Summer Holidays
I can’t remember the last time I had a summer holiday. After all, summer is the peak time for wedding photographers. However, some things are more important than work, and after meeting Charlotte and her two sons eight months ago, I quickly booked two weeks out of my schedule, at the beginning of the English school holidays.
They arrived two weeks ago in North Berwick and I was slightly apprehensive of what the boys would think. However, two borrowed bikes, beaches galore, a football and weather that was (except for a couple of days) perfect, seemed to provide enough entertainment for two teenagers. They even managed to meet a schoolfriend from Oxford on the beach! It was also Charles’ birthday, so that was an excuse for one of the two parties we had. (That’s Charles, grinning with his new laptop, in the second photo below.)
It was really great for them to see where I live and to meet my friends again (they’d last seen them in Marrakech.) I now see a flurry of Facebook activity going on between Seb, Charles, Neil and Callum!
Charlotte and I live 360 miles apart – a whole days travel whether driving or taking the train – and our conflicting work schedules mean that this was the first time she, Seb and Charles had visited North Berwick. In fact, it was the first time they’d been to Scotland.
I have plans for the next trip they make……
A Royal Wedding Present
A book by my friend and colleague Glyn Davies has been chosen by the Prime Minister as his wedding gift to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Glyn is a landscape photographer on Anglesey, where the couple live, and David Cameron declared he’d found these “excellent images” that would remind them of their time on the island. You too can have a copy of this unique wedding gift, and see his stunning landscapes by visiting his web site.
A personal celebration
It seems a bit odd posting these photographs after today’s news, but I still believe that Marrakech is a safe destination. The first photograph here was taken ten days ago, in the mirror of the Argana Cafe, where today’s bomb went off, and shows my godson and myself. I’d take him back tomorrow without a second thought.
Anyway, earlier this year I had a “birthday-with-a-nought-on-the-end” and decided to celebrate last week in Marrakech with all the friends and family who could make it over there.
The first two photographs are by me, and the rest are by Charlotte Hailstone, Tom Kidd and Brian Harris.
No News is Good News
Two months is a long time with no blog posts, but I have my excuses!
There are actually two pieces of very big news that have happened to me this year.
Firstly, I finally managed to give up smoking. I haven’t had a cigarette since the 14th January! I suspect that like an alcoholic, I’ll always be a smoker – but just not smoking.
Secondly, after over ten years of being single – I’ve met someone! However, since Charlotte lives in Oxfordshire, I’m spending a lot of time getting to know the A1/M1/M40 – or reading lots of books on trains.
Lastly, and not very importantly, I’ve been having fun with my small but growing photo series of ‘blurry landscapes,’ two of which can be seen below.
Photographers watch
This is an early birthday present to myself, which recently arrived from America via an online purchase. Unfortunately the Customs Duty and subsequent Royal Mail handling fee increased its cost by 50%. But it’s still great value and fun.
You’ll be able to get a closer look at any wedding I’ll be photographing this year!
