On Sunday night just gone midnight, I gave Ben, my loyal and loving 13 years old dalmatian boy, a last cuddle and said my last goodbye. His lordship and I wept as we watched the vet administered the lethal dose, and how very quickly the drug took his life. No more pain, my dear boy, and rest in peace.

The house has become very quiet – No Ben’s excitement as he rushes for his food. No barking at the man with his “chinese” dog as they walk past the house. No huff-n-puff-n-a-great-big-sigh as he plonk himself down on his favourite chair only to sleep for the rest of the afternoon. No sitting by his biscuit tin and adoringly looking at you with his sad brown eyes saying “Please give me a biscuit. I’ve been such a good boy and I’m starving” …..

This has been the most difficult blog post I’ve ever written. Every word and every sentence brings so much memories and my tears start flowing again – Kinda difficult to see through tears-covered spectacles to be able to type!! I took these three photos as they remind me most of my loving dog.

His armchair – This is Ben’s favourite chair in our living room. Most mornings he’d be curled up on the sofa in my study/office keeping me company as I go about my business, but by the afternoons when the sun shines through our living room windows upon the armchair, Ben would be straight on it. Sleeping soundly and enjoying the warmth of the sun. Not only did he get a commanding view of the kitchen, but also a view out of the window into the street, where he gets to bark verociously at the man with the “chinese” dog.

His food bowl – Food was top priority for Ben. He loved his food!! He would hop and dance around us as we prepare his meals, barking with great delight and enthusiasm as if it was the only meal he’d ever had for months. As we carried his food bowl downstairs where he is fed, Ben would shoot down the stairs like a lightning and get there before you can even blink your eyes. Oh yes, he LOVED his food. Ben would eat anything – Definitely not a fussy eater!! Bananas, all sorts of fruits, last night chinese takeaways, chicken jelfrezi … not fussed!!! Just wanted lots of it!!! The word “biscuits” had to be spelt out in our household, for the mere mention of the word and Ben would be straight there, sitting beautifully in front of you, with his sad eyes looking pleadingly at you saying “Did you just say biscuits? Yessssss pleaaaasssseee”.

His collar – Ben. Yup. That’s what it says. That’s my boy Ben. We tend to take his collar off when he’s at home and picking up the collar signals it’s time for walkies. Ben loved his walks and never tires of them. He slowed down as he grew older and as his back condition worsen, but he loved his walks nonetheless. He’d wait with great anticipation for His lordship to arrive home every evening, because it signals the start of everything he loved – Biscuits. Walks. Dinner. Armchair.

It’s been two days now…. His bowl lies in the hallway. An empty armchair. A collar never to be worn again……… Rest peacefully my dear companion, my friend, my Ben. I love you and I miss you so much.

A Dog for Jesus

I wish someone had given Jesus a dog.
As loyal and loving as mine.
To sleep by His manger and gaze in His eyes
And adore Him for being divine.

As our Lord grew to manhood His faithful dog,
Would have followed Him all through the day.
While He preached to the crowds and made the sick well
And knelt in the garden to pray.

It is sad to remember that Christ went away.
To face death alone and apart.
With no tender dog following close behind,
To comfort its Master’s Heart.

And when Jesus rose on that Easter morn,
How happy He would have been,
As His dog kissed His hand and barked it’s delight,
For The One who died for all men.

Well, the Lord has a dog now, I just sent Him mine,
The old pal so dear to me.
And I smile through my tears on this first day alone,
Knowing they’re in eternity.

Day after day, the whole day through,
Wherever my road inclined,
Four feet said, “Wait, I’m coming with you!”
And trotted along behind.

~ by Rudyard Kipling

I haven’t been doing much photography lately; The last few weeks have been taken up mostly with geeky computer stuff and website designs… all very good but it keeps you glued to the computer monitor and stops you from going out there in the big blue yonder to do what you love most – Photography!!!

I was going through the backlog of the gerzillion tons of photos that has yet to be processed in my archive, and found this little gem! I love the nightlife (I

know these words are the begining to a disco tune and I am trying very hard not to burst into a song & dance number) and I love Soho. But especially so at night – Soho comes alive with the myriad of colours, people and characters.

Must try and find some time to do more night shoots in Soho before winter sets in. By the way, I was debating on whether to keep this as a black & white shot or in colour. Settled in the end for a black & white version. What do you think?

On a recent photowalk in Dungeness with the cool kids, TheRandyManCan and Madam L (Mr Jam unfortunately can’t come out to play!!), we decided to go ahead with the “photographer’s shootout” idea we thought up several moons ago.

The idea is a very simple one – One location. One theme. A bunch of REALLY cool photographers. SHOOTOUT!!!!

I won’t go into details on the judging etc etc, but the winner gets….wait for it, drum roll please…. The recognition that you’re THE COOLEST KID ON THE BLOCK!!! Oh, and all the pints you can drink at the local pub.

Here’s the set of 9 images submitted by TheRandyManCan, Madam L and myself. Since Mr Jam can’t make it this time, he has the wonderful pleasure of playing Mr Judge. Click on the book to view fullscreen. Enjoy!!!

The expense of spirit in a waste of shame
Is lust in action; and till action, lust
Is perjured, murderous, bloody, full of blame,
Savage, extreme, rude, cruel, not to trust;
Enjoyed no sooner but despised straight;
Past reason hunted and no sooner had,
Past reason hated as a swallowed bait
Laid on purpose to make the taker mad:
Mad in pursuit, and in possession so;
Had, having, and in quest to have, extreme;
A bliss in proof, and proved, a very woe;
Before, a joy proposed; behind, a dream.
…All this the world well knows; yet none knows well
…To shun the heaven that leads men to this hell.

by William Shakespeare