Our next port of call was the Rainforest Biome. A sign at the door warns you that you may want to take your coat off now as it gets very hot and very humid. I took nesh-ness to a whole new level and only took off my coat half-way round. My camera, however, succumbed much sooner. Both lenses were foggy within seconds and remained that way for about half an hour. After ten minutes I decided to work with it and see if I could get some interesting effects. The waterfalls in here are stunning and you can go up to the very top of the dome to an area called the lookout for a view across the whole biome. For someone who has never been to that kind of environment the Rainforest biome is a must see.

Both biomes are connected by ‘the bakery’. I loved the layout of this area with the long trestle tables. I decided to have a Cornish pasty – we were in Cornwall after all. I was surprised at how tasty the food was. 

On the way out in the shop we sampled a bit of the Eden cider. And then promptly went and bought a bottle. It is really good stuff, so good that we are purchasing some more from the website.

I’d wanted to visit Eden since I first heard about it and wasn’t disappointed. Definitely a place worth visiting. I just wish we were closer then I’d be back every weekend.

Clicking any photo below opens up a slideshow.

I would recommend it to anyone interested in learning more about street photography.

Yep, sometimes the sky is blue in Manchester!

Our tutor pointed out this interesting angle for shooting the Manchester wheel – in the puddles created on the steps, after this I was looking for reflections everywhere!

Not this year. In the first week I was invited to my ex-ex works do. I used to work in-house for a translation agency and they normally hold their Christmas do in January. I think it’s a good idea as it’s something to look forward to once Christmas is over. This year it was held at the Stanneylands Hotel in Wilmslow. It was great to catch up with everyone.

A few days later I was invited to my niece’s birthday meal. She decided she wanted to have it at Taybarns, which is basically an all you can stuff into yourself for £8 kind of place, the polar opposite of Stanneylands if you like, but both were enjoyable in completely different ways.

Below are my photos from Stanneylands, followed by antics at the Taybarns, where somehow we managed to avoid setting off fire alarms, despite the cake setting fire!

and now for Taybarns!

Tim, the tallest Napoleon ever.

I loved Lisa’s Poison Ivy outfit. I really wanted to go as someone with red hair, but couldn’t find a suitable outfit. So instead I decided at the last minute to go as Lara Croft. Tim had about a 5 second go at french plaiting my hair before ringing his uncle who is a hairdresser and between 3 of them they managed to plait in in about 15 minutes before we set off. Tim took a pic of me but unfortunately you can’t really see much of the outfit or hair on it.

Karaoke always seems to happen at some point and I hate it because I cannot sing at all.

Millie, worn out after all the fuss

Practising my low light shots.

Looking back at my shots of the night, most of which were taken in low light inside, I realised that I have too many close crops, with my 50mm lens (which is even more zoomed on my camera) it’s hard to get far enough back in a house to get more into the shot. I think I need a wide angle lens. If anyone has any recommendations, I’d love to hear them.

I was quite suprised by the results because initially I dressed in something colourful, as I always thought that bright colours suited me better, but I prefer the pastel photos, where I’m in a pink dress and pastel make up, both of which I hardly ever wear as I always thought it made me looked washed out. There were far more blurries, blinkers and boo boo takes than good ones, but here are a few that turned out ok. All were done using a tripod or with the camera placed on the windowsill with light from the window, plus table lamp on a few.

Next time I want to try some more creative shots!

This one was a mistake, somehow I thought my head was in the shot, but clearly it was not.

Pretending to sleep, with my make-up still on like they do in the movies haha

The wedding took place at Mount Stuart, a beautiful gothic mansion on the isle of Bute off the west coast of Scotland. We arrived on the Friday to find this lovely telegram and gift waiting for us in our hotel room.

Once we’d unpacked, we took a little drive round the island to take a look at the spectacular scenery.

It had been sunny all week, until Friday when it became overcast and rainy. The forecast for Saturday threatened heavy rain but as we arrived at the venue, the clouds parted and we finally got some sunshine again.

I was so excited to see Shirley in her dress, as I was with her when she chose it, but hadn’t seen it fitted. She had it altered by the seamstress I am going to use for my dress and she’d done a fab job.

Shirley is from Peru and her family had flown all the way over to attend the wedding.

After the ceremony, we were entertained by this fabulous Mariachi band that Shirley had booked as a surprise for Mark. It was a really unique way to keep everyone entertained while they had their photographs taken.

Mount Stuart is even more stunning inside.

I loved these simple but beautiful flowers for the tables, they looked perfect against the ornate setting.

Shirley and Mark’s sweetie bar was a big hit. Who can resist free sweets?!

The Mariachi band came back to serenade us during dinner, with a little help from their new-found backing dancers.

The tables were named after Scottish lochs. We were on Loch Awe. Clearly because Shirley thinks we are awesome.

As well as the little bottles of Bailey’s and Whisky, we all received a little peruvian favour. I have no idea what this is called, but you shake it and it has bits in it!

I had to get a shot of Shirley’s shoes, especially after it was announced that they were £700!

During the speeches, one of the best men gave Mark a Scotch Bonnet chilli, which he prompty swallowed in one and spent the rest of the speeches sipping milk and making faces.

It was super dark inside, so my camera’s ISO got a good beating.

At the end of the night the boys got together…

for a spot of planking…

followed by a spot of “extreme budda-ing”. As you do.