that fitness kick

Colds recovered from, we both decided we needed to get fitter, so this month we have hit the gym every week, we also started Pilates (unfortunately theres no Yoga at our gym currently), and Richard has started running three times a week. Only two miles and a very gentle walk/run until he gets back into it.

The 7th July was Barton Upon Humber’s bike night. This was our first ever visit, lots of entertainment, thousands of bikers and all the local pubs had live bands on. We parked up in the grounds of the Catholic Church, and for a Pound we could not only park but they also stored our Crash Helmets, safely in the Church.

 

It was a fun night, not as many visitors as usual, the forecast of rain but a few people off, but luckily it stayed away. We indulged in some junk food, burgers, hotdogs etc, and once we got home treated ourselves to a cold beer.

Mid month and we took a day off, it was likely that I would have to work all weekend, and we both had plenty of hours owed us, so we took a flexi day and visited Gibraltar Point nature reserve.

 

The weather was variable, alternating between hot bright sunshine and shoot periods of extremely heavy rain and high winds. Still a fun day out.

Back to Work & more Photography

After our amazing holiday, visiting all round England, a bit of Wales and round the coast of Scotland it was time to go back to work, but my body had other days.

Bank holiday monday saw me come down with a terrible cold, and Tuesday our first day back at work I was no better. After that I managed to drag myself in, but we had to travel by car, I was not up to riding the motorcycle.

 

In the middle of the month I also did a studio photo shoot, as you can see above, not bad results.

The big thing was the release of iPhone4. Richard has the original iPhone, and has been very pleased with it, now that its three years old it was time for the updated model.

I am sure in the news you have all heard of its problems, but I have found it to be the best phone I have every had. The display, camera and gps are excellent. The reception is certainly better then the previous phone, and I have had no problems with it. If the phone is gripped tightly the signal strength does drop but this causes no issues in actual use.

Holidays and Photography

First of it was the start of the cricket season. Now I have no interest in Cricket but for the local league it was my work team against my village team. Now who to support, a difficult one.

We went along and took the camera’s. Neither of us have done any sports photography for a long time. Its an expensive field of photography needing expensive long lens. The pros tend to use 400 to 600mm lens. We have a 70-200mm f/2.8 and a 180mm f/2.8, so equipped with these we gave it ago.

Both teams played well but the village won through in the end. I have to admit it was a cool May evening and we did leave before the end, taking shelter in the local pub and enjoying a couple of pints beer. Our local always has a good round of guest beers and tonight was no different.

To finish off the evening it was then a walk over the road to the fish and chip shop. Fish and Chips all round, and then a slow walk home.

For the last two weeks of May we had our big holiday. This year it was a motorcycle trip round the whole of the British Isles taking in the furthest East, South, West and Northernly points.

Before we went we had a one quick day out on the bike, a day trip to Whitby.

The weather was, how shall we say; dramatic.

Bills and Courses

Not quite as bad as the title suggests. The month started of with some birthdays. Caroline’s and Angela’s and Robert’s towards the end.

As you can see Angelia’s birthday was the Big One!

Then the bills, we had to get both bikes serviced and the Honda MOT’ed, as usually she passed with flying colours.

We had a day at Whisby Nature Reserve, mainly doing nature (bird), and macro photography, fun but not many keepers. We also had lunch in the visitors centre, always a good meal.

The middle of the month saw us take some time off for a long weekend.

It was a trip to Ashby de la Zouch for a two day sowing course, Caroline learning new techniques and skills in her sowing craft.

Richard thus had two days in which to photography the the local area. Day one was spent in the local town, mainly photographing the castle. While Day two was a visit to the zoo, to camp out by the Leopard enclosure and waiting for the weather and the Leopard to coincide.

The end of the month saw Richard back in the studio and also planning our next big bike trip. Not long now.

Biking fun

A Bit of Biking

Its the time of year where I start to planing our big bike trip of the year, so most weekends we have been going for a ride, a trip to North Lincolnshire, a trip to the coast, and the other weekend a trip to South Lincolnshire and Cambridge. As most of our journeys have been just the short commute to work, were not really used to full days in the saddle and they were tiring days out, but well worthwhile.

Its been a full month of work and apart from a bit of photography for work and a studio session theres nothing more to tell.