The Sun The Sea The Sand By Sophie Cox-O'Shaughnessy

Hello!

Hope you're all enjoying your summer holidays!

Today, I decided to take a spur of the moment day holiday, I say day holiday, because I am just not very good at taking a holiday, so there we are, hey ho!

However, I'm delighted to share with you this, following, pic., that a fellow "beach goer", kindly, agreed to take for me, and then, it transpires he's a professional photographer! with the "result" of an impromptu "photo shoot"! 😆

Continuing on,...!

As I always make a habit of crediting, here's the photographer's website details, check him out!

(Obvs. all credit to Steven Radley Photography. Although, for the advertising and exposure I would be open and willing to accept, any/my 10%!  😉).

https://www.radleyphotography.co.uk/about.html

Thank you, Steve Radley!

Anyway, back to my blog!

Destination Fitness is a theme of mine, so, these are a few from this themed blog that I shall share, to update, for now, if that alright, tbh:

• https://handeldoesit.blogspot.com/2023/08/womens-world-cup-blog-by-sophie-cox.html

• https://handeldoesit.blogspot.com/2020/12/destination-festive-fitness-by-sophie.html

• https://handeldoesit.blogspot.com/2020/06/sophie-cox-oshaughnessy-photography.html

I would like, some, positive, feedback, as actually I am quite shy, so, as I think I am toned, but, in regards to fitness, am also aware of areas I need to improve upon, I'd like to know what others think, if a photo can provide any such information, hopefully so!  (Answers on a saucy seaside postcard, please.  No, only joking!  You can comment on Comments, here on this blog, or email me.)

(Though, if I knew I would meet such, other, creative talent, p'haps I would have brought my heels 👠 maybe 😉!)

☀️🌊🏖️🏋️💪📸 🐚⛱️🩴

He's Poochtastic! By Sophie Cox-O'Shaughnessy

 So, the update on "the puppy front", is yes, I am still training the pooch!  Yeh, yeh, yeah, Rome Was Not Built In A Day!

Repeat after me, then, maybe, hopefully, you, shall also, have the patience of a saint!

Though, you know, it's worth it, all the hard work that you put in!

Here's some pics. of our,... yes, you and me, pooch!... recent, little adventure.

But, by the way!...

Relative Articles:

https://handeldoesit.blogspot.com/2024/10/me-my-dog-and-i-blog-by-sophie-cox.html

(All photos here within this article c. S. Cox-O'Shaughnessy Photography)

Enjoy!

Dance Pieces by Sophie Cox-O'Shaughnessy

Ahh, so, this summer who hasn't been venturing out to a festival?!

Recently, I was particularly delighted to discover that it's quite popular now for festivals to have entertainers working with fans.

Such is because I have already created some work, and archived on film, (unpaid work), to demonstrate my skills as a dancer/artist etc., working with fans. 

These are, by the way, original Chinese fans and, then, a gift brought back from China in person from an English Teacher, my Mum no less.  Now, God rest her soul.

It's wonderful to know that something I created, oo, at least, 13 years ago now seems to be a trend!

Here are some of my dance pieces:

The first one includes authentic "parklife" sound. The following 3. have no sound.

I feel the dance speaks for itself.  Though, with site specific work, I also feel, sometimes, it's refreshing to keep it totally live!

Enjoy!

•

https://youtu.be/1pxHbWGi_nI?si=GaGwPlYO2EXHN1Jq

•

https://youtu.be/JGAWjTS36N8?si=zh8p0n1rnbj-1k7F

•

https://youtu.be/zJfhxEEYoAA?si=zzXajQSdEHq2vCx6

•

https://youtu.be/KXq0FFz4Nh8si=y1acUnYrvKkpGXoD

Such is the way of an artist.  

You create something.

 Then, sometimes, you realise you are a pioneer!

NB. This is prior to reclaiming my birth name (O'Shaughnessy) as I use my name given, from as far back as I can remember, Cox, also, nowadays.

Happy viewing!

#Dance #PerformanceArtist #DancingWithFans #CreativeVideoPresentation #DancingInThePark #SiteSpecific #TrainingIsForLife #AmalgamatedDanceAndFitness #NeverForget 

Pets Are Us/Bringing It Home By "bunnylicious" Sophie Cox-O'Shaughnessy

So, a couple of weeks ago, or so, my house 🐇 rabbit earnt her bunny angel wings, bless her!

So, here's a pic. of her:

I adopted her, and was looking to preferably adopt again, however, this time it wasn't meant to be Bcos when I went to, just have a look, like, call it animal therapy, whatevs, the ones that had been available to adopt weren't there anymore, but This One Woz!

So, needless to say, after just taking a look, and him introducing and affirming himself as The Cuddler, he's now made himself at home with me. Bless him!

Here he is doing his best Peace sign.  Obviously, he's still a kitten (term for a baby rabbit, as you all know), so I'm sure he'll learn in due course:

All photos, he says, are

c. S. Cox-O'Shaughnessy

2025

Though, he's already very responsive to the ball (well, it's got a bell in it, and you cannot take the musician out of the pet lover, evor).

Who know maybe this brought us good luck!

Cue CONGRATULATIONS to our female footballers UK ✌️ Well Done England! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

#DogANDRabbitLover

Preston Windrush Festival By Sophie Cox-O'Shaughnessy

It was a pleasure to be able to attend this year's Windrush Festival, here, in Preston.  

Regardless of the spurts of "lashing it down" rain 🌧️, the music 🎶 , and in general, vibes were very cool and a bop, or two/three and more, was in order 💃!

It was lovely to see friendly, familiar, faces, again and connect with new, like-minded peoples!

SACHA (Southport African Caribbean Heritage Association) were the hosts of the event.  

Their cake 🍰 looked very tasty, I hasten to add, and they also hold a coffee morning, in Southport, my home town Yip yip! (where I grew up) - might have to pop back sometime, very soon - their hospitality was, exceptionally, pleasant.

My intention, in attending, this year, was, quite simply, to promote racial peace.  

This is, bcos, obviously, I am white, and this is a highly political event to acknowledge and attempt to put right the wrongs that happened in history, at a time where prejudice was rife, and, I believe if we show solidarity by mingling with our, one, human race, then, at least, I am, taking part in, contributing to world 🌎 peace✌️!

So, food for thought:

What is an immigrant?!  Someone seeking refuge from war/a hostile environment etc., etc..  Hmm., such is the every day news, it seems, these days: boats successful/unsuccessful - casualties of "a second war" - I think:- Where are our "United Nations"?! who could, ultimately, dispel, these atrocities If (and, here we have it, the artist in me) they (we) pulled their (our) finger out! 🤘!

#JustSayin'!

This is a pic. in which I was, yet again, "papped" - it seems to be happening more often these days!...  

Fortunately, the, very talented, photographer is a friend of mine, so I have asked permission to share his photo, "already" (as the Americans say!...):

Enjoy!

*

#Artist #HaveYourSay #MakeADifference #Dance #Sing #Peace #MusiciansMakeYourUnitedInPeaceOpinionCount

🕊️✌️🎶🫂🌎🕊️✌️🎵🤘👏🙏👋💃👍🕊️

* Photo credit and c. to Joseph Gudgeon 2025 

Related Articles:

• https://handeldoesit.blogspot.com/2023/01/dancin-in-street-by-sophie-cox.html

RAF Show in Preston, Lancashire (06-08/06/2025) By Sophie Cox-O'Shaughnessy

This weekend the RAF are in town!  By chance I happened to catch a glimpse of the Red Arrows flying over my pad just this morning, also, fortunately.  Look out for them, again, tomorrow around about 5pm (ish), I happen to be informed! 

I had a wonderfully, fun afternoon today trying on some of the gear these special folks adorn and work with, including the 30kg "backpack", no less, as well as playing badminton with folks and an aspiring pilot, Mark!  🛩️ 🛫

This is a family friendly event and it is on all this weekend.  Get along!

You know me, I cannot resist dressing up 😘

Here's a few of my pics. the RAF kindly took for me:

#DownTime

#LikeWhenDoIEvorGiveMyselfABreak!

(A Part of) Preston Jazz Festival (Review and, Upcoming, Performance) - Sophie Cox-O'Shaughnessy

 Spur of the moment decisions sometimes turn out to be just the best. Do you get me? Yes, I know. You do.

Anyhow, I spotted an ad for an event, that I had seen recently advertised, just today.

With a little bit of oomph, I thought, I might be able to attend this one, aswell as, participate in it.

*

In the mood of doing something community orientated, as a musician, I thought "this is good timing", and as it turns out, imho, so are our group: maintaining excellent timing, in such a short time, learning different rhythms, who shall, now, voluntarily, be performing next Saturday and/or 01/06/2025, as part of the Festival, either in Avenham Park (Saturday 30/05/2025) between 11 and 1pm or at at The Ferret (pub) Wednesday evening (8pm onwards), as said! 

Anyway, there were more us of at the beginning, however some had to leave early due to work commitments. I, myself, to make attending the event in time had failed to have lunch. Though, as a performing artist this is often, more often than not, by the by! However, the community spirit event that was what I sought was, as Shakespeare says: If music be the food of love, then play on! my, let's say, interim nourishment.

Looking forward to seeing you there, when the community shows off their skills, very, soon!

* Here I am, on the Dun Dun, far left - Photo courtesy of the Workshop Leader, Jon Aveyard.

For more information please see:

https://www.prestonjazzfest.org/

#musician

#supportlivemusic

#justtakepart

#communityspirit

#mentalhealthisimportant

🪘🪇🥁🪘🪇🥁🪘🪇🥁🪘🪇🥁🪘🪇🥁🪇🥁

🎵🎶🎵🎶🎵🎶🎵🎶🎵🎶🎵🎶🎵🎶🎵🎶🎵