April 29th, 2017 - Photo 119 of 365

Hanging out the Washing..

Six dog coats washed today - hanging out to dry, and Storm and Prince seem quite content that their washing takes priority over mine!

April 28th, 2017 - Photo 118 of 365

Henley Regatta Preparations

Preparations are well under way for Henley Regatta. The famous boat tents are taking shape and the site is a hive of activity. Two months still to go until the regatta takes place..

April 27th, 2017 - Photo 117 of 365

Spring Lambs

It would have been rude not to have taken a photo of the spring lambs in the fields close to work at some point during the lambing season. I took the ;picture on my lunchtime walk with Prince, who was also taking an interest in the sheep, but for rather different reasons I suspect...

April 26th, 2017 - Photo 116 of 365

Hail Storm

Not long before I took this photo this afternoon, I'd been out walking the dogs in the sunshine - a chilly breeze, but very pleasant. And then the hail arrived... Quite spectacular and never easy to photograph especially using a phone camera, but I think you get the idea.

April 25th, 2017 - Photo 115 of 365

Anyone seen my glasses?

So today I left home for work at 6.45am without my glasses for driving, I couldn't find them anywhere... This meant I had to go out in the van delivering today without them as well. I thought they must be at home somewhere and presumed that I would find them later. As I was about to set off home from work tonight, I spotted this sight on my car dash board... Obviously I put them there the evening before when I got home from work... Answers on a postcard...

April 24th, 2017 - Photo 114 of 365

London in Springtime

I was at The Playhouse Theatre on The Embankment tonight to see David Baddiel's My Family Not The Sitcom. Arriving with a few minutes in hand, I decided to walk across one of the Golden Jubilee Bridges. From there the views across the River Thames are stunning with both the London Eye and Houses of Parliament to choose from. I took this photo with the effective backdrop of the threatening skies, and it's easy to forget sometimes just how many wonderful sights there are in London Town.

April 23rd, 2017 - Photo 113 of 365

One happy armchair supporter

Total self indulgence today. I am one happy armchair supporter having seen the Gooners beat Man City 2-1 in the FA Cup semi-final. The photo was taken moments after the final whistle. It now gives the team a shot at a piece of silverware at the end of what has been a very frustrating season... 

April 22nd, 2017 - Photo 112 of 365

Hot Air Balloon

The Virgin hot air balloon is a regular sight in the sky at this time of the year, and earlier this evening it was coming down to land somewhere close by, so I managed to capture it before it disappeared below the roof tops just a minute or so later. And a big thanks to the bird that flew across as I took the photo, or was it the skill of the photographer? 😁

April 21st, 2017 - Photo 111 of 365

Badgemore House

Today, after a couple of days of Storm going for her cancer treatment, normal working service was resumed. This was a first for us - delivering to Badgemore House home of the Badgemore Park Golf Club on the outskirts of Henley-on-Thames. Vert swanky! Prince is in the drivers seat, whilst Storm was happy to be a passenger! 😊

April 20th, 2017 - Photo 110 of 365

Fitzpatrick Referrals Animal Hospital

During the last two days Storm has been assessed and treated at the state-of-the-art Fitzpatrick Referrals Animal Hospital in Guildford. With the cancer having returned last weekend, the treatment she has been on for the last four months is no longer effective, and so she now requires more specialized treatment. She has had blood tests, x-rays, biopsies and an ultrasound scan as well as her first dose of a more potent chemotherapy. She has come through it all really well and is still very perky. She loved the hospital, and in fact it was quite a job persuading her that it was time to come home tonight. She will return to the hospital in two weeks for her next session of chemotherapy. Just keeping everything crossed that the treatment is effective and successful...

April 19th, 2017 - Photo 109 of 365

Billy Ocean

Here was Billy Ocean in Oxford last night performing "Red Light Spells Danger", which for me was almost the highlight of the evening. However, after the show I met and photographed him for my forthcoming bowel cancer fundraising book, which was pretty special. He was an absolute gentleman, and although I didn't get long with him, he couldn't have been any nicer.

As a little bonus, above is a brief snippet of "Caribbean Queen" from the encore, and below the moment I met Billy 😆

Billy & Me

April 18th, 2017 - Photo 108 of 365

Prince in the Bluebells

Just about the perfect spring photo. Prince enjoyed a lovely lunchtime stroll up into woods close to work where the bluebells are quite amazing at the moment. Storm, even without her poor health, hasn't been able to manage this walking route for the last year and a bit as it involves a long steep climb to get here. However I have lovely photos to treasure of her from a few years ago.

April 17th, 2017 - Photo 107 of 365

Geraniums for the folks

Mum was meticulous about keeping Dad's grave tidy and full of colour throughout the year. Now that she has joined him, that tradition has to be maintained. I always found it very amusing how annoyed she would get when the wild animals would eat the flowers on the grave. She would try out different flowers to try and thwart the animals. So the question is will I now find the eating of flowers just as annoying as Mum did? Mum always did geraniums in the summer, so I have prepared this year's display, which I will keep in my garden until they flower in the summer and then commence battle with the animals!

April 16th, 2017 - Photo 106 of 365

Tug of War!

Here is Storm today playing tug of war with Prince. Finding out yesterday that her cancer has returned was devastating. The plan now is to make sure that Storm has as many lovely days as possible and today she had exactly that. This photo is a screen capture from a video I took of the dogs playing. Hopefully on Tuesday we will get a date through for her appointment with the specialist oncologist vet in Guildford. A big thank you for all the support and get well wishes for Storm I've had over the last 24 hours.

April 15th, 2017 - Photo 105 of 365

Storm Facing More Cancer Treatment

Storm photographed in the garden tonight at the end of what has been a difficult day. From nowhere more lumps appeared yesterday, thankfully spotted very quickly by Michele, and so today we took her to the vets. The bad news is that the cancer (lymphoma) has returned. This means that she will now have to go down a different treatment road - hopefully beginning next week, which will involve taking her to a specialist cancer treatment centre most likely in Guildford. She is still very perky, but this is devastating news. So plenty of positive thoughts for this lovely lady please x

April 14th, 2017 - Photo 104 of 365

Edgbaston Cricket Ground

Don't you just love the barmy English summer! Today I braved the overcast skies and chilly breeze to go to Edgbaston, where 1,200 brave souls were watching Warwickshire take on Yorkshire in the County Championship. I was there to do a photo for my forthcoming bowel cancer fundraising book, and I took this photo from outside the ground of the shining floodlights, which were all lit up in shape of the letter "E". Edgbaston will host the first ever day/night Test this summer when England take on the West Indies.

April 13th, 2017 - Photo 103 of 365

In the Countryside

Today, I had a really busy day at work, and I also had Storm at the vets having her regular fortnightly session of chemotherapy. It didn't help that it was the day before the Easter break, so I had to get everything finished today. However on my travels I did manage to stop for a full 30 seconds to take this photo pretty much at the base of the Chiltern Hills. Even on days like today, it's always nice to appreciate the beauty of our surroundings.

April 12th, 2017 - Photo 102 of 365

Spot The Moon

So last night was the pink moon... I would not have known this, had I not seen some people taking photos as I gave the dogs a walk. I did not have my proper camera and tripod to hand, so I went with the phone camera. It might not be a great technical photo, but I think it's quite interesting. Can you spot the moon? Ok fairly easy, but doesn't it look exactly like the led street lights? And just as I was taking the photo the flashing lights of an ambulance came into view. Finally what's going on at the very top of the photo? Have I captured an UFO over Reading? 😊

April 11th, 2017 - Photo 101 of 365

Wheat Field

I went to my folks grave today, just to make sure everything was in order. I was hoping to see the usual yellow flowers of the rapeseed plants, but instead I was greeted by a field of wheat. Farmers tend to alternate their crops, and I am used to seeing this on the farm at work. It means I shall have to get my rapeseed photo elsewhere. It's a great comfort that Mum and Dad are at rest in such a beautiful location barely a mile from where they lived in Maidenhead.

April 10th, 2017 - Photo 100 of 365

My Guitar

It's time for me to get my creative musical juices flowing. It's been something that I have wanted to do for some time, but it just wasn't the right time. Now with the new book giving me a real positive boost after the sadness of 2016 I feel ready to pick up the guitar again. Needs a bit of a clean though! I have lots of ideas of what I want to do, whether or not I achieve any of it remains to be seen. Some of you will hopefully have seen my short video clip of the early stages of a new song. I feel quite excited...

April 9th, 2017 - Photo 99 of 365

Cherry Blossom

The glorious weather that we have been experiencing this weekend gave me the perfect opportunity to capture cherry blossom in all its glory. Church Road just at the end of my road in Reading has a row of cherry trees that provide a stunning display each spring - one that I never tire of seeing. It's a shame that it goes away all too soon.  I had to get my summer shorts out of storage this weekend at least a month earlier than I'd envisaged doing so. It's been the perfect weekend to say goodbye to winter... (fingers crossed)

April 8th, 2017 - Photo 98 of 365

Hanging Basket Time

It's that time of the year to be busy in the garden, and as well as having to find space for some of Mum's glorious plants, it's also time to get some instant colour into the garden with the spring hanging baskets. I must admit that I am not the world's best at keeping these in their best condition, but each year I vow to be better, so let's see what happens this year...

April 7th, 2017 - Photo 97 of 365

River Thames at Wargrave

This is the view from The St. George & Dragon pub at Wargrave looking out on the River Thames. My Mum and Dad had their wedding reception here on this week 57 years ago, so it seemed kind of fitting at the end of quite an emotional week to take a photo of the view they would have had, and I'm sure very little has changed here. I go past the pub every day on my way home from work, so it's a lovely happy connection with the folks. I am not sure that they were blessed with this barmy weather on their wedding day.There is a black and video of the day, but it's been a while since I saw it. 

April 6th, 2017 - Photo 96 of 365

Anna with Storm and Prince

Today I went to see my sister Ali and my niece Anna at their home in Alvescot near Witney in Oxfordshire. I took up the last few things from the garden at Mum's house, and it was lovely to spend a couple of relaxing hours after the last few months of house clearing in Maidenhead. Storm and Prince love the garden there and they especially like to see Anna. This was a trip I would use to make with Mum regularly, so it was good to begin another new chapter today.

April 5th, 2017 - Photo 95 of 365

Don't forget your toothbrush!

Here's an insight into my day. I have been carrying a toothbrush around with me over recent weeks to try and combat excruciating toothache which has been awful for some time. I have been using the brush to try and ease the pain when it flares up. Also cold water seemed to help, although really painful at the same time. In recent nights I have not been sleeping well, as the pain has kept me awake. Today I went to the dentist on an emergency appointment and this problem that has plagued me for 3 years was finally addressed. Badly infected and root canal filling required. I was in so much pain after she tapped the tooth that she decided to extract the nerve there and then, rather than wait a couple of weeks. I was so happy I really could have kissed her! So now a few hours later and I am pain free for the first time in what seems like forever! 

On the paper you can see my list of things to do. Shortly after lunch I had confirmation that the sale of Mum's house had completed, so I began contacting the utility companies to close the accounts down, and have now finished all that. So yes it's sad to say goodbye to the house, but it is time for fresh stories to begin. The treasured memories will of course always be there..

April 4th, 2017 - Photo 94 of 365

Longchase, The Darvell Family Home 1963 - 2017

Today it was time to say goodbye to "Longchase", our family home in Altwood Road, Maidenhead for 54 years. Tomorrow the sale completes, so this afternoon I went there for the final time to take out the last few bits and read the meters. And whilst it is a sad day, the house holds nothing but the most happy of memories.

Mum and Dad bought the land after they were married in 1960. They moved into it in 1963 and the following 54 years saw so much happiness and it was a wonderful place to grow up in. Spending time there continued to be a great joy in more recent times too. It's time now for a new family to build their own stories and memories, and if they are half as happy as the Darvell family were there, they will be doing ok.

April 3rd, 2017 - Photo 93 of 365

Piddington, Buckinghamshire

Another stunning morning driving around at work, and I took this photo in a lay-by on the A40 at Piddington just outside High Wycombe. It's one of my regular stops - on the other side of the road there is a nice green area to let the dogs stretch their legs. Fortunately I was able to nurse the van around the run this morning, as the starter motor has been on the way out and in fact packed up once I got back to work... Talk about cutting it fine.

April 2nd, 2017 - Photo 92 of 365

Mum & Dad's Wedding Day, April 2nd, 1960

On this day 57 years ago my Mum & Dad got married. They enjoyed 49 years of the most happy of marriages before Dad passed away in 2009. This wonderful photo of them cutting the wedding cake at their wedding reception at the St. George & Dragon in Wargrave only came to light when we were going through old boxes after losing Mum last August. Absolutely love this photo xxx 😊

April 1st, 2017 - Photo 91 of 365

The Back Garden

You will have to excuse my self indulgence at the moment. With just a few fays until Mum's house is sold, it's a final chance to take some photos of the family home. Today I pretty much finished clearing the house after having done a final tip run first thing. All that is really left to do now is read the meters on Tuesday. The dogs of course are ever present with me at the house, so they also need to make the most of the last few visits...