rlgarrard

Yesterday was the last day of the weirdest school year I have yet been a part of. I feel like I haven't been "Miss Garrard" in her usual role in months though I've worked continually throughout.

In the UK there seems to be a culture of teacher under-appreciation. We moan, we're lazy, we get a 6 week Summer (which we don't get paid for), we don't care etc.

Yesterday our senior leaders led a presentation which nearly had me in happy tears. Looking around the gym at 30 fellow members of staff (another 30 were in the hall, another 30 in the sports hall - they linked us all up via Microsoft Teams). I saw an exhausted team of dedicated professionals who badly needed to hear this message:

What followed was over 30 minutes of upbeat music and slides we'd all put together for each other thanking each other for the support, the passion and the kindness we'd shard over the past year. My face hurt from smiling.

Yes, it's been a tough year. Yes, I'm scared to go back in September. Yes, I'm really excited to teach Space to year 7's and Ecology to year 9, yep, even Rotational Forces to Year 11! I'm burned out and eager to get some me-time but you better believe I'm probably going to spend a couple of weeks planning lessons and organising school trips and an after school Science programme. Not because I'm paid to, not because I'm being forced to, but because I'm not alone in thinking of your kids as my kids when they enter my classroom and I truly want the best for them, especially during the COVID-19 madness we're all living through right now.

I had a suggestion from another deviant that the default deviant art copyright symbol was somewhat obtrusive and takes away from the photo underneath, so they suggested I have a go at creating my own logo.

It's been a long time since I've had a play around properly with GIMP but I thought I'd have a go at making a custom brush with an "RL Garrard Photography" logo! Before I plaster it all over my new deviations however I'd really value some feedback. Do you like my logo? Does it detract from the picture? Is it worse than the deviant art default? Please be critical, I want to get it right, particularly while I have a bit more free time to correct it.

Many thanks friends!

Becca x

EDIT: I had a play and got rid of the rectangle! My fiance did point out that a watermark is meant to avoid picture thieves so had a bit more of a play around...

As well as using lockdown time to work on uploading some bright colourful photography, scrapbooking, baking and painting, I've also been working on developing my Bucket List and creating a blog to share my passions. I'd really appreciate some feedback from you lovely artistic folks about the look of the website in particular, but also the content and how easy it is to navigate.

www.beccas700.co.uk (or, and I'm really proud of this, just Google "becca's 700")

Thank you very much in advance for your time!

Becca x

Some amazing mysterious benefactor has gifted me a few months of Core Membership! I was completely bowled over by someone's generosity, it truly made my evening. Thank you so much, I shall endeavour to make the very most of it. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Also have a very Happy Easter everyone, stay safe, well and happy beautiful people.

Becca x

I've had an insanely busy past year. This time last year we were gearing up for a three week holiday in Florida where I'm delighted to say I got engaged to my dear partner Ben after 5 and a half years together! Since then we've been wedding planning, teaching full time and generally just keeping busy! Then of course we entered these strange days of lockdown and with no children to entertain it's afforded myself and Ben the very unique opportunity of more time than we'd usually have. It's given me the chance to pick my way through and select my favourite photographs from the past year, which I shall be uploading in due course, and also given me the chance to look back over my bucket list, which I got back into the swing of as I turned 30 a month ago exactly!

As always I appreciate the endless love and support I get on here and if anyone fancies taking a break from my photography and would like to see my bucket list blog I'd truly appreciate some love and feedback from you wonderful people.

https://garrardbecca2.wixsite.com/beccas700

Stay safe everyone and enjoy your Easter.

Becca x