February 7th, 2017 - Photo 38 of 365

Jeanette with the bowel cancer tie

Today's photo had to be one taken one from my meeting with Paralympic gold medallist, Jeanette Chippington at Eton Dorney Lake. She has kindly agreed to be in the forthcoming charity book that I am doing to raise funds for the Beating Bowel Cancer charity. Jeanette lives in Maidenhead and in fact went to the same school that both my mum and sister did. She was very generous with her time giving me lots of material for the chapter in the book, which I am writing in memory of my Mum who lost her 4 year battle with bowel cancer last August. We will be meeting again sometime soon as we both agreed that a photo of her holding her gold medal from Rio 2016 would be a perfect finishing touch for the piece I am writing about her, and she also wants to buy a copy of my current fundraising book, Lives & Times, which is very kind and supportive of her. She was really nice and I really enjoyed the time I spent with her, which I am sure will come across in the chapter in the book. The new book should be coming  out sometime in 2018 hopefully, but if you can't wait that long why not get a copy of Lives & Times...

February 6th, 2017 - Photo 37 of 365

Snowdrops in Mum's garden

The snowdrops are out in Mum's garden. She so loved all her flowers and the snowdrops are always the first flowers through each year. This year they are looking pretty damn fine which is quite apt I think, and I know she would have especially loved this photo. Maybe they are being a given helping hand from someone somewhere... I think I will be digging up a few bulbs to take to my house now that we have accepted an offer on the house.

February 5th, 2017 - Photo 36 of 365

Keeping an eye on me!

Having been away for a couple days, Storm is keeping a watchful eye on me tonight making sure I am not going to leave her again. I had a wonderful weekend away in North Wales watching Mike Peters and The Alarm, but I am also very pleased to be back home with the dogs...

February 4th, 2017 - Photo 35 of 365

Mike Peters at The Gathering

I have just returned from my annual trip to see Mike Peters and The Alarm at The Gathering in Llandudno, North Wales. This was Gathering 25 and my 17th one on the bounce. As ever it was a fantastic weekend with concerts on both the Friday and Saturday nights. There's a new (maybe 2) album coming in 2017 so there was plenty of new material played and it was sounding superb, so exciting times. I got this shot of Mike when he performed a few songs on a little podium at the back of the arena.

On a personal level it was an amazing weekend. I finally have made efforts to come out of my shell and make friendships at an event where I have spent many years keeping to myself just enjoying the music. Everyone was so kind and incredibly supportive of the bowel cancer fundraising book. Over £100 was raised in sales on this weekend alone. It really was quite staggering just how many people I had never met wanted to buy and support the book. In fact over the last year the support I have had from Alarm fans over Mum's illness and her passing has been wonderful and a great help. This continued right through the weekend and I feel it will have played a big part in my healing process for sure. Many new friendships were cemented over the weekend and I look forward to seeing everyone again next year if not sooner...

February 3rd, 2017 - Photo 34 of 365

Kevin Sheedy

I continued with the photographic trail for my new bowel cancer fundraising book, when I met ex Everton and Republic of Ireland footballer Kevin Sheedy at the Everton training ground. Kevin is currently in charge of the Under 18 side. He has successfully beaten bowel cancer and is an ambassador for the Beating Bowel Cancer charity. You will be able to read all about my experience of meeting him when the forthcoming book is published.

February 2nd, 2017 - Photo 33 of 365

Packing for the weekend

After a manic day of worrying as to whether the van would be repaired in time, taking and picking up Storm to the vets for her chemo, and rushing around in my car getting my work deliveries done, I have finally got around tonight to packing for my weekend in Llandudno for Mike Peters, The Alarm and The Gathering 25. Having said that the fun is still not quite finished as I have the small matter of a 300 mile drive tomorrow. I will leave Reading and deliver to Northampton and then Liverpool. If time and circumstances permit I hope to meet Kevin Sheedy for my forthcoming bowel cancer fundraising book. So a busy day and I will hopefully arrive in Llandudno late afternoon.

I am taking my brand new Lives & Times rugby shirt with me, so anyone who has kindly bought the book will be able to recognise me. My Alarm camo jacket will also be making its first appearance at the gigs...

February 1st, 2017 - Photo 32 of 365

Book orders for my weekend watching The Alarm in Llandudno

This weekend I make my annual pilgrimage to Llandudno to see a weekend of Mike Peters and The Alarm at The Gathering. It's one of favourite times of the year, and this year promises to be no different. Since I published the Lives & Times charity book in November 2015, one of the most supportive groups has been fans of The Alarm. I have sold an awful lot of books to this great bunch of people. This weekend I have been staggered by the continued interest and as you can see I have plenty of books to deliver over the weekend. Over the last 12 months I have made a lot of new friends on social media, and over the weekend I will finally get to meet many of them in person. Can't wait...

All proceeds from the book are donated to the Beating Bowel Cancer charity. Mum lost her four year battle with bowl cancer last August. The book is not just raising funds for the charity, but also helping to raise awareness about this awful illness.