Watching butterflies

Last night we were blessed with beautiful sunny weather as we stood on the terrace high up on the Oxo Tower, looking across at the views of London as the sun set. However, I was pleased to get into the car to drive home so I could sit down after standing all evening, my back does not like standing for extended periods of time!

I was pleased to find out last night that I had received a judge's award for my image San Mother and Children at the PAGB (Photographic Alliance of Great Britain) Inter Federation competition. I never even realised my image was entered in it, I never enter into these kind of competitions or salons on a personal level but it was entered by the selection committee at my club. There were only three judges awards so I was chuffed to get this award in a national competition out of many entries. I have not had the best year in camera club competitions, I could say that I felt some judges were unfair in their critiques and I was unlucky, but the truth is my images were probably not good enough. However I have done well in national and regional competitions and I have even had two sales of this particular image, so I soldier on...

Gavin and I went to see a house today,  just down the road from our current house, the house has already been sold but the agent wanted to show us the kind of thing on the market at the moment and see how we felt about the space - when you are down scaling it can be an adjustment in perception coming from a large house to something smaller. This house was by no means small, it was still a large house but something more manageable than what we have at the moment. We are not actively looking but just wanted to get an idea of things, although we are aware we will have to do something about it in the next year or so.

It was a momentous day for Gavin as he had a meeting with all his staff to announce his retirement. As he is with a public listed company it will get reported on Monday, the day he officially retires - although he will still have some responsibilities until September. He feels quite ready for this change, although it will be a massive adjustment for him.

Luke has had a few days in Paris with Meriel and last night they went to the King's birthday party at the embassy - the King as not there but it was nevertheless a swanky affair.