September 14, 2026 
Today’s Pond Photo…
Hi Friends.
The trail this morning was drizzly, grey and super muggy, the sort of weather where you don’t quite know whether you’re getting wet from the rain or simply sweating because the air feels like it’s wearing a thick blanket…Still, out i went, because sometimes the best thing you can do is put your shoes on and get moving regardless of what the weather is doing.
Being out there, hearing the rain and feeling the damp trail beneath my feet was actually rather peaceful. I think the black and white suits the mood perfectly because it strips everything back a little, rather like an acoustic guitar when you take away all the effects and just hear the wood and strings. Of course, it’s not just Sarah who gets to see the finished images, it’s you guys too, and knowing that you can see what I’ve captured and hearing you describe the photos to me is fantastic. I guess that’s our version of sharing the view!
“Arancini” 😋
On Friday, we headed off to Guildford on a little adventure of our own. We were trying to find G Live without simply relying on somebody else to get us there, because we’re looking at possibly visiting the venue for some music shows in the future. It was actually quite satisfying working it all out and finding our way there ourselves. And, as if that wasn’t enough of a successful expedition, we also found one of our favourite places for arancini!
Now, regular readers may have noticed that I am not exactly the world’s greatest food photographer. In fact, my usual photographic process goes something like this: eat food, think “Blimey, that was good”, finish food, then remember that I probably should have taken a photo to show everyone what I was eating. This time, however, I actually remembered…Look at me, getting all professional and everything!
“Don’t look back in anger”
The photo above is of my Noel Gallagher Signature Riviera electric guitar, and after watching the film on Saturday I think I’m going to have to riff out a few Oasis songs on it, lol! We headed to the cinema to watch Don’t Look Back in Anger, the new Oasis film. Now, obviously, when you go to see an Oasis film you expect plenty of rock ‘n’ roll, and there was plenty of that! But one of the things that pleasantly surprised us was the unexpected appearance of something rather different: preaching about forgiveness and redemption. There was a preacher talking about forgiveness, and somehow it fitted the story of Liam and Noel Gallagher remarkably well. After years of arguments, falling-outs and all the baggage that comes with being brothers in one of the biggest rock bands in the world, the idea of forgiveness suddenly felt like much more than just a religious message dropped into a music film. It became part of the bigger story. And then, of course, the guitars kicked in again, because this is Oasis after all! It was a surprisingly moving combination: forgiveness, redemption, family, music and the reminder that sometimes relationships can survive things that seem impossible to repair.
motivational Quote…
And perhaps that is a pretty good thought to take into a Monday. Life isn’t always neat and tidy. Sometimes it’s a drizzly trail, sometimes it’s getting slightly lost while trying to find a venue, sometimes it’s discovering that you’ve eaten the food before remembering to photograph it, and sometimes it’s sitting in a cinema expecting nothing more than a few hours of Oasis and unexpectedly being reminded about forgiveness. We don’t always get to choose the weather, the circumstances or the things that happen around us, but we can choose how we respond to them. We can keep walking when the trail is miserable, keep exploring when we’re not quite sure where we’re going, appreciate the little pleasures when they come along, and perhaps most importantly, choose forgiveness when holding on to something would be easier. Redemption is a powerful thing. So, whatever your Monday looks like, keep moving forward, keep looking for the good stuff, and don’t be afraid to put down some of the baggage you’re carrying. You might just find that the road ahead feels a little lighter. 😀
Let’s ‘FitBlitz’ 2026 Together! 💪🏼
We can keep walking when the trail is miserable”. And you do just that, Steve. I LOVE the black and white pond. Honestly, the water is what drew me in. It has this shiny, very glistening, platinum look. So pretty. Blessings, friend
Not only did you remember to take the photo before the bite, it was a lovely staged shot on the magazine level. With forgiveness there is always the chance that relationships will survive and not only survive but thrive. A great motivational Monday. Happy new week to you!
Thank you, Ellen! And yes, I think you are absolutely right. Forgiveness can do far more than simply keep a relationship alive; it can give it room to heal, grow and become something stronger than it was before.
And I have to confess, the reason that arancini photo looks so good is that my lovely wife Sarah arranged the table and made it look so professional! I remembered to take the photo before eating it this time, but I think Sarah deserves most of the credit for the magazine-level presentation. 😂 Perhaps I should leave the food styling to her and stick to eating the evidence!
I really appreciated what you said about forgiveness and relationships. It is such a powerful reminder that redemption is not just a nice idea, but something that can genuinely change lives and relationships. Ultimately, of course, that points me straight back to Christ and the forgiveness He offers us.
Thanks for stopping by and for adding your thoughts. Happy new week to you too!
Beatific Blessings,
Steve 😀