Tired, retired teacher. Living in and loving London, a long way from where it all began many years ago.

Long interest in photography but never got around to taking courses, relied on trial and error. Much harder in the days of film when you had to wait for the pictures to come back or go to the trouble of blacking out a room in the house to find out what you had captured. (And I was one of the world's worst printers!) Then when you did get your results you didn't have EXIF to remind you how you had taken the pic anyway!

Approached digital tentatively, but it has become so much friendlier and much more intuitive now - love it and the immediacy it brings with it. (Not to mention savings in film costs and D&P expenses, and smelly chemicals.)

Joining Flickr was one of the best things I have ever done - people are so willing to help with comments and advice, I am amazed at their generosity. And all of the Flickr groups have given me a focus where I can develop my subject interests in an environment where I can also learn from others.

Do drop by my stream and feel free to leave comments, positive or negative are ok as long as they are somewhat constructive. And, if you see how I could have done something better, let me know; I may or may not agree with you, but I will be pleased you thought it was worth doing. Please, please do not use that awful word "awesome" as I will delete your comment with glee!

Please do not 'fav' my pictures or select me as a contact if: you have hundreds of contacts and are obviously a 'contact collector' (might be a good game, but I don't want to play) or if your photostream is made up of a fairly limited selection of pictures which may or may not be yours. All of my contacts are genuine photographers who, typically, share my interests. If you 'fav' or contact me, and I don't feel you are genuinely interested in photography I will block you!

SADLY I am finding an increasing number of people who feel my photos are worth collecting as favourites but who do not feel they warrant even an occasional cursory comment. I am quite happy for someone who has been a long-tern contact to add photos to their 'favs' without always feeling the need to comment. But if I don't know you, flattering as your interest may be, I find the fact that you cannot be bothered to leave any comment offensive and ill-mannered - so I will now be considering blocking "picture-collectors" too. SAVE US BOTH THE TIME, OK? Thanks