Over the years I have had many hobbies, fishing, cycling etc. The only ones that have really stayed the course are photography and computers, which really is now a combined hobby.

I got into photography many, many years ago, having like most people taken one or two good photographs that many people admired. Around 1980 I went along to the Portsmouth Camera Club and joined them. The Club has been in existence since 1888, so I have been a member for almost a quarter of it's life. Mind you, there have been members of 50 years plus, so I still have a way to go yet. The club a few years back decided to embrace the digital age more fully, so much so that the majority of today's members have digital cameras and computers for darkrooms.

Computers came into my life around 1984, when I bought an Amstrad 256 and was still using this when we bought the Guest House in 1987, in fact I didn't get a PC until about 1992. I have taught myself how to use the computer for most things, Spreadsheets, Databases, Word Processing, Desktop Publishing, Web-building and of course Image manipulation. All of these have seen me right in my current job, part of which is collating books in our library, maintaining parts of the website and of course catalogueing and manipulating images. I also get the chance on occasions to take photographs for printing in the paper. I have also modelled for the catalogue and billboards on a couple of occasions (still waiting for the agencies to ring!).

I have recently had a try at lawn bowls and enjoyed it, so will be joining another club in the near future.