Summertime Splashing: My August Photo #31

It's the end of the month which also means it's the last day of #MyAugustPhoto Linky where I've been posting a photo a day throughout August. I thought I would include something from one of the sunnier days. This was taken just a few days ago at the children's paddling pool in Brighton. You wouldn't recognise it today, it's been so chilly and I think Autumn is well of its way :( Let's hope that there are a few hot days left! My little boy absolutely loves this paddling pool. There were plenty of splashes and he didn't want to leave!

It may not be the end of the linky for good. Although posting everyday has been a little manic I have learnt a lot, experimented with my photography and discovered some great blogs I wouldn't have otherwise found! I will write another blog post about it all. I would love to do a photography style linky in the future, perhaps hosting once a week. I know there are many out there but this would be slightly different. Let me know your thoughts. Thanks to all of those who have added their posts to #MyAugustPhoto. I love seeing the diversity of photos out there and how talented you are! Thanks also to those just popping by :)

Have you taken any photographs recently?

July Degustabox Review

Last month I was sent another Degustabox to review. I love receiving these boxes in the post and who would think a box of food and drink would cause so much excitement? Well, it does! When I begin to open it up my little boy also gets excited and starts helping me with the unwrapping, eager to see what’s inside, it’s cute to watch! 

Degustabox is a subscription service that sends out a surprise selection of food and drink products each month. In every box, there are between 9-14 items, many of which are completely new to the market and you don’t know what’s in the box until it arrives. Each box costs £12.99 including delivery. Buying the same items separately from the supermarket would cost a lot more so Degustabox is great value for money. 

Silent Sunday: My August Photo #30

If you've got a photo you would like to share come and link up to #MyAugustPhoto Linky.

In the Garden in August

Despite the recent rain, this month has seen some wonderfully sunny days. As I’ve been posting a photograph a day as part of My August Photo Linky I’ve had my DSLR camera out a lot snapping away. This includes taking many shots in the garden especially close-ups of flowers. I’ve included some of these on Silent Sunday posts or throughout the month but still have plenty to share. 

Photo Friday: My August Photo #28

After days of rain, rain and more rain the sunshine finally came out today! We went down to the seaside for a bit of fresh air and I took a few photos, this one included. It was fairly quiet at the seaside but there was enough activity going on to watch kitesurfing, swimmers in the sea and people out for a walk. It was refreshing to get a bit of that seaside air again. What did you get up today?

Also linking up with Photo Friday & Friday Photo Journal

Throwback Thursday: My August Photo #27

It's Thursday and here's another throwback photograph. This was taken on Christmas Day 2014 and we were out for a festive stroll along the promenade. Wasn't it a beautiful sunny day! Can you spot Father Christmas in the distance? I love this photo as it shows toddler by my side and how little he was. He is still little compared to me but this was taken at 18 months in his chubby phase. He's grown quite a bit in height since then and lost some of that chubbiness, sob! It would be difficult to get a photo like this these days as he wants to push his buggy himself and my hands aren't allowed anywhere near it! So the photo would be a little different, him pushing the buggy and me walking by his side! ;)

I'm posting a photo a day as part of #MyAugustPhoto. Have you got a photo you'd like to share? Come and link up :)

Wordless Wednesday: My August Photo #26

 

Brighton Pride: My August Photo #25

This photo was taken right at the beginning of the month at Brighton Pride, the annual festival celebrating equality and diversity amongst the LGBT community. This was taken during the colourful community parade. It started by the seafront and headed all the way through Hove into central Brighton, the streets coming alive with excitement and community spirit. It was a great day and already feels like ages ago even though it was at the beginning of this month. I included another photo of the parade for My August Photo #1 and this is one I had added to Instragram but not on the blog so here it is. It's easy to take these events for granted but we still need to fight for equality and diversity. Just a couple of weeks ago I witnessed a totally unprovoked racist attack on one of the Brighton buses. It's sad this still happens today especially in a multicultural town like Brighton. I'm a strong believer in equality though, let's live in hope and believe that one day it will be accessible for all. 

I'm posting a photo a day as part of #MyAugustPhoto. Have you got a photo you'd like to share? Come and link up :)

A Little Robin: My August Photo #24

Here are two photos I took of a little Robin recently, the bird that is so recognisable for its red breast and so popular in the Christmas season. These photographs look rather Christmassy with the berries in the background but they were taken just a couple of weeks ago on my trip to Cambridge. This little Robin perched on a tree right in front of us so I had time to take some photos, although it was reaching sunset so the pictures are a little dark. Did you know a Robin's lifespan is just 13 months :( Such a beautiful bird.

 

Silent Sunday: My August Photo #23

If you've got a photo you would like to share come and link up to #MyAugustPhoto Linky.

A Weekend in Cambridge

Last weekend I took Pip on a three hour train ride to Cambridge. It was lovely catching up with friends and visiting several places in town. I took a lot of photos as usual so thought I'd share the best here. I wrote about my love of Cambridge in an earlier post and do crave the countryside on a regular basis. I know, I know, I live by the sea and can't complain... BUT everyone can definitely benefit from that sense of peace and space you find at the countryside. 

Beautiful Venice: My August Photo #20

I didn't get round to posting a photo yesterday, life got in the way and I had a much needed night out :) This is the photo I had planned to post, another Throwback Thursday photo, this time from beautiful Venice. I'm lucky to have visited three times and it never fails to amaze me. It's one of my favourite places in the world and anyone who has visited will know why. This was toddler's second holiday abroad and this photograph is taken from a boat on our way to the Lido, another island (with a beach) across the lagoon. I was looking through my holiday snaps and there are so many I took on that trip and so many I want to share! This one captures the movement that is typical on the main canal with ferries, gondolas and speed boats all whizzing by in different directions at different speeds, all trying to get to their desired destination with that stunning Venice backdrop in the distance. Toddler loved this little boat ride, regularly looking at the waves of water the boat left behind and making lots of friends. He was in his very cute smiley baby phase then so would smile at anyone that looked his way and got so much attention on this trip! Venice is such an amazing city, I would love to take toddler back when he's a little older.
  
I'm posting a photo a day throughout August. Have you got a photo you would like to share? Come and link up to #MyAugustPhoto linky. 

Also linking up with Photo Friday & Friday Photo Journal

Wordless Wednesday: My August Photo #19

Badger the Mystical Mutt Book Review & Giveaway

Badger the Mystical Mutt is the main character in a wonderful series of children’s fiction books aimed at 5-9 year olds. The books are written by Glasgow based author Lyn McNicol, with illustrator Laura Jackson, who say the focus of all Badger books is about following dreams, ambition and self-belief. The series also tackles issues such as bulling, disability and prejudice. 

The books follow the tales of Badger on his adventures. With great little illustrations and a fun magical storyline this will give any kid a treat! Although toddler is too young for these I’m looking forward to reading them to him when he’s a bit older. In the meantime his older cousins are enjoying them. 

The Seaside: My August Photo #18

Having been away for the weekend in Cambridge I found myself missing the sea! It's a bit silly really as I was really craving the countryside and after getting plenty of that in Cambridge I found myself getting excited at the prospect of visiting the sea again despite only seeing it five days ago! We are lucky that it's a short walk away. Here's a recent photograph of the coast. I love these sunny clear days at the seaside and for the most part it's pretty quiet. Toddler is still scared about going into the water though. He loves paddling and swimming pools so I guess it's the waves that scare him as they can be quite rough. For now though, he loves throwing pebbles into the sea, looking out to sea and spotting boats and running down the slopes. Where do you live? Do you miss it when you go away?

Also linking up with:

 

Trees: My August Photo #17

At the weekend I took toddler up to Cambridge for a little trip away. I used to live there so it's always nice to visit and catch up with friends. We went to parks, took strolls through the town centre, met two friends' babies, showed toddler the swans in the river and even managed a long walk through the beautiful surrounding countryside. Punts, cows and lush greenery galore! Here's a photo in one of the parks in the centre of town. Aren't those trees amazing! I sometimes think about moving back to Cambridge but then again love living by the sea. If you had a choice between the seaside and countryside what would you choose? :)

I'm posting a photo a day throughout August. Have you got a photo you would like to share? Come and link up to #MyAugustPhoto linky. 

Silent Sunday: My August Photo #16

If you've got a photo you would like to share come and link up to #MyAugustPhoto linky.

The Royal Pavilion: My August Photo #15

My photo of today is of the Royal Pavilion. I've included different views of the Pavilion in my Silent Sunday Series at different angles and from the front and the back. I think my favourite is the one I took from the road just outside the Pavilion where you can get a great view of nearly the whole building. I quite like these angle shots though because I can catch what you don't usually see in photos of the building like this pretty pond that lies on the edge of the grounds. Have you been to the Pavilion? What's your favourite view?

I'm posting a photo a day throughout August. Have you got a photo you would like to share? Come and link up to #MyAugustPhoto linky. 

Toddler Fun: My August Photo #14

I spent this afternoon with these two, toddler and his little friend. They are just a few weeks apart in age, both 26 months. The weather wasn't at its best but that didn't stop us having fun throwing pebbles into the sea. Then we chased each other along the promenade. If you need a workout just look after two toddlers all day, they will wear you out! ;) What did you get up to today? 

Also linking up with Photo Friday & Living Arrows

Baby and Me: My August Photo #13

As it's Thursday I thought I'd include another throwback photo. I love this one. It was taken when toddler was just two and a half days old, sitting in the garden for the first time. I look at this and think how tiny and delicate he was as a newborn. He was so small (although a big baby) and I was worried about him getting cold. Look how many clothes he has on! His skin was super soft and all I wanted to do was look at him and kiss him. It's crazy to think that two years later he's a talking, jumping, running, wrestling toddler! If you missed last week's Throwback Thursday Photo here is it.  

I'm posting a photo a day throughout August. Have you got a photo you would like to share? Come and link up to #MyAugustPhoto linky. 

Sunset: My August Photo #12

Focus: My August Photo #11

Here's another photograph from our trip to Kipling Gardens. I was experimenting with the focus using the aperture setting on my DSLR so took many shots of these flowers. There are some similar photos with the flower in the foreground in focus but I chose this one because it was a little different and as well as seeing the detail in the flower in the background it also brings more attention to the light bouncing off the leaves. I thought about disregarding this because of the haze from the sunshine but actually that brings out the atmosphere of the gardens that day; the summer sun low in the sky on a Sunday afternoon. What do you think of the photo? Would love to hear your opinions! :) 

Have you got a photo you would like to share? Come and link up to #MyAugustPhoto linky. 

Kipling Gardens: My August Photo #10

This photograph was taken at the weekend in Kipling Gardens in Rottingdean. This is where Rudyard Kipling, author of many stories including the Jungle Book, lived for a short time. The gardens are beautiful; full of twisted paths, stone wall arches, rows of gorgeous flowers, plenty of hidden corners and a great view of the Rottingdean Windmill. It is a typical scene of the English countryside. Brighton can feel quite built-up sometimes and I find it's always nice to have a little trip away every now and again. We visited in the afternoon on a beautiful sunny day with the sun low in the sky. I took so many photos that I'll be sharing some over the next few days :) Have you visited Kipling Gardens?

If you've got a photo you would like to share come and link up to #MyAugustPhoto linky. See what other photos have been submitted.