The Countdown Begins

Nicole - the little old house in which your grandfather was born.
You won't believe how small it is and you will wonder how on
earth did seven children and two adults live in there.

Whilst cleaning up my photo files, I stumbled across the photos I took two years ago on my trip overseas.  I enjoyed going through each and every one.  So many memories came flooding back.  It also drew my thoughts to my youngest chick who is due to leave the nest in a couple of months.  She's booked in late May and her dream of going to England is finally going to happen.  She's worked hard, saved hard and she deserves it.  There are still a lot of questions that I don't feel she has satisfactorily addressed.  I guess I want her to be prepared for the uncertain scenarios ahead.  She however, wants to spread her wings and fly.  Impulsively. Without planning.  And see where she lands.  Oh dear.

Nicole is an aspiring photographer.  In many ways she already is.  She works in the field, but I guess it's the dream of running her own business and being creative and able to sell her own artistry that is the desired goal.  I know she'll get there one day.  She's too good not to.  I thought of her on many an occasion when I went this last time to Europe.  Nicole adores old and ancient.  Rocky, woody, muddy.  Ruins.  Ricketey fences.  Cracked and broken walls, tiles, bricks, stone.  But mostly clouds.  The sky.  Trees.

When I took Mitch to see his late grandfather's homeland in Montenegro, there were so many times we said, "if only Nicole were here".  All the subjects she adores were around us.  Everywhere.  I recall my cousin getting so frustrated with my clicking at all the ruins and old houses.  He simply couldn't understand the fascination.  He made me laugh one day when he exclaimed, " everyone in Australia will think we are hit with an earthquake every day after they see your photos".  He only wanted me to take photos of the "good bits".  You know. The bits that are touristy and flashy.  I didn't want to know. 

Montenegro is a photographer's dreamland.  I took loads of shots, but I have an ordinary camera and I am certainly no photographer.  I figured if I have enough pics, then surely something will turn out.  I'm excited for Nicole.  Montenegro has huge mountains, rocky terrain, the cleanest water in Europe on Durmitor mountain.  Goat tracks for roads, people still riding horses or donkeys to the markets.  Poor cars.  Heaps of empty houses in the hills and mountains.  Many of which are falling down.  Old handmade tools that farmer's still use.

Nicole won't be able to keep up with the subjects.  The place is loaded with textures.  The place is real. It's backward.  She will go to places that the normal tourist will not go to or see.  This I know because I will be taking her. With my relatives that live there of course. Yep.  Looks like I'm going again.  I haven't booked yet.  But it seems I've been 'ordered' to go.  I guess one must listen to orders.

So I have decided here at Through My Kitchen Window to post a picture from my previous trip every day leading up to Nicole's departure and perhaps even after.  It's a way of building up the excitement I suppose.  For her and for me too.  The usual recipes and stories will continue.  The photos are an added extra.  Hope you don't mind.

Photos may also include places visited in Germany, Serbia and Croatia.