boxing day...

How many of you actually know why, in England, we have a Boxing Day?

Today I met and went to lunch with the boys grandparents, from his dad's side.

We were having a discussion about Christmas traditions and I was asked what the meaning of Boxing Day was. I was completely stumped as I had no idea why we have Boxing Day or what the origins of it are.

So naturally, when I got home I investigated and this is what I found.

What is Boxing Day?

Boxing Day is a day the higher classes gave gifts to the lower classes. Before or on December 25th people of similar class would exchange gifts to celebrate the Christmas season. Gifts were not exchanged with the lower class until the next day called Boxing Day. It is also known as St. Stephen’s Day.

Why is the holiday named Boxing Day?

The holiday is named Boxing Day because the tradition of giving gifts of cash, food, clothing and other goods to the less fortunate were placed into boxes for easier transportation. The goods were distributed based on the family needs and their services to the giver.

Purpose of Teaching the Origin and History of Boxing Day

Boxing Day officially began in England in the middle of the 19 century under the rule of Queen Victoria. However, many adults and children do not know the true meaning of Boxing Day and its reasons for celebrating. It was a day to thank the community for all their effort throughout the years. The maids, drivers and other service workers were thanked with gifts of food, money, clothing, and other goods. It is important to teach students how they can contribute to society and to understand not all families are able to provide for their families all of the time.

This answered my question, I hope it answers yours too.

Merry Christmas...

long time, no blog...

My friend Marc sent a message to me on Facebook just the other day asking why I have not blogged about anything for a while. After all, it's not like there is nothing exciting going on in my life at the moment.

All I can say at this point is that I have been incredibly busy over these last few weeks/months and I have every intention of starting my blog again very very soon.

But to keep you going, here are a couple of pictures from my new set on Flickr called View My Days. Just to give you some idea of what I have been doing all this time...

a close shave...

So after lot's of convincing from my girl I finally gave in to her and shaved the head!

state side...

It feels really good to be back here in Oklahoma, being able to spend time with Deanna and the boy is brilliant. This trip is a great opportunity for me to spend some quality time with the boy and bond with him.

We are planning some cool projects to do over the coming two weeks, all based on outdoor themes. Tomorrow, after school, we are making French Throwing Arrows and hopefully later in the week, perhaps the weekend, when we will have more time, we will try making a TeePee in the back garden. Add a fire pit and marshmallows and we are sorted.

I have not blogged much lately as I have had so much going on but I hope to get the fingers tapping over my keyboard once again.

You will, at least I hope, have noticed that I have changed my blog banner, again! Deanna and I have bought and old 1954 Kodak Duaflex III camera for doing some Through The Viewfinder (TTV) shots. I converted one of them into my new banner.

Here are a few pictures to keep yours eyes busy until my next entry.

photography weekender...

This weekend I had the pleasure of taking some photographs of a couple of my friends. It was a chance for me to get my studio equipment out and finally get some good use out of it before things start moving forward for America.

We all had a great time and everyone, especially my models, seemed to have a great time.

I have tried a few different types of finishes here from soft, glamour focus to textures.

So without further ado, I would like to say thank you to Jacek, Martyna, Iliya and Agata.

looks a bit fishy...

I thought I would take the time to share some knowledge. I came across the idea on Flickr and I thought it was so good that everyone that is interested in photography, in any way, should know about it.

So is to my....how to make a fish eye lens for only £10 (excluding cost of camera)

Step one...

Get yourself down to your local DIY store and purchase the following items:

Packet of adhesive Blu Tack
A peepy eye hole for a front door (offically called a door viewer...boring)


Step two...

Tear off two small pieces of Blu Tack and apply it to the viewing end of the peepy eye hole.


Step three...

Carefully apply the peepy eye hole, using the Blu Tack, over the camera lens taking care to get it as near to the centre as possible.


Step four...

Press firmly to make sure it's secure and it should look something like this.


Step five...

Set your camera to full optical zoom which will elimate the view of the actual tube through the eyepiece. It should look something like this on your cameras viewing screen.


Step six...

Get out there and take some pictures. It really does create a great effect and if you download and run it through this brilliant Polariod creating software you get great images like the examples below.

ENJOY!!!

discovering cambridge...

Few cities can take the breath away quite like Cambridge. It’s not just its tightly packed core of exquisite architecture, or even the mind-boggling mass of brain power that has passed through its world-famous university, but also it’s the sensation of drowning in history, tradition and quirky ritual that only seems to deepen the more you discover. But so too there is plentiful opportunity to come up for air, relaxing in the manicured college gardens, punting along the beautiful river ‘backs’ and roaming the lush water meadows that run out of the city.

And of course Cambridge is no mere repository of history and charm, it is very much a living city; its narrow streets are alive with the click and whirr of cyclists. The river is clogged with red-faced rowers, drifting punts and on occasion floundering freshmen. College porters still potter around in bowler hats, while gowned students wine and dine in cavernous medieval halls. Historic pubs echo with the same equal mix of intellectual banter and rowdy merrymaking that they have for centuries past. And a new generation of designer boutiques, coffee houses and slick nightlife venues is finding its niche in among the intriguing passageways and medieval doorways of the old town.

Here is to my first ever visit...