[I originally posted this entry as early access for my Patreon patrons on 21 January 2022].
silky oak
[I originally posted this entry as early access for my Patreon patrons on 14 January 2022].
I thought this year I'd change things up a bit and share some of my vast quantity of floral images on Fridays, with the odd fungi image making an appearance.
The change is driven by my supply of fungi images running low for now. Many of my fungi photos were taken on my iPhone and shared on social media soon after.
But also because I want to share the many beautiful images of flowers I have taken over the decades. And they don't really quite fit into the travel category (though often taken while travelling), and, unlike my late bloomers series, these flowers are real.
So, I'm kicking off my new series of #FloralFriday posts with two photos I took back in 2009 of the striking yellow-gold flowers of a silky oak tree in Redland Bay, Queensland.
During my childhood, my parents and my grandfather tracked down various items of furniture made from the silky oak tree.
They sanded them back, varnished them and furnished our homes with them. Two sideboards and a dining table and chairs I grew up with were lovingly restored, among other items. And more furniture in my grandparents' home in Canberra.
Growing up, I never realised these flowers grew on the same trees the furniture I was surrounded by during my childhood were fashioned from.
I've decided to call this curated series a floral tribute.
cracked and blue
A quick post to say happy birthday to my good friend Phil. And happy 21-year friendversary!
I took this photo during our trip to Chichester in September last year. It reminds me of a lot of his urban texture photography.
untitled #246
[I originally posted this entry as early access for my Patreon patrons on 24 December 2021].
pilgrimage
[I originally posted this entry as early access for my Patreon patrons on 17 December 2021].
half-eaten
[I originally posted this entry as early access for my Patreon patrons on 11 December 2021].
you're living all over me
[I originally posted this entry as early access for my Patreon patrons on 3 December 2021].
climbers
[I originally posted this entry as early access for my Patreon patrons on 26 November 2021].
untitled #88
[I originally posted this entry as early access for my Patreon patrons on 20 November 2021].
shelf life
[I originally posted this entry as early access for my Patreon patrons on 12 November 2021].
untitled #84
[I originally posted this entry as early access for my Patreon patrons on 7 November 2021].
clustered in the churchyard
[I originally posted this entry as early access for my Patreon patrons on 30 October 2021].
I stumbled across a large cluster of puffball mushrooms in the churchyard of St Mary's Church in Minera last Monday.
Just one of many enjoyable discoveries on my 5.5-hour photo walk that day.
I finally had a chance to import my photos from my travels to Wales last night, and I'm looking forward to sharing them with you!
I wanted to write a post about my visit after returning from my walk that day. But I was so utterly exhausted I fell asleep on the couch and ended up enjoying some kitteh snuggles and TV instead, in recovery from such a great physical exertion.
I hope to write and share that post in the coming week, along with at least one photograph from my time in Wales.
In the meantime, I have no new cat-sitting gigs coming up yet, so I'm looking forward to sharing new work with you more regularly again from the comfort of my own home.
I'll also share the final chapter I'd written of embers back in 2016 this weekend as a patron-only post on Patreon.
I'm hoping to take part in NaNoWriMo again this year. Let me know if you decide to give it a go too. A cheer squad is always helpful!
layer upon layer
[I originally posted this entry as early access for my Patreon patrons on 9 October 2021].
Today was a good day.
Scott and I explored the New River (neither new nor a river) from Hornsey to Finsbury Park and took a lot of photographs.
One of my favourite ways to spend a Friday. Or any day, really.
untitled #83
[I originally posted this entry as early access for my Patreon patrons on 1 October 2021].
jarring
[I originally posted this entry as early access for my Patreon patrons on 28 September 2021].
Hello, my lovelies.
I'm so sorry for the radio silence the past week or so.
I have a lot to update you on. And I had hoped, finally, to do so tonight.
But I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed at the moment for various reasons. I feel like the kittehs are feeling the same way tonight. Everything feels a little on edge.
Tomorrow is my last full day of cat-sitting. I'll return to my flat sometime on Thursday.
I'm hoping to spend most of tomorrow and perhaps some of Thursday taking self-portraits. Something I've ended up not having very much time for during my stay, unfortunately.
But tonight, as the rain falls, savouring the company of my feline companions feels like the right thing to do.
Where rain is usually my calmative, I'm finding it slightly anxiety-inducing and distracting tonight. It's jarring for someone who loves the sound and smell of rain to feel like this.
dip in the forest
[I originally posted this entry as early access for my Patreon patrons on 10 September 2021].
untitled #174
[I originally posted this entry as early access for my Patreon patrons on 27 August 2021].
I took a little break from #FungiFriday the past few weeks, but today they're back :)
respect your elders
[I originally posted this entry as early access for my Patreon patrons on 12 August 2021].
in the mush pit
[I originally posted this entry as early access for my Patreon patrons on 30 July 2021].
Today was a mostly good day.
I had wondered the other night and had it confirmed this morning that I hadn't actually cracked the screen on my phone! The cracks and damage were actually the Belkin Invisiglass screen protector taking the bulk of the impact of my phone being dropped on bathroom tile.
The replacement of the screen protector cost more than my phone screen on its own would have cost (as my AppleCare+ is still current): £29.99 vs £25. But the complete lack of damage to my phone screen meant replacement only cost me £29.99 instead of £54.99.
And it wasn't a wasted journey as the replacement protector can only be applied in-store. They're vigilant in avoiding dust between the screen and protector, so it took two goes for them to get it perfect, but I'm thankful for their perfectionism.
I highly endorse these screen protectors. It took two years to crack, and in that time, it's taken quite a few hard knocks without damage. And in all that time, my screen has remained in pristine condition.
I then did a few small shopping tasks on the high street. That emboldened me to do a grocery shop. I managed it all okay, but stopped short of walking home with my groceries and paid for a minicab.
Despite how well the day had gone, I still found myself having a "nanna" nap this afternoon/evening. My body's way of reminding me that I'm still in recovery.
I don't know how long this will last, but the neighbour who took me to the Apple store today warned me that a friend of hers is still napping every day, about 15 months or more after having Covid.
After today, I'm hoping to get at least some of the flat cleaned this weekend, but I acknowledge it may take longer than expected.
I'm also hopeful of getting more photo editing done this weekend. But I think the remainder of tonight will be spent resting.
emergence
[I originally posted this entry as early access for my Patreon patrons on 23 July 2021].
Hello, my lovelies!
I'm so sorry for the radio silence, but today has been my first good day since my update on Monday. Conversely, yesterday was probably tied for worst since I started experiencing Covid-19 symptoms on Wednesday, 14 July.
It's been a long week punctuated by the most intense headaches I've ever experienced. As well as dizzy spells, wobbliness, checking blood oxygen levels, fevers, odd aches and pains, fatigue, dehydration, head sweats and an almost complete loss of appetite.
I managed to go all the way until yesterday without crying. But the headache I'd had since at least 23:30 on Tuesday finally broke me, then it broke me further an hour or two later.
I spent most of yesterday afternoon wanting to gouge my left eye and about three inches behind it out with a grapefruit spoon. When I gave up on the lounge and watching even short YouTube videos and went back to bed, I remember wondering whether, if I called 111, they would send me out a drip.
I've always had empathy for those with conditions that cause chronic fatigue due to the fatigue and lethargy that often accompanies my depression. But it has increased tenfold after spending so much time this week exhausted by the most basic activities.
My sense of smell returned on Wednesday after being MIA since probably Friday (I didn't realise until Saturday afternoon). Though, I'm not sure it's back to 100% yet.
Since late yesterday evening, I've had a clear head with only the need for one dose of painkillers today. Ironically, I don't think it was a Covid-related headache.
I've managed to complete some life admin I'd hoped to do on Monday before being told by the GP to stop. I had a 1.5 hour Skype call with my Dad. I still rested when I needed to and resisted the urge to overdo things and anger the Covid gods again.
Barring any unforeseen relapse, I'll try to do more tomorrow, including starting to de-Covidify my bed and flat.
On the positive side: my week was also full of friends and family calling, messaging, commenting and cheering from the sidelines for me to get better, and I am so incredibly grateful for every single one of them.
Apart from Sunday evening, which I posted about here, I haven't had time to feel isolated or alone since, because of all of my lovely friends and family.
In the process, I learned that by catching Covid between doses of the vaccine, I may develop much greater immunity. And I've lost 3.1kg since 14 July.
Please note: I do not endorse this method of gaining hybrid immunity against Covid-19 or weight loss. I would rate the experience -5/10. Would not do again.
I'm hoping to be back to (near) daily posting again from now on.
I hope your week has been better than mine xx