Christmas time!

This year, windows around the town have been decorated soon after Halloween. Needless saying how amazed I was. Last Saturday there have been the ceremony for the lighting up, with Santa Claus and a sort of sleigh.
Believe me, the town was stuffed with people. I couldn't even move and while waiting for an old man to pass before me in a really narrow space, a tall woman with a child on her shoulder looked at me with anger blowing out something like «I've been here before you!». I didn't even say a word, once the old man passed by, I continued my walk out of the crowd.

Christmas time, then. When everybody's happy and supposed to be nice and kind.

I bloody love this time of the year, I always wonder why they don't start at the first cold and allow us to keep lights and decorations till Spring.

Anyway, today I went out to get a pack of fags and I stopped at the local newsagent. Fate wanted Santa Claus was there too and... guess what? He gave me a lollipop!!! He must have seen I'm still a child. He made my day. I got out of the shop with a such happiness I barely touched the ground. Little things I love.

I got another satisfaction from the owner of the place I work at. Dropped down with a print of my last creation, he and the manager that was with him looked at it with that light in their eyes that you already know they like it but you have to ask anyway.

«I like everything you do, Claire,» said the owner.

I love that man. He doesn't talk that much but when he does...

Yes, Christmas. I'm already into it.

My last creation for The Bridge. Illustrator + Photoshop.

Lost.

Suddenly jumped on old memories. Fault of a song I didn't listen to for ages. 

Time spent on my old (and closed) blog writing down misadventures, feelings, moods, venting. Not that much different from this one, but that blog... It has been my public journal for four years. 

I remember there wasn't a day I didn't think «once at home, I absolutely have to write this!»

A nice addiction, indeed.

I realized I miss it. As I miss the platform on which it was hosted.

As I miss the person who wrote on it every day and night.

Single. Pissed off. Asocial. Sarcastic. Acid. Atheist. Unbearable. Vindictive. Pungent. Alcoholic. Bossy. Selfish. Ikean.

I promise to myself, this is the last time that I lose my mind and allow someone else to control my life. 

Weekdays.

Regardless today I got scared because I found some blood in Lolly's tears, I found out that I'm one of the few persons in the world who loves Mondays.

Actually I love every day from Monday to Friday.

I don't even feel my work hard as before.

I got satisfations from it and nice people to spend time with, whether is working or spare time.

Lolly's ok, by the way. A bit shocked from her first time at the Vet, she even scratched her pinky nose on the carrier. The Vet found her healthy and the blood that scared me was probably just a cold. But now, finally, she's vaccinated too.

In the end, not that bad day. 

And I still have another four days to enjoy before the bloody weekend.

Yes, I definitely love Mondays.

Tip of the day.

Never trust a cute guy. They lean on that and avoid to develope any other value.

Grumbling.

You know that old saying about you never know what you have until you lose it.

How many of us, actually, apply it?
Very few, I guess.

I'm used to grumbles and complaints because my mother is unable to do anything else. Last Christmas I sent her a postcard with the subliminal message "Learn to enjoy what you have and don't care of what you haven't".

Personally, I really have few things to complain about. 

But when I do, it means that I really care. 

Usually I complain about care, attention, respect from the ones I love.

The day I quit doing it, it's the day I already moved on and I don't care anymore.

At that point, it's too late. 

Even to fix it. 

I mean, what else do people expect after ignoring signs and symptoms?

Adventure's spirit.

Episode no 1.

I bought my new camera with the precious help of a friend, Brendan, who shares with me the same love for photography. He suggested me where to buy it at the best price and he's teaching me how to use it.

Going from a normal digital camera to a DSLR is a nice step, but complicated if you have no notions about aperture, shutter speed and ISO. I always used pre-settings and Auto mode, trying to get the best from those till it wasn't enough anymore.

I really enjoy my new "toy" but I'm still at the beginning.

Anyway.

He was heading on his own to a place called Coronation Plantation for a local contest for the new 2014 Calendar and he needed to get a good shot for it. So he asked me if I wanted to join him with my camera. A chance that I didn't miss.

I had no idea that there still are such wild natural spots around in this County, marvellous and almost untouched.

To reach the spot he planned we needed to go through a kind of cold savana filled with hidden, dangerous puddles and crossing a small river walking on wet and slipping rocks.

I think I haven't done something like that since I was a child. Glad to see that my 41 years old body is not aware of its age and I managed such path (which is empty of paths, actually) with me back at home in one piece.

The day after I was all an ache, but trust me, it has been fully worth.

I even saw deer in their natural habitat. 

One word.

Amazing!

Now, let me heal and then I'll be ready for the next one.

This is Brendan's shoot of the Coronation Plantation. Standing Ovation...

Guinness Lake, so called due to the colour of its water.

Roundwood Plant Pump. Really an original way to cover it.

Among the Wicklow Mountains

This house looks like a Castle. Colours around it are simply stunning.

Bren told me those two are the most photographed trees of the County. I asked why, 'Cos they're in the middle of the fucking nothing!', so here's my shoot.