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But I have been busy. I've been working part-time, covering for maternity leave, since September for an amazing internet-based interior design company called F&P Interiors. As well as writing articles for the Lifestyle & Design magazine on their website, I am creating a few images for them along the way, too.

I'm absolutely loving it. The team are a great bunch and I'm learning so much about interior design, which I'm passionate about as I feel it is integral to wellbeing.

By chance, it is the company's 25th anniversary and I am involved in producing one article for every month this year showcasing one of the incredible artisan design houses they represent - altogether there are 120 independent brands! In addition to being published on the website, these articles will be reproduced in an e-book as a commemoration.

Recently, I updated some of the staff images, which includes a couple of office dogs. One of my favourite subjects. Hopefully I will have a chance to work some more with the four-legged models once the weather turns a little warmer and there are a few more daylight hours.

I have been working part-time for the innovative dementia day care enterprise Tapestry Day Club since May last year, redoing its website (words and pictures) as well as its social media and various other admin roles. It has hosts who welcome up to six guests into their family homes, providing transport, memory-boosting entertainment and a home-cooked, two-course lunch.

It is a true privilege to be involved in this and means so much to me as there is dementia in my family. My dad is currently living with Alzheimer's and has managed to slow down its progress through his lifestyle. I am so proud of him. He is always cheerful, with his sense of humour as sharp as ever.

The fact that someone's sense of humour remains, even if their memory doesn't, is what I wanted to portray in my hero shot for TDC. So that is why it was rather special that the two images I entered in the projected digital image Portrait of the Year at my local camera club earned first and second place.

The image that came first was entitled "Living well with Dementia". The story behind it is that the gentleman is rather proud of himself after having sneakily just cheated a tiny little bit, which his host Kerrie had just cottoned onto. The second-placed portrait is of another host, Sara, preparing lunch for her guests.

So, last night, I managed to gain top marks in last of the four rounds of the Capel Camera Club projected digital image league, making me the overall winner this season having scored five 10s in total.

What makes it particularly meaningful is that I scored three of those with horse portraits from one shoot, all judged against strong landscape and nature images.

Yesterday’s image, entitled "Cooling Down", was judged by the esteemed Eddie Hyde FRPS, who said: "It's an incredibly simple image, but the technical execution is superb. There's so much texture and detail, and the intensity in the eyes of the horse is stunning. The sky is perfect with subtle detail but is in no way competing with the animal."

Thank you Eddie, payment is in the post!

When the forecast says there's zero per cent chance of rain and then it rains, there's only one thing for it; carry on shooting. Rain can make for such wonderful images - and that's what happened here.

I was grateful for the incredible focusing system on my trusty workhorse, the Nikon D850, which can find contrast in the poorest of light.

And it has now won my camera club's recent summer activities competition.

I can't quite believe it's been more than 10 years since I photographed this client at Catherston Stud. This time we were at Headmore Stud with the 17-year-old Headmore Roxanne.

It may have rained at the start of the shoot, but the day turned out just perfect in the end.

Here is a little sneak peek...

It's been a little while since my last post, but that's because I've been rather busy. I'm spending a lot of time working for Tapestry Day Club and have just completed my first iMovie for them.

I so enjoy learning new skills and have completed several videos for them now, but the first one features my photography work.

I've also created a YouTube channel for this not-for-profit enterprise, so will be adding more videos there over time. Do please subscribe if you can and spread the word of this amazing service to help people living with early-stage dementia.

Click here to view the video featuring some of the amazing Tapestry Day Club hosts, who welcome up to six guests into their family home and provide entertainment as well as refreshments, including a home-cooked, two-course lunch.

...this time photographing lots of different scissors specifically designed for doodles - one of Britain's most popular breeds - for a company called Mikki.

It was great fun, if a little challenging, to photograph the young models we had on this occassion. Considering their age, they did extremely well - sitting still when you're 18 months and have zoomies is a big ask!

I have recently started to work part-time on a regular basis for a wonderful not-for-profit community enterprise called the Tapestry Day Club. They provide high-quality day care for older people living in social isolation and with early-stage dementia in small groups in the comfort of their hosts' family homes.

Having completed shoots with three hosts, it has been an eye-opening, inspiring experience. The hosts provide a stimulating day with refreshments including a two-course, home-cooked lunch. Playing games is optional, with no pressure to take part, but on each day, it was obvious to see the myriad of inventive entertainment brought much enjoyment.

My nan had Alzheimer's and my dad was diagnosed a few years ago. It brings me much comfort to see day care of this nature and how humour, music, delicious food and games lifts the spirits of all.

And now I've finished the website. Every image has been changed and I've reworked all the copy. Do take a look and please spread the word about this amazing organisation.

Out on a shoot recently at Enborne Equestrian Centre near Newbury, I came across the most amazing little pony with the most enormous moustache. Have met a lot of horses in my time, but never seen anything like this!

While working on an equine editorial shoot, I just couldn't help myself capturing this handsome hound. It's all in a day's work. How I love my job.

I am so fortunate to meet some lovely people and animals on my journey as a photographer. It was more than a decade since I last photographed Fiona Bigwood. Now her beautiful daughter Mette Dahl is all grown up and shares her passion for dressage. I am looking forward to watching their progress as they continue to build their team of horses and competitive careers together.

It's been a while. Having had an unpleasant bout of Covid back in November, it feels like it's taken forever to recover. Thankfully, a holiday in Northumberland turned out to be a brilliant choice to recuperate. The weather was cold at times - we even had snow - but the beaches there are out of this world. The expanses of golden sand stretch out for miles and miles. We stayed in Seahouses, the origin of the kipper, and what a superb location it turned out to be, with views across to the Farne Islands, Bamburgh Castle and you could just make out Lindisfarne in the distance.

We walked and walked, exploring the coast and countryside. What made it doubly special is that our dear old cocker spaniel has finally fully recovered from his second cruciate ligament surgery and managed to trot along for a couple of hours at a time. Considering that he could only manage a 20-minute walk at a push back in September, I'm forever grateful to my vet for the amazing job he did on him.

Birty even came with us on the train from Berwick-upon-Tweed to Edinburgh, walking up the Royal Mile to the castle, back down to the West End and then the botanical gardens, with a stop off (a tasty chew treat and a snooze for him, haggis, neeps and tatties for us) in a traditional Irish pub. Not bad for a retired 11-year-old working dog who has had cruciate ligament surgery on both his hindlegs.

He just loved the beaches. This image of him with the wind in his ears makes me chuckle. Plus I adore those big skies. I miss you Northumberland!

What an incredibly busy summer it has been. Lots of dog shoots this year, so here are some creations from a recent commercial lifestyle shoot.

These images were taken for a company that has just launched a range of coats specifically for doodles. The silk lining stops the dog's coats from matting apparently. The leg sleeves have velcro so they are fully adjustable. All rather clever.

As a cocker spaniel owner, I understand completely the usefulness of these coats; some breeds get a lot muddier and take a lot longer to dry off than others!

The hardest bit was making it look like winter in 20C, but the heatwave meant there were at least some dry leaves on the ground. Where there is a will, there's a way...

When you undertake any photo shoot with animals and children in particular, you just never know what you will end up with. It makes it challenging, to say the least. So it's always ultra-special when you nail the shot you have in your mind...

It was a first for me, photographing the English Setter. This rare breed is fascinating to watch at work, ranging across a huge area at speed and for hours on end.

Of course this means these gorgeous girls were not the easiest subjects to capture, especially together, but we got there in the end, literally, as this shot was taken in the back of the car.

I've been busy with dog shoots recently, creating lots of commercial lifestyle images. Here's a portrait of one of the models, Buddy.

It's helpful to photograph animals in their own environment, where they are most comfortable. And when a kitchen island makes the perfect backdrop, it is a particularly rewarding moment when everything comes together to allow you to create what looks like a simple portrait.

You have a split-second, especially with young, active dogs like this cocker spaniel, but the challenges involved (and black dogs have those aplenty), make it all the more special when you capture your subject's personality.

It's always nerve-wracking to have your images judged, whatever level you are at as a photographer. This makes it extra special when you win your camera club print of the year competition with an image you took on a mobile phone during a driving lesson with your son.

And then to take second place (see pic below of a puppy in my previous post) and receive an honourable mention for a long exposure shot at Waterloo station, well, that has just made my day.

Taken at Denbies Wine Estate just outside Dorking.

If you're struggling for an original and special Christmas gift, why not give a gift voucher for a photoshoot? What can be more special than a present that lasts a lifetime?

Here's an image from a canine shoot earlier this year that's about to be printed as a big canvas. Imagine having something similar hanging on the wall of your canine companion.

I just adore soft winter light. This image of the springer spaniel Fidget was created on Leith Hill on a misty December morning. It was ideal as a dog with his colouring is the most challenging to photograph. Keeping all the detail when you have such a high contrast is nigh on impossible when the sun is shining, even in winter. And the grass was such a gift.

It is always fascinating when people come for their viewing, also known as a 'reveal', when you show clients the images you have created for them during their shoot on a big screen in a slideshow presentation.

Selecting the 'best images' and second-guessing what they are going to like the most, is always surprisingly difficult, partly because it comes down to personal preference - a certain expression or feeling.

Often you end up analysing similar images in great detail, picking them apart to work out what makes one more special than the other. When you have great models and locations, that becomes incredibly hard. That's what drives me to create and strive for the best and something different every time I go out on a shoot.

It's the biggest compliment and just so utterly rewarding. So which is your favourite and why of this little lot? I just couldn't decide, hence posting five, just of Dory!