HAPPY NEW YEAR

With a new year just over the horizon I find myself contemplating the past year and looking forward to the new year ahead. I am pondering these thoughts whilst staring out into space and studying the constellations. It helps to put life into perspective whilst looking at objects 100s of millions of miles away and appreciating how small the planet we live on really is and how important it is to make the most of every year. So with New Years eve approaching I wish you all a healthy and prosperous 2014!

The picture below clearly shows the Orion Nebula (M42) burning brightly within the night sky, although not a spectacular picture it is the best I can do with the kit I have to shoot an object that sits 1,500 light years from where I am standing and find it overwhelming to get my head around the scale of astronomy.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

A wonderful family Christmas in North Devon. With the weather consisting of gale force winds and constant driving rain it was great to be down in North Devon with family in a rented converted barn. With log burning fire, beautiful decorations, great food, company and some very nice Christmas gifts we all had a wonderful time. With a new addition to the family being just 3 months old and being as good as gold throughout the holiday, baby Jack's first Christmas was one for us all to remember! Merry Christmas.

 

PAINTING PICTURES

I have nearly completed a night school course in Art, refreshing and exploring techniques not attempted for a good 10 years. Its nice to work with real materials instead of digital formats, I am pleased with an acrylic I have just completed and with roughly 18-20 hours work I feel it is a really good effort for an early attempt. Just framed and will make a nice personal gift for a family member this Christmas. Not long to go!