Mack wins 3rd price at a local dog show

Mack and Liza

The prize winner !

Chris wins award for photo

Chris came third in one of Australia's biggest photo competitions out of thousands of entries.  He did this by capturing a moment of spontaneous joy with some his best friends (90 year old Cecil, Soni and little Luna).  

My friend Cecil at 92 years old is still a purveyor of joy and believes that "A smile is a light in the window of the soul indicating that the heart is at home."  May all, through research and care, see this joy in their lives.

He captured the moment with his mobile phone.  So wonderful that you don't need to have a big SLR camera anymore to capture stunning photos.  In fact, a mobile phone camera is so much better to capture spontaneous moments like this one

I got to share in Chris's success as I had the privilege of editing the photo.  I didn't do much at all - just darkened the background and put some radiant light on the faces to allow the joy stand out.

The award ceremony was held at Novartis headquarters.  The quality of the entries was amazing and I was inspired beyond words.  The competition required not just a photo but some words too, to describe what the photo meant to you.  It is the combination of the two, I realised, that creates true meaningful beauty.  I'm going to start doing this more and more with my photos.

All in all, such a great experience.  I've realised the joy of doing just a little tiny bit to help others to shine.  To help others beam with joy.  It's life-changing for me.  Far more joyful for me than being in the limelight myself.  It's what I want to start doing more and more of.  

The most special thing of all is that Chris has revealed this to me, not so much by allowing me to help him shine on this occasion, but by the way he constantly helps others to shine (including me with my new DIY skills.)   It's such a deep part of his nature.  I love him so much.

Chris with his award winning photo

One of the finalists was only 9 .  How awesome is that!

Lovely classical music in the background ...

The food was indescribably good !  This is the little girl, Luna, in Chris's photo who got to be there and go up with Chris to get his award.

Receiving the award

The quality of the entries was very high which made Chris's triumph all the more special.

Here is Chris with his friend, Cecil.  It's a beautiful friendship that has lasted for many, many years.  Cecil has has been a purveyor of joy  for Chris for decades with his great humour and his skills as a magician.  Cecil is now old without the use of his legs and lives in a stark old age home, which is really tough for him.  But Chris visits him all the time and brings cheer and colour into his world.    There you go, karma does exist.

Related link
Cecil's 90th birthday party in the park  (organised by Chris)

Mike and his team wins the WAGS Old Boy's Day trophy

Well done Mike!  Mum and Mike spent the winnings (R250) on a delicious lunch at The Cattle Barron.  A great choice!

Sue triumphs at Camera Club

I'm so chuffed for Sue!  She won two merits and The Judge's Choice Award and The Member's Choice Award.  All in one evening!!!

I'm sure you'll agree that the two images she won the awards for are absolutely stunning.

Well done, Sue!

Judge's Choice Award winner

Member Choice Award winner

Well done Sam ...

... for coming in the top 20 of her grade.  Amazing effort.

Go Matt!!

Once again, Matt excelled in his exams and walked away with multiple certificates and medals at his school prize giving.  He clearly has a very intelligent mind to go with his wonderful, fun, warm personality.  Must be his uncle's genes!!

From Jo:

Yesterday, Matt walked off with 8 certificates.  He achieved an A (80 % and above) in all his subjects for the whole year.  To top it off he got a bronze medal for English (came 3d in the whole grade) and a bronze medal for science!!

Jo does it again!

Jo is going from strength to strength with her photography!  Fresh from the triumph of her trophy at her photographic workshop, she has now gone on to win the Orms Photo of the Month competition with a gorgeous photo she took during the family holiday to Namibia.  

Orms is South Africa's leading photographic retailer and the photo will feature as the cover photo for a month on their very popular Facebook page .  

I feel so extremely proud of her! And so blessed that we both share such a wonderful passion.

The winning photo

The Orms Facebook page with Jo's photo in prime position.

Jo wins trophy at photography workshop

... and what a cracker of a shot it is.

Top Shot at camera club

I did a presentation of my photographic journey to the Mosman Camera Club.  It was such a delight to choose and compile my favourite photos into a presentation and create a story around it which focused on natural wonder.  I got such wonderful feedback from people who said the presentation had really moved them.  I was thrilled to get awarded "Presenter of the Year" award at the final awards dinner of the year.

Sam's final junior school results

Message from Jo

• A's for all 8 subjects, full academic colours and 2 bronze medals for maths and biology. What more could I ask for? So proud of you Sam!!!

My verdict

• Sam clearly inherited her uncle's brains!  Well done, indeed, Sam.

Well done, Sam!

Lovely photo from Cape Town

Thanks for the photo, Jo.

Well done, Sam!

From Jo,

I am so proud of Sammy. She was in the top 8 students in grade 5, receiving 80% or more for all 8 of her subjects (including maths, Afrikaans and French!!!)  She got a gold medal for geography, a bronze for both science and history meaning she came first and third in her grade (92 students).

Congratulations Sam, we're all very proud of your wonderful achievement!