Hi All,

Just a quick note to say thanks for the kind wishes and crossed fingers - they obviously worked as my induction was successful and on Wednesday 29th October at 5.15pm after 3 hours of labour I gave birth to a big bruiser of a boy - Che Michael - on gas and air only (very proud of meself lol)

Just adjusting to my new life now so will be back soon xox

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Received this email today guys:

We are looking for 2 gorgeous out going bubbly people to give away some free T-shirts for us in Belfast on Thursday and Friday next week (16th and 17th October) from 11am – 3pm. The pay is £10 per hour.

Please call me on my mobile today for a quick phone interview and then send me some suitable photos for me to send to the client. It’s a youth fashion brand available in all good fashion retailers.

Please email me on richard@grape-fruit.com as it is a real pain emailing through starnow. And sign up to our website www.grape-fruit.com

Regards

Richard

Richard Ardley
Grapefruit Ltd
tel: 0207 733 2983
mob: 07967 011 940
e-mail: richard@grape-fruit.com
web: www.grape-fruit.com
Suite 221 The Bon Marche Centre, 241-251 Ferndale Road, London, SW9 8BJ

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Hello all, yes I'm still alive and yes I'm still pregnant  no sign of baby yet but I think if he's not out in the next week they're going in to get him lol I am now officially HUGE, I've put on 3 stone which is hard to carry when you're not used to it and, although escaping largely unscathed by strecth marks, my bum cheeks look like a purple road map of Belfast!! I can't wait to return to the gym and try and look like me again!

Just really wanted to say congrats to you all (I am swallowing my jealousy for this!) as I've been watching the galleries and am so impressed with the work being produced at the moment. Some of my favourite sets just off the top of my head, Michael Murphy and Thorsten's rock-chick-style shoots are publication worthy no doubt, fantastic colours, Tim Cully's black & white work especially with Lindsey and Lou_B, Alan Wells' latest shoots (saw a cracker with Jinx) as well as some fabulous street lighting shoots, head shots and various art nudes. The standard of the bulk of this work is now really high, much more so in my humble opinion, than many of the other portfolio sites. The effort also going into settings, lighting, make up and models' styling is really impressive! I will try not to be too depressed that you all went and got AMAZING when I had to go into hibernation

I will come on as soon as I can to show you Che Michael, even though all babies just look a bit "squishy" until they grow into their skin lol I'm now going to reply to everyone's lovely emails which I have neglected while I've been busy walking, cleaning and generally trying to make the womb an uncomfortable place for the wee man! Thank you all for your kind words and keep up the great work.

Best wishes to you all,

Lx

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Hello all,

Sorry for being a stranger, I've just finished work on Friday for 9 months and I've less than a fortnight until junior makes his appearance (hopefully!) I'm also going to be a single mummy which wasn't the plan but it's not going to stop me being excited and putting my best efforts into this job

Anyway I know there are other ladies on the old pregnancy journey here so I wanted to say I've listed a wee bundle of my maternity clothes on eBay that I bought for the last few months stages. I didn't buy much and found it a NIGHTMARE to get anything non-frumpy!! But I still managed to spend £400 eek  so if anyone would like to grab a bargain I'd love them to benefit someone else. Just search the listing number: 290262296011

I've been looking at the galleries everyday though keeping up to date with all your great work folks, makes me jealous but I'm happy for you all!

Lx

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Hello All,

I've had a few messages from people asking how I am (which is lovely) and a few comments from those thinking I hadn't been online much because I'd already given birth (I should be so lucky!)  So, for anyone interested, just thought I'd post a quick update...

I've now only got 3 weeks left at work and 4 weeks until the supposed "big day" so I'm excited, exhausted, impatient, emotional and 3 stone heavier than I used to be  haha

Anyway, I'm grateful for the few shoots I've done so far but I'm struggling now physically with an overactive baby allowing me a mere 4 hours sleep a night and putting so much pressure on my pelvis that I feel like someone's crushing my bones from the inside - lovely jubbly! BUT I am still on the site being jealous of all your great work and exciting group shoots and I'll let you know when the future model to be arrives

Lx

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Hi All,

Just want to say thank you to those who have commented on the images from my shoot with ColmMac. This was my first pregnancy shoot (and actually my first shoot since Xmas) so I was nervous anyway, not just because my body has changed beyond recognition, but also because I feel different as a person on the inside; more mature, more laid back, maternal I suppose.

The whole idea for the shoot was to try a different approach to maternity photography. A lot of what is offered to the public is very traditional - mostly black and white, very sombre, romantic, serious... this works well of course and is often what women who aren't models feel comfortable with. However, as a young woman and a woman who has modelled to portray her body as a sexual entity, I felt saddened that pregnancy was forcing me to almost forget who I was and to become someone else. I researched a lot into pregnancy and "sexiness" from the old paintings of women when they were praised for their voluptous fertile bodies to the modern celebrity spreads which have come almost full circle. I also read a lot about both sets of public views - those that would find it vulgar, almost sacrilige, for a woman to put her "bump" on show, to the modern women like me, who lost their self-esteem and felt their personal relationships strained by the changes brought on by pregnancy - "I never felt less sexy" (Jessica Alba). The views of men were very interesting though, most finding it attractive and feeling proud, but also finding it difficult to see their partner as "sexy" anymore - Brad Pitt finds it sexy, but he's in the minority

Anyway, the point of my blog (yes there is one!) is to say that as a model, I thoroughly enjoyed the experience of shooting and hope to do more. But as a young woman, experiencing pregnancy for the first time, I feel even more strongly that this is an area of the photography market that should be promoted. What this experience did for my confidence, my attitude to not only my body but the whole experience of being blessed with the ability to have a child, and also what it's done for my other half, to see me through a different set of eyes and see the real me that he knew before, I would and WILL recommend this process to everyone I know who becomes pregnant and I hope that the local photographers will give them somewhere to turn in their hour of need...

Lx

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Hi All,

I've had 2 13-hour days in work (look out for a boring Voluntary Sector Research launch at Stormont last night in press, I organised that lol) and am VERY ready for my long weekend to Marbella tomorrow - although noth the 6am start - flippin' Sleazyjet!

Anyways got offered this by email and wanted to pass it on, especially to any girls who are based in Co. Down or who can drive. It's not glamorous but a bit of extra money goes a wee bit in Summer time and they don't have many NI girls so why not ask a friend to do it with you? They won't ask proof of experience or references but if you agree to do it then please don't NO SHOW

We are looking for 2 people to work in BALLYMENA County Antrim this Saturday 28^th June distributing leaflets in the Town Centre for one of our clients; and directing people to the store.

We are looking for 2 people and the hours are 11.30am – 3.30pm and we are paying £10 per hour. If you are available and interested or have a friend who might be, please let me know. Please call straight away on 020 7733 2983 or 020 7733 0352.

If you cant make this job and if you haven’t already then please sign up to our website for regular updates about work in your area. We have a number of dates booking in Ireland over the next few weeks.

Richard Ardley
Grapefruit Ltd

Happy working folks x

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Hello all,

I haven't been online much due to a few reasons including being back at work in my new promoted role (which excites me and scares the bejesus out of me in equal measure), attending these numerous antenatal and doctor appointments and my grandad dying this week which is a bit sad but for the best as it is with most people we watch suffer in our lives.

Anywho, I've finally decided to create a proper online blog as I've been keeping a diary about my pregnancy and, after showing it to my friend who cried uncontrollably with laughter at me (how supportive!) I thought it might entertain others, particularly the girls obviously who are or may in the future become, pregnant and mothers-to-be.

http://elasticatedwaistbandsandtomatosoup.blogspot.com/

As you all now I'm too honest and straight forward for my own good but this is one topic that it might be useful to be this way so as my memory stick is filling and I've nearly written a book full of stuff I'll start upload it all and I hope you lot and others will have a wee look and let me know what you think

Hope you're all doing well!

Lx

Oh and feel free to direct me to any other blogs or your websites you'd like me to link to on it!

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I do believe if memory serves me rightly that it is almost a year to the day when I first started modelling. That maybe shocks some people as I'm often referred to as an appropriate advice-giver! But I've spent the morning looking through all my shoots etc., just reviewing how far I've come and appreciating all the people I've met and things I've done! I have Brendan to thank for introducing me to it and to Paul, 2 blokes who I hold in very high regard and bring joy to my boring existence lol AND if I knew how to put pictures in here I'd put my first pics in to make you all laugh!

It's lovely, if not a little sad, considering impending motherhood has every chance of ruining my ability in a physical sense to ever model successfully again! I suppose that's why I get annoyed when people don't give it their all, I'm like a pushy parent living my life through them haha!

So many people have joined since then, so many new opportunities I would have loved to have taken part in! BUT I'm trying not to get emotional, and if I do I'll just blame the hormones! I love to see all your work in the galleries and I hope you all enjoy it as much as I miss it because it doesn't last forever and it's a great thing while it lasts. I'm counting the days to my pregnancy figure nude shoots just to be in the throws of it again, creating images!!

ANYWAY, boring rant over I just wanted to share that with you all and let you know I'm still alive xox

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