That’s a really nice set of images, the first one caught my eye with those blue buildings lifting an otherwise monotone scene, and October for the perfectly placed deer and everything looking crisp.

Google it and all you get now is Middlesex University, I would far rather live in Middlesex than GLC but that’s soulless bureaucrats for you.

Great colours in 3 and 7! And sharp too.

Thanks Steve, I am relieved to hear it.

Ok last Christmassy thing before the decorations go back in the loft- why does my musical Santa include the Red Flag anthem in his repertoire? Was it a Christmas Carol tune at any time? Or is it subversive Chinese propaganda?

So how was your Christmas Day? Mine was spent photographing daughter's dog, the first time we have met. At first very prima donna-ish but eventually settled down, and then decided I was her new best friend so the evening TV was viewed with this large mutt lying on top of me!

The recent floods have brought hundreds of lapwings to the neighbourhood so I set out to take some shots with the K1 + 150-450mm zoom, all handheld. I haven't had much luck with birds in flight but being very skittish the birds flew round and around the field giving me the chance to have a go, both fixed focus and tracking mode. Here are a few from the day.





A couple of gulls for good measure



And finally:



I went back at dusk hoping for some nice light but sadly it clouded over and the birds were in shade.

I found an old bottle of Famous Grouse vintage malt at the back of the cupboard but when I googled it the value is now in three figures due to its rarity, which puts me in a quandary - do I just open it or leave it to maybe accumulate in value?

People regularly walk past my small front garden on their way to the shops and in the spring and summer when I am gardening they just say hello or stop for a quick chat, so I meet more neighbours that way. I occasionally hand out surplus plants or seeds and one time someone wanted some Centranthus for a themed funeral wreath. I take photos to put on Shutterstock and it is rewarding to see where my plants have been downloaded, from Oslo to New Zealand and many points between. Roll on the spring!

The real loss, apart from the quality produce, is the social aspect. We get to know the shopkeepers really well and the bakery in particular is a hub of village gossip and banter; its just not the same dealing with someone on a supermarket checkout who only wants to get through their shift or worse the awful self checkouts with their robotic bleeps. I just like walking down the road for a paper and call in for some pastries, or maybe just putting my head around the door and say to Donna, can you put aside a couple of Chelsea buns tomorrow please? She'll know who they are for without asking. Just chatting or saying good morning to others is a tiny but vital part of the fabric of life which is being eroded.