Countdown's done...

...I'm now in full-time employment again! No, it wasn't quite as exciting as counting down to giving birth (Olga K!). It's my first teaching post. And since I've been back from the UK, I've been preparing for what seems like all hours. I heard the Captain say to his mum that I'd been on the computer lots but it'll all be finished soon. That was about 5 weeks ago! Not sure he really knows what's involved!

A friend of mine recently said, and I appreciate his honesty, that he cannot see me as a teacher and asked what I really dream of doing.

I take a lot of pictures that I always think I will do something with...put on a photography website, print for my wall, print for my friends' wall... but we don't have such a great printer, and I never get round to taking them to a shop, dubious (nervous?) of their quality and certainly the possibility of their sneaky editing. But I think it would have to be something along these lines...certainly something artistic.

Making a coffee table book was mentioned to me, I've made a few for friends and family but they've been just holiday snaps. Such a book has been done with Oman being the camera's subject, there were always photography books in the shops. Not sure I could offer anything different...although most books I have seen are descriptive of Oman as well as the pictures. I would just like the photos to tell a story.

I have a few of my photos on the walls in our house. I love looking at them as I walk past and I'm personally proud of them, a good photograph with the added benefit of memories within! But Hubby is my critic. When I see and hear his (rare) reaction that a photo has grabbed him then I know it's worth doing something with. His desktop is of one I took in Arisaig, Scotland. So the fact he has done that means it must have registered something! However, come to think of it this was where he used to go as a kid so maybe it's just a sentimental reaction!

I want one of my photos to take someone's breath away, with them envisaging it framed on their wall.

I've had a super career in meteorology (I would like to have done it a little longer but my path wasn't leading me that way, I guess). I seem to be rather complex...an Artistic Scientist or a Scientific Artist...still trying to answer that! But the release and calm I feel when being creative (whether it is sewing, painting or photography) is perfect. And needed. Hopefully this job will satiate this creative side, but there's still a 'what else' feeling...

...anyone else still trying to find their 'what else' ??

Just googled 'Scientific Artist' and the first site I found was http://www.scientificartist.com/ , first page had lots of photos of nature...it could have been taken from my photo albums! (still, iPhoto is down!).

However, I type in 'Artistic Scientist'...the first article's byline: Artistic tendencies linked to 'schizophrenia gene' (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!).(http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn17474-artistic-tendencies-linked-to-schizophrenia-gene.html

I think I'll go to bed now...!

A Weekend in the Dunes…

Another lovely weekend in Wahiba sands. It usually takes about 40 minutes from the end of the black top road to get to the camp that we really like, it’s reassuringly well signed and a super drive through the sands past the smallholdings and camels. Although I will never get used to the off-roading in the sand. I could barely catch my breath especially as the car seem to slide across to the edge of the dune! I have absolute faith in the Captain…it’s just automotive technology and capability I know nothing about. And so this combined with the Captain’s Dad’s driving on the way back added one more grey hair and an ever-deepening furrow in my brow. I’m usually pretty adventurous but I think I was in Mother-mode. The kids were right over the back axle and were feeling every move and bump more than the rest of us!

An hour or so by the rather cold and green-looking pool, with a group of school lads (I WISH I could understand Arabic!) watching in amusement at the kids and Grampa getting in to the pool. Then a yomp up the dune to see the sun set, a rushed family photo of the four of us at the top as the sand was getting in our eyes and then a scoot back down on the sledge of course!

It was also a chance to practice with my neeeeeeeew Camera. Night-time shots were a bit grainy as I was using the highest ISO…I was a bit wary about using the flash so often when taking pics of the traditional singing and dancing. I didn’t want to be obtrusive. So I’ll need to practice and work with that a bit. They were the same group as last year; it was nice to see the same faces, watching them as they laughed between themselves at the young girls (my Bear included) demonstrating their understanding of traditional Omani dancing…the girls were taking over at one point and one of the men had to try and discretely close the circle to stop them strutting their stuff! But they were so good with the kids, taking their hands and dancing with them. Bear had a whale of time and it was a joy watching these young children, so unself-conscious and free, oblivious to anyone looking at them.

Next morning the Captain, the Captain’s Dad and the kids went for a drive further on through the valley and dunes. I stayed and drank chai (perfect for post-migraine recovery!) in the newly refurb’d dining area. I took loads of pictures as the light was just perfect. Here are a few:

For you, OPNO!