October 31st, 2017 - Photo 304 of 365

Pop Memorabilia

I must admit that I have never been a huge collector of pop memorabilia. Ididn't keep old concert tickets, and as a teeneager I was much more into collecting rare records. My fundraising book exploits have awakened my interest slightly, as some of the things I get along the way are certainly great reminders of some amazing experiences. From the Amy Macdonald gig last night I came away with my photo pass, and a complimentary ticket, which was pretty special.

October 30th, 2017 - Photo 303 of 365

Amy Macdonald in Guildford

This is the only photo I took with my phone camera last night watching Amy Macdonald in Guildford.. I was very fortunate to have been given a photo pass to photograph Amy for my new bowel cancer fundraising book, so I do also have almost 150 photos on my camera to sort through to choose for the book 😊 However this photo taken kneeling down on the floor gives a good idea just what a great position photographers can get at live events. The concert was outstanding with Amy performing a stripped back set of her songs. It was a brilliant evening.

October 29th, 2017 - Photo 302 of 365

James Stevenson in Oxford

This photo of James Stevenson very nearly made it into the new bowel cancer fundraising book I am  currently putting together. The recent gig in Oxford was the last date of The Alarm's autumn UK tour. I met up with James just before the band's soundcheck, and I took quite a few photos of him before having a chat for the chapter in the book. I especially liked this particular photo outside the dressing room, as it is the kind of shot that most people would never get the opportunity to take. It was interesting to chat to him about a career as a guitarist that now spans over 40 years. He was an absolute gent! 

October 28th, 2017 - Photo 301 of 365

Half Moon

To get a decent photo of the moon I really needed to use a tripod with my camera, but on this occasion I took the photo by hand. I did juse my camera as opposed to my phone camera. I still need to invest in a decent telephoto lens for the camera, but that will have to wait a while. This picture was taken right outside my front door, and the half moon was very low in the night sky, so it was only just visible above the house at the bottom of the road.

October 27th, 2017 - Photo 300 of 365

St Luke's Church in Maidenhead

Once again we were blessed with the most amazing weather today for the end of October, with stunning blue skies, and pretty pleasant temperatures after a rather chilly start. I was in Maidenhead this morning, and couldn't resist taking a photo of St Luke's Church. It is not far from where our business was based before we moved out to Medmenham. It's got a pretty impressive spire! 

October 26th, 2017 - Photo 299 of 365

Christmas Gift Ideas

With just under two months to Christmas it seems like the perfect opportunity to promote the items that I am selling to raise funds for Beating Bowel Cancer. Since I set up the website in 2015 over £3400 has been raised, and adding funds raised prior to that, including the Mount Snowdon Trek in 2014, it is in the region of £6000. The kindness and generosity of everyone has been amazing.

Available from my www.bowelcancerfundraising.co.uk website..

• Books 
• Lives & Times Paperback
• Lives & Times Hardback
• Beating Bowel Cancer Paperback

• Art
• Lives & Times Silk Screen Print by Adam Green

• Portrait Photo Sessions
• A chance to have your own personal photo session

• Lives & Times Mug

Bowel cancer is the second highest cancer killer in the UK, but if diagnosed early it can be successfully treated in over 90% of cases. Raising awareness about bowel cancer is so important. Early detection of this awful illness will help to bring down the figure of 16,000 lives lost to this awful illness each year. My Mum was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2012, and she passed away in August 2016 after a long and courageous battle.

October 25th, 2017 - Photo 298 of 365

Westfield Fishery

Directly behind my estate at work is the very picturesque Westfield Fishery. I believe the lake is where fishing type people go to catch carp! 😊 The weather is quite amazing for this time of year, and the longer it goes on the shorter the winter will be... Being able to go out for a stroll here sure beats working on an industrial estate.

October 24th, 2017 - Photo 297 of 365

Dog Walking

I have invested in a new head torch for dog walking during the winter evenings. This light is great as it recharges with a USB lead, and it has a tilt mechanism on it which makes it easy to direct the light to where it needs to shine. How on earth can I get so excited by such things? #easilypleased

October 23rd, 2017 - Photo 296 of 365

Pagham Beach

It's been a while since I had been to the seaside, so yesterday I took Prince with me to Pagham. This was where we would go for a week every summer as young children for the family holiday. Die to tidal erosion the beach is much changed, and the sea has moved a lot closer to the seaside properties. There is a real danger of a sea breach and loss of homes on the beach and in the village. 

It was nice to reminisce, and much of the village is still the same. Of course my four legged friend had a lovely time! 

October 22nd, 2017 - Photo 295 of 365

St Roche's Hill

A lovely Sunday close to Chichester spent with old primary school friends David Beattie and Graham Higgins, and their families. After a lovely lunch we enjoyed a trip out and spectacular views today from St Roche's Hill, which is also home to The Trundle Iron Age hill fort. Views of Goodwood Racecourse, The South Downs, Chichester and Portsmouth. There is a circular walk, so you get to see it all as you walk round. Prince absolutely loved it, and I had to get him into the photo. This particular shot has Portsmouth in the distance and of course the English Channel. The weather changed every couple of minutes, and we experienced sun and rain in repeating cycles with an ever present brisk wind. Quite exhilarating.

October 21st, 2017 - Photo 294 of 365

James Stevenson & Jules Peters

The reason I had a photo pass for The Alarm's gig in Oxford on Friday night was to photograph their guitarist James Stevenson for my new bowel cancer charity book. I haven't finished going through all the photos yet, but I do like this one because it also features Jules Peters in the background on keyboards. Jules was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015, and she has undergone a gruelling course of treatment, but thankfully is doing really well. She will also feature in my forthcoming book. The band and fans supported the #wearitpink day to raise awareness about breast cancer, and you will never have seen so much pink on display at a gig. I sold a few copies of my Lives & Times bowel cancer fundraising book, so I will be donating £6 to Breastcancernow as well as the normal amount to Beating Bowel Cancer. A massive thanks to James and Jules for their support.

October 20th, 2017 - Photo 293 of 365

Mike Peters

I am still buzzing from a quite amazing gig in Oxford last night. Two brilliant albums this year, and all the classics. Two hours of non-stop high octane fantastic music. I am never disappointed by The Alarm, but this gig took it to a higher level. I was fortunate enough to meet up with the band's guitarist James Stevenson at the venue before the gig for my forthcoming bowel cancer fundraising book, and he was so nice. As I was leaving before the soundcheck started I also met Smiley and Jules, who were lovely as always. I was also given a photo pass to enable me to photograph the band during the first three songs of their set, so I could get a shot of James in action for the new book. So here is one of the many photos I took, this one of Mike. It was also a time to meet up with many of the people who have kindly bought my Lives & Times book, and who are now part of an ever growing circle of Alarm friends. A year or two ago I would have gone to the concert, and barely said a word to anyone. Now it is so different, and so much better being part of a wonderful "Alarm Family" 😊

October 19th, 2017 - Photo 292 of 365

Toadstool

This may well be a common site, but I must admit I can't remember the last time I saw a toadstool this colour. But apparently the Amanita muscaria is very recognisable, and although classed as poisonous it is eaten in some parts of the world. It is also known for its hallucinogenic properties. I saw this today at The New Inn pub in Knowl Hill while giving Prince a pit stop. We had been there following a church service of thanksgiving for Fred Avann, who passed away a few weeks ago at the grand old age of 88. He was my brother's godfather, and his wife Sybil is my godmother. So our families have been lifelong friends.

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 17th, 2017 - Photo 290 of 365

New Print Run of Books

I always get a little bit excited when a new print run of my book arrives. After last week's surge in sales of the paperback edition of Lives & Times, I had to get some more printed, and they arrived today. This is quite amazing really, considering that the book was published almost two years ago now. It has so far raised over £3250 for Beating Bowel Cancer, and the total amount raised for the charity over the last 5 years since Mum was diagnosed with bowel cancer, including the Mount Snowdon climb in 2014, now stands at over £6000. So a massive thank you to everyone who has so generously supported me.

The fundraising continues, and I now have a new batch of books that need selling 😉 So if you haven't got a copy yet, then please click here to buy a copy from my website.

October 16th, 2017 - Photo 289 of 365

Prince on Dorney Common

It seems like we have all experienced the weird weather today associated with Hurricane Ophelia. The sky turned yellowy here, and well I can't quite describe the almost fragmented sun. Before all that happened I was out delivering with Prince this morning, and we stopped at Dorney Common. It was amazing to be walking him in just a t-shirt in the middle of October. In the distance you can just make out Windsor Castle.

October 15th, 2017 - Photo 288 of 365

Ali & Dad

It was brought to my attention this week that there are no photos of my sister on display in my house. So I am going to put that right and I'm currently having this photo printed and framed. I didn't take this photo, it is one of the official photos from Ali & Mike's wedding, which I scanned years ago. My original copy is probably up in the loft somewhere. It's just the perfect photo of father and daughter x

October 14th, 2017 - Photo 287 of 365

Portrait Photos

So today was the first of what will hopefully be many portrait photo sessions to raise funds for Beating Bowel Cancer. I went to photograph Rachael Parker-Prickett, who was a friend of Deborah James, who recent passed away from bowel cancer. When she saw my fundraising idea she got in contact and we arranged today's session. As well as the portrait photos she happily posed for a few photos with the bowel cancer tie. She also bought a copy of my Lives & Times book, so a very successful day, and she was a really lovely lady making it a very enjoyable experience.

October 13th, 2017 - Photo 286 of 365

Harleyford

Just a few minutes up the road from work is the Harleyford Estate, which is home to a marina, golf club and wooden lodges. Over the last 33 years it's a place we have delivered packaging materials to from time to time, but not for some years. Today I did have to take a delivery there, and you are greeted with this very picturesque scene as you enter the estate. 

October 12th, 2017 - Photo 285 of 365

Filming in Hambleden

The film crews are back in Hambleden at the moment. I am not sure what they are shooting, the signs say 'BCP' whatever that stands for? I had gone to the post office, and it sounds like the village is going to have restricted access whilst the filming is on. They were unloading the vintage car, and I was a little surprised they didn't ask to borrow my van, as its age and condition would be perfect! 😂

October 11th, 2017 - Photo 284 of 365

Another Book Going Out

Once again the music fans have shown great support for my Lives & Times bowel cancer fundraising book. This time it's a massive thanks to fans of The Alarm and Stiff Little Fingers. In fact there has a been a massive surge of interest from SLF fans after a post on Facebook by Nick Godsell. Nick and his fiancee Rachel were unable to attend The Great British Alternative Music Festival at Butlins after Rachel's dad needed an emergency life saving operation for bowel cancer. The awful and unsympathetic attitude of Butlins in not allowing them to transfer their tickets to another couple, in spite of the special circumstances, is beyond belief. They should hang their heads in shame... Rachel's dad, Ray, is doing well post operation, so I hope he continues on the road to recovery. Once my book cropped up in the posts the interest and support has been terrific, so thanks to everyone it's very much appreciated. The book is available on my website.

October 10th, 2017 - Photo 283 of 365

Leaf

Who doesn't enjoy kicking up the crunchy leaves on the ground during autumn? I have no idea what type of tree this leaf is from, but ones like this used to fall onto Mum & Dad's garden from a neighbour's tree, so it brought back a few memories. Clearing the leaves at their house was always a bit of a mission, but when I was growing up I used to love helping Dad do this job. Happy times 😊

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.

October 8th, 2017 - Photo 281 of 365

Autumn Days

A quite lovely autumn afternoon, and Prince certainly made the most of it. Those cold winter days,and the clocks going back, are not too far away now, so I am not sure how much more of this wonderful mild weather we will get. Oh well only 5 months until spring is here! 😆

October 7th, 2017 - Photo 280 of 365

Cloud Pattern

Another photo from my stop at Ibstone. This time looking towards the cricket pitch, and I was struck by the cloud pattern. There was something quite beautiful about this scene. If I was an artist I think I would have liked to have painted it.

October 6th, 2017 - Photo 279 of 365

Standing Stone at Ibstone

Whenever I drive through Ibstone and past the cricket ground, I see this stone, and have always wondered what it is. Today I wandered over with my camera, and although I got a lovely photo of it, I still didn't know what it was. So I looked it up on the internet, and it's not an ancient stone as I thought it must be, but is in fact a stone that was placed there to mark the millennium, so a very recent addition to the landscape.

October 5th, 2017 - Photo 278 of 365

Phone Camera Limitations

To the naked eye this was a much more impressive scene, and something that my phone camera just couldn't really capture. Walking in Henley this morning at 7.00am with the morning light just beginning to kick away the remnants of night, the sky in particular was really impressive. I thought the dark and threatening clouds would make for a good photo. But the camera in its wisdom tries to fix the deficiencies, when really I wanted to capture them. Lesson is for this type of photo to use my proper camera...

October 4th, 2017 - Photo 277 of 365

Full House

Today was all about deliveries arriving at work. So much stuff, and the burning question was, would it all fit in the unit? Well thankfully it all squeezed in, and I am now packed to the rafters. All I need to do now is sell some packaging materials! 😆

October 3rd, 2017 - Photo 276 of 365

Victoria Derbyshire at the Henley Literary Festival

Tonight I saw Victoria Derbyshire at the Henley Literary Festival talking about her book, Dear Cancer, Love Victoria. I have never been to an event of this type before, and it was a highly interesting, entertaining, and also at times an emotional evening. The inspirational and touching book chronicles Victoria's journey with breast cancer based on the diaries she wrote at the time. It offers hope and support for anyone touched by cancer, and is also breaking down some of the barriers surrounding cancer. I finished reading the book a couple of days ago, and it's a terrific read on so many levels.

Some people reading this will already know that I met Victoria in the summer for my own forthcoming fundraising book for Beating Bowel Cancer, which she has very kindly supported, and I am now going to be able to finish writing up the chapter. Victoria very kindly signed my copy of the book at the end of the evening, with probably the most meaningful and touching one word personal inscription that is possible. A quite remarkable and lovely lady.

October 2nd, 2017 - Photo 275 of 365

Calluna Flower for Deborah Louise James

I bought this beautiful calluna flower this morning, and on my travels I went to pay my last respects to Deborah Louise James who passed away at the end of July. She'd had bowel cancer, and was just 37 years old, leaving behind her young daughter Grace. I'd known her on social media for about 18 months or so, but I only got to meet just the once, which was back in May when she very kindly came on board the new bowel cancer fundraising book I am writing. At that time Debs was still very positive, and determined to do everything she could to stay healthy, and live as long as possible in spite of an awful prognosis. I found her to be funny, kind, warm, a true inspiration, and she had the most infectious laugh. She told me that when she was younger, she said she would live to be 100, and with that lovely laugh she then said that it was still possible. Her grave has the most amazing display of colourful flowers - a wonderful tribute to her - so I added my small offering, and just spent a few quite minutes there. Thanks very much to her best friend Frankie who gave me directions on how to find Debs x

October 1st, 2017 - Photo 274 of 365

In the Boot

Junior is Prince's nephew, and today he decided to make himself at home in my car boot. He was quite happy snoozing until I came along wanting to take a photo!