The Christmas spirit can go so quickly. I was reading some harsh words of our first lady MP, Nancy Astor, “I married beneath me: all women do!” She also clashed with Winston Churchill and is reported to have said to him, “If you were my husband I would poison your tea.” His reply was equally robust, “Madam, if you were my wife I would drink it!”. So different from the sweetness and light of the Fordingbridge Camera Club. This is a friendly, go-ahead club. We meet at Avonway Community Centre at 7.30pm on alternate Wednesdays.

Our website, www.fordingbridgecameraclub.org.uk has our programme for the season. It is a mixture of talks by visiting top photographers coupled with opportunities to show your work and have it commented on by experienced photographic judges. Visitors are always welcome for a small fee. In addition to our regular meetings, we are devoting many evenings to Creative Photography for those who want to explore more advanced aspects of photography. The Practical Photography group is aimed at helping members who are new-comers to photography. A recent development is to form ‘buddy groups’ where users of the same make of camera can discuss any queries they have about the working of their cameras and seek group advice. All these additional sessions have proven to be very popular but are only open to club members. If you want to improve your photographic abilities it always pays to see what others are doing. ‘Wildlife Photographer of the Year’ exhibition is now on at the Natural History Museum in London and the work is stunning – and beautifully presented!

A final thought on Christmas cracker jokes - What is black and white and noisy? A zebra with a drum kit!