January 2026 Update, moving home and welcome to the new year.

Welcome back to my little piece of the web. Thanks for returning.

Yes we are moving, as of yet to where I don’t know, but our Landlady has given us our matching orders after eighteen plus years. In fairness to her she did let us know this was her plan several years ago, but now it seems all real. I am sure it will turn out alright in the end, but it might mean that I may not be in a position to update this blog for a short while

We had a model shoot this month as well with Mercybongo and Munira Model at the studio, but I haven't finished editing them all yet. So there will be a delay in sending them out and posting them on the website and blog.

Talking of posting things up I still have not made myself a new Instagram page. I haven't used it in months and to tell you the truth, I have not missed it. I do not feel the need for validation of my peers. As well as been staggered by how much time I wasted on the app. Time I will never get back again wasted scrolling through shit really. I fail to see the use in it as for me it was like an orchestra playing to an empty room. Why? That said I may go on it in the end just to keep in touch.

So that's it for now. I hope you enjoy this years January blog. I hope to be in a position to be able to update at the end of February, but we shall have to wait and see. I shall miss this house and our little studio where all the flower pictures were take. I shall not miss the Baxi boiler, that I am sure was a Nazi in a previous life reincarnated.

Take care of yourselves and see you again soon

x

December updates and farewell my old friend

Geetings to you all for this time of the year, but apologies if I no longer feel the Christmas cheer this year.

On Wednesday December the 10th my friend Colin Greatorex slipped away from us due to complications with sepsis. His daughter Sonia called me that evening in a flood of tears to inform me of his passing. It is a strange thing that as you grow slowly into old age, you a doomed to see more of your friends and colleagues slip away from you like a thief in the night. It is both humbling, as well as saddening.

I have found myself thinking of Colin and how he always turned up for our meet ups in the bus station wearing his duffle coat, wool hat and brandishing a pile of papers under his arm in a plastic bag. Quietly spoken, we would visit the Capo Lounge and grab a bite and a cup. Chewing the fat, putting the world to right and once again saving the universe as we know it in the hours we spent chatting. They were fun times, good times and to be treasured. When I first heard of Collins illness I tried to contact him via the phone. But never got a response. Thankfully he called me on the third day and we agreed to meet up early in January. I would grab a taxi and go to see him. I guess that was not to be. It will join my growing list of regrets that I did not get to see him one last time and say a proper goodbye. So it is the smallest of things I have done to add his name on the landing page of this website in the dedications. Grief can be a selfish thing, as we think of what 'we' will miss rather than what others are going through. So for all my regrets I am aware that Colin leaves behind his daughter Sonia and granddaughter Queenie as well as a wider family unit. Their loss is the greater.

We will meet again one day, so until then … sleep well my friend.

On a lighter note there was supposed to have been a fashion shoot this month with Munira Model and Mercybongo, but it was moved to January. Reason for this is that Amy came home with a dose of the flu and gifted it to me as her generosity knows no bounds! So we were both feeling bad and I thought it better to postpone. Infact I still have the remnants of the flu with a rasping cough. This thing is holding on to me for dear life like its a home sick turd.

This years craft was not achieved by itself. It was a team effort. So I wish to thank all involved: Shadrine from Kavour Beauty. Phil Lynam at The Boardroom Studio. James at ACE ABC Taxis. And the following models Fern Thompson Munira Model, Mercybongo, Maryna Sedin, Ivory Flame, Lyra Rose, Sonia Greatorex and Emily Bajic

And finaly a shout out to my long sufering wife Amy. Love you xx

It is Christmas so I am mindful that this blog is not to gloomy. So here is wishing everyone who is reading this a merry Christmas and a great New Year.

Please enjoy this months scaled down update.

X

November updates and heal Colin, heal !

Welcome back to my little corner of the World wide web.

Sorry for it being a small one this month, I have been working on a book I am putting together for my other site. I should have and planned to, do it back in February. Still one thing and another came along including cancer scares and general tiredness got in the way. But I digress …. can I first pay mention to my friend Colin Greatorex, the father of one oo the most beautiful women I have ever snapped Sonia Greatorex. She recently informed me that Colin had been hospitalised and was starting the slow process of getting back into good (or reasonable health) in a care institute. I telephoned Colin a few times and could not get an answer, but left messages and on the third day he called me. Colin has got a rare condition where the body attacks its self, like red blood cells attack the white ones as it thinks they are alien to the body. The condition has a name, but I cant remember it I apologies for saying. Top and bottom of it is that my friend is having to learn how to use his arms and legs again, with walking being an issue. I have said I will go to see him early in January, after all the Christmas rush is over and until then wish him all the best. I also reminded him that he must get better as Sonia needs her Dad and Queenie (Sonias two year old daughter) needs her grandad.

The best to you Colin.

On a more trivial matter … I went again through my local McDonalds drive through and was so disappointed. This time they gave me a complete order. The sausage and egg McMuffin had both ingredient in it, therefore denying my the excuse to kick at them again ???. Still the head office in London sent me a nice letter and five pound voucher to buy my silence. Like someone said, I am a person of high moral standards, all of which waver at the five quid mark and completely vanish at ten pounds. I am sure I do not know what he means?

This months model shoot , all at least the ones shown here feature the amazing Fern Thompson. The pictures were actually taken at the end of October, as I had this month off. So I hope you enjoy the belated post. This December will be the years last featuring beauties Mercybongo and Munira Model. So do come back for that sometime close to Christmas.

Enjoy the show

x

September update and a day out at the gallery with Mercybongo

Welcome back to my little corner of the World wide web.

Can you believe its only two months until Christmas? Where did the year go? I can not believe how things just seem like they are all speeding up. So its been another reasonably quiet month again with no other trip out but to the Art Gallery to do a location shoot with model Mercybongo. We could not shoot in the galleys this time, but they allowed us to shoot in the rest areas and stairwells. This might sound much, but it is still a great locations with colourful posters and concrete slab walls.

Amy and I have had a shoot with Munira Model a few days ago and the results are still being edited. They are too late for this months update, but will be published at the end of October So we are a month behind at the moment.

There is a light hearted poke at a certain toilet paper those of an age would remember. The dreaded Izal loo rolls are no longer in production, but their memory lives still in my mind and always a good source of humour when it gets brought up in conversation.

So please enjoy this months blog update and see you all again next month.

X

August Blog Updates Liver fat and a quiet month

Welcome back to my little corner of the World wide web.

Its a bit of a quiet one this month, even though we did two shoots this time, Although one of them is not completely edited yet. This is because of the roasting hot weather we have been having every time I go sit in front of the computer I sweat like a pig. Its horrible and even worse when its humid. Thankfully now the worst of Summer is over and I can crack on with the editing. Emily Bajic is the star of this months effort and can be found below.

I had my second CT scan on my liver completed this month and had the results a few weeks back. There is a small build up of fatty deposits on my liver, but the Hospital does not think its worth doing anything about at this point in time. So I am pleased at the results, but wish I had not have to go through the ringer and all the aggro I went through to get this result. Still look at the bright side …. I do not have cancer and my liver is still working.

So that ia about it for this month (like I said, a quiet one), but I would like to thank everyone for their support and kind words recently with the cancer / liver scare. Love you all.

x

July Blog Updates … In the clear … but its not over yet.

Welcome back to my little corner of the web.

Let me first have a shout out to my friend Chris, the owner of The Bramblesflowers and Flowers to yours who I found out during my last visit to the shop has broken his leg. Speedy recovery my friend and don't push yourself too hard.

We did not actually have a shoot in July, there was planned to be one on location in my parents back garden, but I cancelled it so as not to be a burden on them. We have however got the results for the last shoot in June that missed lasts months update due to timing. The team and I worked with the lovely Lyra Rose Model on some stuff for this and my other website. The shoot went really well and we got all that we set out to achieve done. So thank you then to all there and helped.

So with regards to Cancer …. well I am in the clear.

I managed to get my CT Scan done at the Hospital eventually. The first time being postponed due to me not being cleaned out enough. I was literally still full of shit even after fasting and drinking a whole bottle of laxative. Second time around I had to fast over three days and guzzle down two bottle of laxative. Great if you like Pernod aniseed liqueur, but for me no amount of sweet apple juice can wash away the foulneess of the taste it left in my mouth. It made my bottom ache and made me sick to my stomach. But the CT Scan got done and I received the good news last Friday. There was no sign of cancer anywhere, but it has opened the door to another complication. Something is still wrong and the scan picked up anomalies in my Liver. So I am waiting to be contacted by the relevant Liver department for further advice. Still positive news where it is found and I don't have the Big C.

July was the month my little sister got married to Colin Willianson, a good man who clearly loves and cares for her. Here is wishing them happiness for the future and thanks for a great day out at your Wedding. I did take some snaps of the day that can be seen in the Random section of this blog.

Thanks goes out to my parents for putting up with Amy and I, as well as taking us to random locations around the countryside to do some landscape and Infrared shots.

We have two fashion shoots this August, more of which I will tell you about next month.

I hope you enjoy this months blog, there is a bit to look at and make sure to come back for more next month.

x

April Blog Update, I can see again ,... and Sonia with little Queeny dropped by !

Welcome back to my little corner of the web and apologies for the late delivery.

Its been a bit of a quiet month this month, with no extra bits of work to show other than the flower shoot and the studio shoot that we did. But there were some highlights for me with the return of Sonia who brought along her most adorable little two year old Queeny with her. We have met up twice so far and are planning a reboot shoot in early May on location and future studio dates. I first met Sonia a decade ago when she was eighteen and shot with her then. She has always been respectful to me and always so very elegant. Seeing her again brought back those halcyon days of Tyler, Monalisa and Sonia … such good memories. You can find many of our shoots in the earlier galleries on this site, which are worth a look. I also think she has improved with age. Maybe its being a Mother that has done it, but anyway I am glad she is back. Her daught Queeny is such a character, always friendly and making as much noise-and disruption as she can, but she is lovely I have added a instax picture of Sonia taken recently when we were in MacDonalds. I did not add the one of Queeny as I don't feel right about putting children's pictures up on the web.

Another bit of good news is that my eye sight in my left eye has returned. Its about 75% better. I still have some floaters bobbing around in there and can hinder when I look closely at things, but fingers crossed they might eventually go as well. So I think I have dodged the surgery I was going to have.. I did not like the sound of that to be honest so I am pleased. And as my Christian Mother would say, believe in the power of prayer.

The next planned studio shoot for May was going to be on the fourteenth, but has been moved to the twenty seventh instead. Maryna Sedin is again coming up from London for this shoot and I am looking forward to seeing her again for our fourth shoot together. I also hope to do some still- life's in May as well. I have not created anything like that for a while, and of cause the regular Flower pictures as always.

So that's it for this month. Be sure to return at the end of May and see you all again.

x

March Update, Munira Model shoot and the Turd Reich

Welcome back to my piece of the web. Nice to see you again.

There is a little bit more to show you this month unlike February. So its be a long but productive month with a model shoot, six flowers and a journey out of the house. It was also my fathers birthday, so happy birthday Dad. It was also Mothers day, so celebrations there as well. I am still unable to see correctly out of my left eye with floaters blocking every time I move. I was put in to see a specialist with regards eye surgery and was put in last November. Yet so far I have heard nothing, not even a letter to say hello and we know your waiting. I will have to do it myself I think and get out the brillo pads to scrub the back eyeball !!! Should not take long.

I am looking forward to the coming shoot in April with Mercybongo in the studio and weather permitting on site in Derby. We have not seen Mercy since last Christmas shoot in December, so nice to catch up with her. Be sure to tune in next month to see the results.

I took the liberty of downloading an interesting piece of art that someone made and stuck up on walls and public places in London. It cleverly shows well known characters from politics in the world today, all dressed up as Nazis. The picture is aptly named 'The Turd Reich' Have a giggle at it. It is in-fact not a laughing matter, but a bit of black humour does help to ease the worry in this increasingly dark world. Another way to sweep aside the blues is to enjoy the images taken this month of Indian Queen, Munira Model with looks and beauty to lift even the heavyset of hearts.

Thanks again for dropping by and enjoy the blog. x

January Blog Updates

Welcome back to my little corner of the web

The new year kicked off with a visit to my parents to catch up and have a break. It was lovely to spend time with them again and wished we lived closer.

While away down there we were able to do an indulgence in landscape photography. So Dad took us driving around and about in the Northamptonshire countryside looking out for stuff to snap. We were lucky and found a few good things, so Amy and I could get out and do our thing. After all the excitement we ended up at a carvery in the Queens Head Pub where my niece works for a meal. It tasted great, especially the scampi and chips. My favourite. Everyone else had the carvery.

While away I also managed to do some portraits pictures of family and friends including Colin, my sisters fiance she is due to marry later this year in July. He takes a good picture. I am happy with the results. View the floating heads in the section below.

Of this month, January it was a quiet one on the shoot front. Remembering this time last year both Amy and I were do with Covid or something and were sick as a parrots. That put life on hold and so I never arranged a shoot at all this January. This coupled with the fact that its bloody cold and everyone is skint, makes shooting a non starter. That said the first shoot of 2025 will be on 5th February at the studio in Derby with a new model called Ivory Flame. It is going to be a portrait session-where she will have a chalky white make up on her skin and rose coloured cheeks and lips. It is to make her look a bit like a porcelain doll. So that's coming up soon.

On a wider picture I hope this year is a good one full of promise and hope, although its hard not to get cynical now our American cousins have elected the Dictator Trump and his side kick …. Little Adolf (Elon Musk) into office. As the old Chinese curse goes … 'May you be blessed to live in interesting times' applies here I think.

Its my birthday on Sunday 2nd February, I shall be …...... I shall tell you all about it next blog update.

Enjoy this months show.

x

December Blog Updates and a years round off.

Well its been and gone, the Mariah Carey season again and with minimum fuss thankfully. Amy and I both had a quiet Christmas with one of Amy's Traditional, Untraditional Christmas dinners. No Turkey (its just a tough as old boots, fat bastard chicken!!!) for us. Pigs in blankets and Chinese spring rolls all around.

At the time of writing this blog we are now between Christmas and New Year with a time to reflect on what is coming up in 2025. I have already booked in with the studio for a series of dates in the new year up until May and hope to have some exciting shoots to do.

We are looking forward to travelling down to see my parents at this time of the year to see 2025 in. I hope also, weather permitting to be able to do a bit of landscape photography. We shall see …. fingers crossed.

The FIELD WORK vanity project book has been published and met with good approval thankfully. So on that basis I plan to do a few more in the new year. How about a Tyler Dyce retrospective special since I have done the bulk of my work (56 shoots) with her many moons ago?

So I shall be brief and wish you all seasons greetings I hope you enjoy this years ends round up and see you all soon in 2025.

Seasons gratings everyone.

X

November Blog update, still no sight but who cares … Christmas is soon here !

Welcome back to my little corner of the web.

Straight off let me apologies for again dishing up a short blog. Simple fact is that due to my diminished eye capacity its been a bit slow. Its getting seen to, but the Hospital is being a bit coy about if it will return? But look on the bright side …. I could be in Jail as the lyrics go to a Prefab Sprout track called 'Spinning Belinda' And besides I still have another eye so nothing stopping me just using that as I have been doing.

This month we said hello again to the lovely Mercybongo for her ninth shoot with me and Shadrine. We all went to The Boardroom Studio in Derby for its ambience and charm as we like to do. And I think we got some good stuff done that day. Oh and by the way, I am publishing a book of all the highlights I have done with Shadrine (not quite every picture), but one from each shoot. book is a vanity project and its called FIELD WORK

I hope you enjoy this months short blog and hope to show a bit more next month. I will see you all again in Mariah Carey season also known as Christmas. So be safe and enjoy the show

x

August Updates, Amys Birthday. Muniras return and a welcome getaway to a (not so) sunny Northamptonshire

Welcome back to my little corner of the web.

We got away from the same four walls we surround ourselves with. I would do it more often if I was fully mobile. So we had our escape to the wilds of Northamptonshire to visit my Mum and Dad. It was so good to see them and spend time with them again, chewing the fat and visiting places. The weather was not as warm as it sometimes is and looked a bit threatening at times, but it did not rain until we were on the journey home.

August was the fifty seventh birthday of my long suffering wife Amy, although I am sure she told me she was twenty one again? So happy birthday sweetypie x Hope we have many more birthdays to share with each other to come.

Has anybody heard of how its possible to stalk a building? …. No, me neither …. but we went out the other day to do some photography and that accusation was levelled at me. I will tell you all more next month as it happened in September and the pictures for display at the end of the months blog. Watch this space.

Look out for awsome model and beauty Munira in this months fashion piece. Certainly worth a look. There is a shoot coming up on September 11th at the studio in Derby with a new model to me. A Chinese model called Eva from Bristol. Its planned to do some high fashion shots in black and white as well as using Art Deco as an inspiration. I am looking forward to it as its always good to work with someone new. So that's about it for a brief round up of things. I touch more on the trip to Northampton over the course of this months blog so please read on and enjoy.

Thanks for dropping by and enjoy the show. x

NB. The wound has healed up nicely.

July Updates,

Welcome back to my piece of the web for July 2024, I wish you well and pray that you enjoy this months offerings.

Its only been a matter of two weeks or so since I last updated this blog, but this month I am on cue with everything. Trouble is that not really very much has happened in the intervening weeks.

I have however been working on new ideas for shoots coming up for the second half of the year. Leading the way will be a shoot idea called 'Amongst Butterflies' featuring Munira Model in August. It will be a beauty shoot with lots of creativity and makeup. Mercybongo will also be back with what I will call the 'Gold Shoot.’ We also have a new model that I have not worked with before to be announced for the September fashion shoot. So watch this space, things are cooking as they say.

My wound is scabbing over nicely, the EVRI man has not been at my door since his last fake chirpiness self popped up. And America looks like its having amnesia and forgetting about the last time they let the anti Christ loose on the world. So for all our American cousins with bad memories, look over this great video and song from Barbara Streisand called 'Don't Lie To Me.'

Its not too late people …...

… And on that all it leaves me to say is please enjoy this months blog.

June Updates, Two enjoyable model fashion shoots, a gamy back leg and an equally gamy EVRI delivery man.

Apologies for the slight lateness in this last months blog. I somehow got myself locked out of the Squarespace dashboard area that controls the website. We are all sorted now so here we are, better late than never I suppose ?

I have a tale of woe for you and a gruesome picture of the back of my right neck. It looks like an axe wound, but it is in fact a blister that burst open on my leg. It was a huge one and I get them because of my diabetes. Anyway, it burst and splatted all over the bed sheets leaving a sticky mess. Thankfully Amy was on hand to treat it and she has done a very good job too.. At one point I had to go to my local A&E because I ruptured the scab that was nicely growing on it. It suddenly turned green and black and gave off a very ripe smell of decay. They cleaned me up and put me on antibiotics which did the trick. Now my local GP nurse wanted me to come in and have it seen to at least three times a week but I said no as doing the quick maths it was going to cost me over £100 +in taxi fares alone for the month. I argued that Amy was doing a good enough job and so should continue …. so that's what we have done and its healing up nicely now. No more puss and a foul smell any more …..

…. And talking of puss and bad smells it leads me onto the little wing ding I had this last month with a deliver from EVRI (previously called Hermes) So there is this delivery man who is also the wrong side of fifty as am I, that regularly knocks on my door to drop off parcels I have had a previous run in with this man before when he complained to me that we had been away when he had banged on our door three days on the trot to deliver a parcel at new year time. He pulled a sour face that only someone who used to chew tobacco as a kid would do. So I apologised and said I will happily send him a postcard next time we are away ! So up to modern day and to cut a story short, I needed to replace a chair my fat bum broke in the studio the week before and I purchased two from Ebay. They were set to be delivered on the Saturday ready for me to take them down to Derby on a Wednesday. They did not show up, so on the Monday I cancelled the order. Then would you believe it, on the Thursday they turned up with happy chops himself at my front door. I politely informed him that I had cancelled them to which he flew into a strop and stamped his feet saying why the f**k did I order it in the first place and I was wasting his time? So that was it … I was pissed that he would swear at a customer like that, but hay-ho, I can give as good as I get and so did by telling him were he could go and calling him a miserable (a private part of the female anatomy and a word that rhymes with the name Jeremy Hunt) ! I then went and complained about him on a message I left on EVRIs telephone line. I doubt anything was done about it but smiley turned up again two days later with his face hidden by his cap and was as nice as pie. I said nothing. He also came the following day when Amy answered the door and he even slimly called her 'love' … ahhhh how sweet of him! Although I think I preferred the puss sack when he was just a miserable C......!

At least then you knew where you stood with him.

So this month I must apologies for not having any extras to show you in Digital art, projects or still life. Its because I have had to replace my old and tired PC with a new one and that was time consuming and stressful, although I did get a helping hand from my friend Mark (I hope your reading this) and to whom I am hugely in debited for his advice. Cheers buddy, We do however have some great flowers to show you and two huge galleries of model fashion pictures starring Mercybongo and Maryna Sedin.

Please enjoy x

May (and Aprils) Updates, So what happened to the April blog ???

A very warm welcome back to my little piece on the web

So what happened to Aprils blog spot? Put simply my computer went up the shit creak without a paddle..After many years of service it got old, ill and It forced my hand and instead of throwing good money at it, it was best just to buy a new one. So that is what I did/

With a great help from my good friend Mark, I purchased a PC with Amazon all for a good price. Trouble was when it arrived it was fitted with Windows 10 rather than Windows 11 as advertised. It also said that it could not be upgraded to Windows 11 as it did not reach the spec. So I sent it back and got a replacement. This all took time and it crept across the month stopping me from doing last months blog. But we are up and running now with a thanks to Mark for guidance.Health wise took me on a visit to my local A&E department with sore that has been festering on the back of my right leg. I get blisters that erupt due to my blood sugars and when they pop they often are a magnate for infection. This nasty one looked on the mend when it was treated and scabbed over, but somehow the scab broke and the wound was left open to the elements again. Needless to say it went green and smelled ripe. It still does, so the Doctors have put me on antibiotics. There is always the fear that they might have to amputate my leg at the worst if I get Poisson blood, but it has not come to that yet so enough with the mellow dramatics.

I have also been diagnosed with Narcolepsy because I keep falling to sleep everywhere I go and drop off sometimes in the middle of a conversation. I already have sleep apnea, so this does not worry me or surprise me too much. I no longer drive, so it won’t affect me that much. Apart from that I am all fine. God is in heaven and all is well with the world as they say.

It is our thirty sixth wedding anniversary on June 4th. So Amy and I might throw caution to the wind this year and live wild like …. call out for a pizza or kebab this year ? Its tough at the top you know ! But joking aside, I would wish to thank Amy for putting up with me all these years and quite literally kept me alive all these years. Love you.

So enjoy the blog and come back at the end of June for the next update.

X

March Updates, Three shoots in the bag this month and would it have been so hard to have shown a little bit more respect when it was needed?

A very warm welcome back to my little piece on the web

It has been a busy month this last month with not one, but three photo shoots and a cremation thrown it in the mix as well.

We finally got to do our shoot with singer Alexis Victoria Hall that was originally planned for January. That shoot was postponed because of both Amy and I being down with the flu. So I am glad it happened because it was a shoot twenty years in the making. It was that long ago and more that Alexis first contacted me for a shoot. For whatever reason we never got around to it, so made up for it with this short but sweet shoot. It was a month when Mercybongo came back for her sixth shoot and the promise of more shoots to come later in the year. I also got to go on location with male model Lee Henshaw at a local (ish) Art Gallery. What a brilliant place to shoot. We even had good weather, so did some stuff outside the gallery. And to top it all off it was also fun !

On a more down beat note I attended the cremation of Patricia my friend whose daughter I used to work with many moons ago. It was a decent send off for her, if a little chaotic and unorganised. I felt a deep sorrow, not just for the passing of Patricia but of what I thought was the rudeness of some of the mourners. At lesst three times some peoples mobile phones went of, with no urgency to turn them off. Sadly there were others who turned up late and were still filling through the doors right up until the end of the service. I know its wrong to compare cremations and maybe it is just me, but it would have been nice if everyone showed a bit more respect and for starters turned off their cell phones. But it must be said, that at the end of the day Patricia did get a good turn out of people to pay their respects. And I suppose that is really all that mattered,

This April will be a bit quieter with only one photo shoot planned featuring the lovely Indian model Munira come back for her second shoot with us. We are going to do some edgy fashion shots with fluffy pick jackets, pencil skirts, ballet boots and toilet roll middles.

We do not have anything else planned, so a bit of an easy month compared to March. Hope to see you all again next month and enjoy the offerings we have for you here today.

X

February Updates, welcome to all the new stuff and a sad farewell to a friend, remembering Patricia Nyajeka

A warm welcome back to my little piece on the web

Apologies for the lateness of writing this blog, I should have done it yesterday but had been in the studio in Derby working with singer Alexis Victoria Hall so by the time we got back home, both Amy and I were exhausted. This month just gone has been a busy one with shoots and family stuff to do like the funeral of my beloved Aunt Jane in Northampton. My uncle and cousins and greater family gave Aunt Jane a good send off. It was not a morbid affair as some funerals can be and I learned a lot about my aunt that I did not know before. There was a tear jerker moment when the song 'The way we were' by Barbara Streisand played over the ceremony. And when the curtains closed around the coffin, all I could think to say was 'Goodbye Aunt Jane … and thank you x.

Hats when it hits you that you will never see her again.

Aunt Jane in our memories.

February also witness the cruel hand of fate fall on another friend of mine, Patricia Nyajeka.

Patricia was the mother of a lovely model I used to work with on many projects called Lorna Nyajeka. I got to know Pat as we called her, through Lorna, whom she was very proud of. She was born in what was then Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe in Africa, She was a good women and was only one month younger than me. She asked me once to design a flyer to publicize a class reunion in a hall of all of her friends from home which I was glad to do. I even got to photograph the event and meet the good people there. It was a very friendly event, full of warm African hospitality in an English country house. Good memories. Life does not seem fair sometimes, its very arbitrary and often cruet

so then you have to take the bad times to hold dear the good times. But its never easy in reality. My thoughts are with her family and those she loved.

A few weeks ago we got to work again with the flaming redhead Lydia Clifford at the Boardroom Studio in Derby and dot some great stuff. Sadly the second model Zoe Birtwhistle could not make the shoot which was a shame. Maybe again at some future date? So a huge thank you to all there. Lydia, Shadrine from Kavour Beauty. Phil Lynam and of course Amy.

This March has already started on a good foot with a shoot yesterday featuring awesome singer Alexis Victoria Hall in Derby and will be followed by two more shoots, one with the lovely Mercybongo and a third with male model Lee Henshaw on location. So keeping us busy.

So I would like to say a big thank you to my parents for putting us both up for the night, as well as their company at the funeral.

See you all in March for another update and I hope, plenty to view.

Do take care of yourselves and enjoy this months blog x.

September Updates and a special mention to 'Parcel-farce'

Welcome back to my little corner of the web.

September was a placid month again, I had wanted to go to the City and capture some architecture pictures as well as street photography. But every time it came to the weekend it was either bad weather, or we had something else to do. Maybe this October we can get down there and photograph something of interest? We did however manage to do a three model shoot at the Boardroom Studio, featuring the makeup of Shadrine at Kavour Beauty and the loveliness of Mercybongo, Munira Model and Yoo Yoo. And it was great fun with some good results … in-fact too many for publication.

Cast your mind back a few months ago when I sent a parcel containing a Camera to Romania so it could be chipped to do Infrared photography with it. The camera that was stolen somewhere on its journey back to me and I only got an empty box back for my troubles? Well we filled in a claims form that was given to us over the counter at the local post office and mailed it to the shipping company's address. After a month or so I contacted the shipping company to see how it was claim was progressing The shipping company I shall simply refer to as 'Parcel - Farce,' told me that it was with the claims department and that I should wait for them to contact me. So it was to my surprise when I contacted them again a week ago to say I have not heard a sound from them, that they tell me they never received it in the first place. So someone in Parcel - Farce lied or is lying to me I wish I could say I am surprised, but I am not. When you look at other people dealings with Parcel - Farce, its easy to come to the conclusion that they are as useful as a tampon in a swimming pool. In fairness when you read about any shipping company on liner its like reading a horror story, with very few printing the times they have done a great job. Such is the way things go, but I for one will try to avoid using Parcel - Farce any more. And fingers crossed for the smooth journey through the department concerned of my resubmitted claim. I shall keep you all informed.

I am in the studio again tomorrow, so should have something new to show you all at the end of October. Until then take care of yourselves and enjoy this months blog.

x

Augusts Updates and 'Well he would say that, wouldn't he? '

Welcome back to my blog and little piece of the web that is mine. Good to have you back and hope you enjoy this months offerings?

It was going to be a quite month as opposed to July, with no model shoots at all Yet back in July I was contacted about shooting with a new model Lydia Clifford and I just jumped at the opportunity. We also squeezed another new shoot in with favourite Monalisa Moyo, back again in-front of the lens. So aside from them its been an peaceful, uneventful month. I would like to add a thank you to all those who like and watch my blog. With a special mention to my father who wrote a really lovely email to me saying how he enjoyed the pictures. I do not often get a lot of comments and often met with indifference because I think people have an expectation of a certain quality of work so don't mention when they get it. I put images up on Instagram and the such which sometimes go on to get two likes- WORLDWIDE!! Now I am not fishing for compliments, applause or feeling sorry for myself, but it is always good to get feedback (good or bad). So at least you know where your going wrong or getting something right? Now I know what you might be thinking, so his father said something encouraging to him and to use the Mandy Rice - Davies quote 'Well he would say that, wouldn't he? ' But it took me back a bit in a pleasant way and it felt good. Feedback, suggestion, requests and even constructive criticism, is better than silent indifference people. Nuff said ….…...

September is shaping up to be a busy month with a three model shoot at the Boardroom Studio in Derby, organised Shadrine my makeup artist at Kavour Beauty. Get well Shadrine, we need you fit and active on the day.

Please enjoy this months blog

x

So please enjoy this months blog

July Updates, what turned out to be a very busy month and a lesson never to send parcels to Romania !

Welcome back to my little corner of the web.

There were two shoots this month and a shoot taken on the last day of June (so technically for all sakes and purposes this month) Blessed with four great models to work with Mercybongo and Carl Tilson. Maryna Sedin and Marie Jean Saxton, they have kept me busy snapping and editing.

We also managed to travel to my parents home and see them which is always good. Not just to get away from our house, but to spend quality time with them is worth the journey. I managed to do one of the shoots on location in my Fathers lush garden as well as them taking us to Rushden Lakes for some magazine shopping and photo taking around the buildings. It was fun,Amy and I loved it, So thank you greatly to Mum and Dad x

Now here is a word of caution …. if your thinking of sending anything to another country (in this case Romania) you might want to think again about it. I sent an old camera to a man in Romania who could chip the camera so as to make it take Infrared images only. I know I already have a camera that does that, but I wanted a higher spec and it made use of my trusted old Nikon D3. So I sent it via the post office carrier (I shall not mention their name here!) at the princely sum of £50.00 only for the empty box coming back to me a few weeks later! Apparently it got as far as Bucharest and customs did not like it and sent it back, but between there and my front door some thieving turd helped themselves to it. Returning the empty box like trying to rub my nose in it! The Royal Mail recommended I call the Romania Customs and ask what happened to the camera? but that is as futile an effort as a one legged man in an arse kicking contest! Taking the piss obviously, I think they just said that to get rid of me. It worked. Although I have put a claim in, I have still not heard anything from the carriage company, and don't hold out much hope. Oh well, I guess some things just were not meant to be and I shall not do that again. Lesson learned.

Hope you enjoy this bumper month of pictures to make up for last months lacklustre offering.

x