Happy me ~ introvert

One of my lovely friends, and her three children, has just left the house after endless cups of tea, lunch and a long needed catch up. We always have a good talk, a bit of a moan and try to put the world to rights. We sing from the same hymn sheet and agree on a lot. Friends like that are priceless.
This is my friend who I escape from the real world with; she is my gig partner, festival partner and weekends away to catch live music partner.
She is outwardly confident with a big circle of friends.

I, however, have a small circle of friends. In fact I would say a handful. I've always been like that. It takes me a while to forge a good friendship and I don't get close to too many people. I am happier in a small group, building up my confidence and building up my trust. That's where my comfort zone is.

The school run can sometimes feel a bit traumatic seeing throngs of mums happily chatting in huge groups - I want to break into those groups as maybe in there somewhere is someone I could really connect with. But that huge group to me is daunting. In these situations I may be seen as brusque but actually, get to know me and you'll find that I'm not.

Big social events don't appeal as all I see are walls of people; people I don't know, people I have to hold a coherent conversation with. I need to know that someone is there waiting for me, a seat has been saved, that I have a go-to person I feel comforatable with.

So, am I shy? Do I have a problem with confidence?

For one thing my job doesn't allow me to be shy. Put me in front of a room full of 4 year olds and parents and I am quietly confident.
And happy.

Through this blog, and other forms of social media, I have been fortunate to meet some lovely folk. I have on paper met 'strangers'. I have met up for coffee with some, shared gin cocktails with others and spent a weekend in London. I don't see these folk regularly but have made positive online connections with them. They have supported me in numerous ways when real life friends haven't been available. That connection seems to be the key. And the confidence to meet up with them has never been an issue.



Some people may see that as odd - why make friends with strangers? Why can't you find more real life friends?
Answer? See above.

After a big chunk of my adult life feeling like this I have finally given myself a label.

I do believe I am an introvert.
And I am happy with that.

Think you understand what an introvert is?
We're not necessarily the ones standing quietly in a corner fiddling with our phones avoiding eye contact.
Introversion, in fact, remains a frequently misunderstood personality trait.
This article here has been a real eye opener...

 

I match most, but not all, 23 points.

Most notably...

 

You don't feel high from your surroundings...

 

Well, put me in a field of complete strangers and drop The Killers on a stage and I'll definitely feel high from those surroundings.

 

But, if you see me sat at the end of a seat on a train don't try and make small talk with me.

I'm not being rude.

I'm just an introvert.

And I'm happy.

Happy me.

 

Does any of this sound familiar to you? What personality traits do you have?

 

x x x

Snowdrops and mini-mes {#HDYGG}

This week we paid a visit to one of our all time favourite spaces to roam, Dyrham Park.
With its sweeping parkland it took a while to find some flora to capture.
Finally we found the classic sign that Spring is on its way...

In front of the house and beyond in its formal gardens we found some carpeting of snowdrops.

Always fun to capture whilst scrabbling on my hands and knees.

For some shots I resorted to using the screen almost blindly snapping my subject.

 

Clearly, I wasn't a doing a good enough job.

The kiddos, being my mini-mes today, decided to show me how to use the macro setting...

The boy wasn't afraid to experiment. He asked me about the dial on the camera and setting it to macro he got straight on with it sticking his head into a shrub in order to capture this beauty.
Can anyone tell me what is it please?!

The girl, not wanting to be outdone, got down on her knee low to snap this beautiful crocus.
She has also mentioned wanting to write her own blog.
Mini-me?
Most definitely!

I'll be linking up with the lovely Annie...

x x x

Dyrham Park - Again



Dyrham Park.

Again.

Because we can't stay away.







We have walked these footpaths and sat beneath our favourite tree before.

We have looked for the deer and rested on the fallen logs countless times.

We have studied the outlines of trees against the blue skies and watched the planes leaving their vapour trails overhead.



I'll never tire of watching you from a distance as you run, play...and fight.

One day I hope you'll understand my pride as you finally manage to climb and balance with confidence.

I stand and watch you unaware and wonder what you're thinking.

Most of all I love to catch your infectious laughs as you throw yourself into your world oblivious to everything else.

 

We will return to our favourite places and spaces - again and again.

It will never get tiresome; doing the same things - again and again.

With you, my favourite people in the world.

No matter what.

 

x x x

The B&W Photography Project no. 5

Window

 

Walking around Lacock village last weekend I actually took a moment to stop and look at the houses.
I tend to avoid doing this too much as I feel a bit sorry for the residents inside.
However, this window was slightly higher up away from eye level and all I could see were flowers on the windowsill.
Hoping that no inhabitants were looking out I took a quick snap for my Project 365 - the original image is here.

 

The ivy, framing the window, cast a shadow across the glass and the reflections made me instantly think - black and white.

 

x x x