Dontcha just lurve that wall??? Well, even if you don’t, I do!

I am so thrilled with it even though behind me is unpainted because of that bloody wet plaster. Still bloody, still wet!

Anyway, what’s tonight’s tale going to be?

Well, it’s one of contortions and release.

You see, for whatever bizarre reason, I find myself sitting typing my photo diary four years after starting it, having never missed a single day. OK, I know that on a reasonably high proportion of days, my photos can’t be described as ‘great art’ and on an equally large proportion of days, my drivel is, well, just that, drivel! But, it’s always been honest and true to what I think, however unpalatable that has sometimes been to those reading it.

As I’ve said before, if we all thought the same and did the same, the world would be a dull, dull place and not one I’d want to be a part of. In fact, I can quite honestly say that I am, on the whole, completely happy with the way my diary has all gone, with one single exception in terms of an ‘entry’ (the bath episode – the most sordid thing I’ve done since starting, in my view) and another one where I really big-time pissed off my (very lovely) little sister, which I deeply regret and it opened me up to attack in a deeply disturbing way from someone who thought they could get at me through her…..that was also very sordid.

I’ve been through many, many contortions to keep this up, shooting photos from train windows, aeroplane windows, my desk and a whole load of very non-photogenic locations. I’ve paced the house at ten o’clock at night looking for something to say and or something to photograph. I’ve arrived home from a sixteen hour work day and still found the resource somewhere within to ‘find a shot’.

I’ve released a whole load of nonsense and a whole load of personal stuff out there into the world with little or no control over where it goes and who sees it.

Many ‘blasts from the past’ have presented themselves to me through these pages……some more welcome than others!

There have been moments of pure joy – walking up to the Holiday Inn in NYC and meeting Jill, Lara and Jeanne for the first time, after being ‘chauffeured’ there by Mark was probably the first of many great memories.

I’m still tired but on my way into the house after work, I raised enough interest in my surroundings to spot this Corylus Avellana Contorta (still waiting for me to find the ‘perfect spot’ for it after I bought it last autumn from the Duchy’s ‘sorry corner’) and noticed that its lambs’ tails had relaxed and let go, releasing their pollen – a sure sign spring is here. So, I brought it in and here it is – it looks to me like it should have a ‘Japonica’ after its name and although it really hasn’t, I think for tonight I will add the moniker to its name in honour of the ‘Japonica’ stylee of the shot. BTW - for those that care, it's common name is 'twisted hazel'!

Will I be back tomorrow – who knows, maybe it’s time to let go myself…….but then again, maybe it’s time for more contortions. I do know that keeping it up has often been more about sheer bloody-minded stubborn-ness than about being driven for my art!

Last year, I was photographing my 'rogue's gallery' - it no longer exists since the bathroom was 'done'!