25/52 Jodie (Octabox trial)

This is my angel Jodie, lit by my latest aquisition on the lighting front, a huge octabox. We had a play to see what it could do :0)

24/52 Hi-key Adventure

We had some fun playing with some sheer fabric and a Lastolite Hilite background this week. I borrowed some kit from a fellow photographer, set up for hi-key images, and finally succeeded in mastering how to collapse a pop-up! You get what you pay for - don't be tempted by cheap imitations!

23/52 I'll have a red one please

Today I had the chance to take a closer look at a fabulous red Fiat 500. Perhaps when my ship comes in and I don't need a sensible family car any more, I might get one ;0) It's on my wish list! But only if I can have a red one!

22/52 Croots Farm Cup Cake Treat

Jodie and I visited Croots Farm to take alook at the new Shire horse foals and have a treat. We also sampled some of the delights in the farm shop and we shall be making it a regular thing - delicious.

21/52 Sunny spells, scattered showers

The clematis montana that grows through our tamarisk tree is once again in full bloom, each flower stretching up and opening out towards the sun.

20/52 Daisy Chain

Jodie picked daisies on the way home from school, so I said pick them with the stems long and I'll make a daisy chain when we get home.

19/52 Make a wish!

My boy is now 12. Where'd the time go??

18/52 Don't Pick the Bluebells!

Bluebells at Calke, they always remind me of a Giles cartoon, a cover on one of the annuals: the extended family have a day out to the country, arriving at a wood full of bluebells, and a sign that says don't pick them, and the back cover shows their bus heading off up the lane with a blue haze at all the windows, the wood bereft of bluebells! Classic.

17/52 Tea Room & Garden, Lacock

Lacock is an idyllic village, National Trust owned, not a satellite dish or TV aerial in sight. Period dramas have been filmed here - Candleford for example. Beautiful.

16/52 Magnolia Stellata

Caught this Magnolia bloom in Allestree Park. There used to be a pale pink magnolia in the front garden of the house opposite ours, but a few years ago they removed the whole garden and had the frontage completely covered with tarmac. I really miss their magnolia, it was in bloom when Kim was born, and reminded me of her every year after. So now our own drive has been landscaped - bucking the trend here, we have re-instated garden! - we'll be planinting a Magnolia Stellata, Stellata meaning star, and that's very appropriate as we said to Oliver at the time, Kim's gone to be a star (he was only 3).