The #ShineWalk Sights of London

01 Oct 2018 51 Comments

by Ritu in Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, London, Photography, Shine Walk, Sights

Last week I gave you an update on how we did at the Cancer Research UK #ShineWalk.

It was a surreal experience, and I am so glad we managed to complete the half marathon!

Now, being in London meant that even though it was raining, there were plenty of amazing sights we wandered past, and London sure is beautiful by night, wet or not!

I promised I would share the images, so here they are! Courtesy of my Huawei Pro P20 phone!

You can see the iconic Shard, St Paul’s Cathedral, the London Eye, Buckingham Palace, and a few other places!

And here are a few images of different things we saw, en route.

Love a bit of graffiti, and Jack the Clipper? Perfect! I think I need to visit The Clink in the daylight!

But one of my favourite images is this. No filter used either!

London 15

And this one, I tried to take using a night filter, but as we were walking, I got this funny effect, which I really like!

Amateur photographer that I am, I think I did okay!

Hugh’s Weekly Photo Challenge: Week 30 – ‘After’

21 Jun 2016 53 Comments

by Ritu in Challenges, Photography Tags: #Hugh'sPhotoChallenge, After, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Hugh's Photo Challenge, Ice Cream, Photography

You know it’s Tuesday when that post appears… for Hugh’s Photo Challenge!

Hugh's Weekly Photo Challenge - Logo

1. Take or choose a photo that you’ve taken which interprets After.
2. Create a new post on your blog entitled “Hugh’s Weekly Photo Challenge: Week 30 – ‘After’
3. Add the photo(s) you have taken to the post and tell us a little about what you are showing.
4. Create a *pingback to this post and/or leave a link to your post in the comments section so other participants can view the post.

*Due to the current problem WordPress is experiencing with Pingbacks (read the post here), I’d highly recommend that you copy and paste a link to your entry into the comments section of this post.

There are so many after’s I could think of, but the most recent that I photographed was the ‘after’math at the Dessert Parlour Creams on Sunday!

I was dying to try this place out. In fact, there are two new dessert places open locally, so I know I have at least one more sweet treat to go!

Anyway, back to the point. This place was pretty fantastic, the decor was amazing, the menu was huge, and the service was wonderful!

They warned us that there was no such thing as kids size… And though I understand that, I wasn’t prepared for the size of the sundaes that we chose!

Out of 8 people, 6 of us ordered, and this is the beginning…

And I wonder why I’m steadily gaining weight…!

They were the size of the kids heads, honestly!

Now, let’s be honest, after a big meal at an Indian restaurant, there is not that much space left in tums for such large desserts, but hey, we had a good go!

And the ‘after’ shot shows at least 3 of the remains…

2016-06-21-20.58.33.jpg.jpeg

Mine at the front was more or less done (oops!) Lil Man had a good go of his Choc mint one, and Lil Princess had chosen an extra sickly Bubblegum and Strawberry one which she couldn’t finish! The other three… well they were definitely not totally empty!

And boy was I full afterwards! I was so happy that I had a mountain of ironing to do. There was no way I could sit or lie down! I had a pain in my side from overeating! But at least I got to try one of the dessert places!

(Note to self: next time, skip dinner, go straight to sweet!)

And for my little rhyme, to go with the photo…

Big ice cream sundaes
Sure to give a sugar high
Calories taunting
A rush with every mouthful
But a tummy ache after!

Ritu 2016

Hugh’s Weekly Photo Challenge: Week 29 – ‘Open’ #hughsphotochallenge

14 Jun 2016 8 Comments

by Ritu in Challenges, Photography Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Challenge, Hugh's Photo Challenge, open, Photography

Tuesday, and the extremely huggable Hugh (I know, I experienced the cuddles on Saturday!) has a lovely photo prompt for this week! OPEN.

1. Take or choose a photo that you’ve taken which interprets Open.
2. Create a new post on your blog entitled “Hugh’s Weekly Photo Challenge: Week 29 – ‘Open’
3. Add the photo(s) you have taken to the post and tell us a little about what you are showing.
**4. Create a *pingback to this post and/or leave a link to your post in the comments section so other participants can view the post.**

2016-06-14-20.40.30.jpg.jpeg

A beautiful rose
Soaking up the rays of sun
Petals wide open

Ritu 2016

Hugh’s Weekly Photo Challenge: Week 26 – ‘Distance’

17 May 2016 31 Comments

by Ritu in Challenges, Photography Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Distance, Hugh's Photo Challenge, photo challenge, Photography

It is time for Hugh’s weekly Photo prompt challenge.

Hugh's Weekly Photo Challenge - Logo

1. Take or choose a photo that you’ve taken which defines Distance.
2. Create a new post on your blog entitled “Hugh’s Weekly Photo Challenge: Week 26 – ‘Distance’
3. Add the photo(s) you have taken to the post and tell us a little about what you are showing.
4. Create a pingback to this post or leave a link to your post in the comments section so other participants can view the post.

It seems like a really easy prompt, then you realise that actually, as Hugh said, you end up deleting most of the photos as they were out of focus, or there wasn’t what you actually wanted, in them.

I use my phone camera for pretty much all my photos, as it is easier. I don’t profess to be an expert photographer, and if they are good captures, its pure luck!

So off I went, scrolling through my photo album on my phone, and these were what I came up with.

The first is a photo of a sheep-filled field. I took this at the wedding reception we attended on Sunday. Standing there, allI could see were these fluffy white clouds clustered around the field, so I took the photo to show Hubby Dearest when I got back. When I looked at said photo, it didn’t look like that many, but if you zoom in, there are many little white dots that come into focus!

Bleat bleat
Sheep sheep
Everywhere you look!
Baa Baa
So Far
In every cranny and nook
Meh Meh
Here and there
Where’s the shepherd’s crook?
How many sheep?
Zoom in and see
In this photo I took!

Ritu 2016

And another is one I took of the fog one morning near our house. If you look closely enough, you can see the outline of the Gurdwara. It isn’t, in actual fact, much of a distance away, but seems so because of the fog!

Hidden from our view
Behind a curtain of fog
Yet He sees us all

Ritu 2016

Hope you liked my take!

Hugh’s Weekly Photo Challenge: Week 25 – “Music”

10 May 2016 41 Comments

by Ritu in Challenges, Photography Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Hugh's Photo Challenge, Music, Photography

It’s Tuesday, and Hugh has set us another great prompt!

Music!

1. Take or choose a photo that you’ve taken which depicts Music.
2. Create a new post on your blog entitled “Hugh’s Weekly Photo Challenge: Week 25 – “Music”
3. Add the photo(s) you have taken to the post and tell us a little about what you are showing.
4. Create a pingback to this post or leave a link to your post in the comments section so other participants can view the post.

Now, you know me, I can’t stop at one!

First thing, music is one of the most important aspects of my life. If I’m in any situation, I can think of a song to go with it! And if there isn’t one, I’ll make one up! I love so many different genres of music, that my collection may look pretty eclectic to some!

As a youngster, I did the whole music lesson thing… I tried guitar, but was put off by the teacher, who would sit with a pack of coloured polos and a pencil, using the latter to pick up a polo by the hole, one at a time, slowly devouring the pack during the lesson! Then if I played a note wrong, which I inevitably did, my hand would get a smack with said pencil!

Then I had a go at recorder because those were the days that everyone was made to play recorder at primary school! I was okay… not that good, though!

I always wanted to learn to play the piano from a young age. At the time my parents were advised against it as my hands would be too small… strange…have you seen those prodigies, aged tiny, whose little fingers whizz over those ivory keys?!

Still, at the time, I didn’t pursue it, but at 6th form, it was decided that I would have a crash course, as playing the piano was a skill that was perfect for a primary school teacher. I picked up quite a bit, but then promptly forgot it when I went to university! Though I can still pick a tune out!

I think I should stick to singing!!!

So my first photo is dedicated to my musical instruments of old!

2016-05-10-20.20.15.jpg.jpeg

Loved my recorder
Even though I couldn’t play
Very well at all!

***

Stood in a corner
My guitar gently weeps
Not played anymore

Ritu 2016

Did you know, even the furbaby of the family has a penchant for music?

2016-05-10-20.22.28.jpg.jpeg

Move over Tom Jones
A media sensation!
Our won crooning cat!

Ritu 2016

And the last photo is not one I took, but a friend snapped my Pops, dancing at my wedding. I think it encompasses him, and as a family, our love of music and dance, totally! This was taken 15 years ago, and since then he’s lost a bit of weight through his yoga, and he is turning 70 in 2 weeks too! Oh, I do love my Pops!!!!!

2016-05-10-20.21.14.jpg.jpeg