Chasing that elusive eight inch square.

When I was at secondary school I had camera envy. 

 It was the early 1980's, and my friend had a 120 film camera, which produced square photos. This was a definite step up from my Kodak 110, with its bulky, clip on stick flash. 

And both cameras are now on display in museums.

Tanbridge House School,  1982.

However, in 2013 I have rediscovered the beauty and symmetry of square photos, particularly for micro and creative photography.

Unfortunately, my enthusiasm for the square photo is not shared by mainstream suppliers of both photo frames and beveled picture mounts.  And not just in Swansea.

Apparently, these picture mounts attract a premium price as they are made to order, whereas the traditional, rectangular aperture is readily available.  

And as for square picture frames...

Which amazes me, as the square photo format is one of the most popular print sizes available for sale on 

http://folksy.com/

http://folksy.com/items/4391798-A-20cm-x-20cm-Print-8-x-8-inches-Meadow-of-Dreams-

Raindrops on a Sweetpea.

Musing on Manchester and pondering roots.

When I mention upping sticks and moving to Manchester the initial reaction appears to be...
Manchester? Are you mad???
Consistently.

No-one seems able to quite get their head around me wanting to swap the very scenic,very rural North Gower for very urban Manchester.  Not at first.  But they do come round eventually.  Most of them.
Particularly friends who have known me - erratically - for decades.

I will always have a soft spot for Gower, but I don't have roots here.  Family, but not roots.  And although my parents have lived here since 1987, their home has never been my home.
Infact, having moved between England and Wales and back again, via Israel, in my youth, I don't know where my roots actually are.
Gower is where I have lived the longest, but I'm not originally from Gower - or Wales.
I consider myself English through and through, was born in Richmond, spent my teenage and early 20's in Sussex, but haven't lived in England since I was 23 - which is exactly half my age!
Whereas my son, who is 21, has always lived on Gower, considers himself welsh through and through (despite having an australian dad and english mother) and has roots well and truely anchored on Gower.

Having just returned from a trip to Urban Manchester, catching up with very good friends and with a head spinning from numerous estate agents, my mind is still set on Manchester.  Although this visit has made me realise how unwilling I am to compromise on what I want.  Not a bad thing.  My list includes:  cat friendly, neighbour friendly, outside space, however small - character, victorian, side street - no hoards of teenagers with cans or oversized England flags....the list goes on!
And I'm looking forward to a return visit.
And checking out houses around Whittaker Lane.

Summer rain.

The delicate beauty of summer raindrops on a fragrant sweet pea.

The plain daftness of Customs and Excise.

I have recently discovered Monaluna, and their organic cotton.
Gorgeous designs, gorgeous colours and alot cheaper to order from the USA than within the UK.

But customs and Excise, in their wisdom, have slapped a paltry £15 limit on the amount of goods I'm allowed to ship in before being clobbered by customs duty.  Not to mention the Royal Mail handling fee.

That's £15 per order, so if I get a job lot of material sent in one package, I'll be stung.
However, if I make more than one small order, that's fine - nothing to pay.
And the postage from the US is - bizarrely - cheaper than a supplier I use in the UK!

Customs and Excise do not make things easy!

Apple, a large owl cushion,  made with a gorgeous organic cotton by Monaluna.

http://folksy.com/shops/thesherbetpatch

https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheSherbetPatch?ref=si_shop

Cutting ties and moving on.

I live in a beautiful part of the country.  

Catching the bus back from Swansea to rural Gower yesterday, the sun was shining, animals were taking shade under a tree and it was perfect photography weather while waiting for a connecting bus.

I have lived here for 21 years.
For most of that time it has been great, but it is not good for craft.
My 21 year old son grew up here, but is now moving on with his life, and it is time for me to do the same.  
So - I'm looking at Manchester. 
And I'm thinking the bus stops may look slightly different!
                                                               

An ocean away...

I am a self confessed commitment-phobic.
Or, I thought I was. 
 I've changed my mind.
I used to think the best relationships were those with an ocean in between - any ocean would do, just so long as it involved a large distance. 
A previous relationship ended when the person in question took particular offence at my inability to let him over the Severn Bridge.  There were other factors, not least the fact he was verging on bunny-boiler, but the distance thing was definitely an issue.
Having spent my late teens to mid twenties using various kibbutz as enjoyable boltholes from whatever was bugging me in the UK, I was frequently restless.  And avoiding issues. And now, after 21 years in a rural welsh village, I am restless with a vengeance.  With a 21 year old son who is contemplating a possible life in Australia.  I recognise the signs.
And, suddenly, the ocean has lost its appeal.