12 of 12 V – April 2010
It’s 12 of 12 time once again, and after five years you really don’t need me to tell you it’s 12 photos on the 12th of each month to represent your day do you? Of course not, nor that Chad Darnell is the creator of the original (and best) version of this global challenge.
Before we get started this month I’m going to do a little bit of blatant advertising. For the last few months I have been working on a book publishing project for my Mum.
For anyone interested in spirituality, spiritual mediums and proof of life after life the book is called Living With The Light. It was written by my Mum and finished back in 2002. At that time she and my Dad were unable to secure a publisher, and the manuscript has been dormant since then. A few months ago after Dad passed away, I got to work getting the book that he compiled together, proof read, edited, etc. I got the basic frame of the website up and running, and for the last couple of weeks a designer friend has been choosing and preparing the gorgeous images that are on the site. I dealt with the technical side, and she made it softer and easier on the eyes.
The web site for the book can be found HERE, and it includes a sample of the book (the conversations in the second half of the book are incredible and some are included in this sample), a synopsis and links to purchase should you so feel inclined. At the moment the physical book can only be ordered from Lulu, but in a few weeks it will also be available from Amazon.
Alright that’s the commercial over and done with, let’s move onto this months photos.
The 12th of April is my parents wedding anniversary, and the first one without Dad so it has been a tricky day but I hope you enjoy the photos as much as I’m sure he is enjoying them wherever he may be 
Starting off with flowers this month, some tulips we bought as a small gift for Mum.
This is a new addition to our kitchen this month, self explanatory what it is but note the items on the menu. This is Sally’s food menu for the week, because I am trying out a service called Diet Chef which sends you a months supply of food (three meals a day, plus snack) to assist in weight loss. So far it’s going well (I’m on day five) and the food is shockingly tasty. More on that later.
Proof positive that the life of a publisher/IT consultant is just one non stop party, my first job of the morning is take the lawnmower over to Brockenhurst for a service. While over there I decided that at some point I need to go there and take some dedicated photos for a 12, as its a very nice village.
I have mentioned before (and photographed) the donkeys and ponies which wander the streets around New Forest villages, and this morning a group of donkeys were stood on a bridge that I was keen to try and snap. Unfortunately Lady Luck wasn’t smiling on me today so all I got was this exciting tree. I’ve included it because it’s quite a nice tree.
I know that photos around the villages and towns where I live always go down well, so this month I’ve been over to Hythe which is a town in the New Forest that is relatively close to Southampton in that it’s a short trip across the water to get there. No prizes for spotting that this is the local church.
The window of the local bakers shop. Fortunately I didn’t dribble too much over the cream cakes, literally or metaphorically. I’ve sort of gotten used to the fact that I can’t eat this stuff for a while.
Outside an independant home shop we always visit when we are in Hythe, if only to stock up on Yankee Candles.
A view of the inside of the shop, covertly taken when the assistant wasn’t looking in case she decided to question why someone was taking a photo inside her shop. Five years and still feel self conscious about taking photos in public places for this!
Giant traffic cone? Modern art sculpture? No it’s a seat that’s down on the waterfront. If you squint you can see Southampton in the distance, and two cruise liners.
Final picture from Hythe, this is down by the waterfront. Not sure what the building is (probably houses these days) but its quite imposing.
Earlier I mentioned the Diet Chef programme, here’s an example of the food. Mild chicken tikka massala and I have to say it’s absolutely gorgeous. I’ve been really surprised just how tasty the food is, and they aren’t paying me to say that either!
And finally because it wouldn’t be a 12 of 12 without him, I was trying to get Will to open his eyes and be all cute and he wasn’t having any of it. He finally opened his eyes and I love the look of sheer annoyance in them.
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About the Author (Author Profile)
By day I work in IT as an infrastructure manager, specialising in Microsoft technologies, primarily Windows and Exchange Server.
On here I write about my passions, movies, videogames, technology and particularly the world of high definition.
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Gorgeous tulips! I’m sure it’s a rough April this year without your dad, especially for your mom. God bless you all. Her book is beautiful as well.
Great photos, as usual, and so many of my absolute favorite things – - chicken tikka masala, Yankee candle shop….bakery items, which I’ve also had to swear off of for awhile…..and, or course, Will.
We’ve tried each month in 2010 to get a 12 together, but it just isn’t happening lately. The efforts continue! See you next time!
Only one question . . . when you mow the lawn, do you mow on the ‘other’ side then Americans do ?? 8- )
I love the pic of this shop selling soaps. Course I make soap by myself. But I don´t sell it!
0/10 Endar sheesh
It’s always lovely to see where you live, Pete! And I love those tulips, that’s a sweet thing to do.
And I love the little day chalk boards for your meals! I think I need something like that, so I can plan ahead, and it be cute
Hey there I really love your 12 of 12 photos this month. Actually I always enjoy seeing your photos. This month I really like the tulips, their so bright and colourful. I like the key rack and would love to have one myself. The home store looks lovely. I love stores like that especially if they have candles. I love my candles. Last but not least I love the giant traffic cone seat.. Anyway as always thanks for sharing and I look forward to next months. Oh one more thing, I just want to wish you all the best of luck with the book. I’m going to pop over and have a look at it now.
Happy Anniversary to a very special couple, although apart, they are as one. Beautiful tulips so colourful. Also loving the cream cakes and the New Forest piccies oh memories memories. Hey, good luck with the diet, chalkboards are ace idea. Until next month.
what is the opposite of eye sore (my english is not too good for those specials) maybe eye healer? your tulips definitely are healers! and me to I like those cute chalk boards. but not the shop, look like lots of artificila aromas and not natural, sorry about that, as aromatherapist I have a fifth sense of fragrances! last month I did my 12-er-homework but was stuck in a hotel without the slightest hint of an internet line! cheers from sunny Ireland eliane
Thanks for sharing, Pete. Although it was probably a sad day, specially for your Mom.
Love the fooood :O) But why on earth are you on diet?!?
Love
Steffi.
Aww, thanks Steffi, but it’s just a small diet. 1 stone to lose, nice and easy
I know what you mean about feeling self-conscious when taking photos for this project! I was just thinking yesterday that I probably look nuttier trying to conceal the fact that I am taking a photo than if I would just pull the camera out and snap away!
The flowers are so pretty, and I hope they brightened what is sure to have been a difficult day for your mother.
And, I, too, love that chalkboard/key hook for the meal planning! I just have a boring little notebook!
cutie – and he doesn’t look THAT annoyed.
He was when he took a swipe at me just after the photo was taken for waking him up!
Great photos, Pete. I love it when my European friends show me bits of their homeland. The tulips for your mom are lovely, as is your gesture of getting the book published. Will is simply being a cat, right?
I see that telecommuting is definitely agreeing with you!
Rubber Duckies – with bow ties … wow, I think whoever made these is an NCIS fan *g*
Great pictures, Pete. I’m so proud of you that you could just look at the candy without buying them. It’s not easy in the beginning, but it really works after a while. I can sit at a table and watch others eating cake without feeling sorry for myself. It took a while, but now it feels great
And this food looks really delicious. I’m sure that helps.
I’m sorry about your dad. Must have been a sad day
*sends hugs* And I will check out the website and the book. Sounds like something I might like.
Until next month!
- Nici
Oh, and btw: I learned to ignore people looking at me when I take pictures in public
Ohhh, those pastries! I would have a hard time in that store, too.
I like the giant traffic cone. I think that’s my favorite this month.
Thanks!
I can’t believe you didn’t enter the pastry shop. I wanted to run right in just from the photo!
How do you always have interesting things to take pics of and post? I think I have the same views in every 12 of 12! Seattle (at least my part) is so boring …
Love the flowers, and the cakes, and the Yankee Candle shop, and Will, and dinner, and and and …
Best of luck with your diet. Seems like you’re surviving it!
Regards from Seattle.
Lovely as always! How sweet to remember the day with flowers for your mum. It must have been a difficult one. Happy 12th.
Hey Pete,
Nice 12… Will’s looking good as usual. Your right, photos of the local villages always go over well. You can never go bad with food shots either. I guess you hit the trifecta with the flowers… they are gorgeous. I know what you mean about taking photos, but you shouldn’t feel self-conscience about taking a few shots of something on public display. I do ask before I take any close ups of anyone and I get permission before I put them on public display. …just common courtesy I think.
On another note, I finally pulled the trigger on my build. Still setting it up, but I’m on it now. Went with 80g Intel X25-M SSD for system/application drive, a 4 x 500g 7200rpm RAID 10 data drive, P6X58D ASUS mother board with I7 930 2.8ghz processor. Have Windows 7 Professional on it. I’ve been setting it up for the SSD… first moved the paging, caches, temps files and user profiles off the SSD and out to the HDD. I’m hoping I don’t miss anything. I don’t want succesive rewrites on the system disk… need to save the life and space on that SSD. I only got 80g because that’s the break point right now. I figure by the time I’m ready for something bigger the price will have gone down and the reliability will have gone up. Oh yeah, had a pair of Nvidia GTS 250 video cards installed and found a NEC EA231wmi monitor which has a pretty nice gamut for editing my photos (IPS to). All in all I think I got a good deal on everything. Picking up a used Epson stylus pro from NYC on Friday. It will take a month or more till I get everything installed on this thing. Don’t even have my e-mail installed yet, but I really want to be careful about loading programs on here because most applications want to put everything on the C: drive including all the scratch and cache files. Sorry for going on, and on, and on… but I figure you’re one person who could appreciate it.
Take care till next month,
first off i have to say your flowers are so beautiful
and your pastries are your local baker are just sinful and to die for. you’re making me hungry. thanks for sharing, pete!