Sunday, 6 June 2010

Weekend 4th - 6th June 2010

After a very lazy day on Friday, I packed a picnic dinner ready for Si's arrival home from work and we set off for the park to enjoy a glass of chilled white wine and other treats whilst the children ran and played in the playground. The park was full of other families with the same idea and I was once again struck by the feeling of community fostered by the hot sunshine and long summer evenings.

Saturday morning I was up bright and early and off to a photography festival at our local photographic shop - what an AMAZING day, they had loads of specials on offer and I was able to attend three fabulous workshops with top working photographers......and best of all I came home with a new Nikon D90 complete with 18-105mm lens and 55-200mm lens.


As my regular readers will know my grandfather passed away late last year and I decided to use some of the money he generously left me to buy my dream camera - as those of you who also follow on facebook will know, I wasn't entirely sure what that dream camera was, but after lots of "touching and feeling" the Nikon was the hands down winner and as it is the case on paper as well after reading lots and lots of reviews I am very very happy with my purchase.

After the festival it was up to Justin and Amanda's home in Tonbridge (about an hours drive North East of us) for a good South African braai with Gary and Angela who we have met before and three other South African couples all now resident in the UK. A stunning stunning evening where new friendships were cemented and once again the children all got on and played till well after dark.

So relaxed in such a stunning setting

Justin turning his vuvusela into a yard lol

Couldn't resist this cheeky face sitting on the windowsill reading his book

Georgie, Megs and Nick Nick

Mila, Nick and Jenna

Nick's best friend on the day was a 12 week old Beagle called Roxy

Ever since I met these gorgeous girls I have been wanting to photograph them together

Who can resist this face :0)

This morning was a very very late start as we finally got home after 11pm last night but as the weather was once again lovely it was off to the Viljoen's for a last minute bbq this afternoon where Kerry, Shelly and I took all the kids down to the park for an hour while the men chilled and chatted in their hot tub.

Best of mates

Always a character, Nick has developed a sunglasses fetish and spends his life putting on any pair he can lay his hands on lol

Beautiful to walk behind all the children heading for the park and hearing them laugh and chat together

Very special friends....Nick worships Ben and follows him everywhere

One of those weekends where I find myself sitting contented and peaceful as the sun starts to set ......lovely memories with lovely people in a lovely country, what more could I ask for (well maybe my parents and loved ones back in SA, but hell, we can't have EVERYTHING)

9 comments:

Jordan Lea Andrew said...

so so so so happy for you my friend - i can hear your smile when i read your words, what friend wouldnt want that !!!! thrilled about your awesome camera, what a wise way to spend the money you were left! Such a pity we lived too far to pop over for those SA Braai's.....but i guess thats life.

linda andrew said...

oooops my daughter was still signed in when i commented above!

Marcelle said...

Enjoy your new toy...your new best friend...

Jenny in Durbs said...

Its such a joy to be able to share with friends. I love your new camera. Your photos always show such fun emotions. Hope your summer this year is just the best ever till next year LOL.

Lookatbowen said...

Hi there Andrea,

You have a lovely blog. I have just spent an hour reading through some of your posts. It's always good to read about fellow South Africans living in England, enjoying life here and experiencing everything.

You are probably wondering how I came upon your website. Well you posted a comment on Kerry's wrightaboutnow.com website. I set up her blog when they moved here from East London, South Africa. I am from the same town in SA and we studied and worked together. I often login to Kerry's website to update plugins, moderate comments, and ensure their site is running well.

So I have approved your comment and I am sure Kerry will be in touch!

It must be a sign though that I looked at your website today and saw that you have purchased a Nikon D90, the very same camera I am about to purchase. Perhaps you can email me and let me know how much you paid for the camera and those two lenses. (I am guessing the one lense is a 55-200mm not 55mm-250mm). I haven't seen that lense around unless it's something other than Nikon. But if you could let me know the price for the above, it would be much appreciated. It's the exact lenses that I am getting as well. I would hate to spend more money on the website, if I can get it less else where.

Keep well,

Mike

Andrea said...

Hi Mike, send me your details and I will get in touch, tried to find your through your profile but with no luck :0)

Ella Swan said...

Just answered myu question here thanks re:- your lenses. You lucky girl! Did you get Nikon ones or Tamron? I really need to get the longer one next. Lovely photos as ever ;-D

Andrea said...

I bought the Nikon kit with the two lenses Helen and yeah they are FANTASTIC - really recommend the 18-105 for portrait work it is great!

Jo said...

These pics are fantastic, I just love the one of Nic sitting in the window, bless him (am I sounding like a Brit)? LOL.

New camera, if anyone can put it to good use its you, enjoy. My is a little dusty :(