It’s been another surreal day, including a trip in a car with two dead dogs (well, their ashes anyway) and an epic train journey – this week, it’s all been a bit intense to say the least.

In a few short weeks these three become an official ‘family’. Neil (left) and his long-term partner, Simon will be taking the big step of a civil partnership ceremony. They’ve been an unofficial family for many years already and as we’ve now legalised ‘gay marriages’, (yeah, yeah, I know they’re not actual marriages) they’ve decided to proclaim their feelings in a civil ceremony. Their ‘boy’ Jake won’t be there on the day, but I will.

I am their official photographer. A great honour for me for two reasons, firstly because I have known Neil for thirteen years and he’s truly ‘one of the good guys’ and secondly because I’m getting to add another string to my photographic bow in as much as I’ve not done a civil ceremony before.

Today, after a 130 mile scoot down to London, I met Neil and we did a ‘reccie’ on the venue for his ‘big day’, then I went to meet Simon so we could break the ice and make sure they’re comfortable with me photographing them together on the day.

The loving look of Jake, the tenderness in Neil’s expression and the cross-linking of the three is really nicely symbolic for the day.

Apparently Simon was a bit nervous about meeting me and to tell the truth I reciprocated that feeling but within a few minutes we were all getting on ‘like a house on fire’ and I think it was well-worth the investment in time to do this thing today.

Even in the stifling heat of today, I found myself enjoying the experience of meeting this lot!

What I needed last year was 'a man after midnight' - and I got one!