I've always loved photography since I was about 10 years old - when my uncle gave me my first ever compact camera. I got so excited that I rushed downside and took loads of pictures of anything that took my eye. I remember grouping my soft teddies, panda, etc in a group and taking their picture, and even taking pictures of the place I lived. However, it never got processed and I never had any films brought for me after that...

I was never encouraged by my parents with it or any of the hobbies I had through my childhood. It was a shame really, as I was always more into art and crafts at school than any of the other stuff they did. But when I did it at home I did tend to be criticized for it by my father. I don't know why as it was harmless fun and never hurt anyone.

Anyway, as I grew up, my interest in arts and crafts seemed to fade away... until I stumbled onto photography again when I was around 18 years old - when a neighbor gave me a broken SLR camera. This revitalized my interest in my hobby again, as this time I could afford to buy my own camera and film. So I went out and brought the same camera as the broken one so I could use the lens it came with, including the other stuff it came with. I used take it with me on bike rides and even practiced doing night shots on Tile Hill Lane, as it was close to home. I enjoyed it so much that I did a Foundation Photography Course at my local college. I followed this up with a City & Guilds in Photography & Graphic Design. But this is where it ended.... the course ended and I moved on to other things. It wasn't because I'd lost interest in it or anything. I had my City & Guilds certificate and I was really proud. But seeing as I didn't find another course and hadn't found a job, I had to go back on benefits, and showed it to the lady working their to see if she could help find me another course or maybe even a job in photography. Well, she wasn't that impressed with my certificate, and told me that too many people are in the photography field and I'd never find a job with just a City & Guilds certificate, and that it would be best to give it up and find something else. She even dismissed going on further training courses as there is no future in photography. So I believed her and tried to look for something else...

I tried computers like Word Processing, Database, etc. I hated it and quit the course. Then I tried Video Production, and Computer Technology (to become a computer techie). I did them both while helping out at my local gymnastics group where my niece was training. I loved the Video Production course but hated the Computer Technology course. However, both courses came to a stop when I got a job in a computer shop. I really didn't want to quit the Video Production course but had to as it clashed with my new job. The job wasn't what I really wanted and I was unhappy. But I did it and continued to help at the local gymnastics group after work and on my days off (as my nieces hours their had increased). But after just two months, I lost my job. I was sort of happy as I really hated working there but was upset that I'd let my family down. But I helped out more at the local gymnastics group and had put my name down to train as a coach. But as the hours increased, both mine and my nieces interest faded, so she decided to quit, and I followed suit and stopped helping out.

I really didn't know what to do after that, so just tried various work from home oppertunities, and lost lots off money along the way. So I sat down and looked at my interests and skills... and it was here where I saw what I wanted to do with my life. I hated computers, didn't want to work in a shop, and seemed to want to work from home. I saw that throughout everything I did, my photography was something that I continued to do as a hobby, and was really the only area I was skilled in and had any real love for. I had also noticed that I did seem very interested other photographers I'd seen around the city, and even felt jealous that they were making a living off their photography. So I decided to go against what I was told in the dole office and try and do what I wanted for a change. So I enroled on a professional photography course with the intension to got into business once it had ended. It felt so good doing something I wanted, and was so happy when I got back on a photography course again.

The course wasn't easy but I did very well. My photography was improving and found that I did seem to love portrait photography. So this was what I felt was the best area for me to concentrate on. And as soon as the course ended, I set about trying to make my dream a reality. A few years after the course ended, I finally set myself up in business. A new venture but something I think I should have chased after much sooner.

Hopefully, my new business will blossom into a successful business, but it is early days at the moment... so let's hoping for a bright future!

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Anyway, we loved our first holiday abroad so much, we booked another holiday with the same company who we used for our trip, Harry Shaw. But this time we went to Salou in Spain, and increased our holiday to two weeks.

The journey was quite long as it was by coach, but we took games, magazines, etc. to keep us occupied. And along the way, the staff played some videos to entertain us. Before we really knew it, we got to our destination.

The place was so nice - much better than expected. The beach was clean, the water was blue, and the trees was so exotic. So unlike our holidays in the UK.

The first day we just relaxed. Just went to the beach and put our feet up. The following few days was really spent at the pool, with us going for a nice walk along the beach at night. So relaxing...

But finally, we had to do something... we have always had an active holiday in the UK, and now we'd gone abroad we wanted a mix of a relaxing holiday with an activity holiday. Tried it last year but there just didn't seem enough time to do everything, so decided to have a longer holiday this year.

Anyway, we booked our first trip with the camp. It was to visit Barcelona Football Statium for an hour and a half, then off to Barcelona Zoo after that. I didn't really care much for the football statium as I'm not into football, but it was just a short stop before being taken to the zoo, and the kids seemed to enjoyed it, so I was happy with it. Then it was off to the zoo. Turned out to be bigger than I expected. The kids loved looking at the animals and even managed to watch the Dolphin show. I was happy as it was a nice place to visit, and I got lots of lovely pictures.

The next trip after that was to the water park, Aquapolis. I think it was smaller than expected. But it was still quite big and they had loads of features. The kids had to watch the seal and dolphin show - Jackie just loves dolphins. I did almost drown on the Boomerang as it dropped more than expected, and the rubber ring tipped over at the end so I fell into the water head first, which is quite scary for a non-swimmer. Sort of let the kids do their own thing after that and chose the ones more suitable to people like me...

Took another break to relax before going to Port Aventura, the big theme park in Spain. Now this was breath taking. Took the first water ride they had and got totally wet. As I tried to take a picture of the ride, my trousers ripped so had to buy some new ones from the park itself. What a time for that to happen?! Oh well! Still had fun. The kids went on almost all the rides they wanted. And even though I'm scared of heights, I did go on rides I was worried about. So all in all it was a good day.

Had more of a relax, and checked out their night time entertainment, then went on a boat cruise (in a glass bottom). Decided to rest more after this before visiting the water park again.

Didn't really do much more than this... but plan to go again next year and do what we forgot to do.

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Really taken back by this as she seemed alright when I saw her last. Just sorted out her television which had messed up again. But I sorted it as she is blind and bedbound so is her only entertainment...

It's hard to think what to say about her which will do her any justice. Got all these memories which I could share but can't put into words.

She wasn't a perfect mother but did the best she knew how. Both my sister and myself were loved deeply and we were happy - which is the most important. We weren't very well off but our parents did take us on holiday to Blackpool through the holidays - when they could afford it.

She had been in and out of hospital since my sister and myself were kids. I believe it was for angina at the time. Over time, her arthritis got so bad that she couldn't walk anymore and needed a wheelchair.

She has always been blind but never let her disability get her down, and went to college to learn new skills and helped raise money for charity.

Overtime though, she became diabetic and bedbound. She continued to go in and out of hospital, suffering from heart attacks and other problems, but she stayed jolly and seemed happy.

But last week, just before we were going to visit, we found out she had died... we wasn't told she had gone into hospital. And when she died, was told over 24 hours later. Came as a massive blow!

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Her father did a runner while my sister was just three months pregnant. So she moved back into the family home as we felt it was in her best interest. At the time she was deeply depressed and I was worried she'd lose the baby, so I promised to move in with her to help with the baby until she could get back on her feet. And once the baby was born I kept my promise!

It was tough going, as my sister lived in a small flat, and this wasn't helped by the debts her boyfriend had left her with, but we managed. By the time my niece was 11 months old, we moved to a three bedroomed maisonette so we could have more space. Our money situation didn't improve but the area was better and we'd made a new friend with the lady who lived down stairs. She had a new born son called Mark and a 6 year old daugther called Alicia. So this gave my niece some playmates...

My personality has begun to change, as having a baby around you need to walk slower, entertain them, and put them before yourself. And even though, as they grow, you can speed up, you still play silly games, and make silly sounds to entertain them. One of her favorite games when she was younger was the 'Mommy Monster'. Just a simple chasing game outside where her mother makes funny noises and chased her around. Her only safe place being the grass. My games, at the time, was more low key as I was more reserved and was worried about making a fool of myself in public. But through interaction with my niece, I began to open up more, and started coming up with weird games and jokes. This opened up and new world for me, and I found I loved being a bit goofy and silly at times. So this started becoming a part of my changing personality.

My niece began growing up and, like most kids, had her ups and downs. She did have some massive downs when a family incident happened when she was 6, then some years later when she was hit by a car, and then again when she was in a car accident while travelling with a friend. But she got through them all and I think it made her a stronger person. I'd rather they didn't happen but, unfortunately, you can't turn back the clock...

This year she has begun to have lots of teenage problems. Friends slagging each other off, betrayal, fallouts, and threats. This seems a much harder period through her childhood and one that might see her without friends (as she seems to be the one they are turning on).

I was shocked to discover someone had created a hate page, using images from my business site, against my niece. I got it removed by the provider but was told that I should have contacted the police instead... so something to remember if anything like that happens again!

Not a nice way to end this blog but I'll detail be funnier times in my nieces life later on - past stuff and those she will do now and in the the future.

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