Email with Liz

Hi Graeme 

It looks like you are having an absolutley fabulous time in South Africa.  Very jealous.
Since you gave us the link, I have been snooping around your blog. And all I can say is WOW!!!!  It is an absolutely extraordinary piece of work.

Firstly, Your photos are beyond amazing.  I don't know if this sounds odd, but all of your photos have this very positive, uplifting feel about them.  They give a sense of hope, wonder, awe and a general sense that everything is right with the world (sorry for getting a bit deep there).  Anyway, there is definitely a gallery waiting with your name on it!  A few of my favourites are the "Torres Del Paine, Chile" with the sunlight hitting the peaks, the lion sitting so grandly and looking so majestic, the moon setting over the 12 Apostles, the sun setting behind the elephant, the sunset one with the boat in the water (you must have taken it recently)....really I could name so many more....
Your memoirs are so warm, honest and funny.  Its great reading about your family and seeing photos when you were a boy...with hair  (haha).

Your poetry brought me to to tears (particularly the one entitled 'The Child' for a couple different reasons).  I love poetry and used to write heaps as a child and in my teens but I haven't done so for ages.

I also have a love of Enid Blyton but my favourites are Naughty Amelia Jane and Noddy.  My daughter is reading them now and it fills my heart with such joy.
Movies, well a many of my favourites are not on the top 250 list - Mary Poppins, To Catch a Thief, Pretty Woman (yes a weird choice), Groundhog Day, Pillow Talk (I grew up watching Doris Day movies with my mum), Breakfast at Tiffany's, The Intouchables and The Other Son to name a few.
It really is a beautiful blog.  Now I want to do one as well - not for public display but for my girls.  I have no idea how to start one so maybe a little help when you get back??

Can't wait to hear all your stories when you return.  Don't forget a recipe or two for me.

Cheers
Elizabeth

Hi there Liz

Wow, thanks so much for your lovely email and all your kind and affirming words about my blog and photography. I really appreciate it. It left me beaming.

I started the blog 10 years ago as a way to keep my South African family (especially my news starved mum) connected to my life in the UK. But in the years since then, it's taken on a life of it's own.  It's become something I do mostly for myself; a way of getting perspective on my life and celebrating all the memories and people I cherish most -    a kind of gratitude journal. I believe so strongly in the power of gratitude which is why your nightly gratitude ritual with your girls resonated so deeply with me when you told me about it.

Your words about the photos conveying a sense of hope and wonder really mean a lot to me.  A big part of my personal spiritual journey is about waking up to the wonder and beauty in the world around me. It's what makes me feel connected to a higher power and what gets me out into nature so much. Life can be a struggle at times, but a beautiful one, full of joy, wonder and goodness too.  I feel it's such a deep privilege to be alive on this amazing planet. I'm so glad at least some of that comes across in my photos.

I'm glad you liked the poetry too and some of it resonated. I haven't written anything in a long time, and keep meaning to write more. We should both turn it into our Mid Year resolution :)

Some of the movies you mentioned are amongst my top favourites too.  I just adore Breakfast at Tiffany's - I've always had a huge crush on Audrey Hepburn and I can't get enough of her version of "Moon River."  I can't believe they originally dubbed over it - absolute sacrilege!  Pretty Woman is wonderful too, I watched it again just a few months ago and cried - but then I'm very soppy that way.  And Groundhog Day is pure genius - a movie I could watch over and over (ha ha!)  I watched Saving Mr Banks the other day and it's inspired me to watch Mary Poppins again.  Some of the others I haven't seen, I'll check them out.

You should definitely start a blog and I'd love to help you with that.  With children, there must be so many priceless memories to celebrate as they grow up and a blog would make a wonderful digital scrapbook for you and the girls to look back on. The family would love it too.  I use blogger.com but there are several other good alternatives.  It's easy to protect a blog so only invited people can see it.  I've thought of protecting my blog too as it's so personal, but only family and close friends tend to view it so have never got round to it.  Important to do with youngsters though.

I'm not sure when you guys are off to The Banff Mountain Film festival, but it must be soon.  It's one of the highlights of my year and I'll really miss it. Hope it's as wonderful and inspiring as it was last year.  Be careful on the drive home - I find the adrenaline fuelled antics on screen make me feel totally invincible and I always drive home far faster than I should!!

Cheers,
G