November 30th, 2017 - Photo 334 of 365

Sunrise

I took this photo just after 7.00am this morning when I got to work. The sun was just rising, and for the first time as we head towards winter I noticed that many trees are now without leaves. So this made for an almost silhouette type effect, and the black and white effect enhances that I think. The fact that it was also bitterly cold brought the sense of winter much closer. Roll on spring! 

November 29th, 2017 - Photo 333 of 365

Back in the Van

Prince made a happy, and welcome return to the van today after 3 weeks due to his spinal problem. The problem in the van is that he quite naturally likes to step down off the seat before getting out. So today he had his seat belt connector attached, which worked perfectly, and is much safer for him in any case. I'm also getting a block constructed to fill in the foot well in front of the passenger seat for extra protection for him. So normal service is slowly being resumed...

November 28th, 2017 - Photo 332 of 365

Supplies for Prince

Prince had his second round of physio today, and the good news is that he is already making good progress. On the way back we stopped off at Pets At Home to pick up a car seat belt for him, and also his course of steroids which he will begin tomorrow. It's going to be a long road ahead for Prince, but he has adapted really well to coping, not just with his injury, but also the big changes to his life over the last few weeks.  

November 27th, 2017 - Photo 331 of 365

Making Bags

Heat sealing machines have been a part of the business as far back as I can remember. As a teenager I would spend many evenings attaching handles to bags as a way of earning extra pocket money. These days the machines are mainly used to make small runs of special sized bags. This particular machine must be over 30 years old, as I have been working in the business for 33 years now, and the machine must pre-date me! 😊 

November 26th, 2017 - Photo 330 of 365

Chrysanthemum

So here is my latest addition to the garden, and its another attempt at a chrysanthemum. All my previous efforts in recent years have failed. I have no idea what I am doing wrong, but the following year they do not come back. So in true good financial sense I got this one for just £1 at the garden centre yesterday, as they are now on their way out. Fingers and everything crossed I get it right this year..

November 25th, 2017 - Photo 329 of 365

Travel in Comfort

Prince has a duvet and a large cushion in my car at the moment. The back seats are down, so he has plenty of room to stretch out which is much better for his spine. Of course typically he is more interested in trying to get into the front seat! He has now been on complete rest for a couple of weeks, and it has been a week and a half since me and Prince began to sleep downstairs in the living room with stairs now a complete no no for him. Huge change for Princey Boy, but he has been such a good boy...

November 24th, 2017 - Photo 328 of 365

New Light

When I had my recent electric certificate done at work I took the opportunity to have an extra light installed to shine down on my bench. It comes in very handy at this time of the year when the light goes so early. So I crouched down on my knees to take this photo from one end of the bench. Let there be light! 😉

November 23rd, 2017 - Photo 327 of 365

Creativity

Today's photo was put together using Corel's PaintShop Pro X9 software. It's the time of year when I am trying to get some more interest generated in Lives & Times as a potential Christmas gift. Since the book was published a couple of years ago the support for it has been amazing, and it has raised around £3400 for Beating Bowel Cancer. One set of people who have been most supportive are fans of The Alarm, who have bought the book in large numbers. So I created this photo featuring photos of Eddie Macdonald and Mike Peters from the original line-up, who both feature in Lives & Times, with their copies of the book.

November 22nd, 2017 - Photo 326 of 365

Autumn Views

Today has been lovely and mild for the time of year, but also the light began to fade really early this afternoon. This is the scene at work at about 3.00 with most cars having their lights on. The trees are now beginning to lose their golden leaves, and winter is just around the corner now. I am not looking forward to the next 3-4 months of cold weather. Oh well we can all get a blast of sunshine tonight watching The Ashes from Australia! Sadly I won't get there this time around..

November 21st, 2017 - Photo 325 of 365

Fitzpatrick The Supervet

Today Prince went back to Fitzpatrick Referrals Animal Hospital, home to the Supervet, just outside Guildford - this time to be assessed by the physio. Although he was very anxious in reception he really liked the physiotherapist. He had some laser treatment on his spine which is a bit like ultra sound, and we have some exercises for him to start doing. The big decision is still whether to put him through surgery with the potential benefits and  risks, or to go with physio, a course of steroids, and a long period of rest. Whatever the decision I think Prince will be getting used to this place, and I might even learn where the poorly marked speed humps are eventually! After his rather eventful day Prince is now sound asleep x

November 20th, 2017 - Photo 324 of 365

Views of Doncaster

I must admit that when I started doing the new bowel cancer book I never thought that it would take me to Doncaster to enjoy this quite magnificent view of the town from Cusworth Hall. It was a couple of weeks ago that I met Andrew White, and he gave me an excellent guide as to all the buildings on view. Of course all will be revealed in the book... 😉

November 19th, 2017 - Photo 323 of 365

Water Bowel

Having just completed the seven day black and white photo challenge, I now use another one for this 365 challenge. Yesterday we stocked up on new supplies for Prince to make things as comfortable, and as easy as possible for him. So this water bowl fits into a raised holder which will make it easier for him to drink without putting pressure on his spine.

November 18th, 2017 - Photo 322 of 365

Watching Arsenal Beat Spurs

Prince has immediately taken to his new large cushion. This is especially good for his bad spine as not only is it comfy, but allows him to stretch out which is much better for him. You can also see his new raised food and drinking bowls on the left hand side, which will help his back too. So Prince had the perfect ringside seat to watch Arsenal beat Spurs 2-0. Saturdays don't get much better than this... GOONERS!! 😊

November 17th, 2017 - Photo 321 of 365

Selective Colour

I had a bit of fun with selective colouring with this photo, once again taken at Hambleden Mill. Even without editing the "DANGER" sign stands out quite dramatically, but when you remove all the colour apart from the red on the sign, and add some vibrancy to it, the resulting effect on the image is impressive.

November 16th, 2017 - Photo 320 of 365

Hambleden Mill

Hambleden Mill is one of my favourite local scenes just a mile or so from work. The old water mill dates back to the Domesday Book, but was converted into flats during the 1950s. To see it from the this (river) side you can walk onto the weir. There are some wonderful paintings of it, and my personal favourite is one by local artist Howard Birchmore, which was on display at Henley Regatta a couple of years ago. Sadly I couldn't afford to buy it at the time..

November 15th, 2017 - Photo 319 of 365

Prince's Spinal Problem

Yesterday was a very difficult day. Prince has been having difficulty with his back legs recently, so he spent the day at Fitzpatrick's -the Supervets - where he had an MRI scan. The devastating result is he has five slipped discs! There is no way of knowing how long this has been going on or what has caused it. He has been such a brave boy not displaying any signs of discomfort.

We had hoped that it was a single disc, in which case he would probably have had an operation there and then. However the road ahead is now very tricky. An operation is still possible, although it is high risk in that the best case scenario is to stabalise the condition, and give him a quality of life, although he will be a different dog in terms of what he could do post op. However there is also a real possibility that the operation might not be successful, and the condition is made worst. Also due to the state of his spine there is a high chance that he could still have problems with the other discs in the future. The other option is not to have the operation, and for him to have complete rest, a course of steroids, and physiotherapy. This would hopefully stabilize things for a while, but over time his condition will deteriorate. The bottom line is that neither option will be a total cure. The vets are waiting for some test results to see if there is any infection around the discs, so we have maybe a week to decide what to do. I might well have not got all this information quite right, but it was a lot to take on board at the end of a very traumatic day.

So things like going up and down stairs are now out. He is on complete rest, and has to be lifted in and out of the car. The crate is his new resting place, and this will be a challenge as he has never been crated in his nine years. Going to try and get him used to it over the coming days. And although not in this photo, the living room is also my new bedroom as I will be sleeping on a mattress next to him for the foreseeable future. He was a very good boy last night sleeping with me on the mattress, but he did spend a little bit of time in the crate.

So uncertain times ahead, and lots of change. There will no doubt be huge impact on life over the coming days, weeks and months. Some things in the diary might not now happen, but for the time being it's a day at a time, and above all putting Prince first...

November 14th, 2017 - Photo 318 of 365

Autumn Scene

I always enjoy going down this driveway as the leaves create a kind of archway that you must drive through. It looks especially attractive during autumn. This was a favourite place of Storm's for a pit stop, as she could carefully choose her spot! Prince couldn't give two hoots - he just gets out of the van and does his business 😊It's also pretty close to where the folks are buried, so whenever I go here I try to go there too which is always nice for the soul.

November 13th, 2017 - Photo 317 of 365

The Vapors in London

Although I wasn't doing any bowel cancer book photography, and I only had my phone camera with me, I couldn't resist taking a few photos watching The Vapors at 229 The Venue in London on Friday night, and this particular photo is one of the best ones I reckon.

The band are back together after a 35 year break! When I met lead singer Dave Fenton at the beginning of 2015 for the Lives & Times charity book there was no hint of any reunion. This was the second time I have seen them, and they are getting better and better. Of course they are best remembered for 'Turning Japanese', but their two stand out tracks for me are 'News At Ten' and 'Letter From Hiro'. In fact on Friday night these were performed back to back, so I was blown away. I am now looking forward to seeing them in London next March. And I also have to meet guitarist, and top TV director,  Ed Bazalgette for my new bowel cancer fundraising book.

November 12th, 2017 - Photo 316 of 365

Paddington Station

Paddington Station on a Friday night. It was towards the end of the rush hour, so maybe not quite as many people there as there would be at the peak. It's something that always fascinates me how so many people's journeys begin from the same place at the same time. You can look at anyone in the photo, and wonder what their story is...

November 11th, 2017 - Photo 315 of 365

Iconic Sign

The London Underground sign outside tube stations in the capital, is perhaps one of the most iconic sights around the capital. This particular one is outside Regent's Park Station on the Bakerloo Line, and last night I used it for the first time ever when I went to see The Vapors play live at the 229 The Venue in Great Portland Street. The station is right on the Euston Road, and I took the photo as I walked back towards it after the concert beginning my journey home.

November 10th, 2017 - Photo 314 of 365

Pullingshill Wood

Very close to work, not far from Bockmer End is Pullingshill Wood. I don't go this way very often with its narrow windy road, but I did so today, and it looks pretty stunning at this time of the year. Apparently the wood was used in World War One for training the troops in trench warfare. How on earth anything as beautiful as this could have prepared anyone for the real-life horrors of the trenches I have no idea...

November 9th, 2017 - Photo 313 of 365

R2D2 Suitcases

You sometimes see the strangest things, and today on my work travels I caught sight of these two discarded R2D2 suitcases! What a fabulous bit of Star Wars merchandise. 

November 8th, 2017 - Photo 312 of 365

Darfield Churchyard

Over the years, especially going back 20 years or so, my regular work trips up the M1 were either to Leeds or Hull, and so it was rare for me to deviate off the motorway. I rarely go up north for work these days, but this week I spent an hour in Darfield, which is a small village just outside Barnsley. If you look closely in the photo that figure is Ian McMillan, the writer, poet and broadcaster who I was meeting for the new bowel cancer charity book. I was just giving Prince I quick pit stop in the beautiful churchyard before our meeting. The church dates back to the 11th century, and Ian was a fountain of knowledge about the village, having lived there all his life, and was a fascinating man to meet, and talk to.

November 7th, 2017 - Photo 311 of 365

Vinyl

There is something quite special, and magical about an independent record shop selling vinyl. You have to hunt through the records in search of what you want, and even then you still might not find it. I remember first coming up to London record shopping in 1980, and a day simply wasn't long enough to get round a fraction of the shops. I used to love collecting rare records, and still have a few of them up in the loft. This photo was taken in Sister Ray, which is a store in the heart of Soho, and I was there on bowel cancer book business this afternoon. 

November 6th, 2017 - Photo 310 of 365

Cusworth Hall Museum

I was at Cusworth Hall Museum today, which is located just outside Doncaster, and the Grade I listed building enjoys stunning views across the town. It was the most glorious autumn day, and I was on book photo duty covering 400 miles to get a couple of photos done for the new bowel cancer charity book.

November 5th, 2017 - Photo 309 of 365

Reflections

I always like seeing still waters and the mirrored reflections that you can sometimes see. This man made lake at work is a relatively new addition to the farm, but it gave up a great photo to me...

November 4th, 2017 - Photo 308 of 365

Back Garden View

The moon always looks stunning when there is a bit of cloud cover around. I got a fairly good photo tonight with my camera, especially as it was hand held. I really must get my tripod out, and go for it properly. However I had to be quick tonight with the fireworks, and making sure Prince was ok.

November 3rd, 2017 - Photo 307 of 365

Pea Souper

This morning's fog wasn't a true pea souper, but by our own standards this was probably as thick a fog as we have had for a few years. I took this photo in Henley, and you could not see across the River Thames to the opposite bank. The worst fog I can ever remember was when Mum attempted to drive us from Maidenhead to Wokingham when we were very young, and she had to turn back. And no, I am not going to speculate as to her driving skills back then 😉

November 2nd, 2017 - Photo 306 of 365

Black & White

There appears to be a black and white photo challenge doing the rounds at the moment. I am not doing it, but if I were to, then this would be today's photo. I spent the day making large polythene bags on the bench at work from this roll of film...

November 1st, 2017 - Photo 305 of 365

Noel & Prince

Prince had a special treat today as Noel came along for our lunchtime walk in the fields at work in Medmenham, so there was definitely an extra bounce in his step. The continuing mild weather made it absolutely lovely, and not even a close shave with two snappy dogs off their leads could spoil it.