The Roaring Forties

They say that the best years of a women's life are the ten years between the ages of 39 and 40!

With that in mind and not forgetting my New Years resolution to spend more time capturing images of family, friends and the people I love the most, January got off to a flying start as we celebrated the 40th birthday of Claire, one of our closest and dearest friends and part of what I like to call our "Dubai Family".

As a man whose year of birth was a rather excellent vintage for Port (not giving too much away there then) forty seems so young. When you see Claire she does not look old enough to have had two children, whilst holding down a high-flying career in corporate strategy. Just like Mrs. C. she must clearly have been a child bride!

Determined to make her 40th birthday a year to remember, Claire, who never does anything in half-measures, had organized two celebrations during the same week; a meal at the super fabulous Hoseki Japanese Restaurant at the Bulgari Hotel Dubai, followed up by a weekend at the luxurious Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort, in the midst of the Liwa Desert.

Now I love Japanese food and at Hoseki they take it to a whole new level. Hoseki literally translates to "Gemstone" in English and it certainly is a gem of a restaurant .

When we arrived at the restaurant the whole decor and feeling is super cool and super smart and we were escorted to our table by a charming traditional Japanese waitress.

Konbanwa! (means good-evening for those of you whose colloquial Japanees is a bit rusty.

The restaurant itself was truly stunning. It only seats a maximum of 9 people per sitting and overlooks the wonderful Dubai skyline.

Trés Cool

We were personally welcomed by Chef Masahiro Sugiyama who provided us with a unique experience as he prepared and presented each dish in front of us, with an explanation of the dish itself and most importantly how to eat it.

Chef Sugiyama

The Master in action

Now I am a regular Sushi eater and I thought I had experienced everything. However, not only did we have the traditional cuts of fish but these were interspersed with a couple of more exotic numbers involving sea urchin, monkfish liver and the coup de grace, a delicate sperm sack of male cod fish! .......Crikey! Whilst sometimes it may be better not to know what you are eating, Shirako, as it is known in Japanese, has a delicate milky taste and is absolutely delicious. Washed down with a glass of fizzy Sake and the assembled gathering were all in their happy place.

Loving that Sperm Sack Mrs. C!

The whole meal lasted about two hours and was a wonderful experience that I shall never forget..

Following dinner we popped next door for after-dinner cocktails and as I sat there with my Vodka Martini with a twist, shaken not stirred, I grabbed a picture of Claire with cocktail in hand which included a furry looking object which I am a reliably informed was candy floss! As far as I am concerned if its your birthday you can have whatever you like!

Given the evening involved a lot of low-light photography I used the Fuji XH1's IBIS to the full and combined it with the wonderful XF16mm F1.4 lens. As we left The Bulgari to board our waiting Limo I had to finish on an arty note.

The next day we headed off up the Sheikh Zayed Road, turned left at Abu Dhabi and set course towards Saudi Arabia. What could possibly go wrong? A silly question really as I was on Sat-Nav duty and not paying attention; the girls were giving plenty of advice from the back-seat and Seth, in his usual calm and relaxed manner (Not!), turned right instead of left. After more advice from the rear seats we were soon back on track and an hour later we drove through the wonderful dunes of the Liwa Desert to arrive at Qasr Al Sarab. Quite a charming little B&B really!

After 25 years or so in the U.A.E. I thought I had seen everything. However, set amongst the dunes of the Liwa, in the heart of a desert conservation area, Qasr Al Sarab can only be described as out of this world.

As I walked on to the terrace of our two-bedroomed suite I merely had to point the camera at some truly stunning views:

As you can see this is a get-away-from-it-all sort of place and the only noise you could hear was the gentle crackling of ice as it melted in my gin and tonic. Yours truly was well and truly back in his happy place.

However, it was not all lazing around drinking champagne by the pool (although we tried hard) as Seth and Claire have two young boys who have boundless energy. So we decided to climb the large sand dune directly in front of our room.

Now whilst my artistic composition does make it look like the north face of the Eiger, I think the people at the bottom and the top of the dune put the scale of our task into perspective. Of course, most normal folk would head off in the cool breeze of early morning. Not us, lets leave at 11.15 a.m. so that we can arrive at the summit spot on mid-day!

Hang-on Mum!

Good old Dad!

Last but not least - Good training for Gov Games 2020

Mrs C said it wasn't a competition but that if it was....She wins!

The family have summitted!

Just to prove I did it - Even though I looked and felt completely knackered!

Having well and truly walked-off breakfast we then retired for a cold beer and lunch after which the boys, still full of beans and boundless energy, eventually found the play-area.

Juice Boy!

Well, with the champagne chilling we reached the end of Day One and yours truly was completely knackered. However, as the sun began to set I did take the opportunity to take a few extra scenic shots with the XH1 and the XF55-200 mm.

On our final morning I was expecting a lazy morning in bed followed by a sumptuous breakfast. A knock on the door at 7.45 a.m. by the boys put paid to that idea as we were all going sand-boarding. Well, when I say we, I mean Claire, Seth and the boys were going sand-boarding whilst I was on camera duty and Mrs. C, in a moment of panic, very rapidly nominated herself in the role of my creative director!

I don't know why anyone was worrying as this sand-boarding malarky looked like a piece of cake. As we stood on the edge of a large dune we did ponder the safety of this endeavor. So, we did what any responsible adults would do, we strapped the two year old to the board and pushed him over the edge! Its surprising how fast a two year old strapped to a sand-board can go and when he got to the bottom, Atticus was not over the moon about it!

Shell-shock!

After a bit of screaming....well actually quite a lot of screaming and a bit of bribery we managed to get everybody on film having a go.

Mrs. C in her capacity as "Health and Safety Officer"!

Well there you have it. What a wonderful week. Thanks to Claire we celebrated her birthday in true style but above all, we were together and creating memories with the people we love.

Stay tuned for our next adventure!

A walk on the wildside......

Well, as we progress through August and temperatures rise in to the mid-high 40's, we are constantly looking for things to do inside, other than retail therapy, which does nothing but aggravate my bank manager! Indeed, our best friends have two young boys and so for them the need is even more pressing.

So, Mrs. C delved in to the memory banks and suggested we visit Arabia's Wildlife Centre, which is based in the desert just outside of Sharjah and take a walk on the wild side!

Our kids are now grown up but when they were at school a visit to Arabia's Wildlife Centre was a firm favourite for school trips, with all the kids excited to see the Baboons and their pink bottoms! Funny the things that kids get excited about. I am normally against zoos but what I like about this centre is that in the main, it is the public that are caged in and the animals which roam free. Perhaps there is a lesson there to assist animal conservation the world over.

The drive is about an hour from Dubai and with kids entering for free and adults for AED 15 each it is a real bargain.

You can really divide the centre in to three sections:

1. Reptiles

2. Birds

3. Big Cats and Baboons

Reptiles:

Given that I hate snakes I was thankful that these were all well and truly caged in!

However, given that all of the species in the Zoo were indigenous to the Middle East I think I would like to firmly reconsider camping trips to the desert and a 200mm lens is as close as I would like to get to most of these.

Birds:

Interesting the birds were all flying around in a very large warehouse sized room and seem quite un-interested in the public. However, it was an opportunity to grab a few close ups with the Fuji XH1 and the excellent XF55-200mm zoom.

Big Cats and Baboons:

Ofcourse for the kids this was the highlight of the visit. As it was early afternoon the temperatures were soaring and so most of the big cats, Arabian Leopards and the Cheetahs, were very docile and taking the opportunity for a well earned siesta. This was also good for me as it gave me an opportunity for one or two close-ups which would otherwise have been quite difficult.

Finally we came to the Baboons. As expected they caused much excitement as they played and started fighting amongst each other and seemed to take great delight in "mooning" the crowd with their bright pink bottoms and various appendages! Don't worry, I have censored the images and despite their antics managed one or two nice shots.

All in all a great day out and you were even allowed to take your own picnic! So, if you happen to be passing through Sharjah and you are wondering what to do with yourselves, visit Arabia's Wildlife Centre and take a walk on the wild side!

The New Normal.......

Well here we all are. We have just spent the past three and a half months hunkered down in lock-down as we try our best to avoid the dreaded COVID. Now we are told we can re-emerge, albeit with our new vocabulary of, "The New Normal", "Covid-Aware", "Social Distancing" and of course "All Masked Up"! So what does this now mean and how do we feel about our "New Normal"?

Well my blog has been strangely silent for these past months as I did not want to keep writing about this dreaded virus which has claimed the lives of so many people and irreparably damaged so many families. As I re-emerge into the brave new world I thought it was time for a bit of catharsis as I share some of my thoughts and emotions.

Having experienced enforced lock-down, for the first time in my life, whereby permission from the authorities was required to simply go out and buy food, now being told that one is free to move around as normal, albeit wearing a mask, was first greeted with relief, followed almost immediately with a fear of what might lie outside. Indeed, we had become so used to hiding away indoors that every person with a cough, sneeze or sniffle was treated with suspicion as the Covid continued its relentless journey.

Before COVID, our British news programmes were dominated by BREXIT and we longed for something else to be reported. Oh how we must be careful what we wish for as now it has been nothing but COVID, statistics, speculation and rumour (although BREXIT is coming back with a vengeance!).

However, there seems to be a glimmer of hope on the horizon and as we move forward, in our new cautious and COVID compliant manner, we once again start to enjoy some of those everyday things that we took so much for granted:

A visit to the Barber

Its all about the Style...even at age 5!:

I never thought that such a simple chore as a haircut would become such a luxury. The kids had their go and then it was my turn. Funnily enough Mrs. C said she liked my hair long and curly. My barber, Masoud, just looked at me in astonishment. As I walked into a socially distanced hair salon, the last time I remembered looking like this was in 1976, when shoulder length hair was cool, my waist was 28 inches and Southampton won the F.A.Cup! Fortunately I am now neatly coiffed and normal service on the grooming front has now been restored.

Our weekly visit to the Mall

Now you might think this is a strange thing to miss but living in Dubai, when the summer temperatures average in the mid 40 degrees centigrade, the Mall becomes a weekend destination; somewhere to eat, somewhere to meet friends, somewhere to exercise in an air-conditioned environment (in Dubai malls are huge and worth a good 5000 steps a visit) and of course for me, an outlet for my photographic creativity, whilst Mrs. C engages in a therapy which is more retail in nature!

Early morning reflections - Dubai Mall:

Loving those silhouettes - Dubai Mall:

Fashion Avenue - Dubai Mall:

The perfect model - Good light and happy to sit for hours!:

A new breakfast destination

Now anybody who knows us well could always find us each Friday morning enjoying breakfast at the wonderful Assouline in Dubai Mall. However, it seems that our "oasis" has now closed down, perhaps a post-Covid casualty? We shall miss this Friday morning treat, where our table was already prepared and waiting, where we enjoyed a wonderful coffee from the immaculate barista Chris and of course Haneen, our Tunisian waitress, with her lovely smile and always so caring and attentive.

Our biggest regret is that we did not get the opportunity to say goodbye to either of these lovely people. We hope they are keeping safe and that they succeed at whatever they decide to do next.

Our new favourite breakfast destination is the wonderful La Duree in Dubai Mall's Fashion Avenue. It is elegant, the surroundings are minimalist and always draw the eye but above all, the poached eggs and coffee are simply wonderful. They also make the most wonderful Macarons. They are not giving it away but our socially distanced Friday breakfast is once again a real treat.

La Duree - Dubai Mall:

A Staycation

Now the kids are all grown up and have flown the nest Mrs. C and I have some time on our hands and at least once a month we either had a staycation within the UAE or travelled for a long weekend to a destination of interest. If the reader reviews my earlier blogs then you will see that we were quite active on this front. Of course, COVID stopped all of this in its tracks and certainly made us appreciate our previous ability to move around freely. However, now that lockdown in the UAE has ceased, we grasped an opportunity to have an overnight stay at the wonderful Oberoi Resort in Ajman.

Now, bearing in my my current paranoia about keeping safe and well, we decided to throw money at it and booked a private beach-front villa, with own pool, so that at least we could have a change of scenery and try and restore our confidence levels in a relaxing yet secure socially distanced environment. We were joined by our "Dubai Family", Claire and her two lovely boys. What a wonderful time we had. The villa was so elegant and spacious, the kids loved the pool and the hotel itself was a joy.

Its design is minimalist, with lots of verticals, horizontals, rectangles and water features and above all super friendly staff. The library, just right for chilling out.

Claire making a a mask look elegant on the catwalk:

So what lies in store for the rest of the year? The answer is clearly that no-one knows. Our immediate priority is to be able to get back to the UK and to Spain to see the people we love the most, our family. We miss them all so much and whilst we are regularly in touch by Zoom, it is still not the same as a hug and being there in person. Until such time as quarantines are removed and the testing regime becomes easier, I fear air travel will be for emergencies only.

I have to say that I am so proud of our son and daughter for the way they have coped with this difficult period and the way that they have supported each other. This is a lesson in life; to know that they can always rely on each other in difficult times.

Also to all our family, who have made such a tremendous effort to have regular weekly Zoom calls, Mrs. C and I thank you all. You cannot imagine what a help you all have been. As we all become active and go back to our new normal we must make sure that we all zoom at least once a month. After all we now know the benefits of keeping in touch and supporting each other.

If there are a couple of thoughts to take away from all of this it is perhaps that we should make sure we take nothing for granted and above all that we cherish the time we have together with our loved ones and make the most of every minute that we have together.

A time for reflection:

Please all keep well, stay safe and see you all soon in the new normal!

The Falconer........

The Falconer...........

Well Mrs. C and I have now been living in the Middle East for over 23 years. You might have thought that this would mean that we have seen and done most things. Well far from it and during a visit to one of the many desert resorts (prior to COVID19 I might add) we took an opportunity to attend a Falcon show so that we could get up close (closer than we expected) and personal to experience one of the sports that remains to this day, integral to Emirati culture.

Living and working as we do in the Middle East we often take some of their heritage and culture for granted. Indeed, hunting with falcons, particularly the Peregrine Falcon, has been a much enjoyed past-time in the Gulf Region for thousands of years.

My first real experience of the falcon came back in the 1980's when I used to travel to the U.A.E. on business from the U.K. In those days we used to transit from Abu Dhabi to Dubai by air and I was sitting in business class, (those were the days!), wondering about the reason for the delay. All of a sudden a chap in local dress boarded and entered business class. He was carrying a plank of wood on which was perched three beautiful falcons. He then proceeded to place the plank between two seats and sat down next to his precious cargo. We then departed and this only goes to show the importance that is placed upon these wonderful birds in local Emirati culture.

Sarab, our Falconer for the day, was a delightful chap and took great care of us and even greater care of his precious female falcon, whose name was Sheikha. Now if anyone has ever been up close to one of these beautiful birds there are two striking features that immediately draw one's attention; a razor like beak and some very sharp looking talons. As a result I was mildly surprised and a little apprehensive when the whole show was conducted with us only some twenty feet away!

Man and Bird in Harmony

As Sarab, our Falconer, started to explain about how he catches and then trains his falcons, you could see and feel the awe and affection in which he holds his birds, notwithstanding the fact that they are extremely valuable.

Even though the sport of falconry can be traced back to 2000 BC and still uses many of the traditional pieces of equipment, you have probably guessed that in todays high-tech world, technology now plays a key role with an Iphone App and GPS now being essential Falconry Kit.

Indeed, so as to track their falcons in flight, as they often hunt over large areas of wilderness, each falcon has a GPS transmitter fitted on to its back which then feeds back to an iPhone App! So as Sarab told us, what could possibly go wrong? Hold that thought........

As he continued to explain the various techniques used to ensure that the falcon remains at its optimum hunting weight, maintains a healthy appetite and is encouraged to return back to the falconer, Sheikha sat passively on his arm.

All of a sudden Sarab removed Sheikha's hood and with a couple of blinks of her bright eyes Sheikha went in to active mode.

And we are off!

In a moment Sheikha was in flight and as you can see was heading straight for me. I was using the Fuji XH1 with the battery grip in boost mode with the XF55-200mm lens and as I held my nerve and kept pressing the shutter, I could feel the breeze from her wings as Sheikha flashed straight over my head.

Once Sheikha was in flight we were amazed at the speed and grace of this beautiful bird. Not as amazed as the flock of pigeons that were until that point basking in the afternoon sun on the roof of our hotel. They immediately went to DEFCON 3 as Sheikha made a beeline for them, sensing what might be described as a target-rich environment!

Meanwhile, Sarab remained calm but I sensed, behind his dark Ray Ban sunglasses, a flash of panic in his eyes as Sheikha had possibly gone rogue. Swinging his lure and frantically whistling and checking his GPS app, Sarab wandered off in to the desert to try and get the errant Sheikha back to base.

However, as the saying goes, the show must go on. Indeed Sarab was a consummate professional and soon managed to coax Sheikha back to where the show was taking place.

Now I do not usually use sports mode as I am built for comfort not speed, and I am more of a single shot man. However, with Sarab frantically swinging his lure Sheikha homed in and made several low-level passes at incredible speeds.

Whilst my skills did not enable me to nail focus on the bird, I did my best to capture the breathtaking speed at which the falcon operates and certainly makes you understand why the entire flock of pigeons had heart failure when they realised they were on Sheikha's food radar.

I was now completely in the zone as I tried to capture the action and failed to notice Sarab, who had seen me taking images, throw the lure in my direction at which point Sheikha homed in like an Exocet missile.

At This point I began to sweat and then I got the 1000 yard stare!

Thank goodness for in-body image stabilisation! As Sheikha clutched onto the lure, only a couple of feet away from me, she glared at me almost daring me to try and take it away from her. I did not move a muscle!

In a moment she was back on Sarab's glove and duly rewarded with a meal of fresh bird meat. Apparently they can almost eat their body weight.

It was exciting stuff and as the show came to an end Sarab was very gracious and allowed those who wished to pose with Sheikha for a picture. Mrs C did nit have to be asked twice.

As I sit indoors on day six of our Covid19 lock-down, looking over these images was a welcome distraction from day-to-day events.

When this all comes to an end, and it surely will, I have a feeling that we all might live our lives a little differently. Certainly it will be an opportunity to maintain the community spirit which has developed through adversity and hopefully people will continue to appreciate and enjoy the simple things in life.

Please all take care during this difficult period and watch out for friends, family and those who are less fortunate than ourselves.

Regards from a very quiet Dubai.

City of Joy........

Well its that time of year and our family travel season is well and truly in gear.

So, as the festive season approaches we like to fly back to a European capital city and visit one of the Christmas markets. This year we decided to maintain our theme of visiting a destination for the first time and chose the wonderful Romanian city of Bucharest. I am led to believe I that in Romanian the word Bucharest literally translates to "City of Joy", so what a perfect place to visit at this time of year.

By now anyone who has become a regular reader of my Blogs will know that Mrs. C plans these expeditions with what can only be described as military precision; for which of course I am extremely grateful as it is a complete juxtaposition from my daily routine, allows me to concentrate on recording memories with my trusty Fuji and also allows me to focus on other crucial elements of the trip such as what wine goes with what local delicacy etc!

Now as we advance in years (of course according to Mrs. C she was a child bride and is much younger than me….thought I better get that in early on), one of our many objectives is to try and stay and feel young and to do that, we must remain as flexible as possible. Of course, Mrs. C likes to put this in to practice metaphorically, whereas I am quite happy to take a more palpable approach….but thats for another blog!

So you can imagine that on the morning of our flight, when we received a call from our besties Seth and Luvbug, stating that they have had to cancel their family trip to Singapore and could they join us, we readily agreed as accompanied by their boys, Raif and Atticus, we could think of no better way to spend a long weekend in Europe.......other than of course being joined by own children Chipmunk and Anna as well. That would have made everything complete and perfect.

Now it is fair to say that Mrs. C and I like to travel light, with hand luggage only, and for this particular visit I had decided to go covert and take my trusty X100F, which had not seen a lot of love recently. Also I packed a few clothes as well….got my priorities in order then!

Now whenever we arrive somewhere new, first order of the day is to have a friendly chap waiting for us with a gleaming Black Mercedes. Sure enough our friendly driver, lets call him Ivan for the sake of legalities, had been dispatched by our Hotel and within minutes we were being whisked away.

Actually whisked is rather an understatement. As our driver was turning back to talk to us, whilst I might add he was doing whilst at the same time driving forward at a considerable rate of knots, he gave us a toothy grin and said not too worry as there were no speed cameras in Bucharest and that you would not get locked up us long as you did not drive more than 50 kmh over the limit. Given that we were already above 60 kmh, you start to get the feeling of how this journey was progressing. Does the word "Clench" start with a K or a C ?

Having seeing my pained expression (actually this was the point when we narrowly ran a red light) and in an attempt to reassure us, he then told us that even if he did get caught he knew most of the local constabulary so with a little "attitude adjustment" he would be fine and we would be sure to have a wonderful stay. So that was all good then!

I neglected to say that we arrived in Bucharest at around 10.30 p.m. so by the time we reached the hotel it was just before midnight. As we were ensconced a very comfortable room on the 11th Floor of the Intercon Bucharest, which I have to say was a great hotel and very centrally situated, I walked out on to the balcony and grabbed my first image of the trip.

Now the Intercom has one of the best Executive lounges we have stayed in and from the 22nd Floor provides a wonderful vista of this great city.

As always we were up bright and early, cup of tea in bed at 6.30 a.m. courtesy of "She who must be obeyed" followed by family breakfast in the lounge at 8.30 a.m. Ably assisted by Seth and the boys we kept up the family tradition of having at least one portion of pork product a day whenever travelling. Indeed the Intercon's cooked breakfast was a real treat and not to be missed.

Although the Intercon Bucharest may not be an architectural masterpiece, the rooms are great and above all the staff we encountered were a wonderful bunch and the service really was first class.

Now with only a couple of days in Bucharest and much to do, we set off with our usual route-march; Mrs. C leading and acting as chief tour-guide whilst providing very helpful "guidelines" as to what images I should and shouldn't capture. As regular readers will now know, I am absolutely king of my particular castle but, for the sake of good humor and in the spirit of good health, mostly mine I might add, I regularly acquiesce.

I have to say, whilst not as grand as Budapest you can clearly see that Bucharest has a long history and is full of grand buildings, wonderful architecture and many beautiful churches, all of which made it a photo-rich environment for me.

Of course along the way I was helped by my able-bodied assistants, “The Cheeky Chappies” - Don't you just love them!

By late morning we had a thirst on and we managed to locate a very charming bohemian cafe, the Artichoke Social House, that made the most delicious hot chocolate.

I was in my happy place and as the delicious hot chocolate warmed my extremities the old creative juices began to flow and I did something I don't normally do and grabbed a discrete image of a couple who seemed very much wrapped up with each other. What was their story?

What is he thinking? ‘She loves me or loves me not?”. Well, we will never know as we had to press-on around the old town and its grand soviet era buildings.

En-route we found a really grungy location with a bit of graffiti and so managed to stage a bit of a photo-shoot with Model Seth which I entitled “Graffiti Shoot”.

Unfortunately due to the near sub-zero temperatures we had to skip the swim-suit section of the shoot. Luvbug was rather surprised as allegedly Model Seth is normally more than happy to get his kit off at short notice.... but thats for another blog after the watershed!

Our lunch destination was the Caru' Cu Bere Restaurant (literally translated means the beer wagon) so you can guess we weren't going there for a coffee.

Clearly it is on the tourist trail and we did well to get there early as it was soon full and you knew it was going well when you hear that healthy buzz of laughter and animated conversation. Definitely a touch of old-school Bucharest.

After a very large Chicken Schnitzel and local hand-cut fries, washed down with a couple of glasses of the local grog, I was once again back in my happy place.

It was a bit dark inside and I didn't have my speed-light with me but I hopefully have been able to capture some of the atmosphere of a bygone era.

Actually I found taking images quite a challenge as the light was very flat. However, the architecture and buildings were very much to my taste and hopefully I managed to capture a feeling for the "Old town".

Now one destination that you have to visit is the Cãrturesti Carusel, located in Strada Lipscani. This place has everything. It is quite magical inside and combines a bookstore, gift shop, art gallery, photo-destination and has a wonderful cafe on the top floor. Literally there was something for everyone.

On the way back to the hotel we decided to take a quick look at the Metro and I grabbed a moody images but in this instance and with two tired young boys in tow, we preferred to stay above ground. The Metro would be for another visit.

That evening we thought we we head for the Christmas market as the kids were looking forward to seeing the Christmas lights.

After a 20 minute hike back through the old town we eventually found the Christmas market.

It was actually located slap-bang in front of the Parliament building. However, it was absolutely throbbing with people, there was a rock concert keeping people entertained, the temperature had dropped and it started to rain. So we decided to try again the next monrning and what a wonderful morning we had.

It really is better visited in the day-time, lots of stalls with lovely things to buy, mulled wine to sample (and we did!) and even an ice rink. The kids loved it and so did the big kids.

I am also keen to sample some of the local delicacies and so I followed my nose and headed-off towards the protein sector!

It all looked very promising until:

1. I started to regonise what they were cooking.

2. I wished I hadn't recognized what they were cooking.

3. If I wanted some (and I didn't) it was served very neatly in the cooked intestine of some un-fortunate animal.

Fortunately Seth saved the day and found us some of their lovely hot chimney cake. It is warm with a crisp outside coated with sugar and a delicious soft inside. Perfect with a coffee and where better place to enjoy a warm drink on a cold December morning than a touch of culture at the bohemian Van Gough Cafe:

No they are not real but very good copies….

A young man who clearly enjoyed his hot chocolate!

So how can I summarize our first trip to Bucharest:

1. What a great place and can't wait to return as there is still lots to do.

2. It is a very inexpensive place and great value for money.

3. The people are super friendly and we received a warm welcome wherever we went.

4. Above all its about sharing experiences and memories with the people you love. It was so much fun having our besties with us, even though everyone we met thought they were our children and that their children were our grand-children! I can honestly say that we would be delighted if they were, although Mrs. C was still telling everyone that she was a child bride!

All in all the trip was a great success and we really managed to pack-in a great deal across a weekend although for some, it was all just a little too much!

As we move ever closer to Christmas and 2019 draws to a close may I take an opportunity to wish one and all seasons greetings and lets us hope that 2020 brings us peace, health and happiness.

With warmest regard

Steve.

From Lisbon with Love.....

Well its that time of year again; yes Mudge is about to celebrate her 28th birthday... for the third time, although she has been telling everyone she is only 58! Well this time we decided to all meet up in a location we have never visited, sunny Lisbon!

I have to say the prospect of our annual November family trip had me very excited, not only because we were all getting together to celebrate Mudge's birthday, which of course would involve copious amounts of food and alcohol but also because it was one of those increasingly rare occasions that we were all visiting a new country for the first time.

Now call me cautious but as every boy scout would attest, the best way to be prepared is to be prepared. If I shut my eyes tightly I imagined that Lisbon was going to be a balmy 30 degrees C with copious sunshine. However, back to reality I expected that it might be a tad cooler and that there was potential for precipitation. So rather than pack my trusty X100F, I tooled up with the XPro2 and the 23mm Fujichron. A perfect combination for some wet weather street and travel photography.

I have to say that Lisbon is a most wonderful capital city to visit. Mrs C and Auntie Jackie had done their research and the whole trip was planned to military precision.

A tip for travellers, when arriving at the airport be prepared for a bit of a hike to get through customs but once through, taxi's are a plenty, the drivers very friendly and the 15 minute ride in to the centre of Lisbon costs about Euros 20.

Our residence for the long weekend was the hotel Turim, located in the heart of lisbon and a 5 minute walk from the Praça Do Comércio. The rooms were quite spacious and very comfortable and at Euros 100 per room per night it proved to be a great choice.

I knew Lisbon was going to be a great destination for street photography as the moment I stepped out of the hotel I bagged my first keeper. A definite promise of things to come.

As usual on any trip, Mrs C had us up very early as we set off to grab tickets for public transport for the day whilst the rest of the family slept soundly. First destination was the wonderful Praça Do Comércio

It was then on to the Ferry Terminal to buy everyone a 24 hour travel pass. This is highly recommended as for Euros 6.50 you can hop on and off buses and trams and also it gives you free entry in to The Elevador de Santa Justa....more on that later.

As we arrived at the ferry terminal the light was very moody and it allowed me to capture one of my favorite images from the trip. Lisbon awakes!

It was at that moment the rain started so it was a quick sprint back to the hotel to meet everyone and a short walk around the corner to the charming Portela Cafés, where we enjoyed a coffee, croissant and a Pasteis de Nata (a wonderful little custard tart for which Lisbon is famous) all for Euros 1.95 a head. As Delboy would say, "You know it makes sense Rodney" but you had to get there early as by 9.00 a.m. it was standing room only!

Having had a good breakfast our travel co-ordinators had planned that we would return to Praça Do Comércio, jump on the 15E tram and head-off on the 30 minute journey to the famous Tower of Belém and the Jerónimos Monastery.

Well as you can see the Praça Do Comércio was no longer deserted and having joined the queue for the 15E tram (being British we are good at queuing) we patiently waited for 30 minutes as three trams passed, so full of people that it was impossible to get on!

However, standing in the queue did allow me some creative time and as the skys darkened and the rain threatened it provided some "moody" imagery.

Moody Lisbon at 10.00 am in the morning….

Not quite the balmy 32 degree C I had been hoping for…….

However, sometimes a touch of rain adds some gloss to the street from a photographic standpoint….

Well needs must when the devil drives so Uncle Phil and I took an executive decision, decided to throw money at this problem and hailed two cabs and we were off to Belém.

It was at this point that the rain started to fall in what can only be described as biblical proportions and i was getting quite concerned that we actually might not get there due to the roads flooding. However, with the usual Dunkirk spirit and my chin set firm with Churchillian fortitude I promised our driver a tip the size of Portugal's GDP, which provided the required incentive to press-on regardless.

As we arrived at Belém there was a short break in the weather and I managed one image of the Belém Tower before the heavens opened with such force that Noah would have been forced to don his life jacket and give the order to abandon ship!

Now I am a great believer in the fickle finger of fate and as i managed to hail one of the few taxis brave enough to venture out in this weather, (actually I stood in the middle of the road so he either stopped or ran me down), I opened the door and to my astonishment it was the driver who had collected us from the airport on arrival. With a toothy grin and knowing that a significant tip was in the offing, he was very glad to brave the storm and take us back to our hotel.

Well so far our first day was no quite shaping up to be what we had expected. Nevertheless, as the rain slowed to a mere monsoon status, we decided to do what La Famille Chivers always does in times of crisis, head off in search of food and alcohol. For sure with the promise of a glass or two of rosé Mudge and Brian suddenly had a decernable spring in their step!

Our destination was the Timeout Market, a place where rumour had it, we were assured to find distractions of a restorative nature.

A Table for seven please waiter…..I think not sir!

Mines a large one please….. Ooops sorry wrong blog!

Standing Room Only!

At this point desperation was setting in but as we exited one of the side doors we found an excellent little restaurant that served some delicious Iberico ham, a very interesting cheese platter, delicious Pizza and a cold beer. Not particularly Portguese gastronomy but just the job! This Chap new exactly what I was after.

In the end it turned out to be both a delicious and creative lunch-break.

Fully fortified and with the weather looking decidedly better, we made a collective decision to walk-off a few calories. So armed with google maps we set off for The Elevador de Santa Justa.

With his nautical training Uncle Phil volunteered for sat-nav duty. I am not sure we took the direct route but as we walked through the streets of Lisbon it was definitely what I would term as a photo-rich environment.

Eventually we arrive at The Elevador de Santa Justa. This marvel of engineering dates back to the 19th Century and stands elegantly amongst the buildings of the Baixa district. However, be prepared to spend at least an hour queuing as this is one of Lisbon's most popular tourist attractions.

Other than being popular, the other reason for the long queue is that the lifts only allow 20 people at a time on the way up, and 15 on the way down? You can also pay Euros 5.30 on entry or like us get free entry using our 24 hour travel card.

Upon stepping in to the lift and starting our ascent with a significant jolt, Mrs C had inadvertently crossed the Rubicon and entered her "Discomfort Zone". As we reached the viewing platform I sensed an initial sigh of relief as it was enclosed and felt quite secure, only for the realization that we then had to climb up a narrow un-enclosed winding staircase to the open air-viewing platform. Mudge and Brian sensibly declined but sandwhiched between me and our son Simon, Mrs C bravely closed her eyes, thought of England and pressed on. Not for the first time I might add :-) Ooops wrong blog again!

Once at the top we were treated to a truly spectacular vista of Lisbon.

Well that was certainly worth the effort and fair play to Mrs C for making the effort. I definitely felt a record of this event was necessary and managed to snap this photo of team Chivers to prove it.

Left To Right - Uncle Phil, Mrs C, Simon and Aunty Jackie

Whilst at the top I persuaded Uncle Phil to do a bit of modelling and I managed to grab this environmental portrait. He is a good looking boy! My Little Bruvver….

Well, after all that excitement (Mrs. C prefers to call it trauma), we collected Mudge and Brian who had sensibly waited on the level below and headed-off for a well earned cup of tea. Yes you can actually get a cup of builder's tea in Lisbon. Hooray I hear you all cry!

We took our afternoon refreshment on a charming terrace next to the The Elevador de Santa Justa and were afforded a tremendous view of the city. What a great way to end day one of our Lisbon extravaganza.

We finished the day with a super meal at one of the local restaurants which Mrs. C had booked through he 'The Fork" app. Food was great, fresh tomatoes and feta cheese follow by grilled lamb chops, all washed down with copious amounts of the local vino. Due to booking through the app we were afforded a 50% discount and with the final bill at Euros 100 for 7 people, I was definitely in my happy place again. Unfortunately no pictures were available due to me having problems with my autofocus, or was it my focus? Anyways, this seems to be an affliction I often face after the second bottle of red. I must write to Fuji about this!

Day two started with our usual local breakfast and then we were to catch the infamous Number 28 tram and visit the famous Castelo de S. Jorge. Once again we waited patiently as tram after tram passed us by and after 30 minutes it was clear that the tram was not an option.

I then mistakenly suggested that a brisk walk up to the castle might be in order. Mudge uttered a matriarchal mutter mentioning something about crampons being required as she gave me one of her 1000 yard stares. Whilst Uncle Phil and I were firmly in charge we immediately went back to our usual problem solving double-act of throwing money at the situation, hailed two cabs and we were on our way.

On arrival at the castle we Brits felt very much at home as we stood patiently at the back of a long queue. Entry is about Euros 10 per head but it is definitely worth the visit and provided more spectacular views of the city with the Vasco De Gama bridge in the background.

Time to get a little arty!

The Elevador de Santa Justa from a different perspective.

With such a stunning back-drop I even managed to persuade the birthday girl to pose for a photo.

As we walked around the castle grounds I was greeted by a small Japanese gentlemen, who had about $40,000 dollars worth of Leica gear around his neck. He had seen the Fuji and as a fellow "range finder" devotee seemed to give me a nod of approval and suggested that I might like to have a try at a reflective shot that he had taken earlier. I was quite pleased with the result if I say so myself.

Seeing from a different perspective! Clever fellows those Japanese. Then A different view of artifacts in the castle museum.

Well, as the Grand Old Duke of York famously said, as we had marched to the top of the hill it was time to march back down again. Once again and in anticipation of feeling Mudge's 1000 yard stare burning in to the back of my neck, I quickly suggested to Uncle Phil that he get back on to Google maps and find the nearest tram stop so that we may take a ride on the elusive No.28 tram. No worries he replied, follow me, as it was just around the corner. The only problem was that everything seemed to be at an angle!

Some twenty minutes later and after a bracing walk there appeared to be some muttering from the assembled party constantly referring to a "Clucking Bell"? Thankfully we eventually found the tram stop for the elusive No. 28. Problem was it was just around the corner from the hotel! Something about being able to cut the silence with a knife comes to mind!

Anyway, the Chivers family never gives in and it is fair to say that when Aunty Jackie has the bit between her teeth, we were going to have a ride on that tram. So we again waited and eventually we took a ride to the Praça da Figueira.

Once again standing room only!

Arriving at Praça da Figueirawe spotted a food market. No better place to replenish stores. Absolutely wonderful sights and smells as we toured around the various stalls. My favorite was the suckling pig quiche, an absolute treat.

Can't you just smell that grilled pork?

Anyone for Cheese?

As we walked back to our hotel we came across a most wonderful shop selling all manner of tinned fish. So colourful and old school. They had this wonderful old cash register still priced in Escudos.

They let me taste some of the fish, smoked trout, sea bass, Black Cod and king Fish, to name but a few. Absolutely delicious and the head chef was kind enough to pose for an image.

As some of our party took a well earned siesta, a few of us walked back up towards the castle to visit the Lisbon Cathedral.

The surrounding streets were so typical of Lisbon and another opportunity for me to have fun with the Fuji.

Well there we have it, our November adventure drew to a close. They always say that I am never in any of the pictures; thats because I enjoy taking them so much. However, just occasionally I end up the other side of the lens.

Yours truly - looking a bit dishevelled but very happy after a great Lisbon break

I believe that there is nothing better than getting together with family and sharing good times over a glass of wine and delicious food. I constantly tell everybody it is just about making the effort.

I also believe that our Mudge has sacrificed a great deal over the years, she has always put family first and indeed continues to do so, has been there to pick us up when we have fallen down and we have both laughed and cried together. We only have one Mudge, we love her so much and she means the world to us all.

From Lisbon with love.

A Day At The Races.........

During our summer vacation in the UK we visited my little brother Phil, who lives in the South of England in the New Forest.

Now a visit to Phil's house normally means about 3 kilos in weight gained as he always serves the best food (his seven veg roast dinner is legendary) and of course, there are those wonderful Dorset Glory sausages, which none of us can resist.

As usual Phil did not disappoint and this visit was very much business as usual on the calorie front. However, this time the eating and drinking was interspersed with a visit to Salisbury Racecourse for their Ladies Day.

Well I am the first to admit that I know nothing about horse racing other than, Shergar was never found and as a result I stopped eating take-away burgers!

Nevertheless, Ladies Day was going to be a great day out on two counts:

(1) Mrs C and Aunty Jackie love a bet and were already scouring the racing form on the basis that they couldn't lose, although I wasn't holding my breath about buying the XF 200m F2 lens with my share of the winnings!

(2) I assumed, correctly as it happened, that this would be a target-rich environment for the Fuji and so I loaded up the Xpro2 with the wonderful XF 50mm F2. This combo is just like me, discrete and fast (hehe) plus the XF 50 F2 produces great black and white imagery.

As you would expect, in the UK and in order to have a successful Ladies Day at the races, you need three key ingredients: sunshine, ladies and something cold and fizzy. As you will see, Salisbury Races offered all three in abundance. (note the absence of horse-racing from my list).

When we arrived we met up with some of Phil's close friends and I have to say all our "fillies" (see I do know a little racing terminology after all) were very finely turned-out.

Its called style darling!

Seeing as it was Ladies' Day my focus was going to be on the fairer sex so where better to start than the charming ladies at the entrance kiosk. It seems that no-one ever asks them for a photo and without any prompting from me an immediate instagram pose was produced!

Despit my charms I still had to pay for the race card.

Well for me the day had started on a great note. England glorious England...the sun was shining, I was in the middle of the wonderful Wiltshire countryside and of course, there was plenty of ice in my gin.

Now you have to remember that we live in the Middle East and so being respectful of local customs and cultural sensitivities I very rarely walk up to people in the street and ask for their pictures. However, Ladies Day at Salisbury Races was the complete opposite and the Fuji and I were in demand.

First things first, it was important to get the bets on as I was already counting my winnings, googling the specs of the XF200mm F2 and imagining what it was going to look like on the front of my XH1. It was then that I noticed the look of disbelief from the Tote cashier as Mrs. C announced her choices for the first three races. Alas Mcduff, another dream shattered!

Whilst Mrs. C was betting on the four legged fillies, I was off on my wanderings to see if I could capture some images of the two-legged variety.

Well, if I say so myself, I don't scrub-up too badly and in my blazer and chinos, with my entrance tag dangling from my lapel and the Fuji discretely slung around my neck, I did turn a few heads. Actually, I looked remarkably like the official photographer and within five minutes I was dragged in to the hospitality tent as a group of race goers wanted me to "capture the moment". Never one to disappoint and wanting to make the most of the opportunity whilst everyone was still standing (read sober), I was happy to oblige. “Best instagram pouts please”!

Having managed to extricate myself from hospitality I was then on the look-out for anyone in a hat and I was not disappointed. I spotted this charming lady, told her she looked stunning and that I wanted to take her picture. She said "Of-course, how do you want me"! Oooer; I immediately upped the shutter speed to compensate for shaking hands and was pleasantly surprised with the result.

Now that is what I call a hat and a wonderful smile to go with it.

What next? Well, the locals were arriving, (fresh out of the local pub I believe) and with them came the fancy dress crowd. When these two likely lads saw me with a camera they immediately struck a pose.

I had only been in the place for 30 minutes and the only thing that was more active than the Fuji was Mrs. C on the betting front! During my photo-walkabout there had already been two races and to my dismay Mrs.C still had not bagged a winner. However, in racing parlance, its fair to say that Mrs.C is a tryer who always goes the distance and as always, was relentless with her catch-phrase, "A fiver on the nose please".

I thought I ought to turn my attention to the actual racing and so I wondered over to the paddock area in order to study the form.

Can you believe it...home from home!

Having checked out the field it was down to the trackside for more people-watching. The place was throbbing with three times as many race goers as usual. I love to people-watch at the best of times and for me it was like street photography but on a race-course.

They say that every back tells a story…..don’they?

Kelross Turf Accountants offered odds and took your money with a touch of elegance and glamour.

Now he looks like he knows what he is doing.

The final furlong….

Phils mate Malcolm is a member at Salisbury and actually knows what he is doing and to my surprise and delight was the sponsor of one of the races. He is also a complete gentlemen and invited all our ladies to accompany him in to the paddock to choose the best turned out horse.

The "Judges" (a.k.a. our ladies) retire for a glass of fizz with Lord Salisbury.

Whilst all this was occurring, I took up position on a terrace on top of the Tote building which gave me a perfect view of the final straight where I spied “Billy No Mates” - Its a lonely life being the race commentator.

Looks like a photo finish

Alas, as the sun began to set and the ice in my gin finally melted, the racing drew to a close. Only one thing left to do and that was find out who was the best dressed lady. I had taken this next picture during the judging and regrettably this was the only winner I picked all day. Cracking image though even if I say so myself.

A like to call this a "Hollywood" moment, as my lens was drawn to the eventual winner.

Alas Mrs. c was unlucky on the betting front and so I will not be buying the XF 200mm F2 any time soon, but a great day was had by all!

A Desert Staycation.......

A Desert Staycation………

Now the title to this blog implies a camping trip in to the wilderness. Well, it is fair to say that the notion of camping and mention of Mrs. C in the same sentence is a complete juxtaposition. Indeed, Mrs. C's idea of camping primarily involves a deluxe room on the club floor at the Four Seasons!

So when we decided to indulge ourselves and celebrate our forthcoming 32nd Wedding Anniversary by enjoying a romantic desert staycation there was only one option, the wonderful Al Maha Desert Resort.

Al Maha is our most favourite place to visit in the entire U.A.E. It is the perfect spot for a quiet Friday lunch and a destination where we always take visiting friends and family. So when we decided to treat ourselves and have a quiet weekend away from the hustle and bustle which is modern Dubai, we could think of no better place.

What we love about Al Maha is that when you arrive you truly feel that you are in the middle of the Desert, albeit in 5-star luxury whilst being only a 45 minute drive from the heart of Dubai. More than that, it is the genuine welcome you receive from the lovely staff, the fact that nothing is rushed and that everything appears to be available to you at your convenience.

Our private chalet was rather splendid. When you enter everything is sort of old school but in in a luxurious sort of way.

Mrs. C embracing the Holiday spirit!:

Then, as you open the patio doors on to your private pool, you have the view, and what a view!:

For us the highlight of the trip was to be two activities:

1. A visit to the dunes at sunset by camel.

2. An early morning nature-walk.

Now just like camping, you also rarely mention camels and Mrs.C in the same sentence. Indeed, it is fair to say that in 25 years of living in Dubai this was to be only the second occasion that she would agree to participate! However, she was so glad she did.

Like everything else this was done in "Al Maha Style". We were asked to gather at around 5pm in the main building, where the staff had considerately laid out a full afternoon tea to ensure we were suitable refreshed and fortified before our desert adventure.

Our guide then took a party of about 20 people down to the edge of the desert where our trusty steeds were quitely waiting for us. Our particular "ship of the desert" was a spritely looking filly who appeared particularly relaxed, right up until she saw me trying to clamber on board and realized that they don't call me Chunk for nothing!

Up close and personal with our trusty steed:

Naturally, I had the Fuji with me as I needed proof that Mrs. C actually did this and as we both sat astride our trusty steed I reluctantly handed over the XH1 to the camel driver to take a few shots. How difficult could it be…..very! After five minutes of cursing in Arabic, the fervent pressing of buttons, about 15 attempts and despite continuous autofocus engaged and 5 point in body image stabilization active, our camel driver eventually got one shot almost in focus (whilst cutting off the head of our camel) and here is the proof. I think this one will go up on the Chivers Wall of Fame!

Then we were off. Our only other camel expedition had involved a two minute ride around a dune and then back for a gin and tonic. This was to be a much grander affair involving a 30 minute trek in to the desert and as I clung on to the saddle for dear life, I had what can only be described as a Lawrence of Arabia moment, as I imagined myself leading the bedouin army in to battle. However, I was soon brought back to reality with a jolt of searing pain as our trusty steed went in to a gentle trot, resulting in certain parts of me, that will remain un-mentioned, getting crushed against what may loosely be described as the saddle. I think our camel driver thought I was having tears of joy!

Actually fair play to the XH1. Despite what some Youtubers might tell you it is actually quite superb and I managed a couple of shots of both our camel and camel driver, one handed, as we crashed through the desert.

Eventually we arrived at our destination. As i gingerly dismounted and the circulation gradually crept back in to the depths of my nether-regions, we were greeted by a charming steward who proferred a refreshing glass of Champagne. Well what else do you drink you drink when venturing in to the great un-known?

Anyone for Crystal?:

Whilst our group was enthusiastically quaffing back the fizz I grabbed the Fuji and set off to record the sunset across the virgin sand and rolling dunes. As most landscape photographers will tell you, nothing ever goes to plan. Whilst the setting was perfect the sunset did not play ball and in fact never actually materialized, as there was significant cloud cover and the light was pretty flat. Nevertheless, there was enough light to put together a composition and in the circumstances I was extremely pleased.

Suitably refreshed we returned to our trusty steed, who was already girding her loins (can camels gird and do they have loins?) to carry us back to HQ and our gastronomic dinner.

The lovely thing about Al Maha is that it is a conservation area and is fenced off from the general public. So the desert is natural and un-spoilt and the wildlife is free and can roam un-fettered and without fear. It is surprising how well nature copes without un-wanted interference from humans.

Gazelle for dinner?:

That evening our romantic anniversary dinner was quite delightful, consisting of a deep fried scallop drenched by a delicate pea voloute to start, followed by lightly steamed Cod in a rather cheeky lobster bisque with a king prawn gently resting on top screaming devour me! This was all washed-down with a delightful South African Shiraz. All was very well in my world and it was fair to say that this little adventure had firmly re-kindled the old magic and Mrs. C had a very good chance of getting lucky!

Then of course my cunning plan collapsed before it ever began and it was off to bed for a bit of kip as Mrs. C reminded me that we had to be up at 4.45 a.m. for our dawn nature-walk!

Surprisingly the only people to turn up at 4.45 am for the nature walk were Mrs. C and me! Our South African guide, Kharlich, told us not to rush as we enjoyed a cup of tea and croissant on the Hotel veranda overlooking the oasis in the distance:

Then it was off on our trek. Actually, it was more of a gentle stroll in the desert rather than a Bear Grylls type experience.

Indeed, we were informed about the Ghaf tree, the national tree of the UAE, the fire bush and were shown how the Bedouin tribesmen rub the dry branches together to make tinder for their fires and Kharlich explained about the local wild life and how the wardens try and interfere a little as possible with the "circle of life".

Gazelles roam free and are extremely tame:

Other than the beautiful Gazelles and Oryx that roam free across the whole estate there are of course the usual desert creatures, two types of venomous scorpions, ants the size of your big toe that can give you a rather nasty bite and of course two species of venomous vipers which are apparently highly camouflaged and very easy to step on!! Needless to say, once this information was imparted by our trusty guide I stopped fiddling with the Fuji and my eyes switched to "lazer-beam mode". It is fair to say that I was on red-alert, especially when we came across the grizzly skeleton of a gazelle, which had clearly succumbed to one or other of these predators!

We also learned to differentiate the tracks of the various animals and insects. I was particularly keen to learn about the tracks of the vipers, scorpions and man-eating ants!

We then arrived at an oasis, just as Dawn began to break, where I found my shot of the morning. In photography sometimes the planets do align and everything comes together and for me this is one of the images I will take away from Dubai, when we eventually return home to the South West of England and which will always remind us of our wonderful time at Al Maha.

Well there you have it. Such a wonderful weekend and it all passed by so quickly.

Should you ever decide to pass through Dubai then I whole heartedly recommend a stay at Al Maha. Yes you will have to save-up as it really is a treat, although you can be assured that it will provide you with experiences and memories of Dubai that you will never forget.

For me it was also a wedding anniversary I shall never forget. I consider myself so fortunate in life that 32 years ago I succumbed to the seductive charms of Mrs. C (reader please note that Mrs. C claims she was a child bride and has an entirely different recollection of the seduction episode!). She has given me two wonderful children, she has been a mother to us all, she is my soulmate, my best friend and will always be the love of my life. Best decision I ever made!

Pearl of the Orient.......

April was to be an exciting month in our household as accompanied by Mrs. C and Aunty Sarah, I headed off for a four-day visit to Hong Kong, better known as the "Pearl of the Orient."

This was also to be a trip of firsts:

1. The first time Mrs. C had actually visited Hong Kong.

2. The first time that Aunty Sarah had returned to Hong Kong since she had lived there some 35 years ago.

3. The first opportunity for us to visit cousin Michael, his lovely wife Elsie and their two boys Max and Charlie.

This was to be a truly exciting four days.

I was determined to record as many memories as possible. So, as we had decided to travel with hand luggage only, I decided to go all "Ninja" and take my beloved Fuji X100F with the Hyperion wrist strap for maximum portability and stealth.

We met Aunty Sarah in the business class lounge at Dubai Airport and following a very smooth flight to Hong Kong, courtesy of Emirates Airlines and a comfortable limo ride in to central Hong Kong, we arrived at the Novotel Century in Wan Chai just before midnight.

After a very efficient check-in the girls headed straight for the hotel bar as hydration was the order of the evening and we needed to discuss plans for the next day.

After a couple of Maghueritas for the girls and a vodka martini for me (shaken not stirred and served with a twist) all was very well in our world and we retired for a good nights rest.

The next day we decided to start where it all finished, well at least for the British Empire, and a visit to Golden Bauhinia Square which, in 1997, marked the handover of Hong Kong to China, by Prince Charles, on behalf of Her Brittanic Majesty's Government.

The Bauhinia is the floral emblem of Hong Kong and this image, flanked by the national flag of the Peoples Republic of China, perhaps reflects the modern day relationship between Hong Kong and its mainland parent.

Next stop was a trip to Lantau Island on a mission to visit the Tian Tan Buddha, or as we called him, "Big Buddha".

Three choices to get there; car, ferry or the MTR. We decided on the latter and headed off to Wanchai MTR Station to purchase 3 returns to Tung Chung.

How difficult could it be!?

In fact the MTR is a fantastic way to travel, clean, punctual and excellent value.

A return ticket to Launtau was approximately GBP 6 per person. After a 35 minute Journey we arrived at Tung Chung.

Now at this point I must stress that Mrs. C has two phobias, cable cars and heights. Well the only way we were getting on to Lantau was to take the Ngong Ping 360 cable car. This is a 25 minute cable car ride and at its highest point is 585 meters above sea level.....Ooops must have missed that during the trip planning stage! Fair to say Mrs. C was going to be out of her comfort zone and as a result we opted not to take the glass-bottomed cable car!!

Tip for young players, get there early as the queue can be up to an hour and if you can, avoid the queue and book your ticket in advance. We didn't do either!

The views from the cable car were dramatic with Hong Kong International Airport on one side and Tung Chung on the other.

Unfortunately we had a cloudy day and strong winds which made the journey "interesting" to say the least, which did not help Mrs C's nerves. To make matters even worse, there was a young man in the cable car who kept commenting about how high we were and how scary it all was, whilst the wind howled through the gaps in the doors and I precariously dangled the Fuji out the window to get a better shot of Tung Chung.

Lets just say that when we arrived at our destination, Ngong Ping village, had they served double gins then Mrs. C would have ordered a triple!.

Lantau is very popular with the tourists and on arrival at Ngong Ping village it was already starting to get busy. Meantime, I was rubbing the lucky drum as we still faced the return cable car ride!

Ngong Ping Village:

We then proceeded past the restaurants and souvenir shops to Big Buddha although the weather was proving to be a challenge with a great deal of low-level cloud / mist.

However, by the time we had climbed the 268 steps to Big Buddha we were grateful that it was not blazing sunshine, the mist had cleared and we stood in awe as the Buddha gazed solemnly down at us.

We were also presented with some tremendous views of the neighbouring Po Lin monastery.

As we walked around the grounds of the Po Lin Monastery it provided not only a sense of calmness and inner peace but also a burst of colour amidst the mist and blown-out sky.

Impromptu modelling photo-shoo with the girlst:

By the time we had walked around the grounds of the monastery and perused the various souvenir shops, it was time for lunch and noodles and a glass of the local grog,Tsingtao. A perfect end to a great mornings sight-seeing.

That evening we met Cousin Michael and Elsie at the Star Ferry (more about that later) and they took us for a wonderful meal at a restaurant called Hutong on Kowloon side. We had a fabulous view of the harbour and Hong Kong Island but try as I might I couldn't get a picture because of all the lighting and reflection. It would seem that still need to work on my photographic skills or perhaps have one less glass of Shiraz or perhaps both?!

Now Michael and Elsie make a great team. Elsie is a dab-hand with the local lingo, primarily because she is from Hong Kong and proceeded to order a veritable banquet of great Chinese dishes. Meantime, Michael takes after his father, Big John, and specialists in hydration, ordering gin and tonics followed by a wonderful Shiraz. There is nothing like good food, good conversation and above all family, to complete a wonderful evening.

Day two was equally exciting as we had planned a visit to the Victoria Peak. Standing at 1,811 feet, this is the highest point on Hong Kong Island.

Over breakfast Mrs. C. and Aunty Sarah already had the map out and we decided to set off for a leisurely walk (a.k.a. one of Mrs. C's 30 minute route marches) along Hennesy Road. For me it was a great opportunity to undertake some street photography before eventually arriving at the Peak Tram Station.

The journey to the top of the peak takes a shade under 10 minutes and a return single is about 90 Hong Kong Dollars. It is well worth it as I understand the bus journey takes about an hour and trust me you definitely do not want to walk!

Arriving at the Peak:

Once at the top you can walk out on to the Peak Tower Sky Terrace and it is fair to say that the views of Hong Kong and Kowloon are absolutely stunning.

This was the second day that Mrs. C was outside her comfort zone and fair play to her, she was incredibly brave to walk out on the terrace. She even agreed to pose for a picture, which in itself is very rare. You can see below the girls posing on the peak terrace. My instructions were "chest out and your best Instagram pout please". As you can see, Mrs. C is being extremely brave and telling me to get on with it through gritted teeth whilst Aunty Sarah gets full marks for enthusiastic participation!

Sisters - Instagram Pout Please!:

After a refreshing afternoon's siesta and a couple of glasses of restorative Prosecco, we were ready for a great evening. In fact it was Elsie's birthday and we were to meet at the Hong Kong Cricket Club for a family dinner. So we decided to grab one of the many local cabs.

Now this was the only time that we had encountered a language barrier during our visit and the driver took us to Craig Haven Cricket Club, Hong Kong Football Association, Hong Kong Jockey Club and eventually, once we had run-up a sizable bill on his meter, we miraculously arrived at Hong Kong Cricket Club, at which point his English also miraculously improved especially when it came to asking for his fare!

HKCC would appear to be a focal point for the local Happy Valley community and most certainly the sporting and recreational facilities looked superb.

Pitch inspection at HKCC:

We were then treated to another sumptuous banquet rounded off with the most delicious Peking Duck. Once again the hospitality of La Famille Hurle was over and above the call of duty.

Following Dinner we jumped in to a taxi and headed off to the Hong Kong Jockey Club to catch the last three races of the evening.

Hong Kong Races - Throbbing!:

The girls had been studying the racing form in the South China Post all day and so my expectation of backing a few winners were high. Unfortunately, the only such thing as a sure bet is that there is no such thing as a sure bet.

After following the pundits predictions for the first two races we were never in the frame and also HK$ 100 down. So, I stepped in with a double or nothing bet on the aptly named "Midnight Rattler", a sure-fire outsider at 100-30.

Needless to say, the only time I saw Midnight Rattler was when they pushed him in to the starting gate. He never featured in the race after that, probably something to do with the fact that they forgot to un-hitch the cart!

Day three featured two treats, an exploration of Kowloon Island followed by a sumptuous afternoon tea at the Peninsula Hotel, courtesy of Aunty Sarah.

Rather than our usual route-march we decided to take a tram to the Star Ferry and our crossing to Kowloon Island. I simply love the Hong Kong trams; at HK$ 2.60 (about 26 English Pence) they are so inexpensive and there is no better way to travel whilst viewing town from a completely different perspective.

We then arrived at the Star Ferry for our trip to Kowloon. The history of the Star Ferry dates back to 1888, when a Parsee merchant, Dorabjee Naorojee Mitaiwala founded the Kowloon Ferry Company. In 1889 the British businessman Sir. Cathick Paul Chater bought the then fleet of four ferries and the Star Ferry Company was born.

Since that time the star Ferries have been a regular daily sight as they ply their trade across Victoria Harbour. I would say that they are one of Hong Kong's great traditions and iconic tourist attractions and no trip to Hong Kong would be complete, whether on business or on holiday, without a crossing on the Star Ferry.

To me, Kowloon is what Hong Kong is all about. I love the madness and hustle and bustle of Hong Kong street life. Following a spot of retail therapy in one of the large and very plush malls we headed off to Kowloon Park.

An Oasis of serenity:

This is truly an oasis of calmness and serenity and allowed us a moment of respite and calm before once again stepping out in to the wonderful frenzy which is Kowloon.

Back to Reality:

As we made our way along Hankow Road, I took the opportunity to try and record local street activity.

Hankow Road:

I also tracked down veteran shirt make and tailor, William "Sandy" Cheng & Son.

My dear friend Ralph Shipley first took me there some 15 years ago and I had shirts made by Sandy, which were subsequently delivered to Dubai within a week! Now that is what I call service.

Had we not been on a mission to arrive early for our afternoon tea appointment then I would have popped in for a fitting. However, I fear that he would have needed a little more material than was required 15 years ago!

Finally we turned the corner in to Salisbury Road and came across the Peninsula Hotel, a little 5-star pub that allegedly serves a very nice afternoon tea.

As we walked in to the lobby it was clear that the Peninsula was definitely my sort of establishment.

Our charming waiter, Jason, showed us to our seat and we were subsequently treated to a glass of chilled Peninsular Champagne followed by the most delightful afternoon tea.

What else does one do in Hong Kong on a Thursday afternoon!

After all that food and drink we headed off back to the star Ferry which once again provided many opportunities for street photography and vistas of Hong Kong Island.

If all that excitement wasn't enough, our Thursday evening would then include a night out in Lan Kwai Fong, led by our Hydration Coach Michael.

We had noodles and Dim Sum at one of the local restaurants followed by cocktails at the old prison (more of that later) before ending up the evening for even more cocktails at the roof-top terrace-bar (40 stories up) at the Hennessy in Wanchai. Mrs. C was out of her comfort zone for a third day running although suitably anesthetized from the evening's libations. I am afraid I don’t have any Images from this soiree as they seem to have been mysteriously deleted from my computer!

Our final day involved a return to Lan Kwai Fong so that we could record everything in daylight. It was great to walk along the bustling streets full of street vendors, tourists and of course workers, as they travelled along the series of mid-level escalators.

They apparently travel in a down direction in the morning as they travel to work and then reverse during the afternoon for the journey home. It all seems very sensible to me and they are free.

I then wondered in to what I can only assume was the "Medical District" of Lan Kwai Fong. There seem to be many establishments offering "traditional massage Lah'…presumably with happy ending?

We then continued our journey to the old Hong Kong Victoria Prison. Established in 1841 and located in the aptly named "Old Bailey Street" this was Hong Kongs longest running prison.

It may have once been a prison but now serves a great Martini!

I understand that one of its most famous "guests" was the Vietnamese Revolutionary Ho Chi Minh who was an inmate between 1931 to 1933. Our visit to the cells showed how very tough the environment must have been back in those days.

Victoria Prison was officially decommissioned in 2006 and following an extensive renovation was re-opened in 2018 as the Tai Kwun Centre for Heritage and Arts. A great place to while away a couple of hours.

Sadly our visit to Hong Kong had drawn to a close. What an exciting time we have had.

We send our thanks to the lovely Michael and Elsie for their kind and generous hospitality and extend open invitations to Dubai and Plymouth respectively.

Like all nations Hong Kong continues to face the stresses of change as its mainland parent increasingly flexes its political muscles and influence. Nevertheless, it is clear that the Hong-Kongers are adaptable, resourceful and resilient and to my eyes, Hong Kong continues to be a welcoming and wonderful place to visit and remains The Peal of the Orient!

Qasr Al Hosn......

Qasr Al Hosn......

Whilst living and working in Dubai, a vibrant and fast passed city and regional hub, when we want to get away from it all, we strangely find ourselves gravitating more towards the federal capital of the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi.

As Abu Dhabi has developed its cultural district, located on Sadiyat Island and more particularly completed the wonderful Louvre Museum, we like to visit Abu Dhabi to be pampered in one of their excellent hotels whilst also taking some time out for a "cultural" break.

Our last visit provided an absolute gem, the Qasr Al Hosn. Although only just re-opened after extensive renovation, we took an opportunity for a fleeting visit and now can't wait to return for a more extensive viewing.

The Qasr (Fort) is the oldest structure in Abu Dhabi. It was built around the 1790's in order to to protect the then growing settlement of Abu Dhabi as well as Abu Dhabi's only fresh water well.

The Fort comprises two buildings, the inner structure, constructed in 1795 and the outer palace, constructed between 1939-1945. Over the centuries it has been home to the ruling Al Nahyan family, the seat of government, a consultative council and a national archive.

Our visit was far too short but it did allow me an opportunity to give a workout to my Fuji Xpro2 and my new Fujichron, the 35mm F2. There is something about the architecture and lighting that just lends itself to photography.

I hope this short Blog and corresponding images will give you a flavour for this wonderful national monument and I will write a more extensive piece when we make a dedicated visit, later in the year.

Meantime this wonderful building and museum can be found in the centre of Abu Dhabi, and is a fitting tribute and memorial to the nation's history.

A Tale of Two Cities........

November has been a very exciting month from a travel perspective.  Mrs C and I took the opportunity to take a family holiday in the South Yorkshire town of Sheffield, so that we may visit our son and daughter who are both at University in the Uk, as well as to use this central location to bring family together for a great weekend.

Following Sheffield, Mrs. C and I became tourists and flew off to the wonderful European capital of Budapest.  It was so exciting to visit a new country for the fist time, to visit a capital city so full of history and culture and to have no schedule other than to take full advantage of what this wonderful city had to offer.

In addition to all the above, yours truly was looking forward to a photo-fest. However, we were traveling light and so the weapon of choice for this trip was the wonderful Fuji X100T.  The question was, could I cope without my trusty Xpro2 and a myriad of lenses?

Flying in to Manchester we  had about an hours drive across the Pennines.  The wonderful Emirates Airline limo service and our cheery driver made for a very pleasant and relaxing journey.Indeed, coming from the sands of Dubai it was a complete juxtaposition.  Autumn was in full flow, the hills and forests were alive with  colour and at last we had some real weather!

Sheffield is a city in South Yorkshire and its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city.  Sheffield has an industrial background and was famed for its steel industry and even today Sheffield United, one of the two local football clubs, sports a nickname of "The Blades".

Sheffield has now moved away from a its industrial past and has been transformed in to a modern, diverse city and can be said to have a truly eclectic range of architecture, ranging from:

The classic city centre but with some very traditional English features: note the traditional phone box and post boxes along with the last remaining police box in Sheffield. Shades of Dr. Who!

Modern:

Futuristic:

The centre of Sheffield has a very trendy quarter, is full of busy restaurants, bars and coffee shops and of course, this wonderful futuristic architecture.Above all, Sheffield provided me with an opportunity to undertake some street photography as living in the Middle East, one is constantly aware of the cultural sensitivities of being photographed without permission.

In the UK this is not such an issue but even so, my style is not to shove a camera in to someone's face, which is something to which I would object. Instead, I seek to try and descreetly observe, document and tell a story from our everyday environment.  Indeed, in many cases these are scenes which local residents simply take for granted.In that respect I found Sheffield to be a mine of interesting subjects, as well as edgy street art, and I really look forward to a return visit in the new year, now that I am more familiar with the city, for another photo walkabout.

Having had a great time with family, consumed many calories, sampled the local beverages to excess and given the Fuji a good work out, we boarded Jet Air for the short flight to Budapest.Without a word of Hungarian between us but armed with some local currency, the Hungarian HUF (Florints), a determination to see all the sights (thanks to Mrs C planning a sight seeing tour with what can only be described as military precision), and my determination to give the Fuji another thorough workout, we were greeted at Budapest International Airport by a smiling driver with a shiny Mercedes, all provided by the lovely people at the Marriott Budapest.

After an hour or so driving through rush hour traffic we arrived at the Marriott, located in the very centre of Budapest on the Banks of the Danube.  Now, they say that the terrace of the Executive Club is the best place to take a photo of Budapest, primarily because the Marriott is not the prettiest building in town and is by definition, not in your photo!

Arriving at our Hotel at 8 p.m. we decided to immediately take a stroll along the Danube to try and get a feel for our surroundings.  This was an opportunity for me to up the ISO on the Fuji and see how it coped with a bit of night photography.  I have to say I was pleasantly surprised with how well the Fuji performed.

The following morning, after a delicious breakfast, I walked out on to the the terrace of the Marriott at 8 a.m. and found the view quite breathtaking.

Then once again it was  off along the banks of the Danube and across the famous Szechenyi Chain Bridge to our destination,  Budapest Castle.

Now a walk up to Budapest Castle is not for the faint hearted and given the usual funicular railway was out of commission, I was feeling both faint and did not have the heart!  Fortunately, Mrs C was already prepared and had located a "free" escalator situated some five minutes walk from the railway that nobody ever seems to advertise!

Built between 1749 and 1769 Budapest Castle and ts surrounding complex is a combination of the castle itself, museums and Galleries, the presidential residence (Sandor Palace), the beautiful Matthias Church and Fisherman's Bastien and a wonderful "Old Town" Area.  

The light was fantastic, the weather beautiful and it was just a perfect environment to take in the history and beautiful surroundings. Indeed, Buda Castle reminded me very much of the Old town in Geneva.  There was a bustling community in amongst all this history and of course it is a mecca for photo enthusiasts.  

We were lucky; an early start meant that there were relatively few people but I can only imagine that during the height of Summer it is mayhem and full of tourists.

After a couple of hours of walking it was time to find a quiet hotel and to sit outside for a cold beer and a few rays.  Can you believe that this is mid-November in Hungary!

From the Fisherman's Bastien and the castle walls the view of "Pest" and the beautiful Danube is truly amazing:Trust me, the walk back to the Danube is a long way down and just as hard as the walk up although, the vista is equally wonderful as can be seen in the following image with the Parliament Building in the background.

Now one recommendation I must give to any potential visitor to Budapest  is to make sure you have a comfortable pair of walking shoes. Yes, this is a modern city and there are trams, taxis and buses but if you want to really see this town you have to walk.  During our first day Mrs. C clocked up 28,000 steps!

Our next destination was to head back across the Chain Bridge and walk towards the famous Heroes Square.  Along the way the light was so good it allowed me to switch out of tourist mode and take a couple of arty shots of Mrs. C, who was clearly enjoying herself as she doesn't normally like to have her picture taken!

What I love about Budapest are the large grand streets / avenues and everything seems to be laid out in a grid pattern, so if you are lost just keep turning left!The grandest of all these avenues was Andrassy Avenue.  

It must have taken us 45 minutes to reach the end but when we did we arrived at the magnificent Heroes Square.

By this stage we had been on the go for almost four and a half hours and yours truly was ready for a well earned rest and a good lunch.  As it happens and much by chance, a stones throw from Heroes Square we found the delightful Varosliget Cafe.  This was full of as many locals as tourists which is always a good sign.We had a lunch of braised beef with vegetables (they like their meat and two veg in Hungary) and a starter of broth with dumplings, the broth being made with the juices in which our main course was cooked.  Absolute Heaven.  Washed down with  a couple of glasses of the local beer and all was very well in my world.  Service was brisk and friendly and at Euros 15 per head it was great value for money.

At this point my feeling of well-being was rudely interrupted by the thought of a 45 minute walk back along Andrassy Avenue.  Fortunately Mrs. C had already spotted my look of desperation and dragged me towards the entrance to the Metro.  With not a word of Hungarian and only armed with a handful of HUFS this was apparently the no-stress option!Once again Mrs. C steamed in, negotiated 2 tickets to I am not sure where and we clambered on board; only to then be told to get off and then be told to get back on.  This happened about three or four times over a ten minute period but all the locals seemed quite calm about it and so we just shrugged and complied as only the British do.

Now the Budapest Metro is the oldest electrified underground railway system in Europe. At times during our journey it felt like it but we arrived safely at our destination, my feet were saved and all was once again well in my world.

Next stop on our whirlwind tour of Budapest was St, Stephens Bascilica, named after Stephen, the first King of Hungary.  

Just to prove it they have the remnants of his hand inside which can be viewed for a small fee! Although we passed on that one we did make a donation towards the up-keep of the building.The Basilica is magnificent, it is the largest church in Budapest and can hold up to 8,500 people.  As we arrived we took a seat at a pavement table of a coffee shop directly facing the Basilica.  This is definitely how you drink a macchiato! Once inside, the serenity of the Bascilica and the detail of the decoration was quite breathtaking and well worth a visit.

Next on our list was the Hungarian Houses of Parliament. Due to security you cannot enter without being part of an organised tour.

The Orszaghaz (which literally means house of the country) is the seat of the National Assembly of Hungary. It seems to have been modelled on the U.K. Houses of Parliament in London and inside the decor is truly magnificent.

Following the tour of Parliament, we took lunch at the delightful Mak Bistro, located in Vigyazo Ferenc Street.  What a find!

We had reserved online and as we walked through the door we were warmly greeted by young and enthusiastic staff and were then treated to superb food, attentive service, in a really relaxing environment.A starter of local fish with crunchy pumpkin and a  poppy seed twirl (Mak means poppy) followed by a deep-fried ravioli of ox-cheek accompanied by a very robust Hungarian red wine and ending with a quince desert and glass of the famous sweet Tokaji, rounded off with an expresso, all for Euros 15 per head. When can I return please!

Our daughter had visited Budapest earlier in the year and had told us that we must visit the ruin bars in the Jewish quarter.  Being of an age, Mrs C and I decided we would pop in for an afternoon coffee rather than a late night rave.These bars are apparently the ultimate in trendy drinking and are basically makeshift bars located inside dilapidated pre-war buildings and furnished with all manner of quirky furniture.  They are über cool so Mrs. C and I fitted in perfectly.....NOT!  We decided to visit the most famous known as Szimpla Kert, located on Kazinczy Street, allegedly the most iconic of the bars.

Our final destination was the Great Market Hall, the oldest indoor market in Budapest.Inside this vibrant market, it is full of what Hungarians like best, meat and vegetables.

Let us say that the Hungarian cuisine is what one might call a protein rich environment.  Indeed this chirpy butcher was very happy for me to take his picture as he tried to sell me the bits of a cow that I mistakenly thought were consigned to the waste bin!  Apparently they make a good stew.

So what is my tale of two cities?  Well, they are complete opposites in terms of layout and architecture but share a common theme in that they are both vibrant and interesting places to visit, so long as you are prepared to put on a pair of walking shoes and make the effort.My real Tale of Two Cities is depicted by the following two images:These two images tell a very real and sombre story.  The entire visit was undertaken across the Armistice weekend and indeed we attended a very moving service in the centre of Sheffield on 11th November.The first image is of an ex-serviceman selling poppies on a Sheffield street corner.  He appreciated the donation we made and we proudly wore our poppies in memory of those who have given their lives to ensure that others remain safe and secure.

The second image is located on the banks of the Danube.  It is a sculpture conceived by film director Can Tolgay and created on the east bank of the Danube River by the sculptor Gyula Pauer, in memory of those individuals who were killed by the fascist Arrow Cross militiamen in Budapest during World War II.  It was a very moving tribute and one that I desperately tried to capture in as sensitive a manner as possible.

So my final message is very simple. To all those who seek to create change through civil unrest, dividing and ruling and causing harm to others,  let us not repeat the mistakes of the past and let us try and create more harmony between nations and their populations, so that all this hateful effort and wasteful energy can be put to a more productive and beneficial use.Time is a great healer but memories are often short, so let us not forget the sacrifices made by previous generations.          

Down on the Farm.......

This Summer the whole of our family (on my wife's side), celebrated the 60th wedding anniversary of my in-laws, Maureen & Robert. (see earlier Blog entitled "The Summer Game").

I have to say I am never happier than when I am surrounded by the people I love. As a family we are very fortunate in that we all share some common loves; food, drink, cricket and of course each other.

So bringing 16 or so people together under one roof became an operation in logistics but we managed it by renting the beautiful Pound Farm, located near the sleepy village of Bishops Lydeard in deepest Somerset.

For those already living in the UK and in particular the West Country, it was only a relatively short journey. However for the Chivers clan, a flight from Dubai, followed by a tortuous 4-hour journey on the M5 from Birmingham, with yours truly putting in the incorrect address in to the Sat-Nav and my wife offering some thoughtful yet amplified advice from the rear of the car!,  it meant that we were both exhausted, relieved and exhilarated when we finally arrived at the beautiful Pound Farm.

I am reliably informed that the farm dates back to 1708 and is situated within a working Sheep Farm in the foothills of the Quantocks, ten minutes walk (30 minutes after you have visited the local Quantock Micro Brewery) from the sleepy village of Bishops Lydeard and a 15 minute drive from the county town of Taunton, better known by those lovers of "The Summer Game", as the home of Somerset Cricket Club.

Well, although I am originally a country boy from deepest Hampshire and I love the countryside, when we first booked Pound Farm I did wonder what all our young people, "Les Jeunes", might do with themselves.

However, an indoor swimming pool, outdoor jacuzzi, games room with a billiards table and table tennis table plus a fridge stocked with cold beer and prosecco meant that I need not have worried and all was good in the world of Les Jeunes.

For those of us of a more sedate and  maturing disposition, Pound Farm provided us with a complete detox from the stresses and strains of everyday life. Other than a TV (essential piece of equipment to watch the Test Match and Countdown) and slightly un-reliable wifi, it provided us with a low-tech no-tech week in the country.

The rules of the house were that there were no rules, other than us more mature folk would ensure breakfast and dinner (read catering on a biblical scale) was provided but it was every man / women for themselves at lunch-time. Meantime, everyone was free to do what they liked.

Here we can see La Tante Sarah and my wife Kate, totally entering in to the spirit of things and working very hard at doing very little!

However, for me, this meant that the Fuji was going to get a thorough workout. I had a portrait assignment from Pholaorate to complete, hence I had brought my trusty Xpro2 along with the 16mm and 56 mm lenses plus my Godox Xpro trigger and TT350F flash, Additionally I had brought my newly acquired Fuji X100T which was going to be my carry everywhere weapon of choice.

First order of the day was to take a few artistic shots of the Farm house, gardens and surrounding countryside.

Next task for me was my Pholaborate assignment. In true Plymouthian style I invoked the "Minerva Rule" and press-ganged a few "volunteers", namely my daughter Anna, nephew Joe and his partner Eliese.

I have to say everyone was extremely patient and tolerant with me. Ofcourse, I am my father's son and had neither read or brought with me the instructions for my newly acquired Godox Trigger and flash. I mean, how hard could it be!?

Anyway "when needs must the devil drives" and after much pressing of buttons and use of the Somerset vernacular (of which I am completely fluent!) we got it all working and I was indeed very happy with the results.

Whilst I am clearly the King of my own particular castle, I am always happy to take considered advice and SWMBO (She who must be obeyed), a.k.a. my wife Kate, had given me an afternoon to get this done as it was supposed to be a family holiday not a camera expedition.  As always when faced with a tight deadline (actually this should read "wall of panic") we girded our collective loins and I think the results were quite pleasing for a first attempt at off-camera flash. However, that is for the reader to decide not me!

In fact after what became known as "The Camera shoot at Pound Farm", my mother-in-law volunteered for a spot of modelling and I think she has missed her calling. Very Gloria Swanson!

Now like all boys, given unlimited free time I could have played with my toys all day. That was until I was told about the local Quantock Micro Brewery, situated in our very own Bishops Lydeard.

This gave cause for a major expedition and Les Jeunes did not have to be asked twice. The result was a delicious lunch of fresh-cooked pasties and scotch eggs, procured from the local farm shop, all washed down with several pints of the local ale, brewed with water from the heart of the Quantocks.

I am afraid to say that after several pints of the local brew the Fuji had to be set to Program Mode as the light in the brewery made it a little difficult to focus correctly........!

Following our lunch time feast some of our party felt the need to walk off some calories whist others, and I don't wish to point fingers (La Tante Sarah), needed to clear their heads!

Nevertheless, a gentle walk through the village took us past the Old Mill, in to the heart of the village where next to the post-office and small village store was situated the beautiful Church of St Marys.

Now that we had better light (read "sobered up") the Fuji was back in her familiar aperture priority mode and I was happily snapping away. Finally it was back through the fields to our wonderful Pound Farm.

I needn't have worried about finding things to do. We had a day out to the sea-side courtesy of the West Somerset Steam Railway and of course, our wonderful day out and anniversary celebration at Somerset Cricket club.

We also visited a local National Trust Property, Fyne Court and spent a wonderful day walking through beautiful woodlands and countryside and walking off the numerous calories that we had been consuming.

In amongst my ramblings about our time at Pound Farm there is also a message to "Les Jeunes". Please, please ,please make an effort to come together as often as possible as a busy lifestyle is just another excuse not to do something.  Look after and care for each other.  Whilst it takes an effort to organize and arrange these get-togethers, the results are memories and experiences that will always be cherished.  Above all, remember the importance of family.

After a wonderful week, we left Pound Farm refreshed and rejuvenated. For me it was a complete juxtaposition to our everyday lifestyle and environment in Dubai.

You know, sometimes in life a change really is as good as a rest!

The Summer Game........

We English like to refer to cricket as "The Summer Game".  For those of you who are not too familiar with this wonderful sport it may be described as morning coffee, followed by lunch, including for some a glass or two of the amber throat retriever (Aunty Sarah is an expert at this), followed by a sleep and then tea.  Meantime on the green bit, some chaps dressed in white run around a lot.  I perhaps oversimplify but hold that thought!

Each year that we return to England for a summer vacation we always try and spend a day at the home of cricket; no not Lords but Taunton, the home of Somerset Cricket.

This year we had a double incentive to spend a day at Taunton, as it was the 60th Wedding anniversary of my in-laws, Robert & Maureen Steeds, and we had brought all the family together to spend a day not only watching the cricket but also celebrating this wonderful milestone in their lives.Now Taunton is a very traditional cricket ground and when the sun is shining (not very often) it would not be out of place as an image on top of a chocolate box.

My father-in-law Robert is a Shepton Mallet boy, has been a Somerset supporter all his life and could think of no better place to bring all the family together.He took a corporate box for the day and we had the opportunity to watch the game from one of the best seats in the house, whilst enjoying all the trimmings normally associated with corporate hospitality.

Both Maureen and Robert are two of the kindest and most generous and caring people I know and throughout their marriage have always made family their first priority.  They have always stood as examples as to how we should all live our lives and treat each other and those around us.  In reviewing the post-match photo I thought that they had done a pretty impressive job in shaping "Team Steeds".

At the end of the day Somerset struggled against a rampant Essex although later went on to prevail and win the match. As for Maureen and Robert they continued a most impressive innings and finished the day a very well deserved 60 years Not Out!        

Home From Home........

Whilst keeping our own home in Plymouth Devon, (if I could manage the technology you would now be hearing strains of "Land of Hope and Glory") my "family" home is located just outside of Los Alcazares on the South Eastern coast of Spain, situated next to the beautiful Mar Menor. Indeed, Los Alcazares will always hold a special place in my heart.  

This is  a place where my mother currently lives and is the place that my father loved so dearly and is where his ashes have been scattered.  So, whenever we have an opportunity to visit Mudge (the nickname of my mother and matriarch of the family), Dad is also there with us in spirit.

For the past 20 plus years, Mudge has fully embraced the Mediterranean lifestyle and made this lovely part of Spain her home. This is probably why she remains fighting fit and is looking younger than ever! She assures me she has just turned 38.... for the second time!

There is nothing like a visit home, especially when a son goes to see his mother.  No matter how old you are, you are assured of being fed, watered, looked after and in general thoroughly spoilt. Above all, our beautiful family home is always the place where I can relax and escape, albeit briefly, from the real world!

Los Alcazares itself is a small costal spa town and former fishing village which is situated on the western side of the Mar Menor (which means little sea), which is Europe's largest saltwater lagoon with a surface area of some 20 square kilometres.

The name Los Alcazares comes from the Arabic "Al Khazar", meaning palace or house of nobles. Anyway to me it means home, a peaceful sanctuary and a world away from the frantic lifestyle that is modern-day Dubai.

The town itself is a complete juxtaposition. To the North and around the small airport of San Javier, it has been completely over-developed and is full of bucket and spade tourism. This may be great for the local economy but is not what I am looking for when I visit home.  However, the southern half of town has remained traditionally old-school Spanish, everything is traditional and in keeping and is a joy to visit. The two seem to co-exist, joined by the common bond created by the beautiful Mar Menor and its clean sandy beaches.

For me there is nothing better than taking a short drive to the Los Narejos promenade for early morning breakfast. We then stroll along the beautiful promenade next to the shimmering Mar Menor until we reach the Hotel Balneario La Encarnacion.

Built in 1904, this listed traditional Spanish Hotel is still family run. You can take breakfast next to the sea but if you prefer, and I do, you can sit and relax in the beautiful central courtyard, which takes you a world away and gives you a real taste of old-school Spain.

Breakfast at La Encarnacion always consists of a glass of fresh orange juice, cafe con leche (milky coffee) and of course toast with fresh tomatoes topped with a sprinkling of virgin olive oil and  a dash of salt. What a treat and a great way to start the day!

20 minutes drive to the south of Los Alcazares is the port city and naval base of Cartegna. A visit to Cartegna always brings a mixture of sadness, happiness and reflection. Cartegna is where my father spent his last days battling that terrible evil cancer. Surely the bravest person I know and he battled right to the end.

Yet a visit to Cartegna also brings such happy memories. Most visits actually start in a little bay some 5 minutes drive along the coast, called Mares Braves. This is my absolute favorite place and a hidden Gem.

From the vantage point on top of the cliffs you have a panoramic view of Cartegna town, its port and marina and the surrounding fortifications.

The bay itself has a small beach and seems to be a great favourite of the locals. Just alongside the beach is our destination, the Restaurant Mares Braves.Nothing fancy here, no Michelin Stars, just a good honest lunch comprising cold beers, a mixture of Iberico pork with manchego cheese, bocherones (Mrs C's favourite), frittata and of course, what we really came for, their magnificent grilled sardines which are the speciality of the house. We have tried everything to recreate the taste ourselves but we can never manage it.

Content, after a superb yet inexpensive lunch, I always allow myself a quiet moment of reflection to think about Dad. In fact I think about him everyday and miss him so much.  This is the first time I have ever written down and shared these feelings and I have found the process to be extremely cathartic.  What I firmly believe is that if my children feel the same way about me when I am no longer here, I know that I will have succeeded as a father.

Following lunch at Mares Braves, a quick car ride takes us in to Cartegna itself. First order of the day is to take a stroll along the quayside and marina. Moving past the Audatorioy Palacio de Congresos El Batel (The opera house) and the National Museum of Underwater Archaeology, we cross the main road to the Park Plaza de Los Heroes de Cavity adjacent to the splendid Town Hall.

This was a great opportunity for some street photography along the way and a chance to walk-off lunch and exercise both my legs and the Fuji. The XT20 and XF27mm were in stealth travel mode and as always they delivered some very pleasing images.

Cartegna is such a very photogenic town and I wished we could have stayed longer. However, it was getting hot and the cold beers consumed over lunch were kicking in and all roads seemed to be leading to a well earned afternoon siesta.

The lovely thing about being back in Spain and away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life is that it enables you to catch up on the things that matter.   Indeed, Mrs C. did some stealth photography of her own with the Fuji and caught me unawares, studying my favorite read, the Fujilove monthly magazine!

Now Mrs C, the love of my life and wife of 31 years ( she claims to have been a child bride!), is notoriously camera shy.  However, I did manage to persuade her to try a bit of modeling so that I could put in to practice what I had been reading in the most recent issue of Fujilove magazine.

However, I guess I pushed my luck too far and my model stopped co-operating!

Three days with Mudge was just what we needed to de-stress and recharge the batteries before transiting through a grey and bleak Gatwick en route back to Dubai.

You know, those Mediterranean folk seem to have their priorities in order and have developed a way of life which is both uncomplicated yet fulfilling. As I start to consider what I will do if I am ever able to retire, (at this point I am not holding my breath!) I think three to four months a year next to the beautiful Mar Menor should be positioned firmly at the top of my list of priorities! 

Ramadan Kareem.........

The observance of Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam and is considered as the holiest month of the year for Muslims.It was originally the month in which the Quran was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) on the night of the Laylat Al Qadr, on one of the last ten nights of Ramadan.

Ramadan lasts for one complete lunar cycle, usually 29 or 30 days and Ramadan officially starts when a moon-sighting committee in Makkah, Saudi Arabia (considered to be the holiest city in Islam) makes an official announcement.

Once Ramadan is declared adult muslims are required to fast from dawn until dusk, everyday throughout Ramadan. Whilst non-muslims are not expected to fast, good etiquette, good manners and common sense dictate that one should be mindful of others and be respectful in the way one dresses and acts during this time.

Fasting commences each morning before sunrise, when one takes "Suhour", the pre-fast meal. Muslims break their fast at sunset, before the Maghreb Prayers. Dates are traditionally taken as the first food along with water or a sweet juice and the subsequent fast-breaking meal is called Iftar.

Given this is my 30th Ramadan since working with and living in the Middle East, I thought it was high time that I experienced, up close and personal, the firing of the Iftar cannon, which signals to all, the breaking of the fast.

So en famille we headed to the Madinat Jumeirah where a group of families had already gathered, under the shadow of the burj Al Arab, to observe the ceremony and subsequently break their fast.This really was a family event and the troop of soldiers who were tasked with undertaking the ceremony were extremely kind and welcoming to all and encouraged pictures to to be taken.

The attending soldiers looked extremely proud to be participating in this ceremony and looked splendid decked out in their uniforms and striking red and white Keffiyeh (also known as Ghutra or Schemagh).My best mate Seth and I were quick off the mark and with Mrs. C operating the Fuji (XPro2 and 56mm F1.2), we got the shot we wanted.

I was determined to try and record the exact moment the cannon fired. I had spent ages planning my shot, picking the right vantage point, using manual focus and focus peaking to ensure all bases covered and switching to continuous drive to ensure I didn't miss the shot. Well, a camera is only as good as its operator and in my defense, no-one had told me the word for "Fire" in Arabic. So once the sergeant at arms shouted something in Arabic, which presumably meant fire, I was caught unawares. Even though I pressed the shutter, I missed the shot. In fact, the cannon was so loud and un-expected that I literally jumped out of my skin and almost dropped the Fuji. Once my heart-rate returned to normal, my ears stopped ringing, the smoke cleared and the dust settled, I was able to have a quick chimp at the images. In the interest of full transparency I have set out the before and after images below.

The before shot.....

And after.........the one that got away!

Adopting my usual positive attitude and rather then saying I missed the shot, I would rather label it as "A learning experience"!  However, we really did have a wonderful time. We then broke our fast with a succulent local date and a glass of sweet juice before heading off for our Iftar meal, armed with yet another wonderful memory of our time in the Middle East.

Au Bord De La Mer.....

Collioure is one of those picturesque French seaside towns, with a large dash of Catalan culture, whose picture would not look out of place on the top of a chocolate box. Boasting picturesque scenery, beautiful light, being a haven for artists and only 45 minutes bus ride from Perpignan, I felt this was an ideal opportunity to give the Fuji a workout, whilst also enjoying some of the local sights, sounds and delicacies.

So, when the day came for our Collioure day trip, the skies were dark, the clouds were angry and the rain was coming down sideways!  However, we are British and "needs must when the devil drives".  So with a Dunkerque spirit we puffed out our chests in a manner that would have made Churchill proud and pushed on to La Gare De Perpignan to meet our bus, (what a bargain, a return trip only 2 Euros!)......whilst getting soaked in the process!

Thankfully, after the pleasant 45 minute bus ride and with thanks to a moderate offshore breeze, by the time we arrived things were still a bit gloomy but were definitely improving.

The old town of Collioure is built around a small harbour and beach and for the visiting tourist it provides that interesting mix of fantastic scenery, culture, great food, as well of course as an opportunity to swim and take some rays, although not on the day of our visit!

Indeed, Collioure is credited as being the birthplace of "Fauvism", created when both Henri Matisse and André Derain arrived there in 1905. As a result, we made a beeline for the Modern Art Museum only to be once again disappointed as the principal collections were all in storage in favor of displaying works from current artists. With my hard earned cash remaining firmly in my pocket the beautiful surrounding gardens did provide a photo-opportunity.

As I headed back in to the town you get a great perspective across the bay with the Royal Castle of Collioure dominating the Seafront at the southern end of the Harbour and the Church of Notre Dame St Agnes with its distinctive bell tower which, during medieval time, was once a lighthouse.

I am particularly proud of the above image. Subsequent to the visit I was approached by the Dorotheum Auction House in Vienna and I agreed to allow them to publish this image in one of their catalogues. The image is very similar to a painting by Paul Signac, the French neo-impressionist, and was used as a comparison in their catalogue.

The old town itself is quite delightful. Full of color and vibrancy. It was good to visit out of season as I have been in the height of the summer when it is "standing room only"!

First stop a noisette in one of the sea-front cafes.

Whilst sitting on a small terrace and sipping on our coffee and before the arrival of the lunchtime crowd,  it provided and ideal  opportunity to take a shot of the Church of Notre Dame St. Agnes.

Then, with the old cobbled streets still relatively empty, the girls took the opportunity for some seaside retail therapy which left me free for some street photography. Despite clearly being a tourist town, it is good to see that normal day to day life still exists.

Next stop lunch. We found a lovely restaurant which was able to serve a mixture of tapas; Iberico pork, patatas bravas, grilled calamari in a spicy tomato sauce and of course, Bocharones, small anchovies in olive oil, for which Collioure is famed. All of this washed down with a bottle of the local Collioure Red and yours truly was very happy and rapidly switching the Fuji to autofocus mode!

With a need to walk off the calories and dare I say clear the head, we headed on to the end of the breakwater.From this exposed and bracing vantage point I managed to take a few pictures of the town and also of La Tante Sarah, who was in an extremely "relaxed" mood 😀🍷

On the way back through the town we came across one of those wonderful shops,  selling the local nougat, where everything you touch had at least a thousand calories but tasted delicious!

Of course, Mrs C was "In like Flynn" and in true Middle Eastern fashion was soon haggling over both quantity and price, before sealing the deal.

As the afternoon drew to a close and the light finally began to improve, we came across a group of children practicing their artistic skills. Who knows, perhaps one of these may prove to be one of the new breed of Fauvists!

As we sat quietly on our bus en route to Perpignan, sampling our freshly purchased nougat and reflecting upon the sights and sounds of Collioure, you can be sure that we were already planning a return visit to this beautiful seaside town,  which should be firmly placed on everyone's South of France bucket list!     

Into The Bullring..........

During a recent visit to Europe I transited via Birmingham Airport and to break up the journey, I spent the evening and half a day in central Birmingham, at a Premier Inn located at the famous Bullring shopping district.  Goodness, there am I taking a holiday from the shopping capital of the world only to stay in another mall? However, I found the whole photographic experience very different compared to the sights, sounds, light and fragrances of the Middle East.

So a murkey day in rainy Birmingham was going to be a challenge. As the girls went off to do some retail therapy they left me to my own devices. So me and the Fuji decided to head off and try and grab some interesting shots.

First off I was looking out the window and saw the tram directly beneath us. Whilst we have a metro in Dubai, it is up in the air as opposed to something which integrates in to the daily hustle and bustle of life.

It was such fun walking the streets in the UK.  The people, architecture  and textures were so different.

I took the picture below as I particularly liked the idea of a flower seller in a concrete jungle.

I also decided that I needed to locate the famous Bull and take a couple of photos of my own.

Having photographed said Bull from anterior and posterior it was mission accomplished and as the rain came lashing down, (I now remember why I like living in the Middle East so much), I headed back indoors to see how the UK Mall experience, from a photography perspective, differed from my regular friday outings at The Dubai Mall.

Actually I was pleasantly surprised. Since I now carry my camera everywhere (the benefit of the wonderful Fuji X Series system of cameras and lenses) I have become more acutely aware of my surroundings and it did not take long to find a few interesting subjects.

I then came across this wonderful barbers shop. It was a bit of a juxtaposition in that it was really trendy and modern yet in an "old school" and traditional sort of way.I really liked the scene and especially the lighting.

I also came across this really interesting Lebanese Restaurant, Le Comptoir Libanais. When I walked in it was so vibrant and I was immediately greeted by a charming young lady, who only happened to have grown up in Abu Dhabi. What a small world! She was delightful and let me take a few shots of her and the restaurant.

Then, as I was really getting in to my photographic stride, the lights went out! Story of my life.   The whole mall was plunged in to darkness as someone, somewhere, had clearly pulled the wrong plug out of the wrong socket.

So, security marched us all outside and as we were standing around in the freezing cold I noticed a group of restaurant employees all standing together having a cigarette break.  I just loved the scene and contrast between them and their surroundings. The flip screen and silent shutter of the Fuji meant I could take this shot without anyone being the wiser.

So I headed back to our hotel, pleased with my first opportunity to try out some street photography in the UK and looking forward to a return visit and to exploring the parts of central Birmingham that I missed due to the good old British Weather!

Gone Walkabout in Perpignan.....

Located in and capital of Département 66 of the Pyrénées-Orientales region of Southern France, the city of Perpignan is definitely a forgotten gem.  Located about 1 hours bus ride from the Mediterranean and close to the foothills of the Pyrenees Mountains, Perpignan has everything; great food, culture, you can swim in summer and your can ski in winter and of course you benefit from that wonderful French lifestyle, with a twist of Catalan influence thrown in for good measure.

Perpignan's roots and influence go way back in history and indeed during the 13th and 14th Centuries Perpignan was the capital of the former province and county of Rousillion, at which time it was the continental capital of the Kingdom of Mallorca. I have to preface this Blog by saying that my recent visit to this normally sunny part of the world resulted in 4 days of rain! However, living in the Desert as we do, experiencing some weather is actually quite fun and refreshing and means that rather than concentrating purely on eating and drinking, we made full use of the cultural facilities.

For me the real centre of Perpignan is the Grand Cafe De La Poste.This is my favorite breakfast haunt and is very centrally located in the Place De Verdun next to the famous Castillet.

Each morning I make sure I arrive by 8.00 a.m. so that I can bask in the aroma of freshly baked croissant, which simply melts in your mouth, accompanied by a noisette, (a short expresso like coffee) which gives you that essential fortifying "jolt" to help you start the day.

Service is brisk and friendly and incredibly you only have to be served by the head waiter once, for him to remember your order when you return the next day. A true professional with a cheeky smile!

Cafe de la Poste has a real sense of permanence and community and is always vibrant with the local Perpignan crowd, whether at breakfast, lunch or dinner and especially when the Catalan Dragons Rugby Team (local to Perpignan) are playing at home, when it is standing room only.

With the rain coming down horizontally and resembling a scene from our U.K. home town of Plymouth, where it normally rains 400 days a year, our first stop is a visit to the Musée Hyacinthe-Rigaud, located in the centre of town at 21 Rue Mailly.

The Artiste Hyacinthe-Rigaud originated from Perpignan and it was only from visiting the Museum that I realized that Hyacinthe was a man and not a women. Oops, rookie error when pretending to know about the Perpignan art scene! Nevertheless the staff are super friendly, they provide a very interesting guide booklet in English and the whole atmosphere of the Musée is of creativity and tranquility.

It was a pity that they did not have small bar as a chilled glass of the local sweet Muscat wine would have completed the experience. Then again, we might not have proceeded past the bar so perhaps it was a good omission on the part of the Musée!

It is very difficult to record and accurately reflect the beauty of the contents, which comprises both Baroque and Modern Art Collections, but I have put together a small sample of what is on offer.

Then a short walk to the Cathedral Saint-Jean Baptiste, located in Rue De L'Horloge. This magnificent cathedral is built in the Catalan Gothic style. Construction began in 1324 by King Sanch of Mallorca and finally finished in the 15th Century. It is beautifully decorated and still fully functional. A place of reflection, sanctuary and no doubt refuge. It certainly was for us as by this time the rain had reached biblical proportions. Quite apt really!

Next stop a bracing 15 minute walk "uptown" to the Palace of the Kings of Mallorca. Again a good pair of walking shoes is first order of the day. Thank goodness the rain had paused as we reached the highest point in town as the Fuji and the 27 mm are not weather sealed. Come to think of it neither am I !

It doesn't take long to walk around the castle but as you move from room to room you get a sense of the splender and luxury in which the Royals of days gone by must have lived.

The climax of the tour is a climb to the top of the main tower (not for the feint of heart or those afraid of heights) and once at the top you are rewarded by some spectacular vistas of Perpignan and its environs.

Brimming with culture and new found knowledge of Perpignan the tastebuds were pining for a spot of lunch. So, best place to head for is Cafe Moka in the Place de La Republique. A Simple Gallopin (small beer) is always the best way to start, as you can have two or three of those and not feel too guilty, accompanied by a healthy Salade Du Maison with Iberico Pork..... yes I confess and frites, which were hot, salty and delicious!

Having finished lunch and suitably repleat, we stepped back in to Place de La Republique to spend time in the Saturday Market. I absolutely love this. All sorts of produce combined with the locals doing their usual batering. A photographer's dream.

Next stop the Hotel Pams. This is a mansion in the old quarter of Perpignan that was built between 1852 and 1872 by Pierre Bardou one of the founders of the JOB Cigarette paper company. The building was later transformed in to an elegant mansion by his son-in -law, Jules Pams, who was an amateur art lover. His tastes are clearly reflected in the elegant decor.

Today the Hôtel Pams is owned by the City of Perpignan. Its well worth a visit and perhaps gives the visitor a sense of what it was like, back in the day, if you were wealthy and lived in Perpignan.

At last the rain had stopped and we were able to have a relaxing walk along the waterway which runs through the heart of Perpignan.

Final visit for the afternoon is afternoon coffee on the terrace of the Galleries Lafayette. Actually it was extremely windy and yes, once again the rain was doing its best to soak me and the Fuji.  However, "needs must when the devil drives" and it is a great spot to take the signature shot of the Castillet and the Cathedral de Saint-Jean Baptiste, with the tower of the Palace of the Kings of Mallorca just visible in the distance.

What a fantastic way to spend a day. How to finish things off? Well first of all Team Chivers headed to a cheeky little wine bar in the old town. A couple of glasses of that delicious local Muscat and all was exceedingly well with the world.

This was followed by dinner at Gallinette, a Michelin starred restaurant located just a stones throw from our hotel.  A six course tasting menu ensued which was simply sublime and after a bottle of the local "Collioure" red I retired to our hotel a very happy man. Regrettably I once again had a focussing problem with the Fuji and so did not record dinner. Or was it a focussing problem with me........?

So there you have it, there is definitely more to this beautiful sleepy town in the South of France than meets the eye. I hope I have inspired you to book those flights and sample the delights of Perpignan for yourself. ;-) 

Following the Light........

The whole of the region around Perpignan is famous for its excellent light and to this day continues to be a mecca for artists. So no excuses for not taking at least a few interesting photos as I continue to test out my new super-light travel kit, the Fuji XT20 combined with the 27mm F2.8 pancake lens.

One of the favorite locations for the art fraternity is the small town of Céret, located some 45 minutes bus-ride from Perpignan and nestled in the foothills of the Pyrenées, with the mighty Canigu dominating the back-drop.

The good thing about Department 66 of the Pyrénnees-Orientales is that public transport is a bargain. For a Euro you can take a bus anywhere in the Département and the buses are both comfortable and punctual. You also have the opportunity to enjoy the countryside and whatever the weather, it is simply breathtaking.

Céret is located in the canton of Vallespir-Albères and in the arrondissement of Céret. It is located on the River Tech and indeed, upon arrival at the outskirts of Céret, we were immediately greeted by the famous Pont Du Diable (The Devils Bridge).

Constructed between 1321 and 1341 and with a single span of some 45.5 meters, at its time of construction it was apparently the world's largest arch bridge in terms of span length. It is now closed to traffic and only used as a footbridge.  Irrespective of its claim to fame it gave me an opportunity to take a couple of interesting shots.

Immediately adjacent to the Pont Du Diable is the new modern road bridge and the "Pont Neuf" with its back-drop of the Pyrénées.

Our planned destination was The Musée D'Art Moderne De Céret. Indeed the town has always had a tradition of being a home for artists and scultpers, notably Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse and Aristide Maillol.

It is a pleasant but uphill walk to the Centre Ville where the Museum is situated so make sure you have comfortable walking shoes. However, when you arrive "Au Centre Ville" it is all you imagine this small French town to be, especially when the sun shines!

The Musée D'Art Moderne is located in the Boulevard Maréchal Joffre and my wikipedia research indicates that it was originally created by Pierre Brune and Frank Burty Haviland in 1950, with the personal support of their friends Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse, who were both apparently involved in its creation.

Whilst we had a great time in the Museum, which is extremely calm and relaxed, much of the art from contemporary artists that we wanted to see was stored away and instead they were exhibiting collections by more current artists. I am sure that someone somewhere will call me a Phillistine but some of these modern Artists would appear to have extremely troubled minds! Nevertheless, there was much to see and I have set out a selection of my favourite exhibits below.

There is also a charming "Old Town" with lots of Art Galleries and Arts Shops as well as numerous restaurants which allowed us the opportunity for a refreshing Gallopin (small beer) and a light lunch.

Céret really is a gem of a place and as we wandered down the hill to our bus stop, eating a freshly made local ice cream, the serenity and beauty of this town made me contemplate why we have to return to the hustle and bustle of modern life?

Then the reality check; its the day job that pays for these wonderful diversions!

La Gare De Perpignan - Centre Du Monde.......

In 1965 the Catalan artist Salvador Dali painted his now famous "La Gare De Perpignan", currently displayed at the Museum Ludwig in Cologne. It is a work of art which is considered to be an exceptional example of the surrealist movement and reflecting Dali's apparent obsession with immortality.

By the way the title image above is not the image of Dali's masterpiece, but a photo of the train station taken from the neighbouring bus station (so no copyright infringement...phew!). So far I am sounding like I know what I am talking about....thank goodness for Google ;-)

Indeed, it seems that Dali used to frequent Perpignan and its environs due to the excellent light and it is said that he used to gain inspiration by sitting in the station lobby, where in 1963 he apparently experienced a "vision of cosmogonic ecstasy" resulting in said master-piece. Well, suitably enthused about the prospect of good light and with expectations of a similar level of ecstasy, I set off from my hotel, armed with the XT20 and 27mm, hoping for at best an "ecstatic ephiphany" and at worst, a few interesting shots!

My first stop en-route was the Place De Catalogne, where to my delight I was formally introduced to the old master as he presided over all before him.

In fact he was my guide as he gazed directly long the Boulevard Wilson, a splendid if not slightly jaded reminder of how grand this area of Perpignan must have been back in the day, leading directly to his beloved Gare De Perpignan.

As I approached the station my excitement was further heightened as I literally stumbled across  further evidence of Dali's influence, finding a plaque engraved in the stone of the concourse in his honour. I would recognize that mustache anywhere!

I had finally reached my destination.  The station itself was originally opened in 1858 and whilst I fear it that its current state is not quite as described or envisaged by Dali, it does serve the Department Pyrénées- Orientales and Occitane Southern Fance extremely well.

First stop, I headed towards the station lobby for my much anticipated epiphany. Hmm, I wasn't really feeling it so no luck there, but I did manage a noisette (an expresso coffee) and a pain au chocolat, so all was not lost!

Suitably refreshed, although still feeling a little desperate,  I looked to the heavens for inspiration and my wishes were answered, with parts of the ceiling of the lobby having been decorated in the style of the great master, with swirls of yellows, creating enormous butterflies, or at least that is how I interpreted them. After all, art is all about one's personal interpretation isn't it?

Still somewhat deflated, and without any surreal spiritual or physical manifestations, I headed towards the boarding platform, contemplating wether this really was the centre of Dali's world and if so, his was definitely a world with which I remain unfamiliar.

Then voila!, I noticed the following words painted in large white letters across the Platform,  "Perpignan Centre Du Monde".  So it had to be true!

My journey had reached a successful conclusion.  Although I departed La Gare De Perpignan without my cosmogonic experience, I was happy in the knowledge that I had secured a few interesting photos and that I had made my small personal contribution to the history of the surrealist movement!