No photos, just some travel babble

Listening to: It Ends Tonight - All-American Rejects. Came on shuffle, not even regretting it!

So it turns out my blog actually has readers! Or at least reader.

I got a message from an old friend yesterday saying how much they enjoyed browsing my blog! And it made my day :) So please feel free to contact me anytime if you've got questions or even just to say that you've read my blog. You can contact me through my website, www.henrypaul.com.au, or you can just email me at henrypaulproductions@me.com.

Just under three weeks until I fly off into the Great Unknown. Over the next couple of months I'll be turning into the stereotypical Mr. Travel Blogger as I'll be traipsing through the back alleys of Europe documenting any and every thing. No shame!
And since I seriously cannot wait, I'll be doing some pre-travel blogs leading up to takeoff. Let's begin with an FAQ: Where are you going?

I've created a nifty little map to show you:

Shout out to Travellerspoint for helping with the map.

Here's the rundown:

England: London -
France: Paris - Toulouse - Narbonne -
Spain: Barcelona -
Italy: Venice - Bologna - Bari -
Greece: Corfu -
England again: Windsor - Diss - Suffolk (Latitude Festival here I come!!!). Hoping to sneak off to Stone Henge at some point, as well as Canterbury if I can fit it in.


Until next time,
H

A New South Welshman & Peppermint Tea

Today I officially became a NSW resident. A New South Welshman? Turns out that legally I needed to report my change of residence within 3 months of moving. I guess I was a bit late to the ball game.

Anyway, I feel as though the timing is quite poetic. It's the eve of the first State of Origin rugby match between New South Wales and Queensland. Up until today, I had no particular ties to either team and would usually pick a team to support after the game, i.e. the winning team. But today, despite the stigma attached to the team that has failed to win the series for the last 8 years, I align myself with the Blues. You never know, this could be their year.
Why am I talking about sport? I don't even know. It's certainly not my first choice of conversation topic. Or second...

Well I've got my cup of peppermint tea and a good bean bag (thanks Renate) - my night looks to be settling down quite well. I'll keep you posted with some more of my upcoming photography endeavours. I have a band shoot and a wedding coming up in the next few days. Another wedding mid-June, and then I'll be off on my great European Adventure!!!

Until next time,
HP

A sister's engagement

It's a beautiful day when your sister gets engaged. It's especially more beautiful when your get to celebrate the engagement with a photo shoot.

Imi has been my best friend as long as I can remember - it helps when you're siblings - and has always been the one that challenges, motivates and encourages me to be a better person. I am so grateful God decided to put us in the same family because it meant that I was able to watch her grow and flourish into the beautiful, genuine person that she is today.
I've known James for 5 years now. He started coming to my church in 2009, and began serving on the worship team with me. He later moved on, finding himself in Narromine, not too far from where I live now. Things came full circle when I started attending his church Generocity when I moved out here. It is a privilege to do life in the Central West with this guy, and will sure miss him when he moves back to Canberra.
These two people are really in love, and I know that together they will accomplish some damn amazing things. Please go and change the world.

Ok, nuff talk, now some photos!

There are more photos on my website:

henrypaul.com.au

Eighty years in the making

Bill's 80th birthday party was a casual affair, with a gathering of the young and old (and a few in between). A meal was shared, as was dessert, and the night was filled with plenty of chatter and laughter.

Throwback Thursday: How to make friends

Six months ago I moved from Canberra to Parkes. Having grown up in Canberra my whole life, it was entirely life changing for me to move away from my parents. Having just gained my independence, I faced one of the major obstacle that all home-leavers face: making friends. Here's where Doug and Tom came in.
I'd met them both at my new church a number of times and I seemed to get along with them quite well. I was talking to them about how I needed to get away from Parkes for a day because I was homesick, so when they invited me to come on an adventure to Borenore Caves with them how could I refuse?
And don't worry, I brought my camera along for the adventure too :)

ABBA great day ;)

Today I covered the Trundle ABBA Festival for the paper, as well as my own secret pleasure, before heading down to Canberra for a friend's 21st. 

Trundle is quite a small town, yet it holds two world records. The first one is for having the widest main street, wide enough for a B-double to do a complete u-turn. The second world record is for the longest hotel balcony on a building at 84 metres.

Edit: Sorry, second longest hotel balcony after Cobar.

Mexican Madness

Welcome to Mexico!

Tonight I got to combine my all-time favourite food, Tacos, with my all-time favourite part of the week: youth! Here's a few shots I got :)