It is interesting that events conspire. Here I am again, posting for the first time since mid-October. In the interim, a lot has been happening.
Something which has made me very happy indeed is that I submitted to the photographic club for the first time for grading purposes. As a 1-star worker, which is where one starts, I received Golds for both of my submissions. These are on Project 365 as Not me, please don't buy me! and as Protea Heart. As a 1-star worker and with loads of photographs to choose from, it was easier to get Golds. As time passes it will become more difficult as the requirements for grading become more stringent.
However, in a state of euphoria, I returned last night and started working on the theme for next month, which is Altered Reality. I am ever so chuffed with my efforts. The result is posted on Project 365 as Gandolf's Wolfhound. Editing and preparing one's work electronically is regarded as part of the skill. I edited this photograph from one that I had posted before on Project 365 as Here's lookin' at you, kid. It is a picture of Bolle shortly after her haircut. She was intrigued by the camera and stuck her nose right into the lense :).
My small work-from-home project is starting to gather momentum. Thanks to lots of help from Dani, I am starting to acquire clients, which is quite stimulating.
I have held two sessions with friends where I helped them with things that they are battling with in terms of their usage of Internet facilities. The first one was on Picasa. The second one was on Blogging. I have had some wonderful feedback on these, and have now been asked to hold a workshop for U3A. This will be held in February 2012. I am doing a further workshop on Building a Square Foot Garden in March 2012.
I have not been hiking much. Having been ill, I thought it inconsiderate to disappear into the mountains with a group of people, knowing that something could go wrong, and leaving it to them to solve a way of getting me off the mountain if something did go wrong. I will start actively hiking again next year. Between now and then, I will do short hikes or walks and join in the accompanying festivities during December.
I have returned to Knitting Club. This has been a wonderful source of creativity for me, and I now have a little store cupboard of craft market items. Once I have built up enough stock, I will start taking tables at markets.
I did a four week photography course through U3A. Last Wednesday we went to Kalk Bay for a 'shoot'. It was good fun. It was a bit damp, but everyone enjoyed themselves so much, it was worth doing. Afterwards we shared coffee at 'Ek en Jy', and then came home.
I have posted a new entry in Snippets in Scribbling. It was a piece that I wrote in matric all those many years ago. I was reading the paper and thought of it, so jotted it down.
My little garden continues. Several items have now gone to seed, being some spinach, some radishes and the giant mustard. I am loath to dig them out as I am hoping that the seeds will spread and I will acquire one of those gardens where items of food turn up in interesting places. Items that are underway include spring onions, tomatoes, parsley, squashes and garlic. I also have marigolds popping up to provide protection from bugs and insects. My herbs continue as they are hardy in the face of the oncoming swelter of a Cape Town summer.
And here is evidence of my favourite past time. It is a game called Gardens Of Time where one builds a garden out of items made available from various quests. Here is a picture of my garden:
