GotPassion?

The Humble Bumble Bee

We have a lot to learn from the humble bumble bee.

Honestly we do.

Can you imagine the humble bumble bee think the thoughts we think? 

 

"Will I have enough food to eat this month, will have enough money to supply all my needs and my wants as well. Will I have enough for a few luxuries as well?"

 

"Is this really the plant for me, or is there a better plant somewhere. A plant more suited to me?"

 

"Will I crash instead of landing on that plant, oh dear... I am not sure I can fly any more."

 

"And even if I do land, where should I land. That lavender is taller yet, that that some is bluer and yet again, that one is nearer."

 

"Does my bum look big in this?"
 
 
 
 
 

Brownie Camp

Well, last week my lovely Brownies got to join a bunch of other Brownies and Guides for a camp in Essex and I am glad to say all the feedback has been totally positive and the girls had a fab time. 

Particularly hightlights involved crate building, grass sledging, doing their own bbq's, late nights, hanging out with their friends, a big camp fire sing along (including such classics as 'Marilyn Munroe', 'Ah de do da day' and my personal favourite, 'There are no bananas in the sky') and of course lets not forget the three girls who came to my tent at 4:20am and woke all the leaders up with the profound question 'how do you knock on a tent'. Unfortunately for me, they were from my unit and so I was the one who rolled out of bed to get rid of the poor moth who found itself stuck in their tent. Half asleep as I was, it didn't really occur to me to tell them to enjoy the experience of the outdoors, as I just really wanted peace and quiet and to go back to sleep.

Well having downloaded the trial version of Lightroom, I have been having fun with the editing options and making the pictures look a little different. Enjoy!

This poor butterfly apparently lost its ability to fly and the girls were trying to shoo it in to the air again. I think it was just lazy, or hot and looking for a rest.

 

Yep the girls really did make their own bbq's!

 

The entrance to the toilet block, you can only imagine how thrilled the girls were with this and the numerous spider webs inside the toilet block. Not. I tried to tell them about the spider that looked a bit more like this WARNING SCARY BIG SPIDER when I went to an outhouse toilet once (honestly toilet so small there was just enough room to shut the door, spider was in the corner above the door). I don't think they really saw the difference. The little spiders here are apparently just as scary. At least they make pretty webs.

 

Being near an airfield is a lot more fun when taking photos than it is when you are trying to sleep in the wee hours, planes were very noisy. I'd also like to add, despite it being the hottest day of the year at 32 or something, the night was freezing freezing freezing, and I slept with leggings, trousers, tshirt, hoodie and socks. Trying to tell myself not to complain because it was just a few hours til the heat returned.

 

Do you see all that fluffy white stuff on the ground?

 

Well this is a close up. It was everywhere, somewhat annoying but very pretty. Kind of looked like it was snowing in the summer.

 
 
 
 
 
 

 

The Best of Soul in the City 2010

Enjoy!

The Best of Soul in the City - Tollington 2010 from Bill Cahusac on Vimeo.

Divine Intervention

It may have been divine intervention or maybe just a happy accident. I prefer to believe it was the following though.

Well it all began with booking the tickets, I looked at flights leaving on saturday and on sunday, and the first flight I booked ended up with problems (expedia are a little rubbish and booked me on a flight that didn't exist) and so I had to redo it all.

Anyway I arrived in Switzerland on thursday morning, had a lovely day helping with wedding preparations. Friday was the wedding (a lovely one it was too). Yesterday was hanging out with Amy and Daniel, sightseeing castles and lakes. 

Today Amy, Daniel and Raffi brought me to the airport, as we looked at the list we didn't see my flight there. Amy checked her phone for my email with the flight details. It was then we realised the flight was yesterday.

I think my first response was 'seriously?!'. A few years ago (possibly a few months ago) this situation would probably have traumatised me. Today though I actually was really happy.

Reminds me of 'The Life of Brian' song, 'Always look on the bright side of life'. 

We had a fabulous day hanging out and who knows when we will see one another again, it won't be for a while. I would never have willingly missed a flight like that, but really glad I did.

Besides anything else I got to fly home with BA, who seemed to be experiencing a rare moment of not striking (I thought they were on a permanent strike now?) and was able to check in my baggage and get a snack on board.  And basically be generally be more comfortable than the lovely Easy Jet.

So you see why I think it is Divine Intervention. And I wouldn't have wanted it any other way.

So anyway, here are some photos from the day that nearly never was!

 

 

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 

Amy and Daniel, they met, they fell in love, they got married!

Dear Colleen, Amy's Dad and the rest of Amy's Family!!

Here are some snapshots from Amy's Swiss wedding. Your presence was missed during the day and I know you would have loved to be here but I hope these photos give you a little sense of what it was like.

Amy looked beautiful, Daniel looked handsome. They make a stunning couple. The registry office went well, the translator was very helpful! After that we went to the reception venue and had an afternoon of appetisers. 

I was very glad for your nephew being there with his wife and giving me English speaking people to talk to as well as the translator and his wife who are friends of Daniel's, and a few obliging Swiss-germans who practiced their English with me.

The venue was really beautiful, apparently goes back to the Romans! Although rain was forecast, the day was sunny with a few clouds. Anyway on to the photos!

 

 

The bridal bouquet has a spacial ring on it to make it easier to hold, when we were waiting for the translator at the registry office, Daniel was trying to show me how it work. The ring got stuck on my finger. Thankfully his brother was able to get it off with some soap. Embarrassing!

 

The beautiful bride!

 

 

My bouquet, really lovely with English roses and peonies (my favourites!)

 

Me all glammed up thanks to my lovely flatmate who insisted on running though the outfit, accessories and make up - at 11pm, an hour before I had to leave for the airport!

 

Table decorations were as stunning as always!

 

You can catch a glimpse of the old wall sticking out from the newer wall here. The reception was in the building on the right which has the 2 windows. It was lovely and cool in there!

 

A friend of theirs is an impressive piano player and even played a piece with two tennis balls in his right hand. Possibly my favourite bit was when he was the right hand was the girl and the left hand the boy and played what they sound like (needless to say the mens bits were shorted and had less tonal range (is that the right word? He spoke in Swiss-German so I didn't really get that bit!)

Anyway Amy and Daniel will be home to you soon and will have their second wedding, I am very sorry not to be able to make that one too when they make their vowels before you guys and before God. But I hope you will take some photos for me to enjoy!

With Love, from Evie

 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
  

Heaven on the Andover

 

  

  

   

 

  

 

 

 
 
 
 
 

 

 
 
  

 
 
 
 

 
 

12 Lives Lost.

Such sadness filled my heart
When I heard the news.

12 lives lost
Some chosen, some random.
None deserved.

He chose the cowards way out.
Took his own life. Escaped earthly punishment.

Such sadness filled my heart.
Wondering what he was thinking

12 lives lost. But how many left behind?
Daughters, sons, fathers and mothers plus many many more.

His actions changed history.
What was going on in his mind and in his heart?

Such sadness filled my heart.
Everyone asks could this have been avoided?

12 lives lost.
Who is to blame? Could anyone have saved these 12 lives?

He was born to joy
and died leaving grief in his wake.

Such sadness fills my heart.
I can only find solace in God above.

12 lives lost
12 lives as delicate as flowers

He who as vicious as a storm, trampled on them.
But death shall not have victory for my God is greater.

 

How do you see yourself?

My friend took this photo of me, and as much as I look at it - it is actually hard to see myself in it. 
In fact I am expecting him to comment on this post 'Oh no, thats not you - it is so and so.' 

It is not how I see myself.
Although I am not quite sure what I was expecting to see?

I really like the photo though. Wondering what I am looking at, concentrating on, whats going on in my mind.
Why is the face so serious?

When we look in the mirror we see what we expect to see.
We see the same perspective.

Its good to see ourselves from another perspective.
To see how others have seen us.

How do you see yourself. How has that perspective changed?

 

 

almost the middle of the year

Who can believe it is June already. My computer has been in repairs. Twice. 
I have moved house. Once.
Started running a brownie pack.
Been to France. Almost off to Switzerland.
Improved my swimming having only learnt last year, upto to 30 laps now. (In the Swimming pool and not the nice ocean scene seen here, I hasten to add).

I cooked chicken that wasn't roasted for the first time in my life (chicken kebabs, 7 year old's recipe) It was a success...

Started a new job.
Now 6 months in.
In fact, changed career. Yay for being a nanny.
Had a mini-photo exhibit (can't wait for the next one!)
Had a sleepover for my 2 nieces and their friend.
Watched numerous episodes of Dr Who, and various CSI's.

Been to the second Big Church Day Out which was lots of fun. But very very windy as seen here...

 
Helped out on my third Soul in the City, each year it gets bigger and better.

 

Spent lots of time with these two lovely girls and their little brother (not yet at the age he wants to be photographed). 

 

As you can see it doesn't leave entirely that much time for blogging. Better to be enjoying life than writing about it?

How blessed I have been, this has been a great year so far and I am looking forward to the next 6 months being equally if not even better!

 

Baby Ams and other stuff

During my last holiday, I had this very odd feeling of missing work rather a lot. Wondering how the girls were doing etc. Well between being very busy with Soul in the City and also not feeling well this week I can say I am normal and haven't missed work at all. 

Although now I think of it I am missing the girls. Oh dear.

Excitingly I got a new phone, finally. HTC Desire. No doubt I will photograph it and present it to you but for now I am happy to say that I have 'Beyond the Sea' by Robbie Williams as my ringtone once again.

Even now as I write, I am listening to Robbie Williams and the song has come on and it is taking all my self control not to pick up the phone and see who is calling me, it is now forever a ringtone to me.

Well I shall leave you with this. Baby Ams. You have seen her before and you will no doubt see her again because she is possibly just the cutest little baby I know right now. Her Mum had a milestone birthday on Wednesday (Happy Birthday Naomi!) and is the loveliest person ever and Baby Ams is just getting the best start in life. Anyway, Naomi and Ams came around last week for a visit, and I got a few of these shots - this is one of my favourite though. More to come when I have sorted the photos!

I am in the process of, well processing photos. I have taken lots recently and have been waiting to get the macbook back to download them and now there is a horrific backlog. Oh well. First step is to get them into albums and then I can do the deleting bit.