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Jo Henrickson Photos, A71, Edinburgh (2026)

30/03/2023

Better remember these for 2025!

21/01/2023

Day one - getting there

First day of a holiday is usually one of the toughest ones for me. Especially when it’s a loooong way away.

Left home at 6:30pm Thursday night arrived at my first hotel 27hrs later including about 18hrs flying.

Layover at Doh was short and painless. Just enough time to find some moisturiser for dry hands and my “not in WA” treat of a Starbucks Frappuccino but not time to get bored.

Usually I’m really particular about asking for my “preferred seat” on a plane, but somehow this time I forgot and found myself in the dreaded “middle seat” from Doha to Edinburgh… Nooooo!!! In the end, it really wasn’t that bad though. Always things that could be complained about, but no point in that!!!

With everything happening in the lead up to this trip, I think it took being able to see Edinburgh out of the window of the plane to really start to feel excited.

Side note - Edinburgh airport really is such a quaint airport in comparison with some of the bigger airports around the world, but somehow felt very appropriate.

Collected my luggage and absolutely loved hearing the range of different Scottish accents from different staff members at the airport.

Interesting thought re multiculturalism and globalisation. I remember hearing a few stories from people who have had “double take” moments when the accent a person has doesn’t match their appearance - the Rastafarian looking guys who have Dutch accents in Dutch Guyana, my Dad created his own moment of it in England when he channeled his Jamaican childhood and shocked a lady with his temporary Jamaican accent. Today I had one of those moments when there was a lady in beautiful, traditional Islamic attire who appeared to have been travelling to Scotland from somewhere in the Middle East, only to hear her speak with the most lovely Scottish accent when she went past! I definitely did a double take!

I had prebooked and paid for my hire car, but when I arrived and told the man at the counter about what I was doing he encourage to upgrade, particularly because they had a special for the car I got which meant the increased daily rate was half what it would otherwise have been. After the first few short trips I already know I’ve made a good decision to do it. I’ve got a pretty snazzy little Merc with a REALLY good GPS that is comfy and easy to drive. Once I get used to the indicator being on the wrong side of the steering wheel that is.

GPS came in very handy when I missed my exit to my accommodation, which gave me an extra 5 minutes to see some of the scenery and remember just how much I LOVE the northern hemisphere. It feels strangely like home. Like this is where I belong.

Having lived in a number of different places, I’m very aware that holidaying somewhere and living there are very different. Often somewhere that is an amazing place for a holiday, can require a lot of adapting to in order to live there. I’m sure that is the case here, but I can’t help but feel like this has been home for me many times in other lives.

I arrived in the middle of the day and the sun wasn’t even close to high in the sky. I forgot how the light profile of the day is so different during winter this far north. I love it!!

I arrived at my accommodation for the night had a quick shower and set off attempting to find the crampons I need for Norway, only to discover the shop I’d planned to go to isn’t open anymore. But grabbed a late lunch/early dinner, a few drinks to take back to the hotel (cheaper at the supermarket than room service!!) and decided to head back to my room for a quiet and early night. Between planning what I need to do and the things I want to do today, then doing a bit of Google searching and route planning, I could feel my anxiety levels dropping.

I know I need to be organised to and have a plan to be able to feel in control… but I also know I can be pretty adaptable and go with the flow when changes happen. So with a plan of attack, the “must do” activities known and with alternative options available if need be I could really relax and switch off.

I was feeling pretty tired from about 3:30pm. Perth time that is 11:30pm which considering the previous night’s sleep was very patchy, cattle class seating, long haul flight sleep, wasn’t all that surprising. Sunset was at 4:30pm and by 6pm I was fighting to stay awake… so decided not too anymore and crashed. Woke up for a bit at 2:30 before another few hours sleep and woke up again at 5:30.

One thing I haven’t mentioned is that another decision I’m really happy with is finding a pretty plush feeling hotel close to the airport to prevent a long drive, but not in Edinburgh. I know what I’m like. If I had been in the city I would have thought I should try to make the most of my afternoon there and explore, when really priority needed to be rest. So instead chose a hotel with an ultra comfortable bed, a bath (if I want it) and a nice view out the window, to make it very appealing to stay in and get that much needed sleep. So in bed early. A few episodes of Bosch before sleep.

Mission accomplished!!! Go me!!

Today I’m heading to Loch Lomond via Glasgow (crampon shopping). Not too much driving so plenty of time to take it slowly and explore! Have I mentioned I love meandering around exploring?

06/08/2022

One of the things I love when I get into “photographer mode” is that I find myself seeing compositions in every scene I see.

It is a blessing and a curse.

Mostly a blessing.

It makes me realise that there are photo worthy scenes, moments, objects and outlooks everywhere. Around every bend in the road, behind every rock, in the reflection of every puddle and in every field I drive past.

The curse of that is that every 30 minute road trip has the potential to turn into an all day event. Which would be wonderful if there was an unlimited availability of time, but sadly there are all the other aspects of life to be done as well.

The blessing is the reminder that there will always be more moments to capture. There will always be those drops of stillness. The scenes that take your breath away.

Every one reminding me that life is beautiful. There will never be enough time to absorb all the beauty and majesty, but that there is an opportunity to find them anytime I open my eyes and mind to them.

31/05/2022

Capturing moments in places that remind me to be filled with a sense of wonder and awe.
Appreciation for this incredible world we are part of.
Gratitude for the opportunities to get out into it and find inspiration to keep creating more of those opportunities.
Acknowledgement of how fortunate I am to live somewhere that is surrounded by such incredible natural beauty.
Life really is such a precious gift. I regularly remind myself that I owe it to myself to make the most of the precious gift I have been given by filling with moments of awe, wonder, beauty, joy, connection, gratitude and love, in whatever form it happens to take on the day.

15/05/2022

Perplexing

It sometimes feels pretty deflating that after staying afloat through the really tough issues and finding my way to a really good mental place, instead of being able to stay in that happy place my brain automatically goes to “what’s missing” or “what’s next”.

When I can harness it and use it to motivate me to pursue greater joy and happiness, it’s a good thing. It has pushed me to fill my life with incredible experiences.

There are times it can become a problem. In particular when the “what’s missing”, the “what’s next” is something I can’t find or bring into my life. Something outside my ability to make happen.

And much as I try to let go of what I’m seeking, try to focus on all the blessings in my life, there are still times when there is something missing. An emptiness that feels like it’s outside my ability to fill.

It’s hard to know how best to manage it. On different days I’ll try different things. Sometimes, mostly in fact, I try to push through and try to focus on the positives.

Sometimes I get up and do things that bring me a sense of fulfilment or achievement because happiness is probably a bit beyond what I can manage.

But there are other times when even that feels like to much. When all I want to do is isolate. Go into full hermit mode.

In hermit mode I don’t have to pretend…
In hermit mode it is allowed to be hard without it being a burden to anyone else…
In hermit mode I don’t want to seek what is missing…
In hermit mode its not as confronting that all the things I try to do to keep life feeling rich and incredible aren’t quite filling that hole…
In hermit mode I don’t have to see other people who are happy and have the things I wish I had…

In some ways, hermit mode keeps me safe.

But at the moment it just makes me feel alone.

Seems ludicrous for someone who is so loved and has so many people who care about them to feel alone… and yet there are times it is still there.

So tomorrow life will be full and busy… the “what’s missing” will fade into the background. Not be as easy to see… but it will still be there.

15/04/2022

Beautiful day and place for contemplation and reflection.

01/04/2022

The Problem with Showing You’re OK

Today I caught up with a friend I haven’t seen for a long time. In and amongst the conversation, we wound up discussing the problems that can be created by sharing the moments of being ok and happy when you’re in the midst of a battle.

She has a friend battling for compensation in court and is having her social media posts used against her. Sharing the “highlights reel”, the moments she is trying to focus on in her life, is being used as evidence to demonstrate that she is “ok”. Never mind that she is still undergoing regular surgery, regular therapy sessions and is having to give up her job because she isn’t coping. There are posts online that show her smiling, so she must be ok… right? She shouldn’t need compensation… right?

Here’s the thing.

People use social media for all sorts of different reasons. Those dealing with trauma, challenging times and especially those who are trying to heal, often use it to share the aspects of life they are trying to focus on. The moments that they value. The moments that bring them joy, peace, comfort… they are the ones they want to share with their loved ones, with the world.

Focussing on the positives, seeking out the “silver lining”, and finding the perspective that gives the greatest ability find acceptance, takes effort. During the tough times or when trying to recover after them, the amount of resilience required to keep going and stay positive can be colossal. Anything that can be used to help reinforce those positives and give them weight should be used. Anything that allows people to improve their mental health should be allowed and supported.

It is a serious concern when a mechanism to do that becomes weaponised. People who are fighting to survive, heal and hopefully find a way to thrive, need any obstacles to being able to do that removed.

The bigger issue is that it means that those trying to stay afloat, trying to find the light at the end of the tunnel get penalised for doing that. So then it discourages them from sharing those moments, from focusing on those moments, and in the end from creating those moments.

Just because the moments that get shared show smiles, show laughter, show beauty, doesn’t mean that there isn’t a battle raging under the surface create those moments. It doesn’t mean that it hasn’t taken effort and energy make them happen.

I like to share the moments that make me smile, that bring me joy, that I want document so I can revisit over and over again. I can’t help but worry that it is hypocritical or gives a false sense of what is happening. Because while there are those moments there are also a lot of tears, a lot of sorrow, a lot of grieving. The latter has the potential to be all consuming, but there is no good that comes from focussing on those aspects and feeding them.

So just because someone is sharing their highlight reel, don’t assume there isn’t a battle going on in the background.

Focussing on the positives or whatever else allows someone to look after their mental health, should be never be something someone gets penalised for.

So please, encourage your friends, loved ones, associates to share their joy. Allow them to focus on the things that lift their spirits. And then don’t question them if behind close doors they need support while they fall apart for a moment, or several.

19/03/2022

The Black Dog
The Black Dog is a metaphorical term for depression.

“The black dog of depression represents the gradual overtaking of the things you once loved, the person you once recognized in the mirror, or the life you once lived. Depression does not take breaks but instead follows you around like a shadow – a large, lumbering shadow, loyal as a canine.”

“Just as a large black dog's persistence in following you around, eating your shoes, or taking up your time with its insistence is out of your control, depression is largely uncontrollable and requires both time and treatment in order to begin to fade.”

Depression is something that has come and gone in my life since my teens. Initially triggered as a side effect to medication, but since then it has come and gone as what doctors have typically called situational depression. Basically what that means is that when times get tough my body isn’t able to maintain the level of happy chemicals to keep me from falling into a black hole.

On the up side, it means I am motivated to fix the situations that make life tough. The problem comes in when the situation is beyond my ability to make better. In recent times that has been kind of an ongoing theme. To the extent I can I’ve tried to fix the things that bring me down, but there are some things that no matter how hard I’ve tried, I can’t make better. I can’t resolve.

The issue is, I struggle to let those things go. And even though they are out of my control, I can’t seem to let myself let go of the need to find a resolution. Giving an engineer a problem that they can’t solve is a pretty sick trick for the universe to play.

So while I’m trying to resolve problems with no solution, I struggle to let myself move on to things I enjoy. The things I want to do, things that bring me joy, because I need to fix the things bringing me down. All of which creates a vicious cycle.

So tomorrow I’m going to go out and do the Black Dog Ride. A fundraiser for depression and su***de prevention. I consider myself lucky that the degree to which I battle depression has never been severe enough for su***de to be something that has even come onto my radar, for many people it has.

It has definitely prevented me from finding joy in the day to day. It’s made a things that should be fun, things I “want” to do, things I have to force myself to do. I usually wind up enjoying them once I’ve got started, but it is hard work to take that first step.

For anyone struggling with depression, do whatever you need to do to get help to manage it and live the most fulfilling life you can. Be it therapy, counselling, medication, finding distractions, mindfulness, any or all of the above. Don’t be afraid to seek the help you need. Because the black dog might fade away into the distance or it might be with you for life. And either way…

YOU ARE WORTH IT.
We are all worth it.

Don’t stop fighting the fight to find your joy.

***deprevention

09/03/2022

Blessings and grief

It sometimes seems strange being filled with such a sense of gratitude, feeling incredibly blessed and at the same time feeling such overwhelming sadness that it seems like there aren’t enough tears in the world.

I live in a place that looks like this. A place that is safe. Somewhere that is not ravaged with natural disasters… or man made disasters. I am healthy. My boys are healthy. I have a job that I enjoy and allows me to provide for my family. That lets me do almost all of the things I want to do, but not so easily that I don’t appreciate them and know that I have worked to earn them.

I am truly blessed.

And yet I am also sad. I’m sad for me. I’m sad for all those who are struggling, suffering or living in fear in one way or another.

I sometimes think that the two are linked. Or maybe it’s just that I tend to feel all emotions very strongly. I’ve sometimes called it living life on steroids.

The challenges seem pretty full on at times, but the blessings are equally incredible.

For the most part I don’t mind being sad. I don’t even mind those times of feeling like there aren’t enough tears in the world. But it sometimes is hard crying them alone.

Tonight I had to force myself to go out and see the sunset. I just wanted to curl up on the couch, but I’m so glad I did go out. The beach gives me peace. Especially on a sunset like tonight.

03/10/2021

Love the ferocity of the stormy sea even when it’s not a super stormy day, or even a long way from the hustle and bustle of daily life.

Looking forward to heading back to this spot to do some sunset photos.

… how’s this for a splash!

27/09/2021

Being true to yourself

I got a good reminder today. That sometimes pausing and thinking before acting has a lot of merit.

I’ve found myself dealing with a situation that left me feeling disillusioned and, honestly, pretty bitter. Where I feel like the values that are spouted don’t seem to be demonstrated.

It was very tempting to unload all that frustration and disappointment but after talking about it a bit, I realised that’s not who I am… it’s not who I want to be.

There are better ways to deal with the issue. To recommend actions to make sure that the same set of circumstances don’t wind up happening and causing similar loss for others. But it doesn’t need to be done by venting or lashing out.

So instead I’m trying to accept what is. Use it to find a better way forward. There can always be a plus side. You just have to be willing to find it. And that’s what I try to be all about.

Jo Henrickson Photos

30/03/2023

21/01/2023

06/08/2022

31/05/2022

15/05/2022

15/04/2022

01/04/2022

19/03/2022

09/03/2022

03/10/2021

27/09/2021

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