After some hard core decorating (no, that's not me painting in my underpants) we decided to go out for a little walk on Elsted common (near Midhurst).  Here's a few images.

....and a Happy New Year to you all. 

A few weeks ago Evan's auntie bought a soft bunny for the baby.  The idea being that Evan would give it to the baby.  Yeah...right!  He now loves the bunny.  Each morning he says "I will give it to baby...I will put it in baby's cottage....tomorrow." 

Quick stop today...trying to continue with the office move, playroom decoration etc etc etc

Rachel and Richard -- Tithe Barn, Ditcham -- Tuesday, December 30, 2008

For some reason, every week shoes just appear in the most amazing places

12:11


Devil/Angel with a Blue/Off White Dress On


I spy with my little eye...


As Orville would say "I wish I could fly....but I can't" -- "YOU CAN!"

Shavers Only

Nigel from The Topiary Company worked his usual magic!

I wouldn't call Richard my most camera happy groom...so I had to get what I could, when I could

Oh the times I've seen this!

Just finishing off his New Year's Honours List

Before you ask, yes...the chap in the back was my selected focal point

Garage door...I'm in heaven!

..."and a Happy New Year"

Self-serve bitter...nice!

I just love catching things like this...

Bestest Man

Clink

Scratch and sniff takes on a whole new meaning

Why use a match when a flame thrower will do?

Line'm up...its barn dance time

Think of a wonderful thought...any happy little thought

I'm moving furniture...well more like appliances and cupboard units.  I was desperate enough to go knocking next door to ask one of 'the boys' to come help me move something.  Cost me some beer but I'm guessing its well worth it.  I can get down to bid-ness tomorrow first thing.

As promised, some Evan holiday cheer.  Nothing great, just stuff 'round the house etc etc etc

At the Christmas tree farm (3 weeks ago mind you)

Tractor ride to the tree fields

In his best Lou...or is that Andy...."I want that one"

In a rare twist of fate the tangled light fairy failed to stop by.  Evan made up for any loss of frustration however.

Surprised to see his bare chested Baywatch style tree ornament from last year

You give mummy a single job ... get E and I in the same shot, whilst he hoists his homemade (nursery made actually) angel to the top of the tree.  Excuse me...what happened to ME?

Evan places baby Jesus as the final touch to our Christmas decorations

Playing a shepherd for the very first time in the St Peters nativity

Kung Fu Shepherd!

This may be it for a week or so...have a Merry Christmas and a Happy You New ... sorry ... New Year

I really hate to be brief...its not in my nature.  But since I've already written some blurb and Mr ButterLinks here click on the wrong button and lost the lot.  In summary it goes like this:

• I have Christmas themed family photos...but I'm slammed with stuff to do so I haven't done it
• The conversion is nearing completion (hence being slammed)
• Notley Abbey is lovely, but purple lights means purple people
• The eagle flies at midnight

Cara and Alex -- Notley Abbey -- Saturday December 20, 2008

A rather grand entry to Notley Abbey

Oh look...a pair of shoes, just sitting delicately on the corner of the bath

More 'tubbed' themes...I need a shower

Bridesmaid in FlyVision

Work it baby, work it (his words, not mine)

Bride and Grooms...they get younger every year!

For once the expression "need a hand" wasn't really appropriate

Yes, I know everything wrong with this photo...but I can't beat that look!

5000ISO at F2.  Damn I love technology!

4:15 -- 2 days before the shortest day of the year -- I'm impressed!

Inside the reception there was a big screen with a slideshow of family photos throughout the years

Most, however, gave up after seeing Alex's fro

That is one fine cake!  And now you can see the purple haze.  It was fine where the spotlights overpowered it.

Christmas Cracker!

Oh yes!  The 'Speech Lottery' rides again!

"WhatyoutalkingaboutWillis?"

Alex grins, the lovely lady behind laughs, no one can see his hands....hmmm...coincidence?

Is he at it again?

Busted!

In the words of Father Jack..."Drink?  Oh Yes!"

Its not only the Tories getting arrested at inappropriate moments these days

5000...AGAIN!  I'm feeling faint here!

In all honesty...I totally blew this shot.  But when I looked at it against the 'proper' one and realised its potential, I reckon it was a fortunate accident

In the shower...and I'm not making that up!

Lit by a closet.  Can't say that everyday

I wonder what that could be?

There's a hint here!

As he said "he is Jewish after all!"

And a few from Darren...Who I call Tenacious D...or perhaps now Tenacious 5D!  Why...well, now I've been able to give him a 5D to use I suddenly got about a double return rate on his images.  I always said there were better images but his camera let him down -- yes, that's right, the £2500 camera I used to let him use.   

The Tenacious 5D

I saw him set this up from the window.  I screamed "BOY BAND" -- what he didn't realise was.....

....he had already gotten the money shot 5 minutes earlier!

Wasn't just me who loved the cake then?

How does D always find these great picture caption competition moments?

I just love the texture...dad, granny, Alex...sweet

Evan and his songs....nursery are having a Christmas 'show' in a week or so.  With that comes a number of songs that we have to learn.  Evan is quite charismatic at singing.  Sadly pitch isn't his forte.  We've got one song that sounds more like a rap.  We'll see.

He is getting the hang of 'We Wish You A Merry Christmas'.  However, it ends with ...'and a happy you new'.  The best one is Jingle Bells.  He'll sit in the back of the car and sing ever so softly 'jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way'.  A bit more mumbling and then a very loud "HEY!".

All of this is quite satisfying...what isn't satisfying is whenever he goes out in the new car with his mummy he comes back singing "Mamma Mia! Here we go again" etc etc etc. 

Got some new toys this week...so I've been trying out a new lens to see its tolerances.  As a result I'm going to pop a few images on the blog which were quite nice.  Not entirely sure its the right focal length for the images but that was the deal.  I still need to do the Christmas tree shots...haven't forgotten.

Our friends Gary and Angela Hector just had their second baby, Tate!

Very dark but there was a good side lamp on

Evan helps his mummy with Christmas wrapping then proceeds to 'blow me away' with the paper roll

A photo to strike fear into the hearts of parents worldwide

Whilst I have a few great shots of Evan from the weekend...the weekend where we got our tree and decorated our house for Christmas.  These will have to wait.  With broadband upgrade installs, a dodgy bit on the car, the unexpected arrival of the builder (hey, who's complainin') and short visit from the 'time wasting fairy' I've been caught out today.  So I'm sticking to business and getting to H and George's wedding.  Sadly ladies, not H from Steps but Howard from Eastbourne (but my H is probably better looking).

Georgina and Howard -- Four Seasons Hampshire / Bury Court Barn -- Saturday, 6 December 2008

Its one of those shots that makes a Daddy teary...not me, I ain't got a girl

So people are so dramatic :)

Mirror, mirror in the hall

Robbie got a new toy!  'Ring' me for more info

George said I did a 'colombo' roll to get to this side of the bed...what's that?

H was clearly keen on the 3 for 2 at the card shop

Hotel Graffiti

You can 'ring' my bell

A hug for Dad

A rather expensive duster

Il Dude-o

George makes it down the aisle in one piece....

...which is more than they could say for Dad

Who knew a 4 part Gospel (should that be capitalised) could sound so darn good

If you can't beat em.....

Perhaps the more priceless expression is of that of the lady on the right...it was at this point that everyone realised that not only had Father Christmas come to visit, he brought a couple of his reindeer pals with him

"Ok fat man...leave my sister alone and nobody gets hurt"

We did very little B&G stuff...that because this is the Georgina and Howard of football stadium fame.  By cashing in their chips for an engagement shoot, they felt they could spend more time with their guests

BCB ... in all its glory (perhaps I should spell out Bury Court Barn for my Google ranking)

The moment he realised that instead of collecting his speech it was, in fact, his hoover warranty

"he knows how to use a hoover...hah"

BCB (Bury Court Barn for Mr Google) is one of the easiest places on Earth to shoot guests

See!

A little late in the day for flower shots...luckily my iPhone 'ring'ed to remind me

You wouldn't understand

I'm no slave to WB

1 minute of hold and sway and then all hell broke loose!

I think this is the mashed potato

Doing the 'ring' dance

And now a few from the tenacious D (Darren to you and me)

Sneaky ... my set up ... a different angle.  UNCLE BOB!

Nice

So rewarding...last time we worked at BCB together I told him "get a motion shot leaving".  Might as well have been speaking German.  This time, he knew exactly what to do, set it up, waited for his moment and BANG!

Nice, little, reindeer....

I like to send him out wide during the formals

Honestly...I don't charge people for Darren...I take it on the chin.  Perhaps I'm missing a beat here?