Last week was the end of an era, my notebook, I have been writing in for a few years is full. So from last Sunday evening it was time for new memories to begin, as i started to write in a new notebook.

Last week is always a tough one, it was harder than normal, but camera therapy, worked its magic.

In 30yrs of secretly helping people, I got found out, one rule in life is never lie, so when asked, if it was me, I said yes. In the grand scheme of things, it is no big deal.

So then getting asked if, I was one of those eccentric millionaire's , just smiled and said something like that.

So as our tree, got taken away, we now, sit up on the old coastguard tower, but walking along the shore, to the far end plenty of nice bits to sit, as well, as loads of benches. We have sat on a few, giving them a score. Nothing higher than a 6 so far.

An extra walk this week, as I will not be able to work, after the hospital tomorrow, so Tuesday morning all being well, an extra beach day.

Today was quite fantastic, 8hrs of photography, I took just over 2700 pictures, most I have ever taken in a day. I got a picture I have been chasing for over 6yrs, a species of dragonfly in flight, then add in the bonus of them egg laying.

Why does she say you are just like Penny and Vince,the apprentice asked today. I just laughed for we are Just good friends. Too young to get that one.

Looking at the time , latest blog for a while, those 2700 pictures are now down to around 250, which is still a lot, but they will get culled as I look closer.


Golden Ringed dragonfly, our longest.

Emerald Damselfy, my favourite, the colours are what it is all about.

I need to say, I am truly sorry, I deleted last weeks picture and then reposted it, but, I had not noticed, that Arti and Mitch had left a comment, I am very sorry in doing what, I done.

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It's the tiny things in life.

I had to put the winter coat on yesterday morning, only one layer below it and a pair of gloves, summer 2024 in Ayrshire. My own garden got hit pretty hard with the wind the other day, beautiful bed of lupins, one day next broken flower spikes made for a very sad sight for me, but you shake yourself down and get on with it.

Not been on here much, not even sure if logged in till Friday, I think the first thing I saw, was the message saying have you seen the groups , well something along those lines, never even had a look at that page.

I go back into hospital in 4 weeks. Got my letter yesterday.

One bit of sad news, when going to the beach on Friday, the council had been down on Friday and had a tidy one of the items tidied our seat, that old bit of tree, that had been there for years is gone. We looked at each other at the same time, the beach buddy said,, done it's job, guess it did,

So much other things have happened since the last blog. My photography has been a joy, got some really nice pictures, I got a picture printed, it hangs above a bed now,

I have a little folder, it is called Borders, last night I put the 114th picture in this , since I started it, that was when I really saw, how photography has really changed for me The new camera I say it is like cheating at times, I thought it took the joy away a bit with the new tech in it, but I saw it, last night that it really has just made it, so much better.

I have now been asked to give another talk, it was supposed to be just a one off, but now 3, some one listening to my last one, took something from it, she has now started to do pencil sketches , carries a little book, sits and justs draws, you have a knack she said, .


A picture speaks, the words that are in you head at times.

I had to put the winter coat on yesterday morning, only one layer below it and a pair of gloves, summer 2024 in Ayrshire. My own garden got hit pretty hard with the wind the other day, beautiful bed of lupins, one day next broken flower spikes made for a very sad sight for me, but you shake yourself down and get on with it.

Not been on here much, not even sure if logged in till Friday, I think the first thing I saw, was the message saying have you seen the groups , well something along those lines, never even had a look at that page.

I go back into hospital in 4 weeks. Got my letter yesterday.

One bit of sad news, when going to the beach on Friday, the council had been down on Friday and had a tidy one of the items tidied our seat, that old bit of tree, that had been there for years is gone. We looked at each other at the same time, the beach buddy said,, done it's job, guess it did,

So much other things have happened since the last blog. My photography has been a joy, got some really nice pictures, I got a picture printed, it hangs above a bed now,

I have a little folder, it is called Borders, last night I put the 114th picture in this , since I started it, that was when I really saw, how photography has really changed for me The new camera I say it is like cheating at times, I thought it took the joy away a bit with the new tech in it, but I saw it, last night that it really has just made it, so much better.

I have now been asked to give another talk, it was supposed to be just a one off, but now 3, some one listening to my last one, took something from it, she has now started to do pencil sketches , carries a little book, sits and justs draws, you have a knack she said, .


A picture speaks, the words that are in you head at times.

To appreciate anything in life, we have to fall in love with it. Two years ago on Thursday was when I had my stroke. I will celebrate it in some way. More than likely in just giving thanks for being still able to do, what I can. It is not always easy.

I listen to my body more, that is for sure, I probably still do more, than I should, but learning all the time. I have been sleeping better as well. My body and mind, has always have to be worked for me to sleep, if I have easy days, It is a waste of time trying to sleep.

I give myself little projects and have been lucky enough to have been helping someone else with a few around her very large garden, it is a truly beautiful place, even got its own little wood and a stream running through it. A very large greenhouse full of nice things. Flower beds with so many nice things and a very large vegetable patch and fruit trees and bushes.

It is one of her grand daughters, I am going to teach photography too. easy in a place like this, point a camera anywhere and you have something, my favourite thing in this place is the life.

I was getting told how fantastic her time had been at a Taylor Swift concert, how it was close too 4 hrs of just brilliance, when I said, not sure, I have ever heard a Taylor Swift song, as bad as her gran, I was told. At 15, I wondered who, I would have been listening too Blondie.

Now I have Blondie songs running through my head.

Cher sung about turning back time, but you know what, not sure I want too,, this future is looking bright.

A week of high's and low's for sure.

My hospital visit to the specialist never went great. More injections needed, every 2 months apart this time, I was a a bit deflated to be honest, for all I can see the difference , it still can be better. So a plan put in place and that is it.

I gave a talk on Thursday night to around 30 people, Been a little while since I have done anything like that, but it went very well , after my afternoon, it was just what I needed. I just get into a flow, bit like my writing on here.

I got to sit on the beach once it was done, sat past the sunset, well there was none, but sharing a fish supper and just talking. Simple but important things in life.

Friday, I gave the talk more of a thinking as I walked in the rain, full winter gear on, only thing missing was my beanie. I have since been asked to give another one in November. I never even got the chance to say no. One of the comments I got was, I just speak so plain and simple, no fancy words or anything like that. , but that is all I know, it is what I am.

If I was asked to stop being on here, would I, simple answer is yes in an instance. I can never hide this place , I have always been open about it, if I have been seeing someone, the ideal once might have been to meet someone again from here, but I was lucky enough to do that once, it changed my life and will always be grateful for that, lightening might have struck twice, but life does not work like that, The ideal is actually where ever it does happen and more important who with.

I have another photography apprentice, she is just in the process of picking out a camera and some lenses. Thankfully it will be a Canon system, makes things easier for me, that is for sure.

I am loving learning all about the new camera, it makes things so easy at times, you still have to see what is there, but when you can handhold so much more now, it is kind of freeing.


I got this one Friday night, harsh light, my first picture of a Roe Deer on the camera, was heading to shoot orchids when she rose from some long grass, thankfully had a long lens on.

Back to work tomorrow, not something that has ever bothered me. Weather wise , yesterday was the best of the whole break, but I have had a fantastic time. I got too sit on the comfy bit on the log on Friday, as I had done something good for someone.

I met someone the other day, who I took an instant dislike too, nothing will ever change that , before I ever speak to someone, I get a feeling about them.

I also have another photo apprentice, who might love taking pictures even more than me, watching them just take out the phone and xxxxxxxx something, made me smile, but they do have the large camera as well.

Why complicate something so simple.

The big day on Thursday go and see the specialist.


Why did you stop taking more shots like this, I was asked meaning the landscape type thing, good question, I am sure one day I will go back to it, but the smaller things are making me smile more just now, but then I do smile a lot now .

I was walking this morning and had to seriously think what day it was, eventually worked out it was Wednesday . We had a thunderstorm last night, lasted a while, which is unusual for us.

I got asked yesterday, why I have not stopped working, but I still like working, I like the process, I am going to cut my hours down when I hit 60. that is a start. One day I might just wake up and that could be me finished.

One funny thing with this holiday has been, that usually by now I starting to want to be back at work, but not this time so far.

I have been occupied in a lot of different ways. Later today, I have a dead tree to cut down in the garden where I cut the grass, been a while since, I have done any chainsaw work, but it is not that big.

Life has sure taken a good turn. The power of positivity and being thankful, a body that has adapted and a brain that just keeps asking questions. Being in the right place at the right time and for some reason waking one morning and thinking, time for the beach.

Choose your questions wisely and ask them.


I have been so lucky recently in what mother nature,has let me see. I was coming in the gate the other night and saw this bee, having camera in hand was lucky, more luck followed, when, I focused on it, moving from one flower to another, one picture from this set, has already been claimed and will be printed by the end of this week. I really liked this one.

It has been over a week since, I got the new camera and much could be said. sat yesterday and wondered where it , will all be in another 10yrs.

Quite a few micro adventures this week, been to the coast 3 times, been to the woods and yesterday, we climbed a hill, too the spot, I like to get butterflies and dragons. weather was all over the place, when we had to leave, sun had just came out and it stayed out for most of the day.

Some things, just feel so right.

I got to mow a lawn yesterday evening, I miss not having grass in the garden, I like to cut nice stripes in the grass, then edged the edges, the garden is nicely laid out and had a lot more insect life than mine. The payment was worth it too.

I Have another week off, going to change my holidaying next year, really fell into a habit each year. same old same old.

I am truly moving on with life now, six months or so, since I started , baby steps at first, like my year plan, I use to do, But with a big step as well, this big step is the hard one, early days, but we will see.

Someone said to me, yesterday, I was like an onion, but the layers seem never ending.

I will leave it there for now, will see how this all goes, will report back at some point.

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Macro photography comes in many forms, bit like life. I like the single image, some stack many pictures to get there results, I will try it, eventually for I am able to do it now . Damsels and like yesterday dragonflies, I can spend hours, just watching them. This one joined us on a bench, next thing, I am kneeling in a puddle, to get to its level.