New York- The serendipitous package

Ok so I'm guessing this isn't your average holiday pic...but I thought he was kind of cute! Everyone meet Mr Roach...Cock Roach..umm that doesn't work!

Have just returned from my 40th Birthday party cop out- a classy alternative to the boozey pub party I would have had.

Day 1- Sept 24th 2010

Arrival at JFK early afternoon....drop off bags at hotel and peel off wet clothes (87 degrees). We hot foot it to Waldorf Astoria for afteroon champagne cream tea. It takes a while to figure out how to do this- even the concerge doesn't know! It seems everyone in the world is here for the UN convention...so the place is swarming with dignatories and their blinged up wives. I suddenly realise I couldn't pick out a british politian if I had to.

We end up squeezing thru a roped off area and sit in the cocktail terrace. We are the only ones....us and the piano Cole Porter famously played. The place has an air of previously greater times....now looks like an old dowager whose lost the family money thru the credit crunch but still has great bone structure. For some reason my clipped english (well one has to plum it up in these places) is a foreign language to our NY waitress...and I fight the urge to start shouting like a football fan ordering english breakfast in the costas. Actually I'm realising English cream tea is just another extension..albeit a few class divides later.

We order tea. It arrives suspiciously quickly. Sandwiches of fois gras and pear, Salmon on rye and a nutty chicken surprise. Scones with cranberries and flecks of white chocolate...warm and inviting, profiteroles with exploding white chocolate cream, white choc truffles, lemon drizzle cake and miniature fruit pies. The champagne was cool crisp and perfect. The Japanese sencha was not to my taste unfortunatley but husband enjoyed his darjeeling...there were 8 or 9 types to choose from.

A very welcome break from the oppressive humidity we've arrived in...tho the price of $49 p/p + taxes and service was a tad expensive...considering some of the sandwiches were not their freshest...(that quick service). I sneaked some monochromed tissues from the restroom.

We take a slow stroll back to the hotel...taking in awesome Grand Central Terminal, a couple of irish pubs and we make it back- just in time for the opening of the roof terrace at our hotel- the Metro. Its a hot evening in the city and the cosmopolitan I order is strong and potent. Husband not quite getting his bearings (not like him!) asks...whats that? I reply its the Empire State. oooh boy!

His G&T is an interesting taste and he's not really getting a decent beer so far. We decide to go up the Empire state...in our state! The ques are small and we get a great view without too many people....tho its so windy its impossible for a great photo without a tripod.

Dinner is meant to be a small affair in the hotel restraunt after our afternoon sweet fest. The calamari starters I order would fill two main courses..an insane amount..clearly from frozen. The waiter is sirly...god I hate sirlyness. We return back to our room...and a blocked toilet....nice.

Shuv Cleanse - Day13

Ok so I was too chicken to do the liver cleanse just yet- I will do but read that if I don't clean parasites out first the liver cleanse could make me very ill....

So am doing the following:

Have switched from lemons to oranges- due to acid reflux. Still making up/taking the 'orangeade' but with less maple syrup (agave syrup tastes shit with oranges unfortunately)
Taking Alka clear- to level my body's pH
Taking paraGone- 3 times a day to clear out the parasites. Should do this for 10 days with 10 days rest and then 10 days again- (eggs hatching sort of thing)
Drinking water, peppermint tea, jasmine tea if i need a lift (low level caffeine)

and Bobs your kitten

Day 11&12 were a tiny bit of a rest if you were wondering- superjuice detox juice thingy x 2 in town, 1 avocado with balsamic vinegar& extra virgin O.O, 3 carrrots and 2 celery sticks & 1 packet of goji berries. Don't really see that as 'cheating' as didn't consume stuff to send my bloodsugars racing.

13lbs down

Cleanse Day 11 supplemental

Went into town to seek guidance at the health food store...bloody hopeless! But have now learnt from internet that there is an order to deeper cleansing...liver first, then parasites and candida. So now have a detox tincture to mix with water (substitute for MC lemonade) and I'm begining with the liver detox tomorrow morning.

You need to drink 4 ltrs of apple juice (freshly squeezed) and only this ...well I've had TWO superfood detox smoothies in town so tough! (how yummy were they?...with avocado too...definate convert to green smoothies)

Two seperate people (didn't talk to many) commented on how white and sparkly my eyes looked :-)

Not looking forward to 8fl Oz of neat olive oil to down in 20 mins tomorrow am. I should see resulting gallstones fairly quickly I am told. Yppee!!

Master Cleanse- Day11

ok so doing a deep cleanse (after 7 days its deeper and deeper like lifting layers of an onion) they say the detox opens the library to all your pass illnesses. I had dreadful restless legs last night- which I've not had for years...but they kept me awake most of the night plus I was soooo cold!

Still cold this morning. Off to health store to see if there is an alternative detox system I can use (other than the parasite and liver cleanse I plan to do) as I am getting terrible indigestion from the lemons.

Feeling ok but v hungry as I've only consumed a pint of applejuice I squeezed this morning- not enough calories!
No more weight loss

Master Cleanse- Day10

Skin 100% better- phew...that was scary!

Ok so getting terrible indigestion from the lemons- so having to stop the lemon side of the cleanse. Yesterday I just winged it cos I was travelling but today I woke and made myself a veggie juice which kept me going all day. I had a SWF too- as I've not had a BM for 2 days.....oooh lordy! loads of water and herbal teas kept me going. This evening have made myself a fruit juice- with apples carrots blueberries fennel mint ginger and water....mmmmmmmmm after 10 days of boring lemonade it don't half make a change!
I've been reading up about advanced cleansing and there are two areas I want to concentrate on. Parasites and liver/gallbladder. I'll try to last another 10 days cleansing these babies.

11lbs lost so far....
All for now!

Master Cleanse - Day 8

Bad day yesterday- tho I feel great in myself still...but the hives got worse and spread all over my face and neck- I must really have tonnes of toxins in me.

My face felt much better this morning- so I decided to make up a flannel of aloevera...big mistake! Maybe I'm allergic to aloe..as come to think of it 2 days ago is when I first starteded taking it thinking it was going to help flush out the toxins! booo.

wont be posting tomorrow but day after.

Still no more weight loss but feeling great.

Master Cleanse- Day 7

Woohoo...day 7! I'm proud of myself to get this far but now it seems the deep cleansing has started. Yesterday I came up with hives all over my face and neck. Last night it was red and soooo itchy.

This morning my eyes were proverbial p holes in the snow and I could hardly see over the bags. Still have the hives- typical as I'm meeting friends tomorrow- who haven't seen me for a good 20 yrs!

Had a dreaded SWF this morning to see if this can flush out the toxins quicker. I added the juice of a lemon to it to make it more palitable - which it does.

ho hum...still 7 lbs down

Master Clease- Day 6

ok so 2 salt water flushes yesterday didn't work...no idea what I've been doing wrong but I've decided not to do them anymore....I have tried!

No change on weight loss.....so not great
Not sure if I'll keep going on ...but I'll give it another day

Master Cleanse- Day 5

I was soooo hungry last nite! but 2 spoonfuls of honey were my only vice. I've switched to honey as its so much cheaper, sweeter-so you use less and having my drinks hot it feels nice somehow...hot honey and lemon.

Salt water flush this morning...hate it so much so probably didn't drink enough and so not much has come out...its a hard thing to get right- too much water and salt and you feel like throwing up!

Pooing bile isn't nice either.
Begining to understand what real gnawing hunger feels like....strangely empowering....but also making me painfully aware of what those poor people in Pakistan are going thru. And I'm doing it through choice!

Still we're 7lbs down. No asthma last nite again...bonus.

Master Cleanse -Day 4

Not a bad day yesterday it has to be said. (Didn't need a pot noodle either!) And I've noticed my asthma is clearing up...which is interesting...might need to do a food test to see if I have allergies....ummm

Don't seem to have lost much weight- about 4lbs I think but am starting to have a flatter stomach. Can't face another salt water flush today so I'll just keep taking the detox teas.

all good so far....

Master cleanse- Day 3

18.30 feeling great- no headache anymore...wow what a difference
Tongue has a peppery feeling to it and a coating...must be those pesky toxins.
Not sure I can do another salt water flush tho....sooooo bad ehhhggghh

having intermittent foods cravings

Master Cleanse - Day3

Last night was difficult- very bad headache (from all the toxins coming out) so rather than just go to bed I had a pot noodle (more toxins) and went to bed!

Doesn't seem to have effected me and I wasn't tempted for more food- just wanted to get rid of the headache.
Salt water flush no.3 this morning...I totally HATE this process! Everything else about the detox I can manage(if there is no pain).

Lets see what today brings.

master cleanse - day 2

Decided on a second salt water flush last nite...bad move- felt sick for ages!

Bit of a restless night but felt fine in the morning.

14.20pm have just returned from a 5 mile walk and am totally exhausted with a headache- which has been off and on all the morning. Just made a new batch of the lemonade and seem to be settling- although had to sneak an extra teaspoon of straight maple syrup- ooh how naughty!

The prevailing winds of 40

Goodness, what a busy year! So many months of blank blogging..ooops!

Now of course its the time of year for a personal retrospective. I'm on the 19:70 train to being 40 and its running so fast its likely to come off the tracks pretty soon!

I've not really addressed anything other than the physical manifestations of approaching 40. Body piercing and a tattoo were always going to play a part but have left a rather flacid aftermath...those things I thought so daring and individual- left too late in the day for me to enjoy now I think.

The 'should I shan't I' merry dance of having a baby, has thankfully moved on to someone younger, again my love of procrastination got the better of me?!

Ah well, I have health, a wonderful husband, 2 miscievious cats and a small business under the hat. Who could ask for more...

So need an outlet for.....Master Cleanse! well thought if I'm going to look good on my 40th birthday then this is just about the only option left open!
so:

03Sept 2010 - Day 1

10am gingerly made the 'lemonade' this morning. I have no idea if this is going to work or my will power will succeed, however it actually tastes not that bad at all!

12pm salt water flush. Oh my jeezus!

Jersey in the fall

I could feel at the time

There was no way of knowing

Fallen leaves in the night

Who can say where they're blowing

As free as the wind

Hopefully I'm learning

Why the sea on the tide

Has no way of turning

Jersey is stunning at any time of the year but certainly somehow this time of the year is quite magical. The turquoise waters never fade in their beauty. What is it with me and water!

Suluada (Water Island), Adrasan Turkey

What an amazing find this place is! (Well apart from the horrendous boat ride with 30 sun-fried English women over 60- my good god shoot me now so I never become one)
Deep azure waters of the purist clarity with perfectly formed pea sized white shingle. Heaven is truly a place on earth...well Turkey actually.

Azure water cast your lair

You melt my heart with simple song

which haunts me like a call to prayer

I can't be parted from you long

So this week is a traditional retrospective week, forcing me to assess the past in view of the future. In the sense of impending doom (Birthday being 1 yr away from 40) a distant voice is telling me to go back to what I know and ultimately need to chanel the intense creative force inside.

Its certainly a tad volcanic at present, so I'm needing the outlet fairly pronto...but of course like most things it involves money.....oh well watch this space....I'm fairly confident of posting music videos before the end of the year! Meanwhile I'm afraid its the poems that get an outing- as crap as they are they do allow me a lesser cathartic outlet- which is better than nothing.

I said I wanted to devour turkish delight

The steamy rose tinted promise of afar

The passion arose in me- what a sight!

Till you produced a sodding fun-size mars bar

S.Williams Sept'09

The Wave

Luna playes her hypnotic dance

You try to leave but dare to stay

Measured moves not left to chance

Crashing to the shore to lay

You strive to reach her distant hand

But she is fickle and bewitching

'Tho you throw your life to sand

You'd gladly give your heart still twitching

S Williams Sept '09

Elbow- the homecoming gig - 18th Sept 2009

Music is my first passion of course, my priviledged upbringing deeply rooted in performing all forms- Classical, Jazz, Musicals and later esp Minimalism when I studied at Uni. Nowadays my tastes have developed further and I certainly appreciate a good all-rounder...like Elbow.

I decided to throw caution to the wind and drive up to Manchester and back yesterday to see them in concert at the MEN and boy they didn't disappoint. How rare to find such intelligently composed lyrics, heart stopping/soaring harmony and genuine musicianship of all the band members. Their modesty blows you away as you melt into their world of untempered brilliance. Apparently we have 2 years to wait until they appear live again....I should say its like waiting for a solar eclipse then! Totally mind blowing.

A cloud of starlings beguiled us from our seat
A thousand bodies in unison did sway
I wanted to shout out how you made me feel
That for that moment you were my night, my day

S.Williams Sept'09

Blue as a cloudless sky
Precious bursts of mist you profer
to a hungry mouth and aching lung
without you I would surely die

How long I have travelled this path
Was it the smoking? Was it the drugs?
That now ensures chaos resumes
each time I laugh

So each month a new batch I must taylor
And just this once, try not to misplace or misuse
my wonderful, lifegiving
Ventolin inhaler

S.Williams Sept'09

Angel of the North

First and foremost I am deeply captivated by nature's treasures and this image of a northern light corona- which took a few hrs of standing in thigh deep snow in Tromso this Feb- is just about as amazing as it gets.

I'm dedicating this image to a old friend of mine in Macclesfield, whom I love dearly.

I can't wait until the solar maximum occurs (around 2012) to be able to capture northern lights of reds, yellows and violets. I would die happy!

Hello World!

Let me begin with saying I'm no Carrie Bradshaw! But in this self important (or is that impotent) world it only seems fair I can subject the world to my musings! Hell why not.
I'm a photographer with random working hours to suit my clients, so quite often find myself alone wondering how exceptionally lucky I am to be doing what I love most and that it (so far!) seems to be what clients are prepared to pay for.

The flip side is that I work alone- all day, everyday...and so this shall be my little outlet...my extended office if you will, where I may shout out (swear sometimes perhaps), subject you all to the attrocious spelling and punctuation that seems to be of our time and hopefully have some fun along the way......