it’s bye from me and miaow from the vampire slayer…

It’s a glimpse of the bleeding obvious to say that I haven’t done a blog post for a looooong, long time. There are a lot of reasons for this, but the most honest is that I lost interest. Let’s face it, I have the attention span of a gnat, so I’m surprised I lasted this long. But before I hang up the tranquil townhouse blogging boots there are some things I need to say. Naturally! Buckle up for a longish read.

2012 was a very eventful year for me in both my personal and professional life. I made a bad decision in the former (which I was blessedly able to make right) and some good ones in the work context. One of those good work decisions means I’m now working four days a week and devoting my day off to an interest that I hope to build into some form of professional undertaking. It also means that I can devote a bit more time to doing some things for mum and dad, albeit remotely. Dad’s Alzheimer’s is progressing, but slowly, and mum’s doctor describes her as 'off with the pixies' so I have my work cut out!

If you’ve been with me for a while you’ll know that I can be a bit of a flibbertigibbet, or so it seems. I’ve tried my hand at writing, I’ve flirted with design, I’ve done any number of crafty things (and I don’t care what anyone says I still love my knitted dishcloths!!) but nothing has really stuck, and I’ve not had the drive to work at any of it hard enough to consider myself ‘successful’. Whatever that means. Until now.

Photography has grabbed me by the ….ahmm, whatevers; shown me a new way of looking at the world, inspired me to get back into learning and study, and given me a glimpse of another way to perhaps one day earn some money. A way that is very different to the way I’ve been doing it all my life.

I need to challenge myself, and while I’ve had a wonderful career in the HR field and continue to work happily in it (there are after all still bills to pay), I want and need a change. I want to see where I can take this interest in photography. I know it won’t be easy, but I’m going to give it a red hot go. The Diploma of Photography is underway, I’m practising new techniques, trying to get a handle on my style (if indeed there is a need to have just one), taking instruction and getting ‘assignments’, or as some may put it ‘suggestions’ from the man in my life who is a visual artist and photography teacher…and quite honestly, I’m just having a lot of fun.

I started this blog for the simple reason of practising my writing…a suggestion from the first born and a very good one at that….at the time. But it has surprised me that writing is not what I want to do. I’ll leave that to Jess…who has just been very brave, left CLEO and is starting to freelance (so if you’re looking for a great writer....call me)! My son Ben has grown with this blog as well, got a degree, moved house a gazillion times, has started a new job in a place that will feed his soul, and been a wonderful creative support to me. I have truly awesome kids.

So possums, it’s time for me to concentrate on other things. But my we’ve had a good time together haven’t we? We’ve shared our ups and downs, been supportive of each other (your concern when I was diagnosed with depression brought me to tears on more than one occasion…in a good way), laughed…a lot, looked at pretty pictures, done a bit of soul searching…all of that stuff that friends do. You have brought a great deal of joy to my life with your humour and care, the occasional well intentioned and witty jibe and the sincerity of your good wishes. You might like to know that I woke up one morning a few weeks ago and thought to myself, wow, I’m really happy :)

I have built a website for my photography and I've also started a photography blog.  I’m on facebook (as me) and on instagram (as kerry_j_martin). I’d love to see you any of those places. There is a trip to Paris, Arles, Venice and Florence coming up in July to tempt you to follow along!

The vampire slayer is not well, in fact she has cancer and the vet says she probably only has a few months left. Ever annoying to the last, here she is lying on my black velvet photo backdrop shedding fur and dribbling as I type! But I will miss her hugely.

If she could talk I’m sure she’d say thank you as well. You’ve been a great Buffy fan club so I guess it’s fitting she have the last word.

Miaow.