Archive for November, 2009

Ballydougan kids

Here are some shots of my recent shoot at Ballydougan Pottery. This time it was the kids who were in on the action. Ballydougan offer ‘paint a pot’ and ‘clay-throwing’ parties for kids parties and special events. Ciara is on hand to guide them and help out with the difficult bits. I think its a fantastic idea. Their pots are then glazed and available for them to take home and keep. I was soooo tempted to put the camera down and have another go on that wheel myself!




I’ve been MIA on the blog this week I know.
Lots of things going on behind the scenes at the moment so its been busy. Blogging a session is usually the last thing I do in the week! Also I’ve been trying to shut the computer down before ten most nights so that I can chill out for a while on the couch. We’ve just got the movie channels switched back on again so I’ve lots to catch up on. Plus, I managed to finish some books I’ve been reading for about a year. I’ve just realised how much I miss my booktime!
Apart from getting some wind-down time my head is now filled with lots of inspiration and new ideas. I must admit, I was starting to get a bit grumpy and worn out. Working from home all day is new to me and I just haven’t got the balance right yet. I’m making dinner and checking emails at the same time.

I’ve also been missing the girls in the GMINI office. Facebook and twitter are just not the same for getting that daily gossip fix. I’m still teaching at the school but conversation with teenage boys about cars, ferrets, Premier League football and Playstation 3 just ain’t filling that gap at the moment for some reason.

On the plus side, my weeks are never predictable. I’m always meeting new exciting people, I get to spend more time with the kids, and I’m concentrating on what I love doing – taking pictures. If only this miserable weather would change soon as I’ve lots of outdoor work planned and it just ain’t happening at the moment.

Jamie

I love kids with curls.
It has to be one of my favourite things. And gorgeous, little Jamie has loads of them and big blue eyes to die for. He is an absolutely adorable little boy and he won me over right away. Usually when I come in and take my camera out kids can be unsure at first. Jamie walked right over with the biggest smile ever and climbed right up onto my knee. In fairness, I think he was after the camera! He is full of energy and mischief so we had to keep him amused but he gave me plenty of time to get lots of pictures of him. Here are some from the session. You’re such a sweetheart Jamie!


Just look at these curls…



This is the face just before he is about to get into trouble…






Like I said, a real climber. He can’t wait to get to get into the bath here…





Blogging-mums

So I got up early this morning, feeling slightly rough after the big Awards night with hair clips turning up in all sorts of places. I think everyone enjoyed themselves. It was great to meet people I haven’t seen in a while and some new friends also.
Dessie has gone off to play golf as he needs a break after being left in charge last night, bless him.
I’m doing well domestically this morning. The Kids are fed and dressed, I’ve started to tackle ‘laundry mountain’ and the dishes are done. Last night I was feeling all ‘Joan Collins’, this morning I’m definitely more in ‘Pauline Fowler’ mode. Anyway, I thought I would have time to blog some photos from the very glamourous Awards night in the Seagoe Hotel of the girls.
But nothing ever goes to plan for us mums. I have been trying to finish this blog post for a while now but it is not always easy to be a blogging mum. I might write one sentence and then I’ll hear “MAAAAAMMM!” Child no. 1 needs three fireman DVDs down from the top shelf. Then I will sit down to write another sentence and then again another shout “MUMMEEEEE!” Child No.2 wants her tea party set up. Sit down write another bit, child No. 1 has decided he wants to dress up as a dragon and child No. 2 also likes the dragon idea but there is only one dragon costume so after a big fight and alot of convincing, child No. 2 is dressed as a princess who gets to boss the dragon about. That game lasts about five minutes and now the requests are coming in thick and fast. I NEED a yogurt, Can I write my santa list now?, Will you draw scooby doo for me mummy? Can you put teletubbies on? Mummy poopy nappy now, Jaffa Cake, Jaffa Cake!!, Where do dogs come from? Can I sit on your knee mum and help you work? Aaaaaghhh.
How do these ‘work-from-home-mums’ do it? It really irks me when I read about another yummy mummy saying “oh I just set my child at the table with a colouring-in book and they sit contentedly colouring while I make my calls and have all my work completed by mid-day then we head off to the kitchen to make cupcakes and its all so Mary-blooming-poppins… Ugghh. The reality is you just have to forget about blogging or doing anything constructive, turn-off the computer, take the kids to the park, and come back and finish your blog post later on when they are in bed sleeping. Attempting to do it any other way will lead to stressed-out, grumpy mummies, who are writing no-good, rambling blog posts and then eventually insanity.
There is a small child pulling on my leg so I’m off to the park, therefore pictures will be added to this blog post later on this evening.

So here is a quick run-down on how the day has been so far.
2am climb into bed exhausted with very sore feet.
2.30am Niamh decides she wants to wake up for a while.
3.30am Still awake lying in bed pretending to be asleep in the hope that Niamh will get the hint. Eventually she does and nods off.
5.00am Seanan has climbed into our bed after a bad dream. Now there are four and its a tight squeeze. Hard to sleep.
7.30am Must have fallen asleep as I wake up to the feeling of being slapped in the face. Niamh is shouting for breakfast. Drag myself out of bed, get breakfast for kids, dress them, then get myself semi-sorted.
9.00am Start the washing which has been piling up all week. Make a few calls then charge up some camera batteries and format cards.
10.30am Check into twitter, facebook, flickr, nosiness satisfied – blog post started.
11.30am Give up on blog post.
12.00pm Off to the park with kids.
2.00pm Ballydougan Pottery photoshoot No.three
3.30pm Home, dinner, dishes, house tidy up.
5.00pm Help Seanan with his colouring in.
6.00pm Upload photos from shoot to computer.
6.30pm Blog post eventually finished.

Two Years old Today

I have so much I can teach her and pull out of her.
I would say you might encounter defeats but you must never be defeated.
I would teach her to love alot. Laugh alot at the silliest things and be very serious.
I would teach her to love life, I could do that.

Maya Angelou, 1928.