I went to a photo shoot in London for Prima magazine on Wednesday, they want a picture of me for my article due to be published in their April edition. I expected that they might want me to send in a head shot but this is what I got! Everyone there was so welcoming and attentive, a delicious lunch was provided, copious cups of tea, all expenses paid. I had a makeover and my hair done and then had loads of photos taken. I can honestly say that when I decided to jump right in and start a new writing career (hopefully!) I never expected this! It was a fantastic experience.
On the train down to London I saw a fox. I have travelled by train so many times over the years and have never seen a fox in an open field like this one. It was one of those delightful English January mornings when the light is soft and muted from the winter sun as it bathes the hard frost on the ground in that warm, amber glow. The fox stopped in his tracks as the train hurtled past at the bottom of the field and yes, he did turn around and look over his cheeky shoulder. I know that foxes are much more brazen these days and are seen much more frequently than when I was growing up, but the significance of seeing a fox on the very day of my photo shoot is not lost on me and those who know the fascination they have always held for me will also understand!
I took my camera to London but when I asked my mum (she came with me!) to take a photo with it I discovered that my battery was completely flat. (Thanks, oh lovely daughter of mine for using my camera and failing to tell me that the battery needed charging).
‘It’s okay,’ Mum said confidently, ‘We can use my camera!’ Great! I thought. Except that she then discovered that she had forgotten to put her memory stick in. ‘How about we use my memory stick?’ I suggested, removing mine from my camera and putting it in hers. Wrong size, it got stuck. Had to ask a very nice young man to help us remove it, which he duly did so with a paper clip and in so doing damaged Mum’s camera. I STILL don’t have a smart phone, my mum’s phone has a camera but she doesn’t know how to upload photos from it.
So, number of photos taken at the photo shoot? One hundred, at least. I liked maybe two of them (don’t like photos of myself, that’s the truth). Number of foxes seen from the train? One. Number of photos taken by my mum and I of London? Zilch.
Still, it was a truly wonderful day. Thank you Prima!
A View From My Summerhouse 
Love reading your blogs! Enjoying life to the fullest, eh? Sounds good to me!!! 🙂
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Hi Jessie…so glad to have you on board, thank you so much for your heartfelt comments. Watch this space! xxx
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Nice to hear and an historic trip too – Mr Fox was there to watch over you!!
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Yes he was 🙂
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mumblypeg says
Lovely to hear that there are still some of us out there who get a kick from nature. The simple free things in life are the best. Keep us posted. Thanks for cheering the day xx
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Aaah, thank you Mumblypeg, that is lovely. Just seeing Sweet Robin out in the garden makes my heart sing. Yes, I agee, It is the simplest things of God’s creation that bring the greatest joy at times when we least expect it. xxx
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Hi Sherri – nice to track you down, I was at the photoshoot with you :o) great story and you look fantastic in the pictures. So lovely to meet you and your mum in January.
Anne x
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Hello Anne, wow, what a lovely surprise to see you here 🙂 Thank you so much for your kind comments about my article! I wasn’t expecting my photo to be so big, yikes! I look forward to seeing your photos in May’s (?) edition. I know you will look stunning! Mum & I both really enjoyed meeting you too. Keep in touch! x
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Hi – yes Sabine emailed me and said I will be in the May edition which is quite exciting, bit scary too! I showed your article to mum today when she popped in and she read it, she said you had a very good writing style (she used to be a teacher and her main interests were English and Geography). I did look for you on facebook on the offchance you were there so pleased I know where to follow you now x
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Thank you Anne, I really appreciate your comments and your mum’s too! x
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Thanks for including the link from your newest post here Sher. I never saw this, as I didn’t know you yet back in 2013 when I just began blogging. 🙂 Certainly that fox has been a great symbol for you. And as for the camera, I had to LOL, and hope through the years you’ve sorted out that technological mess. 🙂 xoxo
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I used to think that foxes were mythical as I only heard about them in children’s literature. They seem so wonderful, but I have read more about people domesticating them (referring to your piece today) and I have such mixed feelings about it. I realize there isn’t enough wilderness for them any longer, so it’s a way to survive, but at what loss.
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