ADVENTURES IN THE MOTHERLAND: OUT AND ABOUT - MIDLANDS

The theme for this post goes a little like this…

That time when you go to show a good friend some places to visit around Milton Keynes then you realize you spent hours prepping photos and forgot to click 'post'.

This isn't exhaustive by any means, for instance I highly recommend visiting Bletchley Park despite the lack of pictures, and the majority of these are kid centric - but it's for my lovely friend Steph to spark the imagination about exciting adventures to come.

Much love

xox

CAMBRIDGE

Let's be fair you can't really go wrong in this picturesque town.

CARDINGTON AIR HANGERS

Worth a drive by for sheer wow factor. 

EMBERTON COUNTRY PARK

A great day out for families and right next to the glorious little village of Olney (which, for those of you who care, is where the song Amazing Grace was composed…)

THE FOREST CENTRE

Okay so this place saved my ass more times than I care to count. Another great outdoors destination for families - take a stroll around the lakes, spot some wild life or dine at the great cafe.

Thank you Forest Centre…my soul thanks you.

SHUTTLEWORTH

If I was to do it all over again I would have discovered Shuttleworth several months before I did. 

This treasure trove of a park is home to one of the worlds largest, and oldest, collection of historic aircraft. Great for young and old. 

I highly recommend attending the Shuttleworth Proms - an evening watching vintage airplanes being flown by kamikaze pilots while a symphonic orchestra somewhat ominously plays 'Ride of the Valkyries'…yes please. 

WOBURN SAFARI PARK

I've raved on about this place on a number of occasions so for now I'll simply say go. Just go. 

PHOTOGRAPHY CHALLENGE - WEEK 52

Here's a photography love letter - from my heart to yours - across countries, seasons and the equator...

Fourteen months ago I stood in the carpark of the Kumeu netball grounds and bandied about this crazy idea of taking a picture every day of 2012 with my friend Belinda. A month later, bright eyed and bushy tailed, we joined forces online with a desire to master the art of our DSLR's.

Fourteen months on when I look back on 2012 I'm not as struck by my mastery over the DSLR (although I admit both my perspective and technical abilities have come on in leaps in bounds), but more by the fact that we've LIVED.

Truly, honestly lived.

We've seen births, deaths and marriages. Witnessed apricot dipped sunsets and seen a moon so large it's a wonder it didn't fall out of the sky. We've moved countries, changed jobs, taken on business ventures, gone on holidays and wondered if the world would actually end on December 21. Our children have graduated from cots to beds, from nappies to undies, from infants to toddlers...all in 366 days short.

So thank you.

To everyone who followed me on this crazy, senseless photography journey. I hope you liked seeing the results as much as I enjoyed sharing them...even if I WAS constantly behind...from like, month three onwards.

And now that's all said and done....

My final countdown for 2012 goes a little something like this:

• Christmas - It suddenly makes an awful lot of sense when the temperature is subzero and it gets dark just after lunch. Cinnamon latte...yes please!
• Days 26th - 29th - A bout of cabin fever lead to an emergency coast mission to Dover. Not most people's idea of a 'holiday venue' but well worth the visit, if not just to smell the salt air. As an aside, the photo on the 28th is the Battle of Britain Memorial a truly humbling monument to those who fought and/or lost their lives on that monumental day.
• Final Day - My guilty confession is that this picture isn't actually from the 31st...it was taken two days later but given it was the final day I decided to take some creative license and 'capture the essense' of the last day of 2012

So that's it from me - signing off from 2012

Enjoy

Jacq

x

 



PHOTOGRAPHY CHALLENGE - WEEK 51

Life lessons learned...

As it turns out, over the Christmas period anyone with Antipodean blood appears compelled to vacate the small island of Britannia. Locals begin their pilgrimage home for the festive season, and those of us who missed the memo remain in Cranfield assuming it's Armageddon.

On a lighter note it gave me a great kick in the pants incentive to get out of the house and see what this district has to offer, which is a perfect segway into the Woburn Safari Park which features on a number of occasions both this week and next.

Situated on the grounds of Woburn Abbey (which you'll remember from previous posts) offering a self-driven safari adventure, walk about zoo and indoor playground, this national treasure became my saviour throughout these often challenging winter months.

Although all of these pictures are of monkey's (who, if you're reading, still owe us a car aerial...) - I can assure you that the park has plenty more to offer. Wolves vs Bears...nead I say more? I think not.

Enough from me - enjoy the second to last week of 2012!

Jacq

PHOTOGRAPHY CHALLENGE - WEEK 50

I bet you never thought you'd see the day.

Contrary to what my rampant tardiness posting habits may lead you to believe I did actually stick it out and finish the 365 day photo challenge. I'm just uploading the last three weeks now, then I'll do a corker summary to wrap it all up with a nice pretty bow.

For now here's Week 50 - I'm a little hazy on the finer details but it would appear we made some play dough, survived an epic frost, dallied with Narnia, visited Waddeston Manor and relived our childhoods.
If pushed, I recall feeling mildly apoplectic that the sun began setting at 2:30pm each day while friends & family were revelling in what can only be described as the MOST incredible summer in recent history back home.

Otherwise, another day in Cranfield paradise!

Enjoy - Jacq

PS - Who looks more excited to be meeting the big fella on the 16th?

PHOTOGRAPHY CHALLENGE - WEEK 49

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas

The kind of one I've never known

May your days be merry and bright

and may all your Christmas' have snow...

There is nothing. Nothing. Like opening your curtains to find your street blanketed in thick white, powdery snow. While I frolicked in the street my neighbours stared out their windows, nursing cups of hot tea probably thinking I had lost my mind.

Two days later, when the sunshine had hardened the snow into ice (which is a death trap for anything on wheels or feet) I understood why most people detest snow. But for one glorious morning it was just magical!

Christmas is in full swing - we even managed a visit to Santa on Sunday. Will waited patiently for 30 minutes to meet the jolly bearded man. In toddler time that's probably the equivalent of camping out overnight in a blizzard. Santa didn't disappoint either. Thanks Milton Keynes College - you made one little man VERY happy indeed.

PS - Check out his awesome Pirate face painting.

Jacq

PHOTOGRAPHY CHALLENGE - WEEK 48

Sadly there's not a lot to crow about this week. As we enter month three in England life is becoming more settled, more routine, more BAU.

Here's a little bit of scenery ambiance.

Jacq