December 6th, 2017 - Photo 340 of 365

Christmas Lights in Henley

The Christmas lights are up in Henley, and 7.00 in the morning is a good time to take them with the streets deserted. Missing some snow of course to really make a festive photo. I was going to take a few photos, but that pesky vehicle you can see with its lights on came and parked next to the tree to spoil that idea. I took a similar picture a few years ago, which appeared in my first charity book. On that occasion I used my proper camera and a tripod, and it certainly makes a difference when you have the time to set up and compose a photo sometimes.

October 18th, 2017 - Photo 291 of 365

End of the Night

My morning walks begin in darkness at the moment - at the very end of the hours of darkness, and just as the sun is about to rise. So this picture is of the centre of Henley with a little bit of moon action going on too. 

October 9th, 2017 - Photo 282 of 365

Berks & Bucks

A view at lunchtime. I am standing on the hills around work at Medmenham in Buckinghamshire, and looking across towards Remenham and Hurley in Berkshire. In fact the River Thames goes right across this picture, though hidden by the trees. The A4155 that connects Henley and Marlow is in the foreground. But mostly it's just a great scene, and a lovely part of the world to go to work in when you can see and appreciate views like this during the lunch break.

September 12th, 2017 - Photo 255 of 365

Blinded By The Light

It won't be too long now when I will be doing the early morning dog walk in the dark. But for the moment the sun has just risen, and there are some lovely views to be had around Henley. This one is from West Street walking up the hill and away from the town hall.

August 22nd, 2017 - Photo 234 of 365

The Sun Inn, Henley

This was the site of The Sun Inn pub at Northfield End in Henley, which sadly closed some years ago. This pub was once run by my grandparents, and more importantly was where my Mum was born on this day in 1936. Two years later, in 1938, the family moved to The Coach and Horses public house in Maidenhead, now known as The Shire Horse. Mum lived there until she and Dad moved into the house in Altwood Road in 1963, where they would very many happy years for the rest of their lives. So today is a day of remembering Mum, on what would have been her 81st birthday, and I am sure she will be enjoying a glass of wine later with the old man x 

June 29th, 2017 - Photo 180 of 365

A Lonely Job

Day 2 at Henley Regatta. This gentleman spends his whole day at the regatta on his lonesome... His job is to move the barrier, allowing rowing boats and official umpiring boats to cross through the racing lanes when heading down towards the start. Does he have anything there to keep him entertained, can he have a cuppa, and what happens when nature calls? So many questions 😊

June 13th, 2017 - Photo 164 of 365

St Mark's Road, Henley

St Mark's Road is one of my favourite roads in Henley, and the long straight road me and prince were about to descend was looking pretty good at 7.15 this morning. We hadn't been able to do this walk while Storm was poorly, so it felt pretty good being able to do it again a year or so since we last did it. A lottery win would be required to buy one of the many lovely properties in this road!

May 30th, 2017 - Photo 150 of 365

The Angel On The Bridge at Henley

The Angel On The Bridge at Henley is a pub I probably haven't drank at properly in over 20 years. However if you turn the clock back 30 years or so, it was a pub me and my friends would spend most Saturday nights at completely sozzled! It was usually the 10th pub in our Brakspears pub crawl. Back then the pubs didn't open until 5.30-6.00 on a Saturday night, so we usually aimed to be starting our 10th pint in The Angel by 9.00. Fast forward to staggering out of Stallones Night Club at 2.00am and the amount of beer consumed was quite vast... I probably drank more pints in one night back then than I do in a whole year now!

More importantly a lovely thing happened to me in Henley today. This photo was taken outside the Henley Regatta headquarters, and in there I met a lovely lady who gave me a bit of a shock when she asked me if I was related to John Darvell... It turns out she and her husband knew my parents really well from their days at Maidenhead Rowing Club, and also through Mum's riding. She was actually at Mum's funeral last year too. I spent a few minutes chatting to her and it was just a really nice moment in a busy working day 😊