A Long Day Out

I am so late updating the blog today!

Haven't really been up to much all week, just work of course which as ever is keeping me busy.

We have had our first decent rainfall of the Spring. As much as I hated it and the powerful wind that came with it, the ground and plants did need it. It's amazing how one good down pour can make all the difference, I can now see buds and even a few leaves on the trees.

Saturday's weather was cold and bleak, but today the sun was shining, so Nancy, Deb, Cheryl and myself took advantage of this and headed out on a road trip to see if we could find some more abandoned houses to shoot. I am happy to report the trip was successful and we revisted a few old ones and found some new ones. We had lunch in Tatamagouche at a place called Big Al's. What a great place and a lovely man. The food was fab and I would highly reccomend it if you are ever passing through that way.

As our road trip turned into a back lane marathon and we were on the road for around 13 hours, I haven't really had the chance to look at my images yet, the only one I have processed is featured below, it's of The Train Station Inn at Tatmagouche. You may remember me mentioning this place before. The cabooses are the accomodation. The original station area was restored in the 1980's and I for one would love to spend a night there.

In other news, petrol went down 6 cents this week (Robert said I should mention this as it's not news you would normally here in the UK!) I have also entered a Getty run competition to win a new camera, so keep your fingers crossed for me...(Slim to no chance but nothing ventured nothing gained).

The Train Station Inn Platform at Tatamagouche

Medical Matters

It' been a weird week this week. I had a day off on Thursday, I wish I could say it was an enjoyable day, but I had to go to the doctors and the dentist, so it was functional rather than pleasurable.

I had to go to see the doctor to get an implant removed from my arm. The implant is a contraceptive implant and it is common practice in the UK, it stays in the arm for 3 years, before it needs replacing. I was told by my doctor in the UK not to worry about getting it out and having another one put in as they have them in Canada....lol...NO! this is not true. They have never heard of them here!! As it was due out this month I arranged with my doctor for him to 'have a go' at removing it. It was pretty funny!

He got himself all kitted out with everything he thought he would need, pumped in some local anesthetic into my arm and off he went, there was much mumbling and groaning...by him and after quite some time and him breaking into a sweat he got it out. He was so excited, he couldn't wait to show the rest of the practice this weird and wonderful thing, if I didn't know better I think he might actually frame it.

So if there are any women in the UK reading this that have one and are moving to NS, then I know of at least one doctor who can get it out for you.

The dentist was a breeze in comparison, just a clean and I was good to go. Although I am still clenching my teeth at night...I have no idea why, but have been since I had those fillings put in last November, so I might need a bite thing made next time I go.

Saturday Rob, Nancy, Dave and myself decided to go out for a drive to Cape D'or Lighthouse, but as we left later than we planned we didn't actually get there, time and the weather were definitely against us, so we only managed to get as far as Parrsboro. I got to show them some of my favourite photo spots along the way and we managed to get some half decent photos I think. Regardless of the weather and not getting where we are going we had a great time and some good laughs along the way.

 

 

Abandoned Home Near Parrsboro

Dusk at Peggy's Cove

A Postcard from Terence Bay - Re-Editing an Old Shot

Going Getty

Blimey it's been a long and busy week. My news is once again sparse, I have struggled on with the mother of all head colds since Tuesday. I was so ill on Wednesday...Or I must have looked so ill that they sent me home from work. My eyes have been streaming and my head was so bunged up it was almost unbearable. However, having rested most of the day on Saturday I am feeling slightly more human again now.

My big news, if you can call it that, this week is the fact that I have finally given in and signed up with Getty Images. If you are unaware of who or what they are they are the leaders in stock photography. Through Flickr I was asked to join up ages ago and did nothing about it, what put me off, and still does, is the exclusivity rules of submitting work to them but as I am not selling my work anywhere right now I figured what the heck. My good friend Nancy has been signed up for quite some time and sells regularly on there making a couple of hundred dollars a month on average, so fingers crossed some of my images might just sell and make me a few quid. Initially they wanted 9 images, as soon as I got them processed through the system (which is time consuming and very boring) I was then asked for another 78 images, so you can imagine what I have been doing with most of my spare time!

Rob and I managed a quick jaunt out on Sunday afternoon/evening. The sun was shining, albeit a little on the breezy side, so we popped along to Peggy's Cove to see what the sunset would be like, as you can see, it was pretty nice!


Peggy's Sunset, taken on Sunday evening


The Potting Shed...Get it? Taken at New Harbour


Island Life, what a place to live, taken from Bush Island

Happy Easter!

And finally a Bank Holiday! Hope you are all enjoying the long weekend. Of course it is not as long here in Nova Scotia, we only get Good Friday not Easter Monday. But it's all swings and roundabouts, as on the plus side we get other bank holidays in May, June, August....etc.

As it was  Easter weekend and Rob wasn't working (for a change), we treated ourselves to a Chinese meal on Thursday night, I had serious cravings again! The weather was gorgeous on Good Friday so Rob and I headed out and made our way to Oaklawn Zoo in Aylesford. It boasts the biggest collection of big cats and other animals in Eastern Canada. It was in my opinion a disappointment. The animals were great, but from a photography stand point the double layers of fencing and cages were a complete waste of time. There are however, a couple of places within the zoo where you can get up close and personal. I made a new best friend in the Lama enclosure, I think it quite liked the fuss and was pretty relaxed. Rob decided it would be extremely funny to capture the moment and my double chin! Thanks Rob!

After leaving the zoo we drove in Berwick (Apple Capital of NS) for a spot of lunch and then decided to explore some back roads, to Harbourville, which was a pretty neat little place I had not been to before, and then on to Halls Harbour which Robert hadn't been to. Both places are very, very similar!

The rest of the weekend weather isn't worth shouting about and I cannot see us venturing out anywhere else, so I am updating the blog a day earlier.

Birthday wishes go out to my brother Clive and friend Sarah Beckerleg, who both celebrated birthdays this last week.

Silka Deer

Gotta Love those teeth!

Finally signs of Life!!

Tilting and Abandoned beach cottage at Harbourville

The Lama, me... and my chins!

Really...No News!

If you thought previous entries were bad, this one has to beat all, I have been nowhere and done nothing except work of course. I think the most excitement this week was Rob and I getting an A&W burger on Tuesday evening, and I might add it scored low on my burger faves. Here are my preferences in order:

1) Wendy's 2) Burger King 3) McDonald's 4)A&W

The weather has been on and off again this week, we have seen some snow flurries, but nothing much, certainly nothing that has settled. I have noticed the grass is starting to come back to life and there are hints of green everywhere. One of the things I noticed last year when Spring finally kicked into gear were the amazing vivid colours, with everything being so dead, bare and straw-like the contrast is amazing as the colour returns, the green grass and the new leaves on the trees are almost blinding. I cannot wait.

TV, definitely worth a mention, I have started watching the UK version of The Voice. Remember I told you all about it over here about a year ago, fantastic series, and although I had some reservations about the judges on the UK show, I think they work pretty well. The big difference between the US and the UK is the fact the judges in the UK seem to be button happy, spinning their chairs around at every given opportunity, over here they are far, far more picky. I do think Will I Am has the right idea when it comes to selection, he doesn't seem to jump the gun as much.

Until next time here are some photo taken last weekend.


Getting over the Hump of Winter


A Postcard from Northwest Cove


Red Hut, Yellow Hut

The Heat Was On

Yep, you may have heard over in Blighty that we were experiencing some unusual weather this week. it got hotter and hotter until on Thursday we hit about 90 degrees. In one week we went from big coats and shoveling snow to summer shirts and sandals, my mind was boggling at this, it was too weird even by my standards. You will be pleased to know that whilst the UK is now getting some lovely hot weather we are back to about 8 degrees and I had my big coat on again today!

Other than the weather the week has been pretty uneventful, Cheryl and Deb came round again on Friday night to finalise the new logo for the new name 'Bella Donnas' and the website once again is underway.

Today Nancy and I went out for the day and ambled around the Aspotogan Peninsula. Nancy hasn't been there in many years, so it was quite exciting for her to rediscover the area. My favourite part of the loop is Northwest Cove, but we also followed a few back roads and found a few hidden coves and other gems. It was a great day and I have not long been home, hence the delay in the update.

I was troubled this week to hear that one of the major printing places Transcontinental is closing down and putting another 500 people out of work. I have seen no real signs of the economy picking up here in Nova Scotia, I had high hopes when the news broke about the ship building contracts being awarded to the Province, but as yet any knock on effect from this has failed to materialize...Good news if you are a ship builder or a welder though.

Totally unrelated to anything, I learned an interesting solution to a common problem this week...Ladies, if you ever get white deodorant marks on your black top whilst dressing, just pull out a nylon pop sock, scrunch it up and rub it on the marks...Magic, they are gone, it really does work.

Sorry to be so random, but sometimes when I write this the strangest snippets from the week pop into my brain.

Mill Cove, a hidden gem, found today.


Nothwest Cove


Fox Point

A Busy Week

I have no clue where the time has gone this week. Socially I have done nothing at all, but work has been full on crazy. With the kids off on March Break I thought the week would be quiet, but no, quite the opposite.

I met Deb and Nancy for lunch on Wednesday across the road from where I work in a little cafe. It was brief but the food was good. Nancy and I were unable to make Debs birthday bash a week ago, so it was nice to have a catch up.

Other than that it has just been work, work, work. I am still formulating ideas for the colour area of the showroom and have been gathering and collecting information and getting some of the prep work done. My boss really likes the ideas I have been throwing out and I am enjoying the challenge. She thinks I should be a design consultant...Who knows one day eh?

Rob and I ventured out briefly yesterday as the sun was shining, we headed along to Eastern Passage for a little walk and drove round some other areas of Dartmouth looking as potential houses to live in...I still cannot get past wanting to live in the one road though (the road where houses never come up for sale!).

I showed Rob Rainbow Haven Beach yesterday too, the weather was fabulous and dare I say it too hot for my big coat!

The good weather looks set to continue this week, hooray I say! Think we might have turned a corner on Winter now.

The bus drivers went back to work last Friday. I no longer feel any sympathy for them as they got a signing fee of $4000 each for going back to work with their new deal. Incredible, they inconvenience the whole of the City for over a month and then get rewarded for it. That signing fee would take me almost 5 months to earn on my low end income.

They are offering free bus and ferry rides until the end of the month...Well you know what they can do with that!

Fishermans Cove, Eastern Passage, taken yesterday


Amusing Sign found at West Berlin last weekend


Fishermans Friends, taken last weekend at Port Medway