RXA

Just a quick message before I melt in the 35 degrees Celcius it is here in the house.

Happy New Year.

I hope your 2008 is all you want it to be. For me it is going to involve a lot of changes. Changes I both want and need to make. Whatever you decide to do … do it to the best of your ability.

I’d like to take a minute to thank a few people for a few things.

Mum and David for providing a roof over my head and food in my stomach without asking for a cent in return.

Matthew for loving me just as mch as when his mother and I were together.

My family and friends for encouraging me to follow my photographic dreams.

Those who have trusted my abilities enough to have paid me to take photos of and for them.

I thnak the readers of my blog (and there are a LOT of you) for inspiring me to put my thoughts to paper so to speak.

Lastly but by no means Lucy for being who you are and for loving who I am although I know at times it goes against your wishes. You have made me a better man in the short time I have known you and I have never been happier. Your smile warms the heart and advice soothes the often turbulent paths of my life. Because of you I am striving to be a better person in 2008 and beyond. Thank you for being such a wonderful friend to Matthew. He loves being around you and talks about you and Jake whenever you are not around. Thank you for feeding me and all the healthy eating and living advice. I assure you I am listening.

Have a great New Years Eve and make sure what ever you do you get home safley so we can all begin 2008 together.

I look forward to catching up with as many of you as I can as soon as possible.

Richard

135/365 - Christmas Day

Originally uploaded by RXAphotos

I awoke on Christmas morning and woke up Lucy to inform her that Santa had been and left us stockings. After prying both her eyes open we took a look at what the big jolly guy had left us.

I then drove to Matthew’s to watch him open his stocking and presents from his Mother and I (we decided after our separation that his Birthday and Xmas presents would still be from the both of us to avoid an air of competition).

Next it was back to Lucy’s to open the presents under the tree. My gifts from the lovely lady included a gorillapod and the Muppet show season 2 DVD.

After opening Jake’s stocking (he got a new collar and tag and lots of doggy treats) we took him for his morning walk.

It was then off to Mornington for a great day out with Lucy’s family.

Eventually we returned home and after walking Jake we crashed on the couch and watched about six episodes of the Muppets.

A most enjoyable Christmas.

I hope wherever you are you have a great day tomorrow.

Thanks for reading and commenting on my blog. It makes it easier to write when I know there are people reading it.

I’m spending the day with Lucy and her family tomorrow … Wednesday it’s her turn to visit my family.

Then I have Matthew for four days which I am really looking forward to.

It’s 0115 (in the morning) and I have just printed out the proof photos for the mother/daughter portrait session I did this morning in the Botanical gardens.

See my business blog for a sneak peek.

Up early tomorrow with Matthew to go for a walk on the beach with Lucy and Jake.

* YAWN *

Subtitled “Photojournalists really are a mean bunch”

Today has been a LONG day of delays and excitement.

1. My train into the city was delayed 45 minutes due to signals being struck by lightning … so one tram and a taxi later I managed to make it on time to my lunch appointment.

2. Had lunch and saw lots of colleagues from my old job. It was great catching up with them all.

3. Realising I left my home keys INSIDE my home, I decided to go to Southland to start (yes start) my Xmas shopping. I was there when it all went dark for a second and the heavens opened. The rain was precipitating down outside and INSIDE several stores. Like the caring citizen I am I instantly retrieved the camera from the backpack and started shooting like mad until I overheard a security guard who had been looking at me say into his walkie talkie “Green shirt, big camera” It was at that point I deftly extracted the memory card from my camera, shoved it in my pocket and inserted a new card and left the centre.

Fun day so far.