Holly Bobbins, my most beautiful and beloved four pawed side kick, she's funny and cuddly, she makes more mess than the kids with her toy collection and she sheds so much that every week her hair could make an entirely new dog.

It makes me thankful that we have no carpets although we do have a rug in our lounge...

Every morning and evening in her daily ritual Holly likes to sit on the rug, then she rolls over onto her back and moves around the rug like she's doing some kind of synchronised rug dance and all the while making a sound that sounds a little like "omonomonomomnom" . I'm fairly sure it's a beagle thing and it means she's happy.

This brings me to the next part of my story, we'd been for our break at Cross House cottages and returned early afternoon to a delivery of a "Shark DuoClean Powered Lift-Away Upright Vacuum Cleaner with True Pet NV801UKT" try saying that when you've had a couple of drinks.  from what I'd read, this Vacuum cleaner was about to revolutionise my life, never had I been quite so excited to hoover.  Now I should add that my lovely lady who helps with the housekeeping had just hoovered the rug the day before we returned from our soiree so you would expect it wouldn't be all that bad.

What actually happened was that after 1 hoovering run over our rug,  and lounge and kitchen floors where we have no carpets the entire compartment was full, to the brim, I wasn't even sure where it had all come from but it seems like we were living in the dust bunnies favourite holiday spot.  As you know, I also have 2 cats, Poppy and Pyracantha so they add to the dust but never did I imagine that the issue was as bad as it clearly was.

look, I'm sure I could tell you all kinds of technical things but from my point of view, it hoovers like it's an industrial power house without actually making very much noise at all, it's all completely collapsible so you can easily hoover stairs, under chairs, in your car, in the world of hoovers, this thing is at the very top of it's game.  Now far be it from me to tell you to ditch your Dyson but seriously, who wouldn't want a shark around the house and if you have a beagle, this thing is a necessary part of your life.

Go, go now, go get one and you can thank me later...

Dog friendly accommodation in Northumberland - Waterside Cottage, Alnmouth

On a dark, cold windy night just before my birthday, Holly Bobbins, Looby and I set off with our lovely friend Li and her daughter for a luxurious weekend getaway in beautiful Alnmouth on the rugged Northumberland Coastline.  I've always loved Alnmouth, it's my regular place to escape, to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city, it may only be 45 minutes away from Newcastle but it feels like stepping into a different, calmer prettier world, even in winter.

Waterside Cottage is part of a trio of cottages, nestled on the banks of the estuary in Alnmouth, on a clear night it feels like you can see forever.  The dark skies play host to millions of stars light years away, the twinkling eyes looking down at you from the heavens in their masses, it's a stargazers paradise.  When we arrived and got out of the car I stopped, breathless at the sight of them all in the skies up above me.  

When you lead as busy a life as I do, escaping to the countryside as often as you possibly can is an absolute must to keep yourself sane!  I've said this before but single parenting, running a business and a menagerie is not at all for the faint hearted!

Now I may have made our trip sound like a tranquil haven from the madness of daily life but that's not to say that you can't be connected at waterside cottage because you can, all of your needs are catered for, Dishwasher, super fast wifi, huge digital tv, pretty much guaranteed to keep even the most monosyllabic youtube craving teenager happy.  Well that's if you choose to use all of the comforts you have surrounding, you could always ban tv and delve into the pile of games, a round of Monopoly anyone?  You could even tell your children you must go out because you haven't a clue what the wifi password is, just don't tell them I told you to do that ok?!

So that's the kids and you catered for but what about your four pawed friends?  I have to say that no one had more fun than my four pawed travel expert beagle Holly Bobbins, I think twice in the whole of the weekends she went on the lead because you're so safe and secluded there's just no need and of course, you all know Holly Bobbins likes the luxury life, well that's pretty much what she got at Waterside Cottage!

Big windows to watch the world out of, seagulls to try to sneak up on, long sandy beaches to run around, great dog friendly pubs like the Red Lion to have "scwumptious swossidges" and a big luxurious cottage to have the best naps in ever, yes that's one very happy travelling beagle, in fact, she gave the weekend 10 barks out of 10.

It was so lovely of Simone, the owner of the cottages to invite Holly and I to test out the cottages for her and even more lovely that I got to take along one of my very best friends, we had the most relaxing, restful weekends with way too much sticky toffee pudding, Prosecco and other foodie treats you only have on your birthday, suffice to say, even walking 7 miles every day and the waistline on my trousers felt just a little tighter on the journey home. 

If you'd like to book yourself a stay in one of Simones fabulous properties you can visit her owners direct page here, with accommodation starting at just over £100 per night you might just secure yourself the best value luxury cottages in the whole of Northumberland

Here's a few photographs from our wonderful weekend...

Holly Bobbins and I are always looking for more wonderful brands to collaborate with so if you fit the criteria please do get in touch.

Happy New Year

it's 2009 and I am so excited for the new year, 2008 was such a brilliant year I can't think of any reason that 2009 won't be even better!

As it is the new year I thought I would post a few more personal photos from the festive period, I'm on holiday until 12th of January though I am endeavouring to answer emails so bear with me and if it's urgent call me on my mobile! If you are a bride wanting to fix up a meeting for your upcoming 2009 or 2010 wedding please call me as I am still available on a limited basis for those meetings, I've already received a deluge of new enquiries for this year and next year and hope to meet with each and everyone of you. Can I just ask though that if you are having a prime 2009 date you hurry because I am more than half full for the year and I wouldn't want to miss out on your fabulous wedding would I? call me on the numbers above or click through to my website.

So back to those family photos.




On Boxing day Paul got to grips with Guitar Hero Legends of Rock. As you can see from this series of photographs he's already got the rock attitude!

Thankfully the Rock legend beard has now gone!

Abigail had a touch of the Hannah Montanas during the break, she might even be a rockstar, LOL



I rather think she looks better as a brunette though



and Looby continued, well just being Looby really!



Our cute foster kitten Sally continues to thrive and we'll be so sad when she finally leaves to go to her new home on Saturday

Look who I found hiding behind the livingroom door



It's Pyracantha our youngest cat, she's really still a kitten.
Paul was looking good on new years last night, we went to the Corner House for a couple of drinks and then we came home and enjoyed New years with just the two of us.

Today I made us a splendid lunch and we're just chilling until all the kids return from their grandparents. It's going to be nice to have everyone at home over the weekend and hopefully I'll get the camera well and truly used again, have to make the most of it before everyone goes back to school.

Amy and Shakers Pre-Wedding Photoshoot in Saltwell Park

I met up with Amy and Shaker this morning for their Pre-wedding photoshoot in a rather chilly Saltwell Park.

Amy and Shaker are an adorable fun couple and I can't wait until the end of May when I shoot their wedding.

Today was a day for relaxed portraits especially as they brought their wonderful and very active puppy Jippy.

So on with the photographs....


When in Love have your photo taken with a heart shaped house in the background!


Jippy was such a poser, have you seen him here with his smile for the camera face?


Just in front of Saltwell towers. They might look warm and it's obviously the love because it was freezing and really windy this morning up here in the north!


One of my favourite shots from today.


We stopped at the bandstand and Jippy had a breather while Amy and Shaker had a couple of shots on their own.


The Adorable couple.



Simply gorgeous, Amy and Shaker you guys are so fun I can't wait for May Bank Holiday to shoot your wedding. Thanks for such a fun morning.

Kate Bush

Helen on my forum was asking how our kitten was, if you haven't heard the story, a couple of months ago my husband (whilst he still worked for Royal Mail) was on his postal round and heard mewing from a nearby bush, anyway it was a teeny kitten who must have only been a couple of months old, well we nurtured her and loved her and gave her home (well as we have 2 other cats another didn't make too much difference) and this was her last week caught midway up the fence-post off on one of her adventures!! She really is the cutest kitty on the block!!

Elphaba Takes It Easy

Some of the members of this family spend far too much lying around and snoozing!!!

Oh and Boo Boo is back! He's off to get neutured next week and we're once again trying to get a handle on the doggy training, we're trying from scratch and so far it actually seems to be working, he's such a lovely fluffy puppy really we just need to get some doggy zen around here!!

Elphaba Poppy and Kate Bush don't really seem to mind though so I guess if they're happy we're happy!!

And on that note I'll end the days blogging.

Does anyone actually read my blog? Put your hand up in the air if you do!!! :D

New Look and Bye Bye Boo

It's been a weekend of changes down at the maison le Charlton (please don't comment on my very bad french, I haven't done french since I was 13 and that was many many years ago!!) Firstly I spent the afternoon yesterday changing my blog, I've made it wider, I've changed the header and I've changed the colours thanks to those fabulous HTML colour charts which are nearly as good as Dulux paint charts ;)

We're starting a major rewire this week with new gas central heating to boot, this means the entire house is going to be pulled apart, the kitchen has to come out, the floor-boards have to be lifted, the carpets rolled up and all the furniture from all three floors moved a metre into the room, this is not the best time but when is? Atleast it means I get to redecorate 1 room at a time and I'm taking my time on this one so that we do it properly.

ny amount of disruption of course means chaos for our menagerie of animals and we have to say goodbye to Boo Boo this week, he's got himself a smart new family with a huge house and a garden which is actually a field. It's never easy to say goodbye to a pet but rationally I know that we can't manage him, we're not here half as much as he needs us to be and not all clients are appreciative of a dog which can jump as high as them. Plus our constant attempts to housetrain him have just not worked so I have to admit to being releived that I can clean my carpets on Wednesday and for once not have to deal with the pungent aroma of doggy wee, hopefully the new owners will find a tactic which we sadly didn't. Sometimes Love isn't enough and you have to do what is best for all concerned. It's funny that I got a series of portraits of him on Saturday and these are now going to be blown up onto canvas so he'll always be able to watch over us.

Right, moving on before I get emotional again...

I booked another wedding yesterday with a lovely couple who I'm really looking forward to working with and sharing their day. Those hot dates are filling up like you wouldn't beleive now so one last request to any lurking Newcastle brides, book me as your wedding photographer before you can't get the date you want!!! I have another consultation tonight and 1 on Wednesday, if you want to book a consultation then don't forget to click through to my w.

Laughter is the best medicine...

Feeling totally crappy at the moment, have slept most of the day today as did I on Saturday, not sure what is up exactly though I suspect it could be a virus, anyway Iain has asked me to go to the doctors if I'm not feeling better by the end of the week, nice that he looks after his old mum eh?!

Just wanted to post this photograph I took yesterday, not technically perfect enough for my photoblog but good enough for me, I just love that this is true laughter, nothing posed just unbridled fun.

Enjoy, hope to be back tommorrow as usual, if you want to see an update pic of the puppy check out todays Photoblog.

One is not amused!

Elphaba has always been the more friendly of our two cats, she's the one who sits on my desk, comes for cuddles when I'm feeling low and follows me around the house, she's never really grown up from being a playful kitten, however since Fiyero arrived she's stating her obvious dissatisfaction and has been running off every time we try and touch her, yes one is not amused, surprising as Fiyero and Elphaba were more than just good friends in Wicked!!

Meet Fiyero

So as you may have gathered we have a puppy! LOL

He's called Fiyero and he's a six week old lakeland cross fell terrier, he's super cute and just a little bit teeny and he's fitting right in! The cats are not really sure what to make of him and he's actually giving poor Elphie a bit of a run for her money. We bought the cats red diamond studded collars today but I don't think we managed to persuade them that having Fiyero is a good thing just yet although they did appreciate the puppy food satchet and goats milk, you would think we didn't give them their own specialist food LOL!

The kids adore the new arrival, especially Looby who has wanted a doggy since the first time she ever saw one i think.

We're happy, puppy is happy, Kitties are sort of happy, kids are happy Happy Days!

Kitty Love

Poppy is our most aloof cat, she really doesn't like people and for the most part avoids us, sometimes you go to try and stroke her and she'll snap to bite you, she really isn't all that friendly. Funny thing is though Looby gets away with all sorts with her, Poppy really must seriously like her as I can't imagine us being allowed to hold her like that, I'll often be walking around the house and see Looby carrying Poppy off for cuddles and mostly without any complaints where as the scrates on my feet are still healing from the last time I went near her to play!!

Well done Looby for being such a great animal person, I thought I was good but you obviously have Dr Dolittle qualities!