Hurricane Bawbag

Born and bred in Scotland I was proud to see my fellow country men & women flippantly stick their two fingers up at the hurricane force winds that battered Scotland on the 8th December 2011. Winds reaching 80 mph in populated areas and 165 mph at the top of the Cairngorm mountains ripped through Scotland for about 14 Hours, but it was the sense of humour of the Scottish people that went through the Internet’s Social Media networks like a storm.

The Met Office released a red alert weather warning on the 7th December the first ever to be issued for wind in the United Kingdom

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On the 8th of December whilst Scotland was being battered with the now known Cyclone Friedhelm, on the social network Twitter a little known person from Scotland wrote this:

“#scotstorm should be renamed “Hurricane Bawbag”.. #HurricaneBawbag is on the way folks be prepared !!”

Mel's Original Tweet

Her name was Mel Fraser, little did she know what she had just started. Within 1-2 hours the Twitter hash tag #HurricaneBawbag was trending and was top of the Worldwide Trend list. Its was so popular that Wikipedia had made a page about Hurricane Bawbag

The word Bawbag is a Scottish slang word for a man’s scrotum, the sack that holds the testicles. But in Scotland it’s a word that is used to:

Insult People: “Your a fucking bawbag”

Say Hello To Others: “Aw right bawbag”

Refer To Someone As An Idiot: “See that wee Jimmy, he acts like a bawbag”

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The momentum of this hash-tag #HurricaneBawbag, was fuelled with witty patter and banter from the Scottish Twitter community. Over the next 48 hrs there where thousands of tweets from around the globe all commending the attitude the Scottish people had towards mother nature, the ability to laugh and joke about ourselves is what gives Scots their unique sense of humour admired around the world.

Below is some of the most popular Tweets:

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As the day went on a guy called Conor Guichan was standing at his window video recording the Bawbags destructive force when this happend:

Conor’s video went viral across Youtube and Facebook it then got the remix treatment from the Youtube community and the Sun newspaper. He is now known as the “OMG Trampoline” guy.

Both Mel & Conor have now been all over the News networks all over the UK.

Well Done Mel & Conor.

Mel’s Twitter Page

Mel’s Original Tweet

Conor’s Facebook Page

Conor’s Original Video

Graduation

Well I am proud too announce my two boys graduated from there HNC Interactive Media Course.

Jamie & Mark

It was one of those moments in life where you think,

“all the hard work as parents has paid off.”

It was an early morning start and we had to be at Glasgow University  for 9:00am so the boys could collect their robes and get their official photographs done before the ceremony started. As we walked up towards the Uni Mark was a bit apprehensive,

“There is no one going to be here, whats the point, I don’t see anyone else in a robe.”

I could tell he was starting to get nervous. Jamie just went with the flow as he does, but when Jamie gets nervous he tends to go a little quiet.

As we entered the building I just led the way knowing that the boys would follow my lead, we walked up a few flights of stairs and into a hall where they were to collect the robes. I looked at Mark and I could see the relief in his face when he saw a room full of people in Suits and robes, Jamie just had a little smirk on his face as if to say,

“Good we are not the only one’s.”

They joined the Que of other graduates waiting to collect their robes and the place was buzzing with excitement. As they put on their robes and turned around, I looked at Annmarie my wife, she had a smile on her face that said it all, this was the moment she had been talking about all year.

The boys went through to get their official photographs and I went out side to look for my Mum, Dad and Sister who had come along to see the boys graduate. I seen Kay my sister, first and told her where she could find Annmarie and the boys then I met my Mum & Dad and took them through to the hall where the photos were being taken, by the time we got into the hall Mark & Jamie had already been photographed and were ready to go to the main ceremony hall.

Glasgow University Main Ceremony Hall

We quickly found some seats and the boys were told where they were to sit. I looked around and was thinking,

“I need to get a better position for photographs.”

I could see down the right hand side that there were empty seats below the gallery and kind of sneaked into one of the seating booth’s,

“Right I will get a good shot of them collecting their award from here.”

As the graduates began to line up to accept their award the person awarding the certificates moved to the right of the podium, no no no lol. She had moved into a position that meant the boys backs would be facing towards me, so I had to make do with the situation. A photograph is better than no photo at all.

Jamie Getting His Certificate

Mark Getting His Certificate

Even though I had my face stuck to a camera I could feel the big smile on my face and my heart banging with pride,

“Well Done My Boys.”

When the ceremony finished we went back downstairs to get some photos with the boys before they returned the robes and capture a moment in time that will always be remembered.

Proud Mum With Her Boys

Proud Dad (me), With My Boys

Proud Gran With Her Grandsons

Proud Granddad With His Grandsons

Proud Auntie Kay With Her Nephews

I think this last photo kind of sums up the day, how we were all feeling.

The Smile

!!! Nice one dad lol !!!

Photography Rut

What is a photography rut ?

I have not really photographed much over the last few months and was thinking why, is it there is nothing to take photos of or maybe everything you take a photo of has all ready been done. It could be both but then I thought about it, and came to the conclusion that it was just the simple fact that family comes first.

Over the last few months there has been a lot of things happening within my family circle and sometimes you forget all about your camera because there is so much going on. But in the back of your mind you walk around looking at the world in a different perspective than all those around you, it is what I call “looking through square glasses”. I walk around the house, the streets, even the shopping centers framing up shots in my mind, working out composition and exposure.

So what is happening ?

I think about photography all the time, I have a good camera that I know how to use but no photos…… Hmmm something not right here. How many times, when your out and about and suddenly you see a shot and think, “Damn I wish I had my camera with me” my answer is “lots of times” and I think that is my problem. I need to carry my camera about with me much more often.

Only the other day I had family staying at my house and there was a lot of coming and going, busy busy busy, but within all the hustle and bustle I seen a great photo that had been taken by another family member and straight away I thought “Great photo for an advert”.

The scene was, my niece’s baby Casey was sitting on the living room floor playing with his toys, rolling about and laughing. In the kitchen was aunt Isobel and she was baking cakes, when she had finished with her Chocolate Fudge Icing someone had the great idea to give Casey a big spoon and the tin of chocolate fudge. Suddenly realizing how messy things could get they stripped him off and sat him on a towel and let him loose, it was brilliant. The little man loved every minute of it, but in the middle of all the confusion, laughter and photographs someone had taken a photo that just stood out.

Whats my conclusion ?

Well I think that there is no such thing as a “Photo Rut”, everyday there is plenty of opportunity’s to take photos but if you don’t have your camera to hand then how can you capture that shot. Wear You Camera Like A Necklace.