Whoops,I forgot

I have a bad back ???????

What was I thinking?????

I realised the second I sat in the ring and the pain hit me.The lifeguard said you’ll be fine,but I was already thinking how am I going to get out and stand?

Me and Hubby are officially now to old and decrepit for water parks.Both of us had to take painkillers after our rides.

So we sadly left all the other rides to the youngsters.

 

 

 

Luckily,it was a perfect opportunity for me to practise,for my shutter speed assignment for Karen Russell's photography workshop.

and here are some of my other favourites from the day.

Tasmin after swallowing half the pool during a slide ride.

hooray

1 goal to Spain so far.People are out banging saucepans on their balconies.Its very funny.I wish I could capture the roar around me as Spain attempt to get near the goal.Its so funny to watch it delayed on the BBC.

So today we headed up to the La Manga Club.Its a golf/tennis resort up in the hills opposite our apartment.It caters for rich/sporty types.One of which I am clearly not.(sporty)

This is a view of the golf course with the La Manga strip in the background.Where our apartment is.

This posh resort has the tiniest beach ever.Its reached down a precarious shingle, twisting road.Your ears pop as you finally reach the beach,after the white knuckle drive.

The beach is so reminiscent of an English Cornish beach.

My lot love to snorkel here.There are so many fish and every year Hubby comes rushing in to tell me his fisherman tales of huge octopuses.

(Yippee,Spain have just got through in the World Cup.Car hooters,fireworks and singing all around.)

My next assignment for Karen Russell's class is all about shutter speed,so today I was trying to capture some action shots.

Some Germans kindly let me take a collection of shots of them playing bat and ball.

Then it was Hubby’s turn to be my model.

Some local Spanish were tucked in the cave of the cove fishing.And very successful they were to.

I don’t think we will be getting an early night tonight.Every car is blowing its hooter!!!!!

God knows what it will be like here Sunday for the final………..

For once I can’t wait for a World Cup game.

For some peoples info I return Tuesday and daughter is flying in as I am posting this blog.So I am looking forward to having some new models to photograph.I’m sure you’ll be pleased sis.You can tuck into your tea now.

Spain to win.

Yet again its that time in the World Cup where we are sat watching Spain playing to get to the finals.Fingers crossed for Spain.Again we can hear the cheers or groans all around us seconds before we see it on the BBC1.

I hope you all appreciate me continuing to blog while I'm on holiday.It means I have to lug my laptop down to the beach to avoid the 100* temperatures in the car.Then spend a half an hour trying to log on in a bar with free wifi.Well,as free as a coke and beer are.

Then I spend an hour huffing and puffing in the heat waiting for the slooooow  broadband to load.I have just “handed”in my first assignment for Karen Russell's photography workshop.

I also took a self portrait photo for Cheryl Johnsons new upcoming course-people imagery workshop.It had to be a picture we had taken of ourselves including something  patriotic or sporting.Its a wee bit  hard when you are on a beach in Spain.So this was my attempt,until I get home.

It’s me wearing an England flag bikini????? (Honest)

I’ve kept myself busy whilst the football has been on,putting together my Chicago mini album.Here’s the pages I’ve completed so far.

We stopped for an ice cream after our jaunt.But which flavour should I choose?

There were so many to choose from.

 

Should I have a collection of flavours like the young slim Spanish girls?

Or would it be a sin in Weight Watchers eyes?

 

So I plumped for a single scoop of banana.

Hubby went for the most repulsive flavour on offer.

I said I would prefer to eat a toenail and bogey ice cream than the tutti frutti he picked.

Hola

from sunny Spain.

I’ve just woke up and its 10am.

We’ve had this property for 20 years this year.We are surrounded by Spanish here.All of the English have left our complex to join forces in other less beautiful places.The view from the front of our apartment is of the largest sea lake in Europe-The Mar Menor.

My originally parents choose this resort because of the healing properties of the lake and the fact that there are no waves,current and the fact its so shallow you can walk out for ages and its still only up to your thighs.So it is brilliant for young children.

As you can see out of my bedroom window.

Just “across the road” is 18km of Mediterranean beach.So here we have the best  of both worlds.

 

Let me take you on a little tour of my humble abode here.

 

 

 

This is where Hubby and I have choose to sleep.In the single beds.Far more comfy when you're hot and sticky.

Daughter when she comes out tomorrow will get the double bedded room.

My Mother originally decorated the apartment 20 years ago and we have added our own touches since the place was left to us.Luckily my Mum had good tastes,so its just been a case of replacing  worn out things.

This is the first time in years I have really enjoyed myself.Why you might ask?Well for the first time in years the TV is working properly !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Someone (my sister) forgot to mention they had worked out how to get UK TV here.So for years I have been stuck with the news channel and Euro sports.Erghhhhhh.

But at last I can sit and enjoy Big Brother and anything my heart desires.Bliss.I always got so bored in the evenings.

Here’s our pool should I get bored with the TV.

We’re off today to spend the day at a small beach cove at The La Manga Club.Its a posh resort where you may remember the England Team usually train before a World Club.

Hubby likes the beach as its like a small Cornish beach with lots of snorkelling territory.

Composition of a photo

I have my next three week assignments for Karen Russell's photography workshop all downloaded and printed.

My first assignment covers the composition of a photo.

“beauty can be seen in all things ,seeing and composing the beauty is what separates the snapshot from the photograph” Matt Hardy

I had to have heaps of rules embedded in my brain when composing each shot.Not an easy feat.My only “willing”subject at the moment is my hubby.So as the light is so good here,I tried the beach and a spot just before sunset.

Defining your subject or story

(candid vs portrait)(centering vs off-centering your subject):

leading lines:

the rule of thirds and thinking about empty/active space:

simplicity and thinking about viewpoint (front,back,side,high,low,eye-level)

Plus a lot more which covered 70 A4 pages!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Breakfast as usual here in La Manga is a chocolate pastry.

Can you tell my Hubby is a “feeder”.

Mine is on the left!!!!!

Oh and just to make you sick.Here is the view I look at everyday from my viewpoint on our balcony.

Phew,its hard work being me……………………………………..

Second time around

After our disastrous afternoon tea at The Grove.We were given the opportunity to give it another go.This time all complimentary.

The Head Chef rang me so he could devise a perfect tea just for me.It was a glorious sunny day.Unfortunely one of us couldn’t make it.

So there was just me and and Christine.

This time everything was perfect.

No poncy sandwich's for me.A croque monsieur and tomato soup with assorted warm rolls.Heaven.

Followed by scones and an assortment of miniature cakes made just for me.

The atmosphere is electric…..

I am sat in our apartment in La Manga,Spain watching the Paraguay/Spain World Cup match.Now I am not a lover of football.But it has been amazing sitting here listening to everyone in their apartments watching the game.We are watching the BBC and ours is slightly delayed.As the penalties were taken we could tell seconds before what the outcome was.The cheers and groans was eye watering.Well it was for Hubby,who kept crying!!!

Everyone would rush out to their balconies to cheer,shake a Spanish flag or blow a horn.I do hope Spain wins

Because of my sciatica pain the journey here was a bit tortuous.I dosed myself up but because of a delay at Stansted  my tablets had all worn off by the time we arrived.We had to make a pit stop on the  way to allow me to take some painkillers and I took the opportunity to walk around the night market eating a huge coconut and after eight ice cream Hubby bought me.And it was midnight!!!!

The tablets kicked in and we were able to continue on without me screaming at every bump in the road.I have decided to keep myself doped up this holiday,like I did in Chicago.It has made a difference to the pain intensity,but I can’t keep my eyes  open.God knows how i drove in the States?

So We have been just lounging around the apartment taking it easy.

I haven’t blogged much lately because I have been trying to cope with a lot of pain.It has taken all my effort just to keep going day to day.I have my MRI scan on my spine the day after I get home from Spain.So hopefully they will be able to see why my sciatica nerve is being aggravated or what else might be causing the pain.

I spent a lovely day at Anna Bowkis’ crop.I was glad to get out of the house ,so I didn’t have to endure the England World cup match,which of course we lost.

I attempted a bit more work on my Chicago mini album,which I have bought out here to Spain to complete.There were lots of yummy sweet goodies to tuck into.

I did my own thing with Annas Prima kit.

and my Sister has taken it to display in her lovely new house.

Wow Spain just scored and the roar was amazing here.Fingers crossed they win.We will be here for the final and if Spain can get through it will be electric here.