It’s been nine months since my last post, sufficient time for me to have impregnated a lucky lady (SWMBO of course), welcomed a baby into this appalling world, and regretted it. Common sense and a vasectomy sometime in the last century made than a non-viable option; so what I have been doing?

Not photography because I have decided that I have taken a photo of everything in a hundred kilometre radius at least twice. Not windsurfing (much) due to an absence of wind. Cut to the chase, not very much of anything at all apart from hanging out with my wife and drinking coffee in our cosy house.

I have waxed lyrical over my gorgeous 1959 Leica M3; but is it just a pretty face? A film or three later, I am happy to report that it knocks out some lovely photos, subject to the usual compositional cock-ups by yours truly. Here are a few examples:

Accompanied she who must be obeyed on a trip to Bangkok last weekend as she continues her studies into the arcane (and totally contrived) world of Chinese horoscopes. Went out with my camera and decided to go a little further afield on Sunday morning, which to me meant ten minutes in a taxi to Wat Suthat.

For a weary traveller on his way home after a few days in London, Paddington station has some appealing features. Firstly, there is a left-luggage office where, as the name suggests, you can leave your luggage pending your trip to the airport. Then there is the massively over-priced but exceedingly convenient Heathrow Express rail service which, for the price of a small car, will whisk you to the airport in fifteen minutes in air-conditioned comfort. Lastly, and by no means least, the station offers the opportunity for a shower. How convenient (theoretically).

The Barton 1972 strap on my E-M1 is by far the best camera strap I have ever used. The braided design makes for a gentle, springy load on your shoulder; and the leather is soft and supple. I have a green leather half-case on the way from Chile (although, having left Chile some weeks ago, it is showing no interest in arriving in Thailand); so I decided that an olive green braided strap is just what I need for the Leica M3. Ordered on Monday, arrived today; perfect.