The photography course wrapped up with two more sessions, first with an evening last week to have our best 8 photos critiqued along with a lesson on composition, and finally last Saturday a studio portrait session where we got to be both photographer and model at different points. We would both recommend this course, not only did it help us understand our camera better, but it also helped us understand what we needed to watch out for when taking photos to improve what we do produce. There was of course the temptation that more gear would help, but realistically there's only a couple of minor purchases that we'd seriously consider at the moment (tripod, external flash, pocket digital camera) - compared to some of the lens purchases we could be chasing down, it's a very cheap way out! That said, if we were to go down the lens path at a later stage, we'd also have more confidence that we'd have better idea of what different lens do, which is big progress for us! Our favourite photos from the course are below:
Taken on the overpass of Garden Road (Trent)
Fountain in HK park (Nikki)
Course participants in Starbucks (Trent)
Macro lens in HK park (Nikki)
Craig who ran the course, very kindly offered to take a couple of preggers snaps for us at the end of the studio day, which we happily agreed to given the challenges we've been experiencing to get our shots to work. Given what we'd learned that day, we could understand why our bedroom lighting/ sunlight and little built in flash haven't exactly provided the perfect way to highlight the ever growing bump. But we hope these give you an idea of where we're up to!
Edna started with us last Friday and so far has been a joy to have. She's discreet, thoughtful and willing to ask lots of questions to do the right thing for us. There are a number of things that we all need to do to get use to and comfortable with living together, but generally she's been fab - hopefully she says the same about us.
I'm sure many of you (especially outside HK) are wondering why we have a full time live in helper when we don't have a child yet - its a good question - couple of reasons factored into this arrangement occurring as early as it did. Firstly, a helper based in HK who's contract has ended has 2 weeks to sign a new contract or get out of the country, so Edna needed a decision fast. Secondly, the visa processing for helpers can be complex and difficult, and has been known to take up to 8 weeks to get to a point where they can start with you (this can also involve a trip back to the Philippines if they resigned from their previous employer). And lastly, it can take awhile to find someone you like - after all, this person is going to be in your home and looking after your child so want to find someone who's going to fit with you.
Factoring in all of this, we had wanted to have a few weeks with the person before the baby was born so we could get used to each other, have her settled in before our lives got turned upside down by a little person. So, we started to search with 3 months to go, and struck it lucky - we met Edna in the first round of interviews we did and liked her; and her visa processing took just 3 weeks. And that's how we come to be with a full time helper and 2 months to D-Day.
Lastly, we're off for our baby-moon of sorts. Its very common in HK for couples to jetset off to Thailand or Malaysia for their last holiday ever as a carefree couple. However, I just couldn't quite cope with getting on a plane again, nor having to work with the Queen Mary process to see if it was even possible to get a certificate to be able to fly. Most airlines want a certificate from 28 weeks to ensure you're not going to give birth at the back of the bus, which is fair enough.
So we settled on a clean, pretend beach on top of a casino in Macau as our last little jaunt. With a hour ferry ride each way, warm humid weather, and guaranteed waves for Mr Trent, we thought it ticked enough boxes for us to enjoy. It's also the mid-Autumn festival tonight, where children and families come out into parks and public areas to fly their lanterns. In Macau, its also being coupled with the International Fireworks competition this month, so we figured we'd enjoy the spectacle.
This is one of the most important festivals on the Chinese calendar, where people spend time with their families, eat moon cakes, and hang lanterns up high to celebrate the end of the autumn harvest. Most businesses will let people leave work today by 4pm so they can get home to the preparations and celebrations, and tomorrow is a public holiday in HK - presumably for recovery. So, we're looking forward to our relaxing little break, a 4 day weekend is feeling decadent and chilled which we both need.
That's pretty much it from us, lots of love to you all,
xx
Nik & Trent
PS. We had our little jaunt over to Macau yesterday and it was lovely - weather was relatively kind, we enjoyed the wave pool, feeling only slightly nauseous from the very constant/ even waves being pumped out, and got to chill out in the sun. Some photos of the trip to keep you entertained, including the International Fireworks Competition - Japanese entry. All in all, very worth it.
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