Knock knock... who's there? Matt... Matt who??? Noooooooo!!!

D'you know, I wouldn't blame you if you honestly did reply "Matt who" because my activity on dA in the last few months is practically ghostly... I'm sort of there and you're possibly aware of me, but you just can't see me! But that's OK because this last month in particular has been bloody ridiculous work-wise for me, and while I won't bore you with what a hard worker I am, it's been a real balls-to-the-wall period for my department. Most of us worked three straight weeks, broken up by the odd half-day off, and it felt like every day was a deadline. It's not the sort of pressure we're used to but I'm proud of how we all coped.


The job was to design the resignalling for the Metropolitan Line platforms at Baker St Underground station (in London for those who don't know). The customer, London Underground, is quite possibly the biggest shower of pedants you could ever work for. Everything's gotta be just so and if it isn't then the design gets thrown right back at you. Very frustrating.

Unfortunately, as I've aluded, work commitments have made getting out and about with my camera nigh on impossible. In fact, Clapper Bridge was the only chance I've had in the last six weeks. Anyway, I'm not going to make any more excuses, especially since I've booked a day off specifically to remedy the photographic situation... watch this space: hopefully I'll have something new to show you all by this weekend.


The hardest thing about the last month is having so little time to spend with my family. I took my kids swimming about six weeks ago and Jack, my eldest, could just about manage to swim 5 metres. Then he had 5 half hour lessons with school and when I took him last weekend he amazed me by swimming the ENTIRE length of the pool! I was so proud! It's one of those moments as a father you cherish and hold onto forever.


I took Jack and Jessica swimming on Saturday of last week. We'd been in the pool for about half an hour when the bloody fire alarm sounded. The loudspeaker blares out "will everyone please leave the pool and head for the nearest assembly point!" Hang on a minute, I thought, that's in the car park! What the hell are they thinking? It's freezing cold outside and they're not giving us time to grab coats from our lockers!!! My poor children were cold and frightened and I'm trying to calm them down while standing half-naked in the middle of a bloody car park!!! Thankfully, we were only outside for a couple of minutes before they began handing out foil blankets to help us keep warm (I'm looking at these blankets and making comparisons between myself and christmas turkeys!), but no sooner had I got the first blanket open that we were told it was OK to go back inside. My kids were shivering, Jess was crying, so our first stop was the showers to warm up again. Getting back into the pool was like stepping into a bath, it was lovely and warm, which was ironic because it felt bloody cold when I first got in!


Hmm, I think that's enough for now so I'll sign off. I hope you like the features I've used to break this journal up? Thanks again for all the support you have all given me. To be honest, despite work I've found it hard to find motivation for my photography anyway so it's good to actually want to get back into it. I'm pretty good for bigging other people up but it's time I did it for myself. I'd like to apologise also to all my dA friends with whom I stay in touch with in the outside world and haven't been able to lately. I haven't forgotten you. I hope you haven't forgotten me...



Thank you to all my watchers for their continued support, encouragement and friendship. You are all amazing and I would like you to know that I appreciate every single fav I'm given. Every one is a compliment and even though I may not say thank you personally all the time, please know that it means a lot to me.








Please take the time to spool through these thumbnails, find some new s, and support the deviants who take the time to share their work with us...