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Sorry Mik ....I can't help directly  but I do know a site for an independent Photography  shop  where the staff are both really  knowledgeable and very helpful and you could ring them . I have  bought numerous cameras and lenses from them,  both in person and  via their online service and can recommend them . They are based in North Wales in Colwyn Bay and  they also have a really good " used " second hand  section ...  here's a link .. It  may  be a help .

https://www.cambrianphoto.co.uk/

Pretty girl ... and an iconic itzy, bitzy, teeny weeny,  yellow polka dot bikini. . What would we do without our photos eh ... they are the bridge to our past  and the moments that we captured,  trigger all the  additional recollections that we  may have filed away in the memory  filing cabinet : almost like a domino effect . Have you got family  support living nearby John.

We weren't aware either Phil ... it's a timely reminder that  we all have lives that  are  filled with trials and tribulations  that are  personal and may  be kept to ourselves  but it is comforting to know that  people still find this online community ,  a safe,  social and   congenial place   to interact with  our fellow man ....  even in the saddest of circumstances.

Aw that is a really lovely photo of her John .... Thank you for sharing that with us ... grief is such a personal  emotion and  I hope you find a little comfort in sharing that  image with us .... she looks a lovely, kind  soul  ...RIP Pam .....

Hello John ...  I am so sorry to her your news   and  I know from experience just how  difficult  the last 15 months must have been for you  and your wife .... my heartfelt condolences are sent to you  and  the family members . Understandably we haven't seen you on the Forum  for a while. Sadly many of us find ourselves in a similar position where  other parts of our lives  have taken priority and  posting on an internet forum comes quite low in the scheme of things that are important .   I hope that one day the sadness you feel  now will be  replaced by more of the happier memories  you  have ... so ...  thinking of you John. 

Well .... that makes sense, now you mention it Fogey, when one talks about as the crow ( kite ) flies ! ... I didn't really   think about that  before ... doh ... 

Well ...yer learn sumfin  every day on here   doncha !

Arghhhh    that looks so real !!    I mean  it really is quite disconcerting !!

Really nice shots Craig ..... beautiful raptors ... I love to see them and they are reaching  this part of Worcestershire now too ... maybe half a dozen sightings this past year  above my garden though they are common on a daily basis on the Marches and Shropshire Hills   where my sister lives....

Oh James .... I wondered where you had gone ...  Seems you take to hibernating in the winter months ... hope all is well though ... 

Great to see the harbingers of Spring though...  Good to see you too !

There was another ....  the Sycamore Gap tree up in Northumberland ...   and some eejit cut it down last year !    Just incomprehensible mindless, wanton vandalism  ....I truly despair sometimes !!!

Fabulous Fogey....  I see that   a photo of that tree has  won a competition this last week somewhere I saw on the internet ... It is well known isn't it ... I have a number of images of it too . Wales  has some very special scenery doesn't it ....

Oooh that is spooky... how often does one sing a nursery rhyme  unless it's to our kids  or grandchildren !!!

I remember seeing that  a few months ago  on here with the dog with a hat on too ... as I recall you said it was quite a difficult picture to take ....   this appears to have been taken on the same day .

How observant  of you ...  and  quite sad to see Marjorie died  in 1994, having spent  55 years  as a widow following the loss of her  husband Bertie in 1939 . It seems she also  outlived her daughter Margaret too. Was this a random find Mik or is it part of a family history  you have been researching ?

Some nice images there Craig. …. They are beautiful creatures…. Where was this ?

You can’t beat a great sunrise or sunset !!!!

Aw sorry to hear that Craig… she was a cutie … good to see you back here as I know your health issues are a priority … so welcome back Sir

Lovely to see you again Craig ... Have you still got that gorgeous little dog ?

That's a very nice mono portrait ....

I'm not an expert Mik ... it's just a personal opinion... and others may vary ...

 It’s becoming more and more important when house hunting now that one checks the Government website with the history of flooding and check  out the maps that show exactly where and what the risks are…. Pleased that you are ok despite substantial flooding in the Evesham area Strav…

We have a lot of flooding in Worcestershire and Shropshire ... I live on a hill and decided 30 years ago I would always  live on a hill after seeing floods in the area when I was house hunting after moving from Norfolk. I cannot imagine  the stress of having one's home flooded  and some people in Bewdley near me have been flooded  3 or 4 times recently .. What a nightmare as insurance  becomes almost prohibitive in costs and  selling a house with flooding history become almost  impossible too ! A great diary of events Strav ....

It would  maybe be good to try the guitar resting on a stool ( as if someone had been sat on it playing the guitar earlier )  in  a similar position and dof as you had before ... and some musical objects in the far background    .... ie  a  drum kit , keyboard,  music stand  etc  that  were blurred enough maybe   not to distract but obvious enough to add  interest and context to the  guitar .. anyway ... worth a try maybe...

You may find this video helpful.. It's by one of my peers and a  great photographer and worth watching in my opinion ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxoYxZpujbc

Love the doorbell image Paul.... Looks like you have next years  Christmas card pics sorted  with the first two images too !