Rugby!!

It wasn't pretty in the end but we did it - just!
The All Blacks won the Rugby World Cup on Sunday night.
And so now the country has something positive to celebrate this year.
The accompanying image was captured in the Rub Al Khali (Empty Quarter) of Oman ~2 years ago. I immediately recognised the ribs of our national emblem, the silver fern, in the sand pattern and figured that one day I would find a use for it.
Well, that day has come.
Here is New Zealand's national emblem depicted in the sands of Arabia, celebrating our victory as world champions!

A Good Day at the Office

I finally decided to put two entries in to the annual Darfield Art Exhibition at the beginning of October. So out I went with my friend Trish and delivered them on Wednesday 5th.
On the Friday afternoon I received a call from the organisers....
"Are you coming to the opening of the exhibition tonight?"
"No" I replied, "I have something else on".
"Are you sure you don't want to change your mind and come. We like to have all award winners there to receive their awards" they said.
"Are you trying to tell me something" I muttered.
"Yes, you have won a merit award John"
I was so gobsmacked at this news, I forgot to ask what the award was for and which of my two entries had received this merit award.
Not too bad for a photographer in amongst all the other artists - and a total of ~380 entries too.
Chris and I didn't get to view the exhibition until the next Thursday on our way home from the West Coast. A proud moment!!
On Monday17th after the exhibition closed, we went out to collect our exhibits.
"I'm sorry John, you have nothing to pick up. Both your entries have ben sold"
Fantastic!
So, not a bad day at the office.
And yes, it was the New Brighton Pier image that won the merit award.
Both images have stories to tell, but that has been explained in previous blogs so you will have to hunt back.

Triptych

Blimey, it has been a good few weeks since I pecked away on my blog. It doesn't take much to take your eye off the ball - and before you know it, three weeks have passed. A few folk have commented on my silence, so my fan base must remain above zero - yay!!
To set the ball rolling again, here is the final triptych that I mentioned I was working on a month or more ago.
Been busy with the Darfield exhibition, picture framing, winter ills, and a trip to the West coast - so will report on a some of these over the next few blogs - inshallah!!