Disco Queen

Germs are still rife here at 2up with both Geoff and I snuffling and coughing at our computers. I had planned to be in London on my daughter's school trip to the Natural History Museum and National Gallery both as a helper and official photographer (we have built and maintain the school website) but at 5.30 this morning I felt grimmer than the grim reaper, so had to go back to bed instead. I've spent today curled up with a clipboard and hot water bottle doing a bit of business planning as we're relaunching our main 2up website soon. I also found a little time to indulge in a bit of creative photo shopping with some pics I took on Friday evening as my daughter was getting ready for the school disco.

Ah curling tongs followed by a liberal spray of Ellnet - take's me right back back to my Farah Fawcett days!

Comfort food

Colds and bugs have been the order of the day this week - first with my son who succumbed to teen flu on Monday - then with me today as I woke with a cold and a head like porridge. So to help me feel better I've been indulging in a bit of end of the week food photo therapy!

mmm... macaroni cheese

...and Chicken soup with a bit of extra zing!

Wayland Farmhouse breakfast at Broom Hall

For those not in the know, this week is Farmhouse breakfast week, a campaign that aims to promote the benefits of starting the day with a healthy and varied meal. Now in its eleventh year the campaign involves farmers, producers, schools, retailers, caterers and individuals in celebrating the benefits of breakfast with hundreds of events of all sizes taking place across the country.

Earlier in the week I went to a local event at Broom Hall in the Village of Saham Toney in Norfolk. Organised by the Wayland Partnership, the breakfast has been running as long as the National campaign. As in previous years the breakfast menu featured a range of local produce including eggs from Diane Vargesson of Saham Toney, bacon and sausages from Papworth's in Swaffham and apple juice from Ashill Fruit Farm. After breakfast guests were treated to presentations by Janet Godfrey of the National Farmhouse breakfast campaign; writer and cookery school owner Mary Kemp and Richard Wills co-ordinator of the Pride in Breckland campaign.

DIY Music video

My 14 year old son Tom recently bought a little program for his Sony PSP called Beaterator. Unlike most of the stuff he has on the various gaming consoles he owns this game does not involve blowing up or ripping to shreds most forms of life - known and unknown - to teenage boy! Instead the game is a clever little programme that enables you to mix your own tracks and music using a wide catlaogue of loops, sounds and effects. At the weekend Tom recorded Twisted Angle, his first full length track with lyrics which of course was crying out for a music video. Not being one to wait Tom insisted we go out filming last night when he got home from school. At 4.15 the light was awful - dull grey and getting darker by the minute. Luckily his Dad Geoff had the brilliant idea of taking one his large Screwfix torches to provide some extra lighting - which we all agreed got just the effect Tom was looking for. As well as filming the outside shots with Tom's tiny (and very cheap) little video camera I also took my stills camera to capture the mood of the shoot!

Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas!

Sekai Ishin Ryu Ju-Jitsu Renmei Martial Arts Seminar

A bit of a change for me this weekend as I spent it photographing the Sekai Ishin Ryu Ju-Jitsu Renmei Martial Arts Seminar held in Thetford, Norfolk. The event, now in it's eighth year, was organsised by Kevin Pell Hanshi who founded Sekai Ishin Ryu Ju-Jitsu Renmei back in 1990. The seminar brought together instructors from across Europe including Norway, Croatia, Germany and Switzerland along with over 100 students who were able to study a wide range of Martial Arts - from Aikido to Kobo- Jutsu. The event also raised funds for the Help for Heroes charity with Sempai Will Lexton taking on a 100 man wresting challenge.

All in all it was quite an experience and I came away from the weekend feeling quite exhausted - even though the only thing I'd lifted was my cameras!

All of the photos can be viewed on the 2up Photography websiite HERE










All of the photos can be viewed on the 2up Photography websiite HERE