When I was growing up, my parents were fortunate to have two living rooms in their house. In reality, one of them was probably meant to be a dining room. What I could never understand, as a young child, is why they kept one of these living rooms for special occasions. It was what they classed as the “posh living room”. Their three children, including me, were basically not allowed in this room unless one of these special occasions was taking place.

The whole team here at The Picture Gallery, in Bedford, are very proud that our business is rated “Excellent” on Trustpilot. We have received 5206 reviews so far, with the vast majority (95%) being given five stars. 

For a couple that has reached the point in their life and their relationship when they are ready to become parents, it can be an exhilarating time. This whole period can see one feel a large range of emotions. At the outset, it’s all extremely exciting. For many people, this is what they may have wanted for a long time, but they just haven’t been in the right place until now. The thought of becoming a mum or a dad with all the responsibilities that brings can also be a little scary for some.

At the end of a long, hard, tiring day, it is always nice to enter the bedroom and to get into bed. It is bringing a sense of calm to what can often be a busy and chaotic day. People rightly spend a lot of time and thought on the interior design of the bedroom to ensure that it creates this feeling of calm, comfort and relaxation as soon as we enter. To this end, lighting is important, with soft, warm lighting often being the go-to as it helps give a soothing atmosphere.

I recently inherited a large number of stamps from my parents. To be honest, stamps have not interested me since I was a child. At that point when I was around the age of nine, I had a stamp book and would collect as many stamps as I could, and I really enjoyed doing so. The stamps that I have inherited are not of great monetary value, but they are fascinating, nonetheless. The amount of care my parents seemed to go to, to build, maintain and protect this collection was quite awe-inspiring.

Luke Littler has taken the world of darts to a whole new level over the last couple of seasons. In 2025, he beat Michael van Gerwen in the final of the PDC World Darts Championship. This was his second successive appearance in the final (he was beaten by Luke Humphries in 2024). He is still only eighteen years of age and in a recent interview he was asked about the type of darts he uses and about how regularly he changes them.

A good friend of mine (Pete) phoned me last night and spoke about a holiday he is about to go on. He is travelling with his wife to Zante, and they have already booked a trip to visit the Blue Caves. I was fortunate to take a boat trip to these caves a few years ago, and Pete was asking what I thought of them. He also asked, knowing that I am a keen photographer, if I had any tips and advice as to the best way to take photographs when in a cave.

During the last few weeks, we have been enjoying viewing some incredible sunsets. This is by far the best time of the year to view sunsets, as the days are longer, the weather tends to be better, and the skies are clearer. I'm not sure if this applies to others, but watching sunsets has a real calming effect on me and always helps to put a smile on my face.

As you have been out and about in the local park or your garden during the past few weeks, you're likely to have noticed the honeybee at work. They are a rather fascinating insect. Some people are wary of them for obvious reasons, but they are not aggressive when foraging, and if you are lucky enough to see them in your garden, it should be seen as a very good thing, as it's usually a sign of a healthy environment.

The weather, at times, during the last few weeks, has been magnificent. Summer officially started on the 21st of June, and it sure started with a bang. The brighter weather and longer days sure help to inspire and to make one feel alive, and these are feelings I want to continue when I arrive back from one of our day trips or evenings out at a friend’s barbecue.