Down to Oxford today for Alexander’s first birthdy party. It’s going to be a big celebration with both sides of the family and some friends. We were going to go yesterday, staight after my Creative Writing and John’s midday client - stay in a Premier Inn for a night as Martin was in Cardiff for the rugby and Fiona and I wouldn’t be able to get John up the slope into the house. (Steps out of the question, and grass too steep in the dark) Anyway, John was feeling really sick on Wednesday, and on Thursday evening he noticed his lower leg was red and swollen. He self-diagnosed cellulitis. He had it before at the time he did his parachute jump. ANyway, first thing on Friday we rang the (stand-in) doctor, who asked if John shouldn’t be in hospital. He assured her no, and she prescribed anit-biotics over the phone. However, John has to keep his leg up, so we didn’t go to Oxford. I’m going today, and will just stay overnight. It’s 7.30 now. I just need to do some local shopping, then pack a few things, mainly laptop, two cameras with about 5 lenses between them, my Kindle with all its books, and maybe a change of underwear Oh, and Alexander’s pressies.

Better go now. Conscious that I haven’t written for a while again. I think it’s cos I have some photos, and I need to get them on to the laptop. Mostly fungus and snowdrops. Birds not much in evidence with the cold and wind lately. I thought I might make an effort and enter Am Photographer’s Photographer of the Year this year. The first theme is ‘Shooting Trees’ so I’ve been brainstorming the idea. Just things like shape, colour, texture, momement, sillhouettes, zooming in, bark, fallen trees etc. at the moment. I need to think of an original idea. And then of course take a fantabulous photo. The secret of a good photo is the light. Light’s been rubbish lately. That’s my excuse anyway.