Vhazza

It's been a while since I've been here. And mainly that because a lot of my time has been creating and selling jewellery over on Etsy in an attempt to give myself a job during the week. Yes it's a lot of work as I'm obviously responsible for creating, photographing, listing and of course the lovely tax return! But given that for 6/7 years I've been looking for a job and getting no where, I guess working for myself is my only option right now. 

If you want to see what I'm offering, please head over to Handmade By V to see what I'm offering!

So I'm currently doing a daily upload of photos from my holiday back in September at Center Parcs Whinfell Forest in Cumbria. I've been going there for years (and that's including the years it was originally known as Oasis!). This year I did something a little different. Needing some time alone, I headed to the bird hide (for anyone who goes there, it's near the car park!) purely out of curiosity. I also decided to try shooting on manual with the camera(!). Cue a couple of afternoons, a couple of early mornings and a lot of patience. 

There was something quite peaceful and relax just waiting to see what was going to show. Although my highlight was getting to photography a red squirrel (I'd set myself a task of photographing one given that I've seemed to see them but never quick enough to capture it)

Anyways, this is current upload from the sessions. I'll be uploading a new one each day until they're all up!

We've all been there, right? That moment someone suggests something really crazy and everybody laughs about it. Then someone says...'Well...why not?'

Well, I've bore witness to that over the last month or so. To let you understand, Glasgow 2014 were running auctions where you could either bid or buy directly items that were related to the Commonwealth Games. One such item that came up was the one of a kind statue of mascot Clyde that we affectionately dubbed UAC (Uniform & Accredditation Centre) Clyde. 

We decided we wanted to leave a legacy from the volunteers. Something special. During the Games there was trail of 25 statues around Glasgow, one being placed outside the Yorkhill Children's Hospital. No one knew what was happening with the 24 (one was stolen!) so we decided that since Clyde brought smiles to kids of all ages, why not try and get this special one? And if not, the money raised would still go to the charity. So it would be a win-win situation.

There was another from the Village but UAC Clyde meant something to the volunteers: we all had to come into contact with him at some point before the Games. Heck, even the Queen met him! So at first it was the Clyde-Siders raising money for him, then Host City Volunteers...before we knew it, we had volunteers from all areas of the Games wanting to pitch in. And boy did they! Not even an international e-money service blocking an account twice could stop us. We were ready to bid on him when...he vanished from the site.

Worry not. The story goes that someone heard what we were trying to do, spoke to some others in Glasgow 2014 and they pulled him from the auction, and gave him to us! We were shocked. But this meant that the money that was raised to buy him would also be going to the hospital. Cue another furious round of selling personal items, some that couldn't be replaced.

On Sunday, it all came to a head. A large group of volunteers from all sections gathered in a car park nearby and then, piped in by some lovely musicians, we headed to the hospital to officially hand him over. And the money? We raised an astonishing £6060! It was such a lovely end to what was an amazing experience. And apparently the kids are already loving their 'Smile Generator'!

So there is something to make you smile given all the evil that we hear about these days. Hope that it restores a little faith in humanity!

So sad to think that just on Sunday the 20th Commonwealth Games came to an end and so too my time as a Clydesider. I'm not going to lie, this week's been a little odd with not needing to get up and go travelling almost every day but still hard to get back to normality after what was a great experience. Working with the photographers wasn't difficult and fairly easy after the first shift and I knew what I was doing. 

With regards to uploads, I'm still trying to upload at least one image a day (the most recent have been from the Opening ceremony rehearsal) but still have a few to go (I keep finding ones I've not uploaded that I've forgotten about!)

I don't post here all that often and then all of sudden, I seem to be uploading a heck of a lot. 

Yes that's true. It's taken me a while to get my head round a lot of things going on in my life but I'm finally getting around to uploading photos from the last couple of months. Currently trying to upload at least one a day for your viewing pleasure.

I'm half expecting after this lot being uploaded that there will be a silence again. It's less than a month till the Commonwealth Games so that's going to be taking priority for a while So enjoy the uploading while it lasts

(It's a time like this maybe having a premium account would be a good idea....oh well, let's not complain )

Huggles the now
Vhari x