Sunday Spring Colour

Spring finally arrives in central England, so Sunday brought more people out into the country. I took the opportunity to visit Wilstone Reservoir for a change, parking close to Wilstone Cemetery, but the wildlife had been up early and avoided human contact!

I then went to Grantchester and Linton to enjoy some quiet time with my elder daughter at Linton C of E Primary school where she teaches, to help her tidy the classroom for the onslaught when the children return after the Easter break. Here is a small gallery of the colour I found that day.

AA, ECU, LR, PS and QC at Xmas!

Free time has been scarce over this Christmas period, so a gallery of images taken around the village probably a week ago, have yet to be sorted and displayed. Having time together with both my daughters was great, and afforded the opportunity to take some shots of my elder daughter’s neighbourly birds, as I waited for the arrival of the AA man!
Why was I waiting for this visit?
– On the journey over to Grantchester, my car’s display was trying to get a message to me via an orange engine symbol warning light on the dashboard. I also detected a misfire. The AA man arrived in a skid, that gave me cause for concern over his abilities as a driver, but his lack of acumen in this department was not reflected in his diagnostic ability, fortunately!
He checked that his initial diagnosis was backed up, by thoroughly checking that the ECU (Electronic Control Unit) was sending the right signals, and that the fault lay with the Coil Pack. It was not taking the signal that produced the spark for Cylinder Two, and guess what? It was a chunky, sealed unit, that from bitter experience I knew was going to be costing me a three-figure sum; but not on Christmas Day. Nor on the day after, nor the day after that! I have now purchased four new spark plugs and this coil pack, and so my car has certainly had its fair share of Christmas presents – far more than I have spent on others or myself over the same period! It is also due a service, so it is in for a Happy New Year too!

I am currently awaiting confirmation of a trip to Paris to help an Italian, Paris-based fashion photographer with Lightroom and Photoshop workflow, and retouching for close on a week. Eurostar’s mishaps caused a postponement of this venture from the inter-regnum twixt Christmas and the New Year.

My using both iChat and Skype over the last few days has helped several photographers remotely, from as far as the South of France and as near as north and south London, and somehow allowed me the time to send in an initial submission to Quality Control (QC) at Picture Library, Alamy – I learnt this had been accepted just yesterday, so when I can spare the time I shall be getting some of my work up there, for sale.

Stop Press – News – The Paris Training Trip is booked, but my mobile number will still reach me.

Burwash and Grantchester

For the first time in a long while, I joined both Catherine and Lizzy together for day at Grantchester. Driving over was in sunshine, but it was not long before the forecast squally wintry showers arrived. The intention had been to go for a walk at Wandlebury, but when the clouds parted after lunch we made for Burwash – a farm dedicated to the crafts and to families with young children.

As we approached, the sun came through under thundrous dark clouds with that amazing brilliance that seems only to come after rain, I unpacked the camera as we arrived at the farm, and immediately tried to capture some of the intense colours and dramatic lighting.

Due to misunderstandings on my part, I then proceeded to muck up the photographs the others were trying to capture, but I am hoping I am forgiven. The rest of the gallery are shots of textures, lighting and family, taken there and back at Grantchester.