Saturday is the only day I get to sleep in, so I have to have a good reason to get my backside down to Salford Quays when it's -4C!

A trip to Toronto at short notice provided a few opportunities for photography.  More to follow.

A recent holiday to the Med started in Venice and cruising from Venice along the Eastern Med finishing at Rome.  We went a day early so that I could photograph the Grand Canal at dawn - yes a very touristy thing to do but it's THE view in Venice.  The End.  However, after getting up at 5am and walking around the canals it was clear to me that the fog (or Pea Souper as we say in Wigan when visibility is only a few feet) was set for the morning and I wouldn't get my shot!  Never mind - I will have to go back another day!  Nevertheless there were some nice images to take home.  First is St Mark's Basilica.  I was very fortunate to get the shot: they protect their image rights vigorously!

As we were leaving the port of Venice the fog came back.  Ten minutes after this image was taken we were back to a pea souper.  And the ship's fog horn.  Every 60 seconds.  Throughout the night!

Made famous in popular culture by Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves (Kevin Costner)

You may remember Colin Firth diving into this lake in Pride & Prejudice ...

Mesnes Park, Wigan

​Sneak Peak!

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of meeting this beatiful new arrival in the world - Lana was fascinated by the shutter sound on the camera (she's clearly going to be a Canon girl!!!).  Thank you to the Patel family for allowing me to be part of your lives for a few hours :-)

When I arrived it was a beautiful day and the Anglican cathedral looked stunning from the outside.

​I arrived at the Met just as an aeroplane passed over the lantern.

I spent a very enjoyable afternoon at the 'Fred Dinah Heritage Centre', which is Fred's former home in Bolton.  Famous for his exploits as a steeplejack and latterly as a tv guide through Britain's industrial Heritage, Dr Dibnah has many fans throughout the UK and beyond.  Whilst there we bumped into some very nice folk from Wales and Nottingham.

The Centre is run by Leon who purchased Fred's property after it had been standing empty for a while after his death and during which time thieves made hay whilst the sun shine.  Leon has spent many hours putting the place back to where it should be and ensuring appropriate health and safety requirements would be met so visitors are safe.  Leon, below, sharing one of many anecdotes about Fred.

Good to see the front of the house is noted with a blue plaque.  At the roadside, the house is a single story property, but in the yard behind becomes two story due to being sited on a hill.

I don't ever recall visiting a garden with a mineshaft and pit head gear before!

Fred had grand plans for his pit shaft as this photo of Fred's drawing shows and which hangs in the house.

Inside Fred's shed

Further details of the Heritage Centre available here:
http://www.freddibnahheritagecentre.com
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