Capturing hilarity and humiliation in equal measure, meeting lovely people, and a chance to get on down to the disco beat whilst wielding several hundred pounds of camera and lighting equipment- I think I have found my perfect job! Brij (on the left!) and I in our element at Richard and Laura's wedding, before the clientele arrived...

But they came, in their hordes, bemused and bewildered when we suggested that we might like to try performing their favourite party trick for our camera's benefit. But perform they did...

...and we laughed...

...and  laughed, especially when Richard split his trousers...

All in all, FlashBangPhotoBooth's second outing was a roaring success!

A place to bake, and chat, and feel the warmth.

To take surreptitious swipes from the bowl. 

 And know that nobody will mind.

My very special friend Sue and her man joined us down at Hoggin the Bridge on Sunday and when they announced their wonderful news we turned an afternoon dog walk into an impromptu engagement shoot, at my request! Young love makes good photos, oui?

My fave (above)...Sue's fave below right....

Tell me those aren't natural smiles!

Aw! get a room guys!

This was such fun to do. I got very excited when I saw the flare potential...

...and just look at that huge ring!

My fave rock band were there at Hoggin' the Bridge too. They just get better and better!

Look, me again!

And another serious fan, Nicky... (and little Leon, though you can't quite see him, he's there)

The band seem to attract fans of all shapes and sizes- how cute is this one! Leather biker jacket and all...

And my heart's desire, seeing my man looking mean and menacing (he's a pussycat really...)

 

(This last inspired by my new friend Paul who I met on Saturday- thanks Paul!)

It's a day we enjoy every year- thousands of bikers and their Harleys (mostly) revving and throttling their way into Chepstow and imbuing the town with a kind of ageing-hippy biker-chic spirit. Lots of photo opps.

The kerb is a pretty precarious place to sit, but I trust that these guys know what they are doing!

The town steps adorned for the day in leather- it's a good look...

There's rarely any trouble, but the inevitable posturing and posing and sniffing of butts.

There I am again....

The ancient castle can't quite believe what's going on...

A quiet spot by the river to pass the time of day...

Oh, there was a great band playing too- but I'll post those tomorrow.

My babies. One of whom is very near to me at the moment...

and the other one, who is very far...

Miss you, olbol folderol xxx

PS, have you noticed how big my pics are getting these days? They are growing, along with my confidence! Look how tiny they were when I first started this blog. Teeny weeny, as if I hardly dared show them at all. Speaking of which, I am coming up to my 500th blog post and am planning a little celebration. Watch this space! You are all invited. Some other news following very soon regarding MNC. (My New Career!) Tenterhooks at the ready.....

x

I suggested a late walk as it was such a golden afternoon on Sunday. We got as far as the park when Sophie and I saw the blissful shards of yellow across the grass- we couldn't resist could we? So the boys to Miller to the mud and the woods and the girls stayed a while and played in the light...

....one loosens- the other tightens. that's motherhood. No sooner, it seems, than I was saying goodbye to Ollie for his first day back at school after so long at home, than we are to wish him bon-voyage for a 12 day overseas trip on a school exchange. Some transitions are toooooo hard to adjust to! But he's so positive about it and even wrote an excited email today to his new friend-in-a-foreign-land.

Of course, I had to take rite-of-passage pics to keep me going until he comes home.

These were taken in our white elephant of an extension... more than 7 months for one room and still not finished... but a concrete floor and lots of windows makes a great studio!

...although white faced boy and black faced dog make for challenging exposure issues! TG for LR2.

So outside to the 'garden studio', ha ha.

Hanging a swing bar in amongst a rambling rose may not be good for health and safety, but the rosehips make a pretty picture , don't they?

Ain't he gorgeous? Only answer if the answer is yes. Which it is.

I've gradually been working through the rest of the wedding images, and had to post a few more. I could get seriously addicted to photographing weddings!