales..hehehehe
So I went home delighted with my finds. The lessons here? Be prepared, high street brands are not always the answer, try looking in boutiques. You'll be surprised what's in store for you!