Etown, Anna Maria Island, Kentucky

So, can't sleep...who would have thought you could say Auckland is too hot at night?! I'm sure it'll be different tomorrow, that's how it is here, but when I can't sleep I write - It's always been things for no one to see, but maybe the mould is starting to form, and this begins to be me?!

please forgive the nostalgia btw, and there will be little or no cohesion here and in posts to come, but these things come to my mind when they will, and there has been a lot to remember in the course of the "Adventures"...

I found a pain in my heart tonight, and can only blame a movie that I'd summarily dismissed before - Elizabethtown, which turned out to be in Kentucky, and about a road trip, and death, and then it was all about a journey I'd taken myself - can't believe it takes this long and something like that, to make you cry like a baby, and really know you miss those you love, and never even had the chance to say goodbye to... maybe this will help??

It's crazy how after years something as simple as an OK mainstream movie, makes me remember a promise I made. This is the beginning of an endeavour to make that right - Heather's mum wanted pictures of her beautiful daughter that were more about her, and less about the fashion world she despised, lived in, and ultimately (I believe) led to her demise. I have the pics, and so many wonderful stories of a gentle soul that didn't deserve the end she met... I'm sorry it's taken this long, but to know we all (Taz, Boyd, Della, Brigita, Richie, Cemek, etc, etc) still think of her, and miss her, will I hope make my apology a little more easy to accept...There will be more to come on this, and I will deliver those moments I cherished with her and our friends, to a mother who suffers the loss every day, and more than any of us...

And so to a happier place, where the memories led me - Boyd and I left Kentucky and drove what felt like forever, to Florida and Heather, a magical week on the Mexican gulf, and a town that seemed inhabited by us alone. It was at the beginning of my States sojourn, and all seemed so fine then - I remember we laughed at how everyone was gone because of the encroaching "storm" (that never eventuated as usual!), and enjoyed so much the bike rides to nowhere, alone and unencumbered by anything except our whimsy.... Barrington Beach House, an English B & B with attitude - 10 metres of sea grass from the front door to the beach, swimming in water that was as warm as the air, and laughing as we hummed the theme from Jaws thru the enveloping mist... there was so much more to the trip, but I'll come to that as I find the images... when it comes right down to it, we had a great trip, and the memories so obviously hold still.

just one thing to say - the inhabitants of this journey of mine have left their mark on me forever...

Love you Heather baby, and I know you're in a place of peace, with always that twinkle in your eyes so bright, and that smile to light the hearts of those who really knew you, and will hold you close forever ;-)

xxx

Lutefisk KIWI!

Was never the plan to add my work to here, but I'm finding slowly that there really isn't any separation between my work and my life, and ya know what - I like it that way!

The cheeky aspect of Ella V!

our pool "down the hill"...

Dad always told me, find something you love, to work as a job... well guess it's apparent, I actually enjoy taking a picture or 2, and even better is finding new generations of likeminded souls - Get out there and ENJOY the world M, Ella and Richard (all @ Clyne NZ) - you made the day fun, easy and the pics show it all...

....they just glow don't ya think?!

Here's the link - hope you like!

http://lutefiskmagazine.com/issue%203/p32.html

Thanks to all for a great day, and to Ben@ Lutefisk for the opportunity to show them to the world...

Small circles, Big world... Great friends!

After years of running around, never sure where I'd be from 1 month to the next, it seems I've found a way to keep in touch with the widely spread group of friends I've accumulated over years - bring them all down here!

Somehow one night in Auckland managed to get 5 of them from various stages of my last 15 years into not only 1 place, but 1 overworked but very much fun photobox - very clever of Federation to not only celebrate 10 years, but to attach their name to memories I'll cherish for the next 15!!

Anyways, another night to remember, an easy way to achieve that (and a bag with owls on!)...

Happy New Year to my old and new friends! Let's hope we're all smiling all the way thru it!

Peace, hope and love x

Xmas Day Colours!

As is always the case here on a cliff, we're exposed to all that Auckland has to offer, this day as any other... Been trying to get myself sorted to write something, and another of the NY Resolutions is to push on thru the mindset, and just GET IT DONE!!

So, here are some colours we saw in the day, and a few from the eve to come...

Spent the day with new NZer Tazzle and John, with a visit to Trish's for great company and food - then an interlude in the city with Chris and James (Chrames?! lol)... ready to get on with it for a new and exciting year, future, life.. let's see if I have developed any ability to follow thru - y'all can be the judge of that, as the efforts should be obvious lol!

Merry, merry Y'all!

This is where I came from - Initial visual aspects at least!!

There has to be a reason I ended up in Auckland - Never thought I'd ever make it back to living in NZ, but this side of the world was always going to be home eventually...(it was meant to be Sydney, which had been the closest to home previously, with a great deal of my "family" group developing there).

I didn't quite get to meet Isobel unfortunately, but Trish her best friend, and now another part of my crew, has made sure I got all necessary to know her - My whole life I've been called everything from some skinny (but fun lol) kid Ferris Bueller, Maori, Greek, Lebanese etc etc, but in all honesty I never quite saw it?! When they sent me the first pic I kinda knew then, but after hearing all the stories, and receiving 5 cases and boxes of images and letters, it all fell into place. Three days of "scrapbooking" to learn a little only, of a life that mine follows really closely - it's quite bizarre in fact how close, but those are more stories for another moment or few in this little piece of me... btw have to say she had the looks too... (obviously they were passed down also lol!)

Reality is, it seems that it's not just the physical attributes we garner from the generation prior, but now I know that my being in general owes a lot to the fun loving, adventuresome woman pictured, who had me at a time when life meant you had to live with (and pay for) your mistakes - these days the govt has recognised that all doesn't necessarily follow the storybook line, and some Mum's do need a little help to get by.... my heart goes out to all those others who feel the need to know, and don't get the same opportunity I did to "find" their roots, but it's only a part of y'all, and inside you still know yourself best - now to show that "best" to all you hope to!

Last, but by no means least, I have to speak on the "growing up" I actually got to have - I grew up with the best Mum and Dad 4 adopted brats could hope for that I love dearly and am thankful for every day, a lifestyle many would dream of ( not financially necessarily ), and got all we needed and more, to grow into people they'd be proud of - I have to hope that's the case, they never let us think otherwise eh! (more of that, and them, to come!)

Seafarin' days!

one of the best aspects of my new locale is the possibility to travel without having to deal with road rage, traffic obstacles (ie new tunnels and the inopportune closure of on/off ramps whenever I seem to need "that" one), bad drivers in the rain (and not...), and my own idiosyncrasies behind a wheel lol!

Heading into the city today might not get me the same peaceful journey, what with the driving gale force, freezing winds threatening to blow us off the cliff already, but it's an adventure eh?!

A Brief collection...

of figurative exploits... Thanks to friends and family for participating! I know how hard it would be for me to go there, so thanks for the trust, and the energy you put to the cause - Huia, John, Ryan and Kane... real additions to my "body" of work!