28/11/2014

Stay that way


So many parts of London are becoming generic modern visions of what modernity should look like (lots of glass and no personality) and it's all pretty soulless. We found these relics on the way to the Shard, and I wish they'd keep more of them. It was my London anniversary this week (22 years!), and the city is undergoing so much change I'm worried about where it's heading. It's more and more a city for the rich, who buy up property only to keep them as investments with no one living there, so whole neighbourhoods die come evening time, when the people who work in the area leave for home. What on earth will it be like once Oomoo becomes an adult?! He'll either be living with us for a looooong time, or emigrate (insert sad face) - which runs in the blood in my family...

22/11/2014

On the street

The other day I took out my phone to capture the light after a rain shower, and as I pulled it up out of my pocket, I saw the man in the hat walk towards me. He looked so dapper and out of place, and I got all excited and waited for him to pass. It was only when I looked on the screen afterwards that I saw that I had travelled in time, and to another place. It was like a Saul Leiter or a Vivien Maier picture had somehow made it onto my phone out of nowhere, except with modern cars in the background. And even though I'd never wear a hat myself, I wish more people would - they're so damn photogenic.

20/11/2014

In the clouds

For the third year in a row, we took Oomoo to yet another London landmark, something that's become our own tradition. When he turned three we went to the London Eye, when he turned four we went to the Tower of London and this year we went to the Shard. Unfortunately it was very foggy when we went on Sunday, so there wasn't much of a view to be seen, but we enjoyed it nevertheless. I guess we'll have to go back on a clearer day; I'd love to catch the sunset and see the lights of the city glimmer beneath us as day turns into night...

14/11/2014

5

Someone in the house turns five today. How tha, what tha?! HOW are you already five Oomoo?! He's such a lovely little guy, and I'm so proud of how he carries himself. He's the kind of kid who makes friends in the playground within minutes, he's a great hugger, he loves slapstick, he's got an awesome taste in music, he's generous and he's mastered sarcasm. We're so lucky to have him in our lives, and the past five years have been a blast. Cheers to you my son!

07/11/2014

Let there be light

I love sunny autumn mornings at home. Have a great weekend!

17/10/2014

Devon randoms

And so, the last of the Devon pictures.
/ Oomoo doing his best Wall-E impression
// A ram somewhere on Exmoor
/// A view of Lynmouth
//// A little leaf peaking through the window
///// The kids enjoying the cool sea at Woolacombe beach.

Have a great weekend!

15/10/2014

Two in one day

On one of the days we took the kids to The Big Sheep where they had a whale of a time looking at and feeding some of the animals. It was actually the day with the best weather, so after a few hours we headed to the nearest beach called Westward Ho! I didn't put that exclamation mark there to emphasise - it's actually what the town is called! Some in our group were hardier than others and went for a quick dip, whilst some of us stayed on the beach wrapped up against the strong winds. You can guess which camp I was in...

13/10/2014

In between

Some moments from the house we stayed in Devon, in between the daily excursions.

10/10/2014

Pooling around

Hey friends! Firstly thank you so much for your lovely comments on the previous post. Secondly, I'm not going to accept a weekly (or bi-monthly) post on this blog; the reason I couldn't post sooner is that I hurt my back a couple of weeks ago, and am only now feeling more back (haha) to normal. So I need to up my post ratio! Anyways, back to that Devon trip that now feels like a hundred years ago. As the weather was rubs, and as there was three kids in da house, the option of just hanging out indoors all day was not applicable. So, on one of the days we drove to Ilfracombe to check out the old Victorian rock pools at Tunnel Beaches. It's funny, but looking at pictures of the same place in good weather doesn't seem to make the place justice. I think bad weather actually suits it better! But then I wasn't hoping to go for a dip there anyway, and so didn't feel let down. It's funny looking at these pictures now; you can't tell from them that is was actually quite busy, but it's amazing how easy it is to edit reality by cropping something out of frame.

Hope you have a great weekend, and I'll promise I will be back to regular posting - I need that as an excuse to take the camera out for regular walks again!

24/09/2014

In the Valley of Rocks



So we went to Devon in what turned out to be the worst week of the summer. It's always a gamble when you holiday on these fair isles, and it was a gamble that we lost. But hey, that's what rain proofs and wellies are for, right?! Anyway, we and some friends rented a house in North Devon and it was ridiculously beautiful, despite the weather. On this particular day the weather was dreadful, but we got out of the house anyway and headed to Lynton, a little town on the coast. The skies cleared after lunch, and me and the boys walked up to the Valley of Rocks, a beautiful, if slightly smelly, walk along a coastal path. The smell became self-explanatory when we literally crossed paths with a feral goat. The walk itself was our favourite part of the whole week, something you might be able to guess from these pictures. It was still a bit drizzly so we got to see a rainbow - from above!! Just breathtaking. Along the path there were little sheltered seating areas, and in one of them we found a box of poems where anyone could scribble down what they felt like, as they sat there, staring at the sea (see pic 4). Some of them were very funny. And rather than writing down a poem, I'd like to think of these pictures as a sort of visual poem of that day :)