Here comes the summer ..

Right, that's it! The sun's gone down on the shortest day of the year and we're officially rolling our way back to summer. Yee haaa..

As it's the Solstice, I have followed statutory regulations and played Jethro Tull's 'Ring out Solstice Bells', which I promptly followed up with The Undertones version of 'Here comes the summer' ..

The sun's setting as far from the north as it gets - although I took this shot two days ago and it's just as well I did .. it's absolutely poured down all day long .. but it won't belong before we're back to drought conditions and all this water will be long forgotten ..

I think I'll just see if my shorts fit ..

The longest day ..

The sun's gone down on the longest day of the year yesterday, and I couldn't resist shooting as the low back-light lit up our plants. It's fantastic to think we've now been in France for both the winter, and the summer solstice, and it won't be long until we're marking our first year here. There is, however, one other thing that really makes me feel that I've settled. I'm getting junk-mail. My own, personalised junk-mail .. in French. Oh mama, I've arrived ..

Moving on ..

It's exactly three months to the day since Lesley and I formed a little convoy and drove down to start living in France 'for good' .. and man, how time has flown. We've done so much in that short space of time, too. All our stuff is unpacked and has a place in our new house, and we've already made so many new friends here that we're having a meal for some of them this evening to thank them for their welcome ..

One lovely thing about our new house is that it has a clear view of the western sky, enabling us to see every sunset throughout the year (Unless it's cloudy, of course!!) As we near the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year, it's great to see the sun setting at its farthest position to the left. Another couple of days and it'll start moving back to the right. An Emirates A380 jet flew over at sunset yesterday, headed from Milan to New York and, thinking about our 750 mile journey, I couldn't help but wonder if people on the plane were heading off to start new lives of their own.

Lord, I don't half get sentimental at Christmas! ..

Downhill to summer ..

Time to wheel out Jethro Tull's 'Solstice Bells' for its one and only play in 2016.
It's the shortest day of the year and we're rolling downhill to summer. Bring it on ..

It's also time to cash in those hard-earned Nectar points. I've just bought 18 cans of 'free' beer with my Sainsbury's Nectar card. God knows how much I've actually had to spend over the year to get 'em ..

I think I've officially finished work for Christmas. A pr shoot at a birthday party yesterday was the last thing in my diary so, unless something urgent comes in, it looks like a long, leisurely rest for me until 2017. Perhaps I'll dig out some other records now I've got time ..

How about The Undertones and 'Here comes the summer'? ..

Here comes the summer ..

Right, that's the Shortest Day out of the way, and off we go towards summer.
I swear it got light a little earlier this morning!..

As you can tell, I'm not the biggest fan of wintertime, and my idea of heaven is being able to grumble at the cacophony that is the dawn chorus on a spring morning when it's already getting light by five. However, you make the most of what you've got, so my flash guns are charging, ready to light next Sunday's Wedding..

Last shoot of the year at the studio this morning - tomorrow's has been cancelled due to tonsillitis - but what a way to end 2015. I had the most awkward two-year-old I think I've ever had in the studio today, and I know I can say she was because Grandma agreed! She just would not play ball .. and then blew me a kiss as she left the studio! The kid, not Grandma! It brought a ray of sunshine to the morning..

Time passes ..

The Shortest Day of The Year! I love it! It's such a pyschological moment for me 'cos, in my head, that's winter done! Bizarre I know, but it really cheers me up to think that, from today, our half of the planet begins its spin back towards the sunshine and Spring is on its way! Well, kinda!..

Anyway, as per, I shall be playing Jethro Tull's 'Solstice Bells' and digging out my sunblock and swimming trunks..

Great shoot at StudioFiveFour yesterday with a one year old puppy. I should say a very happy one year old puppy, 'cos I had to feed him so many treats to get him to sit still that he left the studio about three pounds heavier! And, believe it or not, I still have a shoot booked in this coming week for a family who want to give a portrait of themselves as a present to their parents! Talk about last minute!..

A year ago I shot the last Wedding of the year for Manchester Wedding Photography, and I have a rather amusing story from the day. Twelve months on, and with the blessing of the bride, I think I'm now safe to tell the tale.
No time now, tell ya tomorrow..