Defenceless Against Snow
The wind down to Christmas started the weekend before with a weekend away. And I didn’t realise until I was sitting in a sun lounger by the pool at the hotel, after being in the steam room, just how hard it is to actually stop and enjoy doing nothing, particularly as I’ve never been someone who will lie on a beach and sunbathe all day long, as I like to be off doing things. A lady who I was talking to, when I was working in Italy in October, said we have a real problem don’t we in sitting down and do nothing and not feeling guilty for it.
And her words came back to me as I was sitting in the chair absolutely enjoying the heat in the room and being in the moment and doing nothing. The Christmas week in the lead up was quite busy with last minute cooking and dashing here and there so Christmas was a complete wind down. It was time to just sit down, watch some movies and have fun. And it was lovely, to sit down and know a large part of the world was also on stop.
I thoroughly enjoyed the rest, and having given myself the week off until the first proper full week of the New Year I thought it was time to create a mental list of things that I like doing, just as I teach in my Healing with Photography course. And so as I drove past a favourite pub the other day which serves my favourite Italian coffee brand, Lavazza, I thought I could just drive in there for an espresso. Instead I continued on my way and into town and headed straight into a monumental queue of traffic just to get a retail park.
Not enjoying this experience a lot, I ended up turning around, going back and sitting in the pub for a few hours beside a roaring fire with an espresso and a mince pie, a newspaper and a magazine. And in doing so I took part in something that I love to do, sit and watch the world go by. If I’m abroad I love sitting in a street café relaxing with a cup of tea or coffee reading and people watching, in the UK due to our mostly inclement weather, we don’t get much chance to do that. So the next best thing for me is to sit in a pub reading a paper from cover to cover, reading all about the art exhibitions and a bit of fashion and travel news and consuming some nice light food.
As I’m writing this I’m in the middle of the holiday so who knows what is else is going to thrown in, most definitely a visit to a McLaren showroom, that I’ve just discovered, to see their cars, a bit of window shopping with quite serious intent. Having already experienced one on the racing game Forza, I would like to see it in real life. And I think the McLaren could well be going to oust Lamborghini in number two spot for my ideal second car as it apparently has room to carry bags. Did I ever mention I have difficulty packing light? You should have seen my bag bursting at the seems for just one night.
Now do you know that when people mention products on TV, radio or in articles the manufacturer sometimes sends samples? McLaren if you are reading this could you please deliver the car to my house and I’ll promise not to drive it after drinking a Lavazza coffee from the many bags of beans that must surely be on their way!
Well, in all sincerity, all it remains is for me to do is wish you a wonderful 2012 and hope that all you wish for comes to fruition. Remember, what you think and feel about happens. Have an amazing 2012!
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Living in the beautiful rural county of Yorkshire it was perhaps natural for Ruth to have an affinity with the countryside and its wildlife. Creativity is Ruth’s driving force finding an outlet in television & radio she worked for many years as producer for BBC & ITV.
However a love of photography and for being surrounded by nature called her to go back to her photography training and bring pleasure and joy to people through her connection with our planet.
Staying in the moment when taking her images allows her to experience the natural magnificence unfolding before her eyes. It is this moment of mediation, of gratitude, that she evocatively conveys through her images.