Yep. I’ve done it again. Turned around and a month has vanished.

I have some sad news to start this blog. Our much-loved Ernie has crossed the rainbow bridge. Everything feels like shit at the moment. I find myself getting angry where normally I would just let things roll. It’s REALLY hard. I miss him badly.

I guess that is pretty normal…after all he has been a part of our lives for over 14 years. He and I have spent a lot of time together since I have been working from home. He used to come and hang out on the deck outside the office. He obviously loved that spot. On the morning he died (despite the fact he obviously was in a pretty bad way and struggled to breathe) he took himself up there…almost like he knew it was time and he just wanted a last look around. Love and miss you Ernie.

Taken from our bathroom window…Ernie surveys his domain.

On a more positive note…my mate Mark recently celebrated his 30th birthday…Happy Birthday Jesser!

I wasn’t able to make it to his little partay, so I decided to have a crack at making him a birthday pressie. Being a little bit crazy, I decided to try something I had never attempted before…a small timber box with finger joints. I have to say…I enjoy a challenge. I am pretty happy with the way it came out. And I know Mark appreciates my efforts. It won’t be the last one I make.

I believe I have mentioned in previous blogs, how I love the variety that my job dishes up.

Since the last time we spoke I have been underground at a gold mine, photographed junior soccer kids, musicians, emerging leaders, emerging distilleries, stunning accommodation and a shoot I can’t divulge on pain of death. I will share some images below.

And this is the image created in that space.

The underground environment is very challenging to photograph in…dirty, wet, noisy and pitch-black dark!

My youngest grandson, Leo, celebrated his first birthday. I think he enjoyed his cake . His big sister, Scarlett, enjoyed ‘helping’ open his presents and winning the pass-the-parcel game.

Oh…and something else (told you there has been a bit going on), I have changed vehicles. Very much like the quest to find the perfect camera bag (I’m convinced it doesn’t exist) I am trying to find a vehicle that is versatile enough to suit all my needs. ‘Chuck’ (the Ford Ranger ute) was great for all the stuff I needed to do around the house (carting rubbish, building materials etc.) but was pretty challenging when carrying photography equipment. ‘Kenny’ (the Koleos) was pretty good at hauling around camera bags, light stands and the like. But, was bloody hopeless with building material, rubbish et al.

So, now I have ‘Betty’ (Betty is black). She is a people mover…like a van but with more seats and a bit more comfort. Originally a seven-seater, I have removed the last row of seats and replaced it with the storage drawers I custom built for the Koleos and a platform for my large lighting bag. Both have been attached to the original seat sliders, so I can reposition them within the cargo space. There is an open centre channel between the remaining seats which will allow me to carry items a bit over 3-metres long (perfect for my background paper rolls). Being able to slide the drawer box out of the way should give me a big enough ‘empty’ space to take garden waste etc. to the tip.

Betty gets her signwriting later this week.

And still having four seats, I can transport (if necessary) a couple of the ever-growing number of grandkids (there is another due around the end of October).

Well, I think I have waffled enough.

Catch you all next time.

GWP blogspot

Over the Rainbow Bridge