St Ann's Hospice is busy organising the annual Midnight Walk for Friday 2 July, and I visited the hospice this week to photograph pairs of basic white trainers that have been decorated by lots of different people, including some well-known celebrities, to help with publicising the event. However, the show-stoppers for me were devised, designed and decorated by Stella, who is currently a day-care patient at Heald Green. The shoes underneath really are basic white trainers, though it's difficult to believe, looking at them held up by Stella here.

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.

I've been out and about recently looking for some images to make a set, along with some of Manchester, for 'new' wallspace in St Ann's Hospice's Little Hulton building. Refurbishment of part of the in-patient unit has just been completed, and the hospice wanted a selection of pictures: some for the corridors to generate interest and comment, and some restful, "but not boring or gloomy" ones for side rooms. An excellent and enjoyable commission!

I've worked with St Ann's Hospice since 2007, and my admiration and respect  just grows and grows the more I learn about what they do. What I’ve seen is so very different to the often gloomy image many of us have of hospices in our mind’s eye - there is so much warmth, light and laughter. Whether they’re using day care facilities or in-patient beds, people with life-threatening illnesses find professional excellence alongside immensely supportive personal connections. This is a picture from my first ever visit to day care at the Little Hulton hospice last year.

One of the things the amazing team at St Ann’s Hospice does is keep an ear open for dreams and wishes. One day, when I happened to be at Little Hulton, Rose, who was a weekly visitor to day-care, had a lovely surprise. She’d always loved Harley Davidson motorcycles; their distinctive look, wonderful sound and air of romance and excitement - but had never been on one. Well, she hadn’t until Louise rode up on her machine that morning! Rose was amazed when she was invited to put on the jacket, and, in the car park, actually climb aboard.