Seamus rockin' the skate park, Clitheroe (Sept 2011)

It's that birthday time of year, again!

This year Seamus and I are planning a spectacular birthday bananza to celebrate him turning 6. It's turning out to be great fun and truly setting my creativity on fire!

First decide a theme:

Seamus' Scooby Doo!

Second make the invites:

Third make things, in age old (well, ok, 3 year) tradition, make massive larger-then-life Scooby birthday banner:

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Next: plan to organise party games, bake a bundle of cakes, and then dress the village hall with an assortment of eery wall hangings and generally moody monster nasties! We can't wait for the birthday fun to begin. Let's hope most of the 40 children invited turn up!

The hand that feeds me.

Or tries to at least.

Well done @gazcook. You are lovely.

Melancholy music

The captured soul sings a song of freedom.

It sails, over the breeze, through seething misery;

to a moment of reason, exploding in to fears' fire.

Down fall the blooming petals of relief;

beyond barren soils of sorrow.

Wonder dissolving in rancid rains of pain.

Beauty extinguished by the tortured heat of hurt.

3 Boys in London 2011

Laughing, boisterous, blinding fun in the sun, rain and hustle of London town (and Highgate).

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All in all a fabulous little trip darn sarf!

Essentially proud.

Helping @gazcook to prepare his Brilliant Blackpool exhibition.

Proud? 

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Just a little.

Learn more here: http://longlens.blogspot.com/

or here: http://www.fycreatives.com/exhibitions.aspx

My feeding tale for World Breastfeeding Week

Seamus' first breastfeed in NICU (I had to hide behind my family to let him feed, the doctors didn't want him to drink anything)

First feed at home (note our terrible position!)

first feed outside, a bright October sky above us. Brilliant.

First feed on first photo shoot

Family support (essential to breastfeeding success).

I breastfed Seamus until her was 2, he remembers how wonderful it was. I remember how exhausting but rewarding it is. I am proud of myself for giving him a shot at a normal beginning.