Easter

The wettest I can remember for a very long time, that's for sure, so making the most of the great outdoors has been something of a challenge.

Not to be bullied into hibernation by the climate, me and mine headed to the North Yorkshire Moors for some dreary sightseeing. 

Are we nearly there yet?

Even Dalby Forest, in all its majesty, could barely summon daylight for us. If we parents were to suffer, then we might as well make sure the kids suffered too, so a 5 mile walk provided the perfect antidote to a fun day out for them.

Even Mister Rabbit set aside his vegetable plot-induced differences with Mr McGregor, as a result of the incessant downpours. And lets' face it, if a rabbit is miserable at Easter, what chance do the rest of us have?

We loved the gardens and the tour of the house at Nunnington Hall (and not ONLY because it was dry inside).

The one and only saving grace for the week was the presence of an indoor swimming pool at our holiday cottage complex. It was just another form of wet, after all, if a little more pleasant.

Whilst the misery of cold, damp and downright spooky forests were less than tempting for the youngsters, they did provide a moody backdrop for some portraits.

The elegant lady below was by far the most happy and well-dressed member of the general public we encountered all week. One must appreciate the attention to detail of Treesa's (not her real name) lipstick, beads and nipple combo. Outstanding.

Happy Easter. I do hope yours was better.

A 'little knights and princesses' shoot in leafy Harrogate for grandparents' birthday gift.

Usually, if someone asks me to do a family shoot in their garden (unless I know this garden to be estate-sized in proportions) I think 'dull, dull, dull' and basically say 'no, no, no'.

On this occasion, however, I knew that the preparation by grandparents Joanna & Paul would be second to none, and that I would be able to create them a fairytale keepsake of their four grandchildren as part of their joint 60th birthday celebrations.

Firstly, the garden has a fort. Yes, you heard me right. An actual wooden fort. And the children were all ready to charge upon this castle in appropriate attire. Two boys with wooden swords hurtled across the lawn at me in St. George-like fashion, hotly pursuing two gorgeous princesses in pink. The girls were both sporting the kind of hat that I used to draw in wax crayon when I imagined myself as Rapunzel back in the glory days of my own childhood in the 1970s - pointy and mediaeval, with a chiffon veil dangling from the tip. Epic. 

If the living re-enactment of the War of the Roses wasn't enough, then plum and apple picking in the sun-drenched orchard corner was the cherry on the icing on the photography cake. Four children, four baskets, an avalanche (literally) of plums, and some very grabby fingers later and the trees were stripped of their harvest. Empty branches, full camera.

A few family shots to round things off and the shoot was over. Thank you Paul & Joanna et al for a delightful morning and for all wearing remarkably (and unintentionally) coordinating outfits!