Big cameras

I know, that everyone is now running around shooting their heads off with their iPhones, and a gathrillion images are made every day, an enormous number of them fabulous - and then have gaudy filters attached to them etc etc.  But here is the thing - they are just terrible photos in lots of ways - and bizarrely, my hi tech (though being a 2009 model), ten pound monster with big-ass-glass on the front takes photos like these - boom - and they are massive and of impossible detail, this version is a tenth of the full image; fabulous grain, hectic desaturated deep colour - on this overcast stormy feeling day:

CNY party at the Free's new house

Brett and Carrie sold their old house for some eyewatering sum, rented for a while whilst looking, and found a new place which is good to go following a big renovation.  Today we - the village people so to speak - got a bus and went round to visit.  The bus got stuck in traffic though, so we had the initial warm up socialising in the parking lot outside Robyn and Pieter's house. I took the big camera, because it takes such immeasurably finer photographs.

Aiden with Roy - lovely person that he is.

Debbie looking very CNY - red with lots of smile.

Elize, now out of her shell and great company.  She's off to Uni in Sydney, for the first time tomorrow - hope its all her dreams and more.

Sean Prior was on his way down the hill and stopped for a quick howzit.  Love him completely; old school best of British.

Dylan on the bus - new haircut looking cool

The Free's house is super-nice, still work in progress out in the garden, but is going to be as amazing as the rest, no doubt.

Dana, all grown up

Allie and Elize crack a quick pose 

Lara Schats - great photo this, even if I say so myself.

Lai-see envelopes aplenty

Long overdue - back in play - Chinese New Year

Long overdue, and apologies for the absence.  The Chinese New Year weekend was a stunner.  After weeks of cold and damp weather, including the coldest day in HK for 70 years (and pretty much the whole of January on the road) - we did something social and wonderful - a big walk from the Sai Kung Country Park to Yau Lei.  Of course there was plenty of whinging - Aiden developed a stomach ache very early on, and so complained for 12 kilometers; Evan did the same without needing a stomach ache.  Fortunately Dylan was along for the journey, and Tiggered the troops along with his typically cheery vibe.

Aiden grumbles his way along the path.

Dylan cruising along on the Highlands reservoir road.

Angie in an inexplicable cowboy outfit (boots and jeans - with hat) bringing up the rear across the reservoir wall.  Interesting bit of trivia - the Kariba dam is the largest reservoir in the world.

The beach at Yau Lei when you get there - it was such a crackingly beautiful day.  Not sure who left their wheelbarrow on the beach, or why.

Here's the route.  I thought it was 12kms, turned out only to be 10.  Felt like 20.  The red is the boat home.

Catching a few rays out the back of the restaurant after lunch.

Food was absolutely great, I think one of my fave seafood places.

Best part was catching a lift home on Roy and Debbie's RIB - much nicer than walking - not sure what was said but Roy certainly found it funny.

The next day we were up early, Jacques and Hisako came for brunch, the French boytjie looking cool

And Hisako the bombshell that she is