James has a Photography Day with Colin Prior

Today James went to Glencoe with Colin Prior, on a photography course which was his birthday present from me. He had to get up at 4.30 a.m. so that they could get to the mountains in time for sunrise. When I woke up mid morning after a lovely long lie, I was amazed to look out of the window to see fairly heavy snow falling! I ran through to tell the boys! And of course I wondered how James would be getting on up north; today had the best weather forecast of the last few days but would his photography day be snowed off? I need not have worried; dawn in Glencoe had been absolutely beautiful with blue skies and wispy clouds behind the mountains, as I saw in James' photos later. Colin taught James techniques like new ways to use filters, and given him ideas for framing shots. The results were amazing; James took about 150 photos during the day and some of them are the best he has ever taken. They went to some of Colin's favourite vantage points and photographed mountains, lakes, streams and waterfalls. They got on well and James found Colin to be pleasant company. James texted me to say that he was having a great time. James and I had assumed that with such an early start they would head home some time after lunch, but Colin just kept on going - he clearly loves his job! James knew that he was going out for Mother's Day dinner so at about three o'clock he suggested that they set off home. As 5 o'clock approached I started to wonder where on earth James was! In the end we had to set off without him; we were meeting the rest of the Anderson crew at a restaurant called "No. 10". James phoned when we were on the way and arrived not long after us. We had a pleasant and convivial meal and I think Grandma really enjoyed it. The food was very good and nicely presented and I would definitely eat there again. It was snowing again when we came out of the restaurant and quite slippery underfoot so we had to be careful with Grandma on the way back to the cars! When we got home James was absolutely exhausted after his long day and fell asleep on the couch so I sent him off to bed early! David and I had been working on English past papers during the afternoon so we did a bit more work in the evening. Oh, and I should mention the lovely card and flowers that I got from my boys! It has been a lovely Mother's day.