Experiencing the moment

Aka please lurk when you get the chance and hopefully, when times are easier, you can slip back in to join us. In the meantime I hope you take up all the help that is available; respite care for instance, and don't completely exhaust yourself.

Moan away if you need to. It seems a lot to expect of one person can rest of the family not help? Take care

Aka I'm sorry to hear that, as Ana said, you'll be missed - always a voice of reason I thought. You do indeed have an awful lot on, I hope not too much for one person. Hope you can find a bit of time for Aka in and among.

You'll be missed, Aka. Good luck

I have too much on Ariadne as MiL is staying with us for the foreseeable future, she has dementia, diabetes, is incontinent and has mobility problems. Plus I have three of the grandchildren four days a week plus school runs for the oldest one. I just don't know when I can find the time even though it may have helped to have a 'moan' occasionally, that's not how I want to come across

Not really "goodbye" I hope, Aka?

And on that note 'goodbye'

Thank you dahlia, Nonu and Ana

Serendipity, Aka

Aka . xx

Aka, how sad yet how special for you. Looking at old photos, especially those of people no longer with us, can bring back memories of times we may have forgotten. We have never had a video camera, yet I do love looking at the video of DD's wedding 21 years ago, and seeing those who have passed on walking, talking and laughing.
Nowadays I hardly get out the camera, my DD has the snapping bug and has taken some lovely shots over the years - I must just get them printed!

Found an old memory card last week. On it were some lovely photos of the grandson we lost five years ago. I thought we had all the photos we'd ever have of him, so to find another half dozen was bitter sweet but so welcome.

While filming my grandson the other day a light in my head went off and I said to myself "I missed that moment" cause I was looking through the lens of my IPad taking a video. On the other hand I spend time looking at these short videos and remember - how fun was that. We can't have it all so I will make the most of both experiences and when I'm most forgetful and in the mood to look back the IPad will come out and I'll remember.

MrBags bought me a good Nikon camera and a macro lens for my fiftieth birthday. I had never owned a camera before. Since owning that I have taken photographs of things I wouldn't otherwise have noticed because you can get close in with a macro lens.

But my approach to photography is very deliberate and is, as it were, a separate exercise from doing other things. I wouldn't film or photograph the changing of the guard because you can see professional film of that. If I visit, say, a castle I'm more likely to photograph the stones it is built of and what grows on them than the usual stuff.

Every year I have a calendar made with photos taken on a theme, such as grandchildren or Beamish, or garden seats. I keep them as a record, because otherwise we would not look at photos.
Last year one of my granddaughters asked what I wanted for Christmas, so I gave her a couple of SD cards and told her I wanted a calendar.
At the moment I am looking at a photo of her and her sister running together and laughing. In my kitchen is another calendar with a picture of the whole family and dogs on my husband's seat at Beamish.
Last wek when she went home, she asked what I wanted for a Christmas present and I said a mug or a mousemat with a family photo on it. She said she had enjoyed doing the calendar last year, although she had cried a bit. So I will be getting another calendar this year.
When we look at old photos we know who took them. Ken's have buildings, mine have people. In fact, I asked him to buy me a camera as I was fed up of all our photos being of buildings.

Same here Mishap (that is, photos stored on computer). I do think there is something much nicer about having an actual physical photograph to look at rather than just viewing it on a screen - it seems somehow more intimate and personal to handle an old photo. Though I do admit that taking photos now is much easier and cheaper.

Having spent the last 10 years of my career working in photography I have to agree with you.

I take very few photos now as I find it gets in the way of experienceing the moment, as you rightly say. I have millions of photos stored on my computer and so few ever get looked at!

I do treasure family photos and films - seeing our children (and ourselves) at different stages of their lives, seeing my dad, who died ten years ago, and hearing his voice, etc., etc.

It was more the other stuff that I was thinking about - The fabulous holiday with great scenery, the wonderful architecture in a foreign city, etc. etc. Photographs and even films of these sorts of things never do justice to how awe inspiring they are when you're actually there. And if you're fidding about trying to record them, you're not really fully experiencing them, and, if you're with another person, it isn't really a shared experience.

I can see this from both sides.
We didn't own a video camera when our children were born. A neighbour lent DH one to record DS first few days. First bath etc. Having had C section with complications I was pretty spaced out and really don't remember much. I still love watching that tape. I wish I had one of DD.
(she too was born by C section)
It is possible to miss the bigger picture when trying to film/photograph precious moments.

Yes I agree!.
Yesterday I was enjoying watching DGS in the sunny park He was walking for the first time with the support of just one of his Grandad's hands. It was lovely moment I would have made a lovely photograph but at the time I didn't have my camera with me and felt annoyed by that.

Why feel that regret. I will hold those memories.