Sounds like a great day, Derek. Such a shame to miss Ikea!

Given the rumours about the 100 year anniversary you may have been a tad premature.

I tried Raw Therapee but dumped it when I found that Lightroom 6 and later will handle pixel shift, although I don’t know about handheld shots. That’s an impressive result!

Thanks Gwyn, and a happy Christmas to you all. Couldn't make my mind up so here are two:

If you have a particular area of expertise then exploit that. For tours then good quality accommodation and food goes a long way, with well planned stops and locations that can cater off season for a largish group. Also if you need a minibus to ferry people around then a clean newish model gives a better impression. These things may not be some people’s priority but they are on a holiday of sorts and shortcomings in these matters can spoil the overall experience.

I agree, nothing worse than getting a taxi from Marylebone, getting as far as High Street and coming to a standstill with the meter clicking away. I took to walking my two mile journey more when the weather was kind.

Thanks David, Central was nearest to me but it now looks as if all assessments are at HQ now, Central has none at all in next year’s calendar.

Thanks Bill, I was scrutinising Google maps and looking at that area, my only concern is that as more Paintworks buildings become operational then the streets will soon fill up!

In a moment of vanity I thought about applying for a distinction from the RPS, but checking their website all assessment days will be held at their new HQ in The Paintworks, Bristol. One small car park for the whole development with 3 hour max. parking, nothing for the HQ building at all, so parking elsewhere and using a bus or taxi. Brilliant. Train routes do not connect with where I live other than a tortuous skip around the country with three changes so not viable. People coming from all over the country but nowhere to park, what precious idiot thought this was a good location? So the only option is to cart your portfolio of mounted photos on public transport. Maybe not really a topic for this forum but I just had to let off steam.

I went on a Light and Land trip to Northumberland in November and generally I enjoyed the trip. For much less money I could have booked into the hotel and explored myself but I know I wouldn’t without the incentive; that also applies to the pre-dawn starts. It was a largish group of twelve or fourteen with two well-known tutors and we all bonded well over the few days. There was however some confusion over the agenda down to the lack of communication between L&L and the tutors, and the amount of personal attention I received was minimal with the tutors doing their own thing for some of the time.

So, I came away with some great photos and learned one or two things but the location is popular with photo tours and in hindsight I would have done at least as well with a smaller group and for less expense, there was one starting from the same hotel on the day we left.

When I got back I said I wouldn’t do another, but now I am thinking about one for next year but with a different company and a more modest budget. I know that many pros are turning to these tours as an income source so I thought going with a couple of big names would be of most benefit but now I don’t think so. Bear in mind this is just my experience of one trip with L&L and it was the last one these tutors were doing as they were busy setting up their own tour company, so may not be typical.

Aah, but is it weather resistant? The two main Pentax flashes are but not risked them in the rain yet!