To Didsbury Open Gardens yesterday afternoon. Great that the weather held up for most of it. The occasional sprinkling of rain didn't put people off as they did the circuit, or bits of it, mostly on foot or bike. There were 28 altogether, so it was quite a challenge to 'do' them all. Some gardens had refreshments; one a jazz band; another a cellist, and one a guy sculpting with a chainsaw. The Nazarene College had big garden games; a garden across the road had to ask visitors to keep a distance from a duck sitting on eggs by their pond.

That time of year again - the St Ann's Hospice Tree of Lights services were held at Manchester Cathedral on Sunday. I went, with camera, for the Hospice, for all three services. They are all incredibly moving; the very air thickens with love, loss and memory. 

One of my lovely clients is making a film about their operations, and so when I went to photograph an event for them in Glasgow last week, I met these two smiling people, both charming experts in their field. Good to chat in the bit of downtime we had - don't we all lead such different lives??!!  They were filming and interviewing people I was photographing, and vice versa - and so while they ended up in some of my pictures, I ended up in theirs too. I'm looking forward to seeing their finished product at at my client's big event in London in October. I think. Ho hum!

Yesterday at Manchester Cathedral, Warren Smith, the Lord Lieutenant of Greater Manchester, as the Queen's representative,  presented the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service to St Ann's Hospice. That he himself is involved with the hospice made it even more special. The volunteers (including me!) turned out in force.

My first blog post, marking my move on 1st September to full-time photography after 18 months as a part-timer with a foot in two camps. I wonder what this blog will show as the months roll by? I hope you'll share the journey with me. I’ve had a couple of busy weeks since getting back from holiday; winding up my photography exhibition at the Portico Gallery (thanks to everyone who visited!), confirming the sale of a picture for a book cover, and some great shoots - including young people at the Zion Arts Centre preparing their Moss Side Carnival costumes - amazing colour and energy.

The British Council for Shopping Centres is holding its 25th annual conference at the spanking new arena and conference centre in Liverpool. I went along for placenorthwest to have a look at the exhibition, which proved to be full of colour and interest. The (mock) Beatles greeted delegates with humour and aplomb... This, and 17 other shots chosen by the editor (a man of great taste and distinction, btw) are in the gallery at www.placenorthwest.co.uk/bcsc-08-in-pictures.html"

This was quite a day - photographing Ryan Giggs, who was opening the first phase of new facilities at the East Cheshire Hospice in Macclesfield.  But if I was impressed (and I was)  that was nothing to how little Josh felt, meeting his hero. I think the pictures tell the story.