Back from Italy...

Hello my dear friends. It has been a long time since I wrote in my little journal, but life seems to get busier and busier somehow!

I'm back from an amazing week in Italy editing images in the studio, which I shall post here soon! In the meantime I hope you all have a lovely weekend, with Halloween witches and monsters or not.. :-)

E- Postcard from Bruges !

Since I last wrote here was from Belgium. I had envisaged to carry on writing my E- Postcards from our travels, but somehow it didn't go to plan. Trying to find time to write, take photos, edit them and the find a place that has Wi-Fi is quite a task in itself ! So I opted out for chilling out and embracing the beautiful surroundings.

                                                              Antique Market by one of the canals

Now back in England it is all back to work deadlines! At the same time I've been decorating our home and building a new studio ! So today Saturday I sit here with my windows open facing the garden and looking back to our holiday photos ! It seems so long ago now, but only a mere four weeks have gone by !

                                                         Venice of the North
When we arrived to Brussels we did a day trip by train, which only took an hour with amazing train service .
Brugge ( Bruges ) known as the Venice of the North, still has the beautiful medieval charm surrounded by canals, cobbled streets and interesting ornate architecture. I loved it but I think next time I would like to visit at Christmas time , known for the xmas markets.

                                                                 Ornate architecture everywhere

Travel Notebook...

Paris, France

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Las Ramblas, Barcelona, Spain

Lisboa, Portugal

Here I am back to my little blog world ;-)

Sorry for my absence but the forthcoming show Spirit of Christmas has taken over my life in my studio 24/7 . Preparing for the show, coming up with new products and ideas I came across some images I have taken in my travels, so the new page on my site was born here....more to come in the future ( all I need is more time to travel !!)

Have a good weekend ! R

2008 memorable moments...

The most adorable children...

Nelson Mandela's Cell

Arriving to Robben Island on an Early mooring...

On a winters day in Cape Town...

Out for a Sunday walk on Safari...

Happy New 09 to you all!I'm sure like me you must be thinking that xmas was long ago and where has the time gone ! As we go into a new year with time for reflection & soul searching I have been reflecting on the past year events which have taken a lot of my time in the last couple of days ( I know I think far too much sometimes, so I've been told ...) That said I thought I'd compile some images that were most memorable for me in my 2008, which are indubitably our trip to South Africa; Leaving me now dreaming up of another vacation for 2009 as the snowflakes keep on falling outside my window...

Loving these apartments for a holiday break...

Zermatt

Sitges

Prague

Barcelona

Barcelona

Amsterdam

Since I'm on the theme of lovely, cool homes I thought I'd introduce you to this FABULOUS site. Matt and I met the creators of this amazing site at a mutual friends wedding, Mel & Piers a couple of months ago. I highly recommend you to check this site & if like me you are always with the passport and suitcase " ready to go" on a holiday break, you will be very tempted on what Loving apartments has to offer! - gorgeous and individual apartments to suit all taste and prices in fabulous locations... so if you fancy a holiday break in Europe this Christmas why not have a peek here. Much better than a Hotel and you also get to experience a little bit how the locals live ! I'm tempted by all the locations....mm...

Street Photography

I must tell you all that after writing the last post I've been looking through some of my old photos to submit for the Street or Studio at the Tate in collaboration with Flickr. So far I've found this image that I took in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia a year ago...I remember I was strolling through this busy area when I saw the cyclists with the caption on the bus going by " free flow of friends", it was one of those moments of quickly looking through the bag to find the camera and do an instant touch on the button, all I can say I'm glad I managed to get it time!

Cambridge @ the weekend

After all these months of madness & non- stop working ( not complaining though) it was utterly fantastic to be able to get away for 48 hrs at the weekend! Matt and I had a lovely time in Cambridge, although a shame for the rain, but managed to get a few pics, check out some nice bookstores and cake shops too...back at the studio now feeling re-energized for the months ahead..

Berlin memories...

Remains of the Berlin Wall

Holocaust Memorial The Reichstag

Having been absent for a couple of weeks enclosed in my studio working 24/7 I'm glad to comeback to my blogging and think of other things other than work, orders, deliveries etc...

Looking at the previous post it made me reminiscence of my time in Berlin so I searched for some images that I took when I was there that for me represent Berlin, its history and development in many ways.I think the images speak for themselves.

Berlin and an afternoon with Annie Leibovitz

Annie Leibovitz

It was a couple of years ago I was in Berlin on a cold, quiet Sunday afternoon covered with a thick carpet of snow exploring the cobbled side streets ( which for me it is the best way to discover a city walking and seeing what surprises the city gives you) when I came across this very quiet street...in the distance I could see a lot of people going into a building with a lovely courtyard...I had to follow and investigate what was the event being held, to my great joy my exploring had given me my wonderful surprise -An exhibition of Annie Leibovitz Photographs !! I had to go in an see...I was mesmerized but the whole experience having just been a couple of hours in this city full of history where I was standing with my shoes fool of snow, warming up in this lovely little Gallery with unknown location to me, admiring in front of me an amazing collection of Photographs by one of the best photographers in the world !!

This morning I was reading an article in one of the weekend papers about the new documentary filmed by her sister (Barbara Leibovitz) following Annie at work for a year, brought this great moment back that I shall never forget!
Film tittle - Life Through a Lens

Ireland

Well now that I'm back home, I can say that Ireland filled all my expectations and more.
I highly recommend it to anyone that needs to get away from phones, emails, bills, Christmas shopping, and mundane everyday stuff....
I'll be happy to recommend idyllic places for anyone interested of visiting.

Ireland trip

Having had no summer holidays I have been counting the days to our mini- break to Ireland, I cant believe it is finally here!
First stop to Dublin and then a drive to the west for endless walks by the Atlantic coast, chilling out and drinking the odd pint of Guinness in lovely quaint pubs in the middle of nowhere...sounds total idyllic and pure bliss , I really can't wait!
Cameras, books, jumpers, walking boots and woolly hats are on the check list....now onto more final arrangements..
Have a good week to all and see you next week.
PS.Recommendations welcome if anyone knows any special places that are worth a mention :-)