Marrakech

Why didn't anyone tell me holidays were this good?!?! I would've gone on soooo many more..

planning and scheming..

Images by Chris Barber

These past few days have been rather odd for me.. for the past few years Christmas in our house has become less and less important.. something which actually tends to surprise people that know me and Pete.. but a combination of Parents not being together anymore, a Sister who doesn't celebrate it, no kids in the family, no tv and the fact that for a good number of years we didn't have the money so it seemed silly to buy each other gifts.. it often felt like a forced thing.. you must eat vast amounts of food.. you must buy each other stuff.. you must watch tv and sit on your sofa.. but what if we don't want to?  I also think the pressure might have felt a little stronger this year as we are now living every occasion, every holiday through Twitter and Facebook so at times it felt like I was waiting for everyone to finish Christmas and to just get back to normal.. But I don't want this to sound like a negative post... far from it really as what these past few days have given me is the chance to think about stuff.. lots of stuff and I suppose it's pretty natural at this time of year when all the 'fresh starts' and 'goals' start to be made to start making some decisions.Me and Pete have now had this business for 3 years.. three years that have flown. 'Blink and you miss it' flown.  We've been incredibly lucky and have worked incredibly hard to build the business to where it is now but we've had our heads down whilst we've done it.. we had to.. just like climbing a mountain.. heads down.. march upwards, no distractions.   But when you have your head down.. you can't always see where you're going and that's what I've been thinking about a lot. I've been thinking about what I want... what we want and I realise that we're gonna have to start lifting our heads to make things happen.  We want to travel... desperately.  Neither of us have travelled and with each new couple we meet and photograph comes great stories of adventures and experiences that I used to think weren't meant for us.. it was what others did.. I don't know why I felt that way.. it actually took me a while to not think like that about our own wedding.. but these experiences can be ours.. we don't have to watch from the sidelines.So we're going to do it.  No more excuses.. no more waiting.  We have a list of places that we'd like to visit and we're looking at Dec/Jan next year.. on the list includes India, Thailand, Tokyo, Australia, New Zealand and America.. (a small list then)..But it's not just about seeing places.. it's also about seeing people.  With this crazy job you often form strong friendships, you click with people without even meeting them.. and wherever they are in the world, you care about them and look forward to the day when you get to hug them like crazy.. and we have these kind of peeps and you know who you are... so we're coming for ya.. with arms wide open.. and maybe a camera in hand too... but more about that later... :)  

sound seekers

Image from Sound Seekers website

This is pretty huge for me. Actually it's probably one of the biggest things I've ever done.. and I am a huge mixture of mega nerves and stupid excitement.  On Sunday I'm off to Zambia to document the work that the wonderful charity Sound Seekers is doing over there.

If you read my blog you might now that Deafness and the Deaf community is quite a big part of my life.  I've been learning British Sign Language for the past four years now and before the photography I worked as a Support Worker for Deaf Adults, volunteered for a Deaf and hearing Youth Theatre group and also acted with Deafinitely Theatre, a Deaf led theatre company.  Also, completely no connection to me learning BSL whatsoever but my Dad is also Deaf.  He was one of the only Deaf professional footballers as he began to lose his hearing at 28 and has worn hearing aids in both ears for as long as I can remember.  It's funny.. a real strong memory of growing up is play fighting with him and hearing his hearing aid whistle...

I'm hugely passionate about Deaf issues and looking at the barriers that Deaf people in the UK still face on a day to day basis.. I can't imagine the struggle, or, well the complete lack of any sort of support that Deaf or hard of hearing people often have in developing countries.

This is why the work that Soundseekers is doing is so important.  Sound Seekers are a charity who work to improve the lives of Deaf and hearing impaired children and adults in the developing world.  They develop and support projects that improve access to education, lessen the impact of hearing loss and raise awareness of Deaf people's abilities and needs.

Image from Sound Seekers Website

   









In Zambia they are currently setting up the HARK! project which will focus on improving audiology
facilities at the main Hospital in Ndola, they will be providing audiology training for several Zambian clinicians and technicians and will also be offering an outreach service providing hearing tests, hearing aids and primary ear care (prevention of ear infections etc) to surrounding communities through the provision of the HARK! vehicle.

I'll be spending four days with the charity out in Ndola.. shadowing the Project manager Emily Bell, meeting the audiologists, seeing the HARK! vehicle in action and taking photos ready to be used on their website and future funding applications.  I am so thrilled that after nearly two years of trying to make this trip happen that we are finally doing it.. and I am just completely over the moon that I get to help in some small way.  Since I began taking photographs this was always something that I wanted to do.. to give back in some way.. I know this trip is going to be a pretty huge experience for me in so many ways, not only is it a huge personal challenge but also seeing everything first hand.. I have a feeling my heart is going to be overwhelmed with emotion for the people, the country and the work being done....

I'm going to try and blog whilst I'm out there and I'm wanting to make a bit of a video diary too so you'll be able to see exactly what I'm up to..  waaaaah.. can't believe I'm really going!  Wish me luck!!