I've not been around on DA for a few months - before Christmas, in fact (as you can see by the previous Christmas-themed journal). I've logged on a few times, but didn't really work through my message centre. I tried, and was totally overwhelmed, and so managed to delete over 2000 deviations just to clear it out. That was at the end of January. This week, I renewed my subscription, ready to get back into it, and was greeted with another 2000 deviations. I did manage to work through these ones, although I confess that most were viewed only as thumbnails - so sorry if I've missed something really good!

I had a minor-ish operation on 10th January, which is the main reason for my absence. I was off work for just over three weeks, but had to lie on my side for most of that time, meaning that computer time was at a minimum. Thankfully, I'm almost back to normal now, although I'm physically restricted for a little longer (as in, unable to go swimming! gah!) I am able to use my camera, though, so watch this space! 2008 is the year for some good photography! I really want to improve on my technique, and possibly get into some portrait shots - although I'd need to find some budding models first, since my friends keep threatening to emigrate to Switzerland when I try and point a camera at them. I enjoy taking landscape shots, but I need to get a few more bits of equipment to make the most of it - filters and the like. If anyone can point me in the direction of some good online resources for Camera tips, I'd be very grateful!

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I cannot believe how close it is to Christmas already. I think that once you leave school and university, and relinquish those long holidays, you get so engrossed in work that Christmas is just a blur - a mad rush before the day arrives to buy presents and prepare visits to friends and family; once the day arrives, it's over almost straight away. Sadly, I work in retail (albeit temporarily) and am working right up to Christmas (7pm on Christmas Eve), and then back in on the 27th. The money's good over that week, so I shouldn't complain; but at the same time, it would be so nice to spend the whole week at home, seeing various friends and family, and just relax. Perhaps next year...

My time on DA recently has been minimal - partly because I've been really busy with other things, and partly because I've not done any photography at all. The days off I have seem to be spent indoors trying to keep warm, rather than outside taking photographs. If it's nice on Sunday, I might take my camera out with me - especially if we get any snow on the mountains.

To all my DA friends, I wish you all the merriest of Christmases.

Thanks to *bazzabent for the Festive Journal

I have made little progress on the 100 Themes Challenge (=100ThemesChallenge) but haven't forgotten about it. The weather is less than ideal at the moment for taking photographs and my writing inspiration seems to have dried up completely. Hopefully this will only be a temporary thing, as it's something I miss.

I was reading *pesare's Journal [link] and felt enchanted by the short story (do go and read it, it's delightful). It got me thinking - I've never shown an interest in Fantasy Literature (other than Harry Potter and The Chronicles of Narnia), nor have I ever shown much of an interest in writing any Children's literature. The illustrations in *pesare's gallery are so enchanting, and thinking back to the books I read as a child, I don't think any of them had such imaginative characters. I think that part of the reason I take a dislike to children in general is because they're often so preoccupied with their Playstations, iPods, and such things: my 8 year old cousin was given a portable DVD player last Christmas, whilst the 11 year old was given an iPod. I didn't say anything at the time, but I went away from our family gathering feeling a little shocked. Why were they not given books and puzzles and thing that might develop their imagination a little? I am a big supporter of the promotion of books amongst the youth of today, and the more children that spend their evenings reading instead of being glued to the TV, the better.

</end rant>

October is almost over! How did that happen?! Seriously, time is slipping away so fast, - it's scary.
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Turning Twenty-four

On Saturday, I turned 24. Unfortunately, I had to work from 6-3, and most people in work forgot about it. My Assistant Manager did remember however, and brought a cake in for us to have at our manager's meeting. I was very touched. Sadly, a few of my friends didn't (and haven't yet) bothered to ring or text or something to wish me a Happy Birthday. But never mind, - I guess once you pass 21, nobody really cares. I'm getting a little fed up of thinking about it now, and would rather not dwell on the fact that I've just ended my 24th year on this planet (and longer if you count my prenatal time). Anyway, my grandmother had arranged a trip on a train for some charity she's a committee member of, and we went on that. It runs for about 1.5 hours and goes up the mountains, - an old steam train. The sun came out and the views over the mountains were just incredible. I took about 150 pictures, and have put up the best ones as deviations. It was a really nice trip, and good to see my family (my parents came as well).

Big thanks to Rik *mordachai71 for the birthday present! He took this wonderful photograph in my honour



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Yesterday, I went walking and tried taking some river shots. I look the sheen that people get when they use slow shutter speeds on water, and wanted to experiment. As one deviant commented, I need a tripod. It's difficult to hold the camera absolutely still, although I managed for the most part. The problem with a tripod is that it's such a faff, especially when you're balancing yourself on a slippery rock in the middle of a river. I then went walking in the gardens of a National Trust property near here, and got some nice pictures in there, including a few close ups of a butterfly that I was really pleased with. Tomorrow I go on a course for three days (bleh!! - i've tried with all vehemence to get it cancelled!) but will get some quality walking done at the weekend, hopefully!

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A short while ago, I joined the club =100ThemesChallenge, which has several "variations" of themes, each in groups of 100, for deviants to complete. They can be of any medium, although I think the majority of people go for photographs. Now I've got a little more free time, I've decided to take up the challenge seriously, and I've chosen the second variation of themes. I will be submitting deviations that meet the following themes:


1. Introduction
2. Love
3. Light
4. Dark
5. Rot
6. Break
7. Heaven
8. Away
9. Cut
10. Breathe
11. Memory
12. Insanity
13. Misfortune
14. Smile
15. Silence
16. Spit
17. Blood
18. Under
19. Gray
20. Fortitude
21. War
22. Mother
23. Distastefull
24. Want
25. Lurking
26. Europe
27. Foreign
28. Sorrow
29. Urban
30. Rain
31. Flower
32. Night
33. Wrath
34. Moon
35. Walk
36. Precious
37. See
38. Abandoned
39. Dream
40. 4:29 PM
41. Citric Acid
42. Still
43. Die
44. Two Roads
45. Two Guns
46. Drop
47. Dirt
48. Young
49. Preservatives
50. Breaking the Rules
51. Sport
52. Old
53. Desecrate
54. Tower
55. Need
56. Biohazard
57. Sacrificial
58. Kick in the Head
59. No Way Out
60. Desert
61. Fairy Tale
62. Voodoo
63. Do Not Disturb
64. City
65. Horrorific
66. Snow
67. Drum
68. Hero
69. Annoyance
70. 67%
71. Obsession
72. Mislead
73. I. Can't.
74. Confrontation
75. Mirror
76. Broken
77. Testament
78. Drink
79. FUCK [if this theme offends you you may do the alternate theme "Balk"]
80. Words
81. Pen and Paper
82. +
83. Heal
84. Cold
85. Sick
86. Seeing Red
87. Hunger
88. Pain
89. Through the Fire
90. Triangle
91. Drown
92. Rape
93. Iron
94. Soft
95. Advertisement
96. Storm
97. Safety
98. Puzzle
99. Alone
100. Gone

Wish me luck! I aim to have completed the challenge by 31st December I will be updating this entry everytime I complete a challenge to track my progress.