SOS

Emotinal pain is an artist of its own kind. Sometimes pieces of the sculpture break off. Maybe one day they will be glued back on. If not it might leave a scar, a point of interest or attraction.

All the important parts of my life seem to have taken a skydive, a damn group dive!

My mom is working hard being a carer for some Honourable Lady. Apparently the scenery is really pretty and relaxing where she is, plus there is another carer who is being a great friend to her. But times are still tough and everytime I talk to Mom she offloads on me and the tears well up. My dad is worn out and feeling down from working during the day and carrying out 'guard duty' around the house at night. Kevin's health (eye-sight) is still an issue but atleast he has now emigrated to South Africa. My beloved dog Winston has a cancerous growth in his mouth and the vets can't do anything. My country is ... well lets not go there! My new workload is sobering and when I see colleagues it's the same thing for each of us - rant, listen, group hug!

Yep, you guessed it, I'm feeling very low. I'm doing what I can to keep myself cheerful ... being as creative as possible, bought a bike, taking time off work and looking forward to spending time in Switzerland this September.

But everybody needs a bit of extra help sometimes, so I'm asking for a small favour from you please.

I have six postcards, that friends have sent to me, stuck up around my bedroom mirror so there is always something fun, interesting and meaningful to look at. Please send me a postcard and help me make this collection even more heartwarming! It doesn't need to have a profound message on it, just anything you fancy.
You will put a smile on my face in the morning and I'll do my best to make it last all day!

Email me for my address - shirl.zimgirl@gmail.com

Many thanks in advance!

The Flickr Community

Virtual reality huh .... Infinite Flickr

Superheroes

I've never been one to 'look up' to a person, I think it's good to be inspired by others yet always follow your own path. But here is someone who gains 'Superhero' status from me!

Check this out ... http://www.wherethehellismatt.com/about.html

Edinburgh Marathon

My Edinburgh Marathon Movie

What a superb day! A little hot for the runners maybe but that didn't seem to matter to them! I had the wind in my face whilst racing around the city on the back of a honda goldwings motorbike. I am on cloud 9.

That Homely Feeling

I don’t hear the people singing 'hakuna matata'
I hear death defying silence
They stopped the beating of drums
The African sun has set

The dark of night is muted with fear
Sadness raids the peoples' hope
No lights shine brightly
The lands has been raped and left bare

This dark continent, the home to mankind
Ruled with torture and starvation
Vultures hovering, everyone scrambling
Death is a whisper away

Beauty in abundance
Wildlife roam freely
Crickets serenade the peace
Nature is content being naked

Such magnetism, how do you love
My country, my home, my people
They sing to me, it beckons to me
Threateningly

The silence

That silence

This empty and deathful silence

Make your voice heard!

Zimbabwe Vigil UK

The real 'tough guys' of the world

Great news on the 'homeless' front. John who used to sit outside Tesco on Leith Walk is still around, yay! After not seeing him for months and being told he might of died, I didn't think there was much hope. A few days ago I was sitting on a bus reading a book when someone tapped me on the head, I uttered my usual 'hey, how are you doing?' without knowing who it was and expecting it to be a colleague or client. It took a few seconds before any recognition kicked in, the guy I was talking to was clean shaven, well dressed and smiling! John is looking so well, whatever he has done has knocked 10years off him. Unfortunately he was getting off at that stop so we couldn't chat - his appearence said enough though.

It just gets better!

I've just found out that my Edinburgh marathon photography stint will involve me on the back of a motorbike taking shots of the elite runners. How exciting! Please wish me luck. (If anyone needs me tomorrow, I'll be in the photography section at the library!)

News from Zim .. the people who stole my father's car came back a few nights later in an attempt to get the other 2 vehicles. So between dad and my brother Kevin - they're running a guard duty, 9mm at hand. To 'lighten' situations up in my mind I picture them in cartoon form - both men are absolute superheroes, crazy outfits and all.
The great news is Kevin has now handed in his resignation and shall be emigrating to South Africa soon, he's already had 2 brilliant job offers! Go Bro!!!

Telepathy (via cyberspace)

WanderingScribe

Not all that is gold glitters, not all who wander are lost. --Tolkein

A woman becomes homeless, so she gets into her car and drives. Except she has nowhere to go - so she stays in the car, with all her possessions heaped in the back, sleeping in the front seat, parking in secluded streets. For eight months, no one notices her, because she makes sure she looks respectable. But this is the information age. And even though she doesn't speak to anyone, she can go into a library where she can access the internet and write an online journal - a homelessness blog - which she uses to describe, and thus communicate, all her unspoken experiences and feelings.

The loves of my life

Photography is communicating passion and sparking excitement in the mind and body of another person. If you don't care about the subject then the results won't get beyond the basics. Care deeply and incredible things happen.

"If I feel something strongly, I make a photograph. I do not attempt to explain the feeling." Ansel Adams

You need to be passionate about whatever it is that you photograph. For me, a photograph is not about technique. A photograph is communicating something, be it an idea, concept, feeling, thought or whatever, to a total stranger. If it says nothing to you it will say even less to others.

Photo taken by Ashitparikh

Last year I volunteered at the Edinburgh marathon helping hand out water bottles to the runners. This year, whilst signing up, I decided to be a photographic assistant, which will involve directing runners to the right photographers once they finish the race. There was a comment box on the sign-up page that I nearly left empty but then thought I'd tell them why I'm doing this, so my spiel included the phrase "I'm very passionate about photography". A couple of days ago I got email from the organiser saying he'd noticed my comment and proposed that I that bring my camera along and join the other photographers capture the beginning of the race. Ofcourse I accepted, with much joy!