In my day job I am lucky enough to work with people from all over the world. The ones that are new to these shores all seem to want to visit the same particular place – the white cliffs of Dover. When announcing this intention they then look puzzled as to why us native Brits make weird faces at each-other and incredulously mouth the word ‘Dover’ in a questioning fashion. Dover?!

 Taken with Polaroid SX-70 and 600 film

I’m not down on Dover – far from it; I mean, you can wake up in the morning and see France from your bedroom window if you live in Dover – how cool is that?! What I will suggest to my new work colleagues though is that they consider visiting Beachy Head instead – it’s half the distance away and looks just as impressive in my opinion.

 Taken with Konica C35 camera and Kodak Ektar 100 film (35mm)

You do of course have to shake out of your brain that it’s the one of the top suicide spots in the world (not something they put on the tourist brochures) – that’s hardly the places fault though.

 Taken with Fuji Instax 200

When I was there I kept looking at the people I was passing; looking for a troubled expression or a tell-tale sign of anguish (I think some of them were looking back at me for the same reason). Everyone looked happy enough though so I let them go on their way.

 Taken with Fuji Instax 200

So yes, I like it there a lot – it was a bit overcast when we were there – I bet those cliffs glow bright white when the sun’s shining. I’ll have to return!

 Taken with Canon 5D MkII and 17-40mm lens

As you can see – I took a few different cameras with me – I just couldn’t decide which one would produce the best results. What do you think?

It’s always reassuring after a dark and gloomy winter to see those little signs of life – buds and shoots and catkins – you know things are going to change, and soon.

Then you turn a corner and see a massive tree full of the most amazing Barbie-pink magnolias – glowing like a beacon. You realise we’re on a new page now. Hello, Spring!

In a world where life can change in an instant (often in crazily unfair ways) it’s good to have the clockwork of mother nature to keep us moving forward – turning the pages, not closing the book.

Photos taken with my Polaroid SX-70 and 600 film

I Capture the Castle – not only a pithy blog title for a post which includes a Polaroid photo of a castle I captured, but also a marvellous book which I’d forgotten all about (and MUST read again asap) – almost every sentence is worth quoting.

Perhaps if I make myself write I shall find out what is wrong with me.
― Dodie Smith, I Capture the Castle