Whilst on the theme of love..

..I'd like to remember a sunny afternoon in late September, when, following a traditional church service, folk gathered in the garden of a hotel built in 1762 and surrounded by the scent of lavender, toasted a bride and groom with champagne.

Thirty one days of smiling

Eleven months ago I was being (forcibly? possibly) positive. I knew that there would be turbulent times up ahead but had no real concept of just what could happen, and was determined that 2009 would be a good year.

Now, there have been good things of course. For instance births, great friends, travels, food and love but overwhelmingly 2009 has been a b*gger. Multiple job losses, illnesses, traumatic times, you name it, 2009 has thrown it at us, our friends and family.

So, this December, pre-2010 and the possibility of new, and change, clean slates, fresh perspective etc, I am going to look back and find the good in 2009 before I consign it to the scrap heap forever.

Starting with weddings. Weddings are good aren't they? They are positive and they are filled with hope. Especially if they take place in the mountains of northern Spain, against a backdrop of fig trees and 17th century palaces.

I was lucky enough to be asked to photograph the wedding of two old and good friends, with whom I worked for many summers in Switzerland and also shared a flat for several years in London. People flew in from all over the world for a beautiful ceremony, gourmet feast and then the most wicked party which culminated in swimming at 8am.

It was very, very good.