October Story Telling Sunday - My precious

Story Telling Sunday was thought up by Sian over at From High in the Sky Why not pop over there and take a look at all the other wonderful stories. Make yourself a cuppa and grab a biscuit, you could be there for some time - after you've read my contribution of course.

Lots of people who took part in Rinda's Summer Scavenger hunt chose to photograph themselves with their camera as the "portrait of you with your favourite crafting tool". I hadn't realised that my camera was a crafting tool. I thought it was an essential part of what I wear, like knickers or a bra. The sort of can't-go-out-without-it item. I know that from as far back as I can remember I have always had a camera. I couldn't afford the film or the processing very often but it was always close at hand even when I was in primary school. I was told by the teachers not to take it to school but it was mostly hung around my neck and they gave up.
Having said all that I am nothing more than a snapper. I don't take photographs to make a beautiful picture, like my college trained photographer son-in-law. I like to snap something as it happens, I like to capture the memories of the occasion.

With Admiral and Lady Bluefunnel on The Matthew

Having said all that I then searched for a picture, any picture of me with my camera and this is the only one I can find that is on the computer. The one I had in mind was taken nearly 30 years ago when I was using my second hand Zenith 35mm camera, just about the best one I have ever had in my opinion. That camera had been dropped in some very exciting places. The Square in Hameln on a Sunday morning when we were waiting for the play and the clock. The park in Leamington Spa when waiting to visit a friend in hospital. The Arndale centre in Manchester and outside the town hall in Rochdale to name the ones I can remember. As it was made of metal it just dented but didn't break. I still have it and would use it again tomorrow if it wasn't for the convenience of digital. My present camera is an Olympus SP-550UZ. it doesn't have go faster stripes but it does have a nifty zoom. It has been either set on auto or scene since I was given it (A present from an old friend who hopes to turn me into a photographer) but as you can see from the picture it hangs around my neck and falls into the hands just perfectly.

Oh it is so much a part of me that the one Sunday we went into Morrisons to do the shopping the lady on the check-out said "I nearly didn't recognise you without your camera". I had put it into my pocket because of the rain and it was still there.