Hello! I'm back... :)

Well, it's been a while!

Now that I am having a little (unexpected) holiday from work and finally have the time to do the things I love again (like cooking, reading, writing, walking down at the beach and spending time with my family and friends), I thought that there's no better time than now to kick off with a post on my beloved blog.

So, when I saw this pic posted on a friend's Facebook wall just now (thanks Liss), I thought it was the perfect sentiment to begin with. And never have I realised the truth in this sweet little sentiment, more than I do now. In just one week, the darkest, greyest clouds over my head have parted and I am beginning to see the sun.  So, off you go, enjoy the blue sky and sunshine and savour the little things... :)

Love,
Miss Manly x

A tourist in my own city.

Yesterday, I joined a group of my girlfriends and ventured into town for the much anticipated '52 Suburbs' exhibition that I mentioned on my blog a few weeks ago.  It was on at the Museum of Sydney (MoS) which incredibly, none of us had ever been to before.  The exhibition was sublime, with the most creative and clever pairing (diptychs) of divine pictures of ordinary, everyday scenes in Sydney's suburbia.  Most of us would look straight past the vast majority of subjects, but Louise Hawson managed to find the beauty and create some magical scenes of our beloved Sydney and its modest suburbs.  From Cabramatta to Woolloomoolloo to Lidcombe and my home 'burb of Manly, Louise covered a different suburb each week for a year, photographing and blogging her journey.  You can find out more on her blog '52 Suburbs':

http://www.52suburbs.com/2009/08/expanding-my-horizons-one-suburb-at.html

Through the magic of photography, Louise gives us a special insight into the magic, diversity and multiculturalism that makes our city so unique and fantastic. '52 Suburbs' is exhibiting at the MoS until October 9.

Fresh out of the exhibition, inspired to see the beauty in everyday things and sporting my favourite toy (my trusty D-SLR), I set off to capture some things that jumped out at me around The Rocks area...  Here are a few of my shots:

So, if you're looking for something different to do next weekend, I'd highly recommend '52 Suburbs' at the fabulous MoS - an ethereal mix of old wooden beams from shipping yards dotted around our famous Harbour, paired with shiny glass and cool steel.  You may just find a side to Sydney (or your suburb) that you have never seen before.  I know I did!

Or in the very least, get out there and be a tourist in your own city, wherever it is.  You may be pleasantly surprised discovering things you've passed by every day and find joy in the supposedly ordinary things that surround you.

Love,
Miss Manly x

Happiness is India...

When I'm having a tough week, I pull out my pics from my amazing trip to India with my dear sis and one of my closest girlfriends, a couple of years ago, to remind me what pure joy is and what matters most in life...  

Never has this been more important as we witness the heartbreaking scenes of criminal and destructive behaviour in England's cities, as the state-bred welfare mentality sees people destroy the livelihoods, homes and possessions that so many have spent their whole lives working endless hours and years to attain.  It sickens me that these people feel that they are owed everything in life and are prepared to destroy, loot, harm and steal to attain material possessions, such as the latest plasma tv, trainers, money from ATMs and the like.  I could understand if they were on the poverty line and stealing food to survive, however tragically, this is not the case.  They will stop at nothing (even taking the lives of innocent victims trying to protect their homes and businesses) to fuel their criminal behaviour and sustain their greed and victim mentality.

Tonight, I sifted through my 18,000 or so photos (taken over 2 months in India) to pick out my top 20 or so that show the colour and beauty of the Indian people, despite having very little in the way of money or material possessions.  Despite living in abject poverty and environments most of us could never imagine to exist, they are an enlightened, spiritual and generous race, who would happily give their last vibrantly coloured sari to any Westerner (or anyone for that matter) passing through their village, if they could.  Take a look and I hope these pics bring you as much colour, love and light to your week as they did to mine.

Love, 

Miss Manly x