Written from a writing prompt - inspired by Ukraine

Something a little different from me today, inspired by the heart-renching situation in the Ukraine. One month in from the Ukraine/Russian conflict.  I have never been to Russia or the Ukraine, so the few photos I share today are from other parts of Europe in a happier time.  I really enjoyed taking photos of balconies on our trip to Spain, Malta & Italy in 2018.

This piece I wrote the other day from my writer's group home writing prompt - 

No-one answered the door, so Tina took her mobile phone out of her pocket.

With only a backpack hastily stuffed with a change of clothes and her passport, Tina had travelled all day and all night to get here. First by train, almost empty of other passengers, then hitched a ride in the back of a truck, the weary men looking askance at her. Lastly on foot through the ravaged countryside and deserted streets, hardly recognising her surroundings since her visit last spring.

How could it be that at the end of her journey no-one was here to meet her? Tina looked again at the text message from her sister asking her to come quickly…or was it pleading? She had tried to call her sister several times since leaving home, but couldn’t get through. With each kilometre she had grown more anxious.

Tina stepped back from the heavy wooden door and looked up. Above was an iron balcony and an open door with lace curtains wafting gently in and out. She glanced up and down the street. No-one was out at this early hour but she didn’t want to draw attention to herself by calling out. A lone dog snuffled around a rubbish bin.

Tina blew her warm breath into her hands and then reached for the ornate brass door knocker. The thud echoed dully within. She waited but no-one came.

She pushed on the door and it creaked slowly open. Dry leaves scattered around her feet. Stepping cautiously inside Tina scanned the deserted courtyard strewn with dying plants and broken furniture.

A cat slunk away through an open doorway. She followed and was shocked by the disarray inside. Broken tiles and debris littered the floor and plaster hung limply from the exposed roof beams.

On the gilt framed mirror on the opposite wall was one word scrawled in lipstick or was it blood – “run”

I hope you and yours are doing well. I pray for a peaceful resolution in the Ukraine, and cry for the children and families who are suffering. 

Thank you so much for stopping by. I value your comments and look forward to hearing from you. I will try to visit your blogs in return. Have a wonderful week. 
I am linking up to the link-ups below. Please click on the links to see fabulous contributions from around the world - virtual touring at its best!

MosaicMonday at Letting Go of the Bay Leaf
Sharon's Sovenirs 
Our World Tuesday

Pictorial Tuesday 
ThroughMy Lens 
Image-in-ing
My corner of the world through my camera 
Wednesday Around the World at Communal Global hosted by Randomosity. 
       and Little bird - Pienilintu
Thankful Thursday 
Welcome to Nature Thursday

Skywatch Friday

Hello there! I love reading your comments. If you scroll down to the bottom you can comment too! I would love to hear from you.

Adapting to change at the end of 2018

Usually at the end of the year I write about the year that was. But for this year I am wrapping up the year differently.

Early in 2014 I was asked to join the Communal Global family as one of its regular contributors. I had been linking up my weekly blog posts to their Wednesday Around the World linky party for a couple of years, so I was thrilled to be invited to join this wonderful group of ladies from all around the world.

 Then around August 2017 I was asked if I could write their regular Friday posts, which included a mosaic from each of their regular contributors.

Communal Global has had many contributors over the years. Their current contributors are from Hong Kong (Singwa), New Zealand (Betty), Australia (me), Finland (Susanna), England (Caroline) and USA (Tamar) with occasional visits from Catherine (formally in Paris but now back in the USA) and Caro (Venezuela). 

 Communal Global is a vibrant group of women from all over the world, with many differences in where we live and the language we speak, but also many similarities to be found as we shared pieces of our lives and we found we were really not that different to each other.

Due to a few changes happening with Flickr where we upload our weekly photos, and changes in circumstances with some contributors, we have sadly decided to close down the Communal Global blog on Blogspot and the weekly Wednesday Around the World link-up on that blog. 

BUT it is not the end of Communal Global -  you will now be able to find us over on Instagram and Facebook with our link ups at Linky Friends on Facebook 
We are making changes to keep up with our changing world, but Communal Global has gone through many changes over the years. 

My goodness, Instagram seems to be the flavour for sharing at the moment. I hope you will come and join us and follow us over there.

Our last post is today 31 December, so we are going out with an explosion of colour and memories. I sincerely thank the girls for inviting me to join Communal Global. I have thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. And I am sad to see the blog in its present format close down.

Here is my final collage. I've enjoyed sharing my little corner of Australia with people all over the world through Communal Global. 

And final mosaics from the other contributors I have come to know over the last few years. I hope you will click on the links to visit them.

Singwa, Hong Kong - sharing her fascinating life - sights and sounds - in a big city

 Betty, New Zealand - amazing scenery

Susanna, Finland - I've loved seeing her snowy pics, especially in summer here!

Caroline, England - who has been at Communal Global right from the beginning

Tamar, USA - Tamar will be continuing a Wednesday link up at her blog - Randomosity - The good, random and fun  Thank you Tamar! 

Caro, Venezuela, with her delightful shares of family life

And the amazing street photography of Catherine in Paris, now adapting to life back in the USA.

So that is me for today. Thank you so much for stopping by.  I wish you all and your families a happy, safe and fabulous 2019 and as I said at the top of the post "dare to dream".  You never know where it might take you in 2019. Dream big, but start small.

Thank you so much for stopping by. I value your comments and look forward to hearing from you. I will try to visit your blogs in return. Have a wonderful week. 

I am linking up to the link-ups below. Please click on the links to see fabulous contributions from around the world - virtual touring at its best!

   
All Seasons
MosaicMonday at Letting Go of the Bay Leaf

Our World Tuesday

Pictorial Tuesday 

ThroughMy Lens 

Image-in-ing
Wednesday Around the World at Communal Global hosted by Randomosity.
Travel Photo Thursday 

The Lovin' Life Team over at: Deep Fried Fruit and 50 Shades of Age
Little Things Thursday

Life in Reflection

Hello there! I love reading your comments. If you scroll down to the bottom you can comment too! I would love to hear from you.

November roses

 November is a beautiful time for roses, I shared a few on display in the Ferguson Valley Open Gardens a couple of weeks ago - Ferguson Valley Open Gardens
and they are beautiful in my garden too. So I thought for today I would share a few for you to enjoy. 

And a beautiful red rose bouquet for my friend's wedding, made by a mutual friend. Glorious.

Thank you so much for stopping by. Just a short post from me today, few words, just flowers to enjoy. I value your comments and look forward to hearing from you. I will try to visit your blogs in return. Have a wonderful week. 

I am linking up to the link-ups below. Please click on the links to see fabulous contributions from around the world - virtual touring at its best!

   
All Seasons
MosaicMonday at Letting Go of the Bay Leaf

Our World Tuesday

Pictorial Tuesday 

ThroughMy Lens 

Image-in-ing
Wednesday Around the World at Communal Global
Travel Photo Thursday 

The Lovin' Life Team over at: Deep Fried Fruit and 50 Shades of Age
Little Things Thursday

Life in Reflection

Hello there! I love reading your comments. If you scroll down to the bottom you can comment too! I would love to hear from you.

If you are a blogger you can also link your blog to Wednesday Around the World at Communal Global. 

An InLinkz Link-up

My 10 year blogging anniversary

In July 2008 I made my first hesitant steps into blogging. This was partly as a way of promoting my photography and publicising articles I'd written as a freelance journalist, and partly in the hopes of being "discovered". I shudder a bit now as I look back over those first steps into blogging. I really had no idea what I was doing. 

I hope over the last 10 years my blogging has improved. I know it has changed over time, and now encompasses travel, mostly Western Australia travel, photography - travel, food, wildflowers, lifestyle, and a few "how toos", recipes and photography tips. 

In that first 6 months of blogging I only wrote 10 posts and in 2009 only 8 posts! I certainly wasn't going to be "discovered" at that rate. 

It has been interesting in writing this post to look over my past 10 years of blogging. 
So I thought I would share with you a brief summary of those 10 years. You can click on the links to go to individual posts, or just go to my Blog Archive in the side panel, or the Index in the top tabs if you are looking for a particular topic. 


2008 - 10 posts -
You can click on the link here to read my first post 19 July 2008: Walking the Bibbulmun Track  which was a short excerpt from an article I had written for Go Camping magazine published in the winter 2008 edition, about a short walk I did with 63 year old, "End to Ender" Bernard Glasson from Perth and my friend Trish Gibbs from Donnybrook.

2009 -  8 posts - 
My "marathon" eight posts still tended to promote my latest magazine articles, like this one in January 2009 - "African Experience Soft Option" - an excerpt from my article in Australian Vital magazine from May 2004 about our amazing stay in Jackalberry Lodge in the Thornybush Nature Reserve adjacent to Kruger National Park in South Africa. Undoubtedly one of our best, if not the best, international trip we have ever done. 

Comments on my posts were thin in the ground, I certainly wasn't being "discovered".

I updated the pics on this article a few years later and even managed to receive a comment, (woo hoo! I got a comment!!), from my blogging friend Joe Castro at Lifestyle Fifty. Thanks Jo for your support in this blogging world over the years. It's a tough world out there in blogland, and we bloggers need to stick together.

2010 - and 12 posts. 
Looking back, my early posts were little more than a few words, accompanied by a few photos. They've changed a bit since then.

In May 2010 I started contributing to the linky party Mosaic Monday. Mary who was running the linky party back then was so encouraging about my photography and Mosaic Monday gave me the opportunity to link with other bloggers all over the world, make new connections and hopefully receive comments to my blog. I've been contributing ever since. Thank you so much Mary.

Here is that first post, not much of a post and I don't know where the Mosaic was. Just as well my blogging improved.  Dreaming of France - Little Red House Mosaic Monday

2011 - 70 posts!!! - it seems like I stepped up the pace.

2011 was the start of my early delvings into food photography when I started working a 4 day week and had a day to myself to indulge. Every Monday my husband would come home from work expecting to eat what I'd cooked for my latest food photography project. It was my passion back then, and I did lots of food photography. I thought food photography might become my career, but somewhere along the way it hasn't happened, although I have had a few food photo gigs.

2012 - 64 posts - you can click here to see my round up for 2012 
In 2012 I had my first outings with my camera in an underwater housing.

And an emotional time with the passing of my mother in July.

2013 - 49  posts - 
I think I realised that blogging once a week was as much as I could handle. 2013 was the year that I joined the Photography Group of Bunbury and a new journey through photography started. 

2013 also seemed to be a year of travel - in Western Australia along the remote Holland Track and then a 6 week trip through South Australia. We also took our family to Singapore.

Garden by the Bay, Singapore

I even managed a cover shot from the Holland Track on the Go Camping Australia magazine.  August-September 2013 edition.

2014 - 45  posts - 
2014 turned out a lot different to what we expected, as we watched my father and my husband's mother slowly fade away.  During 2014 I was doing a 365 challenge - one photo a day for 365 days - and I know I found a comforting focus and solace in my picture taking during the heart breaking family times during 2014.

In July we managed a road trip up to the Pilbara, where we met up with a couple from Busselton who are now close friends. And in October we took a trip to Penang, which had been booked earlier in the year, and now came at a perfect time as I mourned the passing of my father. 

In 2014 I opened my "business page" - Life Images by Jill - on Facebook. I've learnt over time that Facebook is necessary these days for businesses. If you are on Facebook I'd love you to hop over and "like" my page. Thanks! :)

I was also invited to join the team at Communal Global. A collection of women from all around the world who host a linky party "Wednesday Around the World". 

2015 - 49 posts
Early in 2015 I was offered redundancy at my place of employment, and I was happy to accept, and helped along by a small inheritance from my father, I retired from paid employment. This allowed me time and space to explore other things I had been wanting to do - mainly in photography and arts. Some of these art explorations were through the Stirling Street Arts Centre, and the free workshops run at our local library. This has been the best part of my retirement, exploring arts, which had been somewhat put on hold during my working and child rearing years. 

I always remember that my Mother had done beautiful art work and sang and played the banjo when she was younger. Unfortunately she seemed to have given these up after marrying my Dad. I don't want to be like that.

I know my Dad would have been pleased that I had retired. 

 There was more travel around Western Australia, and I was also excited to be involved in a local book project - Ferguson Valley Plated - launched in October 2015, through a collaboration with Kim Wesley from Peppermint Lane Lodge. What an inspiring dynamite Kim is, the way she had that book organised and published in under 6 months was truly amazing.

I was also involved in the 25th Anniversary show with my Spanish Flamenco group - Sol y Sombra. What a huge night it was and first time I had ever been on stage like this.

2016 - 46 posts
Reading my last post for 2016 it seems like I was reflecting on the sorrows people in my life were going through, and all that I had to be grateful for - good health, family, friends, groups that I am involved with, and the travel which we are able to enjoy. 

In January I was introduced by Jane Flower from Folios and Fibre into the wonderful world of Eco-dyeing with leaves through a workshop I did with Jane at the Stirling Street Arts Centre summer school.   A couple of years on this art has become an absorbing passion.

And in March I started up my page at Red Bubble, promoting my photography through the range of products that Red Bubble sells. You can even buy leggings!

My husband retired from teaching in the first part of 2016 after 40 years in the profession.  After the last 6 months pleasing myself with what I did with my day, was there room in my days for him? But his retirement has given us the opportunity to reconnect.  

And there was time for reflection: Ease your stress by following your passion in life

It was also a year for travel. We took a return trip to Coral Bay in May and then along the Gibb River Road in our remote Kimberley region of Western Australia in July/August, and in November my husband and I went to Rottnest Island - just off the coast from Fremantle, and for me my first visit to this historical holiday island. 

  In August my writer's group launched their first anthology - The Runaway Quill.

Encouraged by various friends, I took my first steps into Instagram  in December 2016. I post irregularly and I'm still not sure what it is all about and what all those followers really mean. Do you do Instagram? What's your experience of it? 

2017 - 42 posts
2017 started with my being grateful for life in the retirement fast-lane. This post certainly resonated with many in a similar age-bracket.  

And a trip to Sydney, Australia.

And I found inspiration at the Tree Street Art Safari, the International Women's Day talks, the Dardanup Art Spectacular and Art Trail, and TedX Bunbury.

And more opportunities for travel, camping, exploring and taking photos through our amazing state of Western Australia. Hunting for wild orchids

I was also one of the contributing photographers to a new book put together by my friend - another inspiring dynamite - Catherine Curnow - who donated the proceeds of the book to a local family whose daughter suffered a life changing injury.  The Photo Book of Bunbury -  Loving Where We Live - Glimpses of Bunbury through the eyes of the locals.

And to top the year off - in November 2017 I was awarded the Colour Image of the Year Award at the Photography Group of Bunbury, with this image I took when walking along our local estuary, which was entered in the April topic "Breaking the Rules". I was also runner-up in the Photographer of the Year on accumulated points from the monthly club exhibition nights. 

And so to 2018 - so far 29 posts
As each new year dawns, I wonder what the year will bring. So 2018 began with a question - What will your inspiration be in 2018?

Life continues to be inspiring. I attended the International Womens Day event entitled "Identity and Transition", and hosted by the South West Women's Health and Information Centre. What a wonderful and inspiring group of women speakers and attendees came together that day.

I had a very successful day exhibiting at the Tree Street Art Safari in March, and was surprised, thrilled and overwhelmed to win the "Emerging Artist Award" at the Dardanup Art Spectacular in May, with this leaf print on paper.

 I've had some work this year relieving in our local primary school library which I've very much enjoyed, and my husband has had some teaching work. It is great travel spending money. During the month of May we enjoyed a trip to Spain, Malta and Italy. You can see various posts about our travel on my blog.  I'm still working through sorting the thousands of photos.

 I wonder what the rest of the year will bring. Be sure I will blog about it here as my blog is in many ways a journal of my life, travel and photography. 

The other day I found a quote in Kate Morton's book, The Lake House, that resonated with me.  "Life was like that, doors of possibility constantly opening and closing as one blindly made one's way through."  Through my own life, I know this to be true. I've certainly never felt like I've had any particular plan.  As John Lennon said "Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans".

Along my blogging journey I have met many wonderful bloggers, women mostly, from all over the world, and my readership and comments have increased.  But I wonder sometimes what is it all about - this writing, reading, commenting - it can be stressful at times and sometimes I feel that all this social media is taking me away from the creative side of me that is trying to find time between it all to do other things.  But I know these connections are important to me too. But I guess in all things we need balance, and try not to let blogging and social media take over our lives. There are other things that should be placed in higher importance like family and being true to ourselves.

What strikes me the most is despite our cultural backgrounds, and no matter where we live, women are going through similar issues.

Making contacts through blogging creates a little “community” which we might never have had. I have discovered that the posts that create the most interest and feedback are when I talk about real life issues and circumstances.

Being truthful really connects with women, who then are willing to share back to you what they have gone through. Perhaps being slightly “anonymous” helps us be more open.

I am certainly grateful for the host of inspiring women that have come into my life over the last few years. And to all those people who have encouraged me and visit me at my blog and social media pages. Thank you for helping me feel that I am contributing something "relevant".

I hope you have enjoyed reminiscing with me over the past 10 years, and that you will stop by again and meet me on the porch.

 Thank you so much for stopping by and thank you to you the reader, my contacts, my little community, who make this blogging life mean something. 
I value your comments and look forward to hearing from you. I will try to visit your blogs in return. Have a wonderful week. 

I am linking up to the link-ups below. Please click on the links to see fabulous contributions from around the world - virtual touring at its best!

   
All Seasons
Mosaic Monday 

Our World Tuesday

Pictorial Tuesday 

ThroughMy Lens 

Image-in-ing
Wednesday Around the World at Communal Global
Travel Photo Thursday 

The Lovin' Life Team over at: Deep Fried Fruit and 50 Shades of Age
Little Things Thursday

Life in Reflection

Hello there! I love reading your comments. If you scroll down to the bottom you can comment too! I would love to hear from you.

If you are a blogger you can link to Wednesday Around the World at Communal Global right here! 

An InLinkz Link-up