'Little Boy at Nymans' by Me

Photo credit: PhotoPuddle on Flickr

Hello again! Did you miss me? I think it is fair to say that 2014 wasn't a great year for blogging. Or photography for that matter. There are a few reasons for this. I have been incredibly stressed out by building work on our house and haven't felt like writing happy posts and looking for pretty pictures. I lost my way with photography after I realised I was never going to be a professional photographer. And also I found a new hobby - running - and all my energy got caught up in that.

So what's changed? Well I have realised I miss my little blog. I miss this space which is pretty much a happy and smiley place. I miss photography too. Just because I am not going to do it for a living ever doesn't mean I can't try to take nice pictures for my own, and hopefully your, pleasure. And finally I hurt myself this week. A stupid injury in a soft play centre. I am just bruised and I think I am healing fairly quickly but it means I won't be able to run for a little bit. This is so annoying as I love it so much. I just want to put my trainers on and get out there. I guess I should be grateful that if I have to miss a week or so of running it's a week when the weather is horrendous! Anyway, it has made me realise that I shouldn't put all my eggs in one basket. I can have more than one hobby. It's not like blogging is cheating on running! Plus it gives me another place to try and not be too much of a running bore.

Here's a photo from summer which I never got around to sharing here. It's of my son at Nymans in West Sussex. I haven't actually got much to say about it other than I really like it and I like that it reminds me of warmer and sunnier times! I hope spring isn't too far away.

'Hats in a wheelbarrow' by Me

Hats in a wheelbarrow, a photo by PhotoPuddle on Flickr.

I had such a lovely time yesterday. As I mentioned before my husband decided to take the day off so we headed over to a National Trust place called Nymans in West Sussex for a spot of lunch and an afternoon stroll. I took lots of pictures including ones of us playing on the grass, the beautiful big house there, the flowers, blossoms and a stunning magnolia tree. I also took a few shots of some hats in a wheelbarrow - as you do! I love this as it's just so random but looks just so pretty in the spring sunshine.

'Piggyback' by Me

Piggyback, originally uploaded by PhotoPuddle.

I took this picture the other weekend at a National Trust place called Nymans in West Sussex. We decided we should start making use of our National Trust membership for the year and there are some great places to visit fairly near us. Anyway, the point of this visit was to go somewhere that our daughter could just run around really fast and free - which she just loves doing - without us worrying she's going to get lost somewhere. But what did she want to do? Get on Daddy's shoulders of course - typical! Although it did make a rather good photo opportunity.

'Cream tea' by Me

Cream tea, originally uploaded by PhotoPuddle.

The thing about having a photographer's mind is that you are constantly looking at everything and sizing it up as a potential photo. Viewfinder eyes if you will. Now I am most definitely just an amateur but I still can't help seeing photographs in everything, even the most mundane stuff.

Anyway, this photo is an example of one of those time when I said "stop everything - no one eats a thing until I take a photo of this!" I am really pleased with the composition. And it looks really tasty. Only thing that disappoints me is that I left my handbag on the table so you can see it reflected in the teapot. Luckily it doesn't stand out too much so I don't think it spoils the picture.

And for anyone interested, this was taken at the cafe in Nymans in West Sussex.