Happiness

I asked my Facebook followers on Friday if I could take a photo for them this weekend what would they like to see. Some of the responses I could not fulfil unfortunately.


However, Blythe said "happiness" and it got me thinking. My weekends are normally spent running around and the question of what happiness is, was at first quite hard. My mind wandered to travel, sleep, a coffee, relaxation amongst others. All of this was gone as I wanted to see people that I hadn't for a while.


My first destination was dinner on Friday night and I won't share the photo for fear of retribution ;) but I must say that the happiness that the parents show looking at their new baby is quite wonderful.


My second visit was to my best friends house where happiness became abundantly obvious in the form of three little girls.

Relationships and sharing our lives I think make us happy. Given, they can also bring other emotions but it was clear from my friends little girl that the simplicity of dressing up and playing with friends was bringing her happiness.


Seeing the world through young and old peoples eyes is quite simple really, it brings us back to basics. I went to visit my Grandfather today and wondered what makes him happy. He likes structure, organisation and to know that everyone in his family is happy. He keeps a calendar and can probably tell us all what we are, were or want to do at any given time when we forget in the business of life. The calendar is good for him as he has something to look forward to and is generally always happy to see us.

Last destination was lunch at my fathers house and shadow the little jack russell always appreciates a pat and hug, that is happiness for him :) he repays me in kisses..very cute.

I do hope you feel the happiness I felt as I spent my weekend with close friends and family.

Point and Shoot

I have a lovely little Panasonic point and shoot. It does a lot more than I thought it could and although I like using interchangeable lenses to get the images I want, I carry this around in my handbag sometimes when I am on the go or wanting to take photos underwater.

It is amusing that I know how to use a point and shoot better after teaching myself to use an SLR. I have seen some amazing work done on these camera's.

The image below was taken without a tripod on a bridge down near the chinese gardens in Sydney at dusk. Only minor changes to contrast and conversion to monotone.

Mama Grace and her Boys

Some years ago I met Grace and Ewan at a mutual friends 40th birthday. Since then we have only seen each other on the internet. In the past months I have been avidly following Grace's blog "Musings of Mama Grace" where she eloquently talks about daily life as a mum to gorgeous twin boys. You may ask yourself why a single girl like me would follow a blog about kiddies, simply put, Grace writes so well that I can relate to something I have not experienced yet.

A little while back she contacted me to take some photos of the brood and I jumped, very excited about getting to see her again and head over to the Eastern Suburbs for some fun and to meet this family I felt quite close to but had not met.

The morning started out with some bottles for the boys, a coffee for me and even toast on arrival. Talk about feeling at home in an instant!

So here is a preview of this wonderful fun family. I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoyed my morning taking them, Nat.

Rose Annabelle Taylor

Born 10th June 2011

Stylist - Mum and Dad

Posing - Just being myself

Loved - by all

Mia Rose - Christened 19/6/11

And all in all the day was an enthusiastic thumbs up from Jordyn..

A long weekend in New Zealand

Jules and I met when we worked together in London, a long time ago, feels like a lifetime. I grew up going to New Zealand with my mother to visit her Uncle so I am no stranger to our pacific cousins and always love going to visit.

I try to get over once a year to see the Herlihy clan and on this occasion I got to meet the newest member Lily, gorgeous girl :) My friends live in a wonderful village and I spent some time driving around looking at this most relaxing area just outside of Auckland. The rest of the time was spent cooking, drinking lovely wine and spending time with special people both big and small. A perfect weekend away all in all. I hope you enjoy the photos as much as I enjoyed my mini break.

How is this for a lovely vege patch! I want one...my city courtyard may not suffice though...

Charlie and the special camera :) He really is the budding photog.

Village life and the land of the long white cloud

Fun times with the kids on the new trampoline, clearly we should all get on a trampoline regardless of our age ;)

The diversity of New Zealand always strikes me and I love the mix of country and seaside so close together.

"my nana loves me to bits and pieces!"

Thank you Air New Zealand for not cancelling my flight home, although I do wonder about the picture of my plane coming in sideways...should I have been worried?

We like to party...

Ok so that is a really lame song, but was played on the night...I do wonder about some DJ's. Needless to say, it was a great night, all the girls dolled up to celebrate with Michelle at Hotel Realm in Canberra and then have a dance after despite the cold. Can't wait for Cairns and the big day!