Magically real.

I don't know how else to say it except to say that I've been bouncing around happily and equating this Christmas to the one every kid dreams of, the one where a brilliant new bike appears magically by the tree or the perfect doll or rocket ship or Lego set, etc. Just when I thought I'd gotten J some brilliant gifts, he decides to buy me a DSLR. I'm the kid who's been using a little point-and-shoot Powershot for years, the one who apparently has a brilliant eye but no real knowledge of what makes a good photo and certainly no understanding of precise vocabularies and precision instruments.

However, when the t2i was introduced, I was here visiting him and while I'm not sure he remembers, I raved about it. I dreamed about it, fawning over reviews and sample images. I didn't imagine I'd ever have one, though. First, I really couldn't see myself ever justifying the expense, especially not without a proper job yet and particularly because I was getting along okay with my Powershot, such as it was. But suddenly, it's mine. I have a DSLR. Better yet, I have a t2i, a 550D! I'm still in shock.

I'm really still getting my bearings, testing out its brilliant interface and design and getting used to all of the intricacies and finding the sweet spot I need to start with before I can really grow with this thing. I took it out last night on our date to Newport and among taking photos of basically everything I found interesting, I couldn't put it away even as dessert came.

Dessert, uncannily, was bananas foster cheesecake to match, perhaps, or to remind us of the last time we found a pub together, spontaneously, another great night on the dessert menu of which was a brilliant bananas foster. It was the first time either of us had had it and tonight was a sweet, almost unbelievable reminder.