Brain Storm

I’ve spent this evening brain storming ideas for the next 52Frames photography theme, which is “What I ate”.

There are more than 14,500 photographers in this group, so to stand out, the photo needs to be something special. To think of an idea that 14.500 people won’t come up with, is a daunting task!

I have a page of ideas, but nothing special or inspiring yet. Perhaps some hallucinogenic drugs might help!

I only have a week, so I’d best find some inspiration soon.

BGWLBH and I spent a few hours in The Bay today. We did some groceries but my longest list was for fruit and vegetables and Farm Gate was closed - due to unforeseen circumstances - until tomorrow.

Bugger.

I cooked fresh snapper and fried rice for dinner and Adoring Husband went back for seconds again! I’ve noticed his belly growing over the top of his trousers. We might need to monitor these seconds!

Brisbane Heat defeated Sydney Thunder in the BBL 20/20 match tonight. Go Heat!!!

Now I need to sleep.

Nite all.

A Few Hurdles

After a pleasant morning playing, eating, washing and watching cricket, I remembered that my photography challenge was expiring in less than 24 hours so I needed to get cracking!

I took a LOT of terrible photos of myself … and I mean TERRIBLE … actually it wasn’t the photo that was terrible, it was ME that looked terrible.

I am the least photogenic person that I know, which I stated in my photo caption, along with the information that except for one photoshoot, I haven’t used my camera for approximately seven years. I haven’t even taken a selfie with my phone for years … so I included my phone in the pic.

My first hurdle was having a flat battery in my camera remote. Luckily, we had a spare in the drawer (thanks to Adoring Husband).

My second hurdle was not remembering how to use the camera remote with my camera! Thank goodness for “Google”.

My third hurdle was discovering that my camera battery was flat!

My fourth hurdle was discovering that my two spare batteries were also flat!

My fifth hurdle was a slow computer.

My sixth hurdle was a frozen computer!

My seventh hurdle was two failed email attempts to send myself a copy of the photo to my iPad. Thankfully, the third attempt was successful.

Finally, I came up with this …

Still not great, but all things considered, good enough for submission. I’ve seen some of the other submissions and mine pales in comparison, but this is a good start as I dive back into photography.

I made Coconut Lime Chicken for dinner. I enjoyed it and AH went back for seconds.

We played trivia.

We watched BBL cricket. The Hobart Hurricanes defeated the Adelaide Strikers.

Now I’m sitting up in bed journalling and watching TV.

Nite all.

A Day Out

Due to public holidays and flooding rains blocking the roads, it had been twelve days since we visited The Bay so we decided to take advantage of the beautiful day and make our way in there.

We had a lovely time and enjoyed a fresh juice from Su Jus (we’ve missed our juice). We did a little grocery shopping but my fave butcher and Farmgate produce were both closed so I picked up some fresh raw prawn cutlets and some bread.

Browsing some shops but not buying anything - unusual I know!

It was tough to get going this morning because I was up until almost 2am attempting to delete 12,000 emails from my iPad!

My problem was that every time I deleted them, thousands would reappear. I had to “select all” and delete, which put them in the bin - then I had to go to the bin “select all” and delete again.

8,000 came back so I had to start the process again, then 5,000 came back and I had to start the process again, then 3,000 came back.

It was slow going I tell you! I gave up just before 2am and when I woke up this morning, there were 1,500 emails still sitting there!!! Ugh!

As of this moment, I have ZERO emails and every email folder is empty. A good way to start the year. Let’s keep it that way.

Tomorrow, my plan is to finish my vision board and take a photo for the 52Frames.com photography group. The theme is “Self Portrait” and I want to recreate something like this …

Or I might use my imagination and think of something different.

The cricket today has been fantastic and I’m watching a great tennis match between the two giants now on the circuit. Perricard is 6’8” and from France. Opelka is 6’11” and from USA. They both have amazing serves, huge wingspans and, for their size, move incredible well on court. Their accuracy when hitting the ball is pinpoint so they are entertaining to watch.

I will fall asleep, once again, to the sound of racket on ball.

Nite all.

Productive with R & R

I woke at 6.30am but I enjoyed over an hour in my lovely bed before starting my day at 8am.

My usual start to the day with a cup of tea and play with Harley around the pool.

Before I made my breakfast, I set out the pictures, quotes and memes on my vision board which is now set ready for me to glue tomorrow.

The cricket (Sydney Test) had already begun by the time I sat down with my breakfast. It was an exciting start with wickets falling fast!

I did two loads of washing.

At 1.30pm Harley and I returned to bed where I watched some cricket and tennis, journaled, coloured in on my app and had a short nap.

It was Harley’s play time at 4pm so I left my room for 30 minutes and after play, he got his juicy bone and I returned to bed leaving Adoring Husband in charge of dinner. 

We didn’t have our usual Friday night fare of chicken wings because the butcher did not receive his delivery, which meant AH had to improvise. We enjoyed snags on the barbecue with coleslaw and garden salad instead. It was a fair swap.

The first BBL cricket match was rained out tonight. Apparently it was in Coffs Harbour and it’s not the first time that it’s been rained out there.

The second match started in Perth but I am watching Djokovic play the American, Opelka. Opelka is 6’11” tall! That gives him a very wide wingspan and a very powerful and effective serve! Djokovic is struggling and the score is 5-5 in the first set.

I need to focus on this match and send positive winning vibes to Novak 🤗

Nite all.

Getting Into the Year

In the dying days of 2024, I joined a photography group/club called 52Frames.

It’s a website with an accompanying Facebook page where they provide a new theme every week and you have to submit a photo. This week’s theme is “self portrait”.

I haven’t completed the challenge yet and I have four days up my sleeve! I have some ideas.

In my mind, I am also planning this year’s vision board.

I’ve listed my priorities for health, creativity, family, money, goals, education and what I hope to continue doing from last year.

Searching magazines and the internet, I’ve found lots of pics relating to each intention and a few meaningful quotes to fill in the gaps.

Over the weekend, I’ll choose my coloured cardboard, configure my layout and put it all together.

We’ve been flooded in for the last three days so we’ve had no choice but to remain at home, which is fine by me because there is tennis and cricket to watch, journaling to do, pics to colour in, naps to be had and blog posts to write!

Dinner was a bit of a mixed bag tonight.

Adoring Husband had last night’s leftovers accompanied by baked sweet potato, salad and focaccia.

BGWLBH had baked sweet potato with spicy turkey mince on top, then topped with fresh coleslaw and topped again with coconut sour cream. She also had salad (lettuce, tomato, capsicum, pear, avocado, celery, cranberries, pepitas and goats cheese w orange dressing) and focaccia.

I rarely eat dinner and tonight was no exception. I did have a pine/orange ice block after dinner.

There is both tennis and cricket on the TV menu tonight so I am surfing back and forth.

Nite all.

Day One of 2025

As usual, I took it pretty easy on day one of this new year.

I did spray the ensuite bathroom with my special clove oil concoction - especially on the grout lines to remove mould. It takes 12 hours to do the job so while I waited, I partially cleaned the remainder of the bathroom. 

Until I didn’t feel like doing anymore, so I lay on my bed and watched the tennis.

I’ll do what’s left tomorrow.

Earlier in the day I watched “Landscape Artist of the Year” and “Portrait Artist of the Year”.

I made my version of shepherds pie with a side of green beans for dinner.

There was Harley play, some heavy downpours of rain and some soft light showers during the day.

Djokovic and Kyrgios lost their doubles match at the Brisbane International.

Brisbane Heat are about to lose a BBL 20/20 match against Melbourne Stars (who haven’t won a match this season).

I am feeling incredibly weary and need to sleep now.

Nite all.