I LOVE the beach. Literally my favourite place in the world.

From my home town to holiday destinations, it calms and soothes my soul, it is so beautiful – no matter where you are – and the sea air makes me sleep really well!

My dream would to buy a house by the beach. Maybe not in Tynemouth, where this picture was taken, but maybe Miami or Spain, where it’s a little hotter!

My favourite part about beaches is the waves.

Crash, swish, woosh… love the calming sounds.

I went to beautiful Brighton back in 2017. It was a solo trip and it changed my life. Mainly for the independence and confidence I gained from enjoying time on my own, but for also being the happiest I have ever been.

I had spent the very hot summer August day shopping and I made my way back to the pier for a spot of beach sitting, sea and people watching and chocolate drop eating.

I sat on the pebble beach, sun in face and bag of chocolate buttons in hand and just couldn’t recall a time where I had been happier.

Whenever I think back, a heavy sense of love washes over me.

JT

I had plans to go round to my friends house on the last night of 2019. It was a special occasion because, as she is a paramedic, she rarely has the festive season off – but this time she was off!

Before hand, though, I had intended to visit Gosforth for some light trail photos.

There is a bridge next to the formerly known Three Mile Pub which was the place I began taking photos. It was a small let down, but that didn’t change my attitude.

I stopped on the side of the road and caught the traffic zoom past. Although, the drivers slowed down for me thinking I was speed control! The fact I had a hat, handbag and was wearing a dress clearly didn’t sway them – just the camera was clearly enough!

Have a happy new year reader! I hope it’s a good one for you!

JT

My brother in law got me a subscription package of a photography magazine for Christmas. Such an amazing gift!

On one of the pages it explained a certain technique. The above picture is not and example of it!

Whilst I research and learn more about my initial desired technique, I played around with my camera and these are the end results!

ISO 100, f11, 2” shutter

Then zoom in and out.

JT

I wish you a very happy and healthy Christmas.

I certainly hope Santa treats you well!

JT

The first wealth is health. Words spoken by my dad who probably reiterated it from a famous quote. But whoever said it, really is correct.

You never value your health until you aren’t feeling well. However, getting angry, frustrated or annoyed and upset doesn’t aid your recovery. Instead, it adds fuel to the fire.

For the last year, concentrating more over the last month, I have been meditating. Deep breathing, positive thinking and clear visualisations. Little to my knowledge that positive news and opportunities were on my way.

Then I became ill. Was this because my relative passed away at the time I was ill, or because I have caught a big or a chill? Don’t know. However, with a bad and painful stomach yesterday, visualising my solar plexus chakra being healed and cleared, with the help of a guided meditation, fizzled all the discomfort away. Power of the mind is key.

This image was taken in my car park at work earlier this year. I just love the way the clouds are formed and the way it accents the clear blue sky. Again, taken on my iPhone XR and this wasn’t edited. What you see is what it was. Pure bliss.

I wish you a happy healthy Christmas and new year.

Might speak to you before that though!

JT

When you’re down, feeling lonely, just look at the sky and restore your faith in your life. Have faith that better days are coming and it will be obvious why things didn’t work out the way you intended it to in time.

I took this photo on a residential trip with my work at Ford Castle in Berwick. It was the day before I was coming home and it was freezing, I was bored because the children were doing some bushcrafting, I wanted to just go home and enjoy a nice rest on my sofa.

But then I looked up and saw this beauty. This image will forever be my favourite picture. Taken on my iPhone 7, I still can’t get over the clarity and tone of the picture.

JT

I love sunsets.

I caught this (slightly adjusted) corker on the way home. On my way, I pass a lake with ducks and swans and thought it’d be the perfect setting for a picture.

I love reflections as well.

Over the last two years I have fallen head over heels in live with photography. I am so proud of my accomplishments and my hard work. I’ve literally started from scratch and can’t believe how far I’ve come.

I look forward to 2020 to see how further still my journey will take me.

I will keep swimming.

JT

It’s ok to feel lost sometimes. I feel like this from time to time, especially when life can be a bit blurry, but I think it’s the universes way of clearing paths you never knew you could follow.

Every day is a new day to rise and shine. It’s that fresh start that might be the start of something new! Make your presence known and power through. Aim high and don’t ever contemplate the thought of falling.

The picture I have attached to this post was taken in a glorious glorified greenhouse in a National Trust venue. The sun was bright and beaming and the breeze was fresh! But this picture isn’t just a shot of a flower.

It shows independence, integrity and pride. It symbolises strength, ownership and power. It isn’t afraid to be the way it wants to be. It doesn’t cower away by other plants appearances, nor does it diminish in beauty by the words of others opinions.

It’s hard to know where you belong and why you have to go through things you do. But, if you are reading this, you are put on this planet for a reason. So what if you don’t have all the answers?

Life will go on the way it is supposed to. Sometimes the best way is to sit in the front row and ride it out! Enjoy the ups and downs, the dizzying heights and sickening turns.

Maybe, just maybe, things will then start to make sense.

JT

Just be. Those two words are the best piece of advice I have probably received.

Just be. Be yourself, live in the moment.

I lost a good friend at the start of November. I would text her every day and see her every half term. I miss the fact I can’t tell her little things, see her and laugh with her anymore. I’ve found it hard today.

But, sometimes you just need to feel how you feel. Go with the flow, go through the motions. Carry on with life, enjoy every moment. Just be.

This image of the beautiful swan was taken at Paddy Freeman’s park in Jesmond/Heaton. Like a swan, you just need to keep swimming. Even when it’s cold, you don’t feel like it or you feel everything is going wrong.

Just keep going. Keep swimming. And have confidence that everything will be ok.

JT

I love nature. I have strong beliefs I am as part of the universe and earth as it is of me. Nature calms me and, pardon the pun, leads me back to my roots.

When I was younger, technology was just starting to begin. I would be a computer monitor in primary school, where every morning I would go into school and wheel the computer to my classroom. Kids Pix was the most amazing thing in the whole world! How times have changed.

I didn’t appreciate the outdoors as much as I do now. Instead, I would rather spend my time reading, singing, doing my homework and playing with my sister.

My fascination and love for the outdoors properly began on our family trips to Centre Parcs (formally known as “Oasis”). It was here we would ride our bikes, walk in the woods and hunt for red squirrels. What a time to be alive!

Centre Parcs is a holiday resort in the Lake District. Instead of hotels, you are assigned to a cabin (in the woods) which are self catered and within walking distance to the local leisure centre.

One time, I went on a riding trip with my older sister. At the time I was about 8/9 years old, my sister being 13/14. I wasn’t, and still not, very confident on a bike, but just cycling with my sister made me feel like Chris Hoy.

The track through the woods we took was quite gravelly at times, and I sheepishly followed my best friend down this steep hill. Then I slipped and fell off my bike and cried and cried and cried.

In shock, by both my hysteria and bleeding grazed knee, my sibling shot off back to the cabin for help from my parents. What felt like 2 hours later, which in fact probably was 10 minutes, my sister returned and told me to follow her back to the cabin.

Yeah, Mum and Dad weren’t pleased!

Still, it remains in my memory as if it was yesterday.

Happy times.

JT