Sping 2025

My last blog post was about Winter. Now a Spring post. A pattern is appearing...

Edinburgh has been treated to one of the warmest and driest springs on record. I write this in early Summer, so I say that with some authority. Sunshine, cherry blossoms, and the kind of light that makes even grey stone tenements look cheerful.

Rome

My second time in Italy, and my first time in Rome. It’s an iconic city that everyone should visit at least once.

The Colosseum - Panasonic GX80 & Lumix14mm f/2.5 - April 2024

It’s hard to say something about Rome that hasn’t already been said, so I’ll just stick to my own impressions. It was busy, beautiful, easy to navigate, friendly — and warm, especially for April. The food was lovely.

Coffe - Panasonic GX80 & Lumix14mm f/2.5 - April 2024

We spent our few days seeing the big sights: the Colosseum, the Trevi Fountain, the Vatican. I felt like a bit of a basic tourist, but with only a couple of days, we wanted to keep things simple — enjoy the obvious highlights, avoid stress, and just take it all in at our own pace. Travel can bring a lot of decisions, and too many choices is a known argument trigger in our household.

Italy - Panasonic GX80 & Lumix14mm f/2.5 - April 2024

As a bonus, we happened to be in Rome at the same time as a friend of mine from Australia, someone I hadn’t seen in years. We caught up over drinks and food — an unexpected treat, and one of those small, serendipitous gifts that travel occasionally throws your way.

Italian Yellow - Panasonic GX80 & Lumix14mm f/2.5 - April 2024

For photography, Rome is a dream. Every nook and corner offers something worth capturing — ornate doorways, warm stone textures, layered history, everyday moments unfolding in iconic settings.

The weather was mostly overcast, which gave a soft, even light that worked beautifully for candid street shots. Larger cityscapes were trickier in that light, but I managed to catch a few breaks in the clouds — and some night-time shooting opened up new opportunities. The city glows differently after dark.

Tree's grow Up - Panasonic GX80 & Lumix14mm f/1.7 - April 2024

Wedding 2

May brought with it my second wedding — this time in Scotland, so my Scottish family could be part of it. We held it at the Scotsman Hotel, right on South Bridge, in the heart of Edinburgh.

By all accounts, it was a success. As you get older, family gatherings often tend to revolve around sad occasions. So it felt especially meaningful to bring both sides of the family together to celebrate something joyful. There was warmth, laughter, and the kind of love that lingers well after the party ends.

Photo Credit - Effie Ioannou

48hr Film Project

Between the 23rd and 25th of May, I took part in the annual Edinburgh 48hr Film Project. This year our required elements were:

Prop                       - Key

Character               - Sandy

Line of Dialogue     - "It's not what you think"

Charles and me at the kick off event.

 

This is our 5th film which we called 'Down to Party'. I wont explain it here, just click the link below and watch it.

Charles and Catherine 'acting'

See our film here

The Awards Ceremony

We didn’t nab an award this year, but walked away with seven nominations — notably in music and writing — which we were genuinely delighted with.

The 48-Hour Film Project is a weekend I always look forward to. It’s a short, intense burst of creativity — a kind of joyful chaos. Sure, it would be lovely to have more than 48 hours, but that’s the nature of it. You work with what you’ve got, make the best thing you can, and come out the other side buzzing (and slightly sleep-deprived).

Day Tripping

Notable daytrips included walks along the coast of Dunbar and Gullane Beach, walks up Arthurs Seat, and cycling around Midlothian - exploring the countryside around my home. 

Bass Rock - Panasonic G9 & Lumix35-100 f/2.8 - April 2024

View of the Bridges - Panasonic G9 & Lumix35-100 f/2.8 - April 2024

The Crag - Panasonic G9 & Lumix35-100 f/2.8 - April 2024

Caterpillar at the Beach - Panasonic GX80 & Lumix 14mm f/2.5 - April 2024