Well this has been a whirlwind of a year so far and I now that I have a couple of days off over Easter its time to update the blog. I hope you are all having a restful Easter Break and enjoying time well spent with family and friends.

Our year started a little differently than most with my husband losing two of his close friends within a week of each other in january and our family shrinking from 3 + 1 kids at home to only 2. We had our first Xmas without our eldest son who was soaking up the culture in Japan and our other son split from his girlfriend who we were close to and so we went from 4 bods and a busy house down to 2 (one of whom lives out the back) so we were rattling around a bit and there was quite a strong feeling of loss. Anyone who has kids overseas will understand that its quite a big life change even though thankfully technology has made communication easy and we have been able to share his experiences with him.

So hardly a surprise that in the middle of Dec as much as I wanted to resign my lease for another couple of years in Goodwood something was stopping me. I couldn't put my finger on it but when the day came to make the decision I declined knowing that if circumstances were favourable I could always change my mind in March. All this despite having the best agents I've ever come across as property managers - Urban Commercial who I would highly recommend to anyone needing either an agent or a rental. As it turned out, there was something literally around the corner which was yet to be revealed.

About a week before Xmas a sign went up on the lovely little group of shops on the corner before the street where we live in Torrens Park. I had decided at this stage that I'd move my studio back into the empty bedroom wing of our house rather than waste the space and I assumed that it was a for lease sign and didn't think any more of it.

Later that week a friend who has a studio in the block told me that they were actually for sale which (having been forced to move 3 times last year, 2 due to landlord issues) perked up our interest in no small way. We went to have a look and could clearly see the potential. It took most of January and then Feb to organise the purchase and the owners very generously allowed us to start work on the shop we were going to occupy a couple of weeks before settlement. We then rented the other two back to them and have all settled in very nicely after a manic few weeks of work. Through all of this the generosity and help from Bill and Geraldine (Panprint) has been a blessing and we are very grateful to them for everything they have done. Our new neighbours Kate Ellis Photography, Magic Property Group and Crackerjack Computing have been fabulous and welcoming and we couldn't be happier in our new spot. Add to this a two minute walk to work, and three minute ride to Dani's school and being back in the 'hood' that the studio has spent the last 20 years in....Im still pinching myself. The studio itself is almost twice the size of my previous studios and Ive been able to custom design the rooms to suit what I do including having a indoor/outdoor painting garage which I can;t wait to use...its not quite ready yet but not far off.

Funnily enough, the week that I was moving out of Goodwood and into the back room at Torrens Park (and our insurance decided to do the repairs on our house)...work went crazy!....I had around 10 shoots in a ten day period...whilst supervising floors being ripped out and walls being redone. Most of the hard work was done by my wonderful husband who worked his butt off but the tradies also made it really smooth sailing by all turning up in the right order at the right time.....so huge thanks to John Zylstra from Nu-Image Homes and his team and Thistle Floors.

I think Im now organised enough to plan out the rest of the year....so thanks for your patience if you have been waiting to hear about VIP memberships, Photography Workshops, Exhibitions and the New Studio Opening they will be coming soon!!

Until then here is the new Gallery/Studio...the address is 148 Springbank rd, Torrens Park....if you are passing please feel welcome to call in and say 'hi' :)