"Life is not measured by the amount of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away."

Why Sadloafer for a screen name? you may be asking. Well I was here on the internet at the start, when it was just text pages, telling all my friends how big this thing was going to be. They called me a sadloafer for spending so much time on the web.

My wife is a teacher and is in charge of Learning difficulties and Dyslexia unit for the Rotherham area, that's why I can spend so much time on holiday in Cornwall and on a cavavan site with no kids, to give my wife a rest.

We have two lovely daughters, both now married, one living just up the road and other now lives in Crowland, near Peterborough with my granddaughter three and grandson just one. So at the moment any spare time we have is with them.

I use be a vehicle mechanic and later worked as a fitter in the steel ind, working for Outokumpu until it was shut down about 18 months ago. I'm 57 now and I didn't really want to do engineering anymore. I've been into photography 37 years or more, holidays, the kids, that type of thing. About 18 months ago I was really at low point in my life, I hadn't been out of work since the day I left school and couldn't see someone of my age finding work very easy. My wife said "you've worked hard all your, we don't need the money anymore the kids have gone, do something you really want to do with the rest of your life".

An old friend from work rang me and asked if I'd like to go on a photography course with him. I was reluctant at first, thinking of all the writing that would be involved, and I'm Dyslexic to cap it all. Takes me forever to write things ( I started this note last week), only kidding. Anyway I went, had a great time and haven't looked back. In the last 18 months I've passed NCFE In Photography Level 1 and 2, two Photoshop and one HDR course. I'm now doing two more courses, NCFE level 3 Certificate in Creative Craft using Photography and Themed Photography. Both will run well into next year, that's a lot of work, but also a lot of fun.

While I was in Cornwall last summer, I met a few like minded people taking pictures, asking if I was on Flickr. My standed reply was, "I've seen the photos on there and its just photos of Mum, dad, kids, dog and cats, and the like", how wrong I was. It is that to, but its far more than that.

Another change in my life happen while I was taking pictures at the steps at Marazion waiting for the sunset around St Michaels Mount. Another photographer came to stand by my side and setup his tripod. The ease with which he setup I new he must be local and I felt that I may well be standing in his spot. A bit like entering a pub you've never been in before, you order your pint and take a seat, only to be told moments later that "that's bob's chair, he always sits there". Again I couldn't have been more wrong if I tried, he seemed to be in no rush to take a picture and was happy just to stand and chat. Are you on Flickr I asked, "yes I am, are you" came the reply. Seems the world and his dog was on it, I'm missing out I though. So I asked him his name, which I knew I'd forget the minute I'd walk away. I decided to ask him for his Flickr handle, I may just remember that. He said "I came from Birmingham, but I live here now, so my handle on Flickr is Midlander1231. I felt sure I could remember that, I did and that chance meeting changed my life.

Please respect the copyright laws and do not use any of my photos on websites, blogs or in any other way before contacting me first via my email address listed on this page.

Thank you very much for your visit! :-)

Comments are always welcome and much appreciated.

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