PICTURE 365 : Phil, Ruby and the 58 bus stop in Arnold

As Frank Albert Sinatra sang.......

And now, the end is here
And so I face the final photo
My friends, I'll say it clear
I'll state my case, of which I'm certain
I've photo'd a year of pics
I traveled each and ev'ry highway
And more, much more than this, I did it my 365 way

Regrets, I've had a few
But then again, too few to mention
I did what I had to do and saw it through without exemption
I planned each pic, each careful click along the byway
And more, much more than this, I did it my 365 way

Yes, there were times, I'm sure you knew
When I photo'd more than I could chew
But through it all, when there was doubt
I clicked the shutter and spit it out
I faced it all and I stood tall and did it my 365 way

I've loved, I've laughed and cried
I've had my pic, my share of shooting
And now, as the pics subside, I find it all so amusing
To think I did all that
And may I say, not in a shy way,
"Oh, no, oh, no, not me, I did it my 365 way"

For what is a man, what has he got?
If not his camera, then he has naught
To share the pics he truly feels and not the words of one who kneels
The picures show I took the blows and did it my 365 way!

[instrumental...hum along everyone now !!!]

Yes, it was my 365 way


Well, I never thought I'd get this far. It was fun but hard work !!

A large part of my 365 has been shot in and around Arnold in Nottingham.

A large part of my 365 has been shot with my little photographers assistant Ruby the black whippet beside me (one handed shots !!)

Some of my 365 have been shots of Ruby

Some of my 365 has been shot from the the front seat on the top deck of the 58 bus

So my last shot is Ruby and myself outside the 58 bus stop in sunny Arnold !!! I could do with the 58 bus approaching, but that would have been an added bonus !!! I suppose I should have had my Bolton Wanderers scarf on because many of my shots have been from my football trips to Bolton !

We didn't have Ruby when I started my 365 !! We adopted / rescued her in March !!

To each and everyone of you who have commented on my pics a big thank you.

I was going to do a roll call of everyone, but the list would be enormous and then I'd have probably missed and upset someone.

You know who you are and I thank you all (that's two thanks already)

Some people have been with me all the way.
Some have finished and gone.
Some people didn't complete.
Some I've picked up along the way.
Some I've picked up near the end.

What next?

I've found the dark nights of winter hard and the project has been quite time consuming.

I'm going to take two weeks off from posting....Monday and Tuesday was very liberating not having to worry about a picture...If I miss not being here then I will return...I think posting occasionally as and when I can is a bit against the spirit of the project....so I'll see how I feel in two weeks time !

I am on Flickr, so I don't know if that will be my photo sharing place of choice.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/57144254@N08/

If anybody want to say hello then my contact details are : bwfcnottingham is my address at gmail.com

Phew...that's a lot of writing on my last posting...but I always write a lot anyway !!

Not the best of pics for my last shot, I'm squinting into the low sun, but hey it doesn't matter...:)

THANKS AGAIN (three thank you's I've counted !!)

[Mags]

Congrats to you, Phil, for finishing your project and doing a great job! Some of us are going to miss you around here!!! You've been an inspiration!!! Will look forward to seeing you pop in from time to time! Take care and God bless you and yours!!!

[Juliette Packham]

It's certainly a Phil way to finish - Bus stop, Ruby and just the one hand free! (hang on, where's the shopping bags??) Phil, BIG BIG congratulaltions my friend, there were some times there when I really thought you were going to duck out on us, but so glad you saw it through to the bitter end. I hope you carry on at least a few shots a week - I have enjoyed your virtual friendship and banter - in fact ever since the 27th Feb when I first fav'd your Peak district steam shot (don't know if I had seen your shots before then!). See, I can still remember it - was a great shot that one! So enjoy your time off and well, looks at me i've gone all Phil with the writing stuff!, come back soon (please) :o)

[peter/zipp]

Congratulamanylations!
well done phil!.. i've had a great time with your project, have shared a similar journey and timesacle.
thank you for your support and all the very best in what you get up to!
hope you make it back on here, but understand the need to prioritise.
take it easy dude. keep smiling, keep clicking. keep happy.

[Judith Greenwood]

Enjoy your break Phil but that's all you're allowed - we want you back!! Congrats on finishing - its a real challenge at this time of year. But spring is springing so ive got my fingers crossed that things will get easier soon - and anyway we want to see the wedding pictures!! Thanks for all the encouragement this year and the inspiring pictures and I'll be expecting to see you back with a Wilcos bag in two weeks time!!

[Kerri]

Congrats on finishing. I hope you will return

[ann]

But....but....I just got to know you! This is the first time I've seen that sweet pup! I've enjoyed your pictures tremendously and your comments on mine.
365 is a very time consuming project and congratulations on finishing.
May you have many happy snaps in your future.

[Pat Knowles]

Well Phil ..the end is nigh & I will really miss your funny Northern comments on my offerings ! I always look forward to reading what you write both on your postings & the advice & encouragement you give to all your followers on 365. I know you have struggled a bit sometimes & with work & the weather I don't honestly know how you have found the time but have been willing you on !!! Hurray you did it & your way too !!! A fantastic final photo & words to match & knew you would do something special ...a hard act to follow !!!! Enjoy your break but please be back !!!!

[Pat Knowles]

Ps Ruby looks very proud of you !!!!

[Gill]

You made it! Yay! Congratulations!!!! A 365 project is incredibly hard to do and a huge commitment - what an achievement! I love your final photo which really is your 365 way! Fabulous!!

So well done Phil - a proud moment and a whole year of memories. That's a very special thing! :)

[Allison Williams]

Congratulations Phil on making it and completing it YOUR WAY! I will miss your kind comments and cheery stories. I hope we haven't seen the last of you. Enjoy your holiday but keep your camera close!

[Sue Wilde]

Fabulous Phil...Congratulations. You certainly have done this your way and you've given us antipodeans an insight into your country. See you soon.

[Phil Howcroft]

@marlboromaam Maggie, thanks for your very kind words and support :) I don't know what to say other than thanks :)

[Phil Howcroft]

@allie912 Allison, thanks for your support too, you have been with me from day 1 so a big thanks for that :)

[Phil Howcroft]

@swilde Sue thanks again for all your comments and support....I loved your elephants they were fab :)

[Phil Howcroft]

@happypat Pat thanks, I'll be back at the weekend to see your 365th image :) ...looking forward to it

[Phil Howcroft]

@gill awww Gill thanks, you logged on to 365 after all this time to say hello and comment....yes it's been a hard task to complete ! See you on flickr no doubt :)

[Phil Howcroft]

@new2this thanks Ann, I hope you continue with your project, you will have highs and lows...times when it feels like a chore, times when you want to give in...but then you will take a brilliant pic and ppl on here will enjoy your pic and then off you go again full of enthusiasm for 365 :)

[Phil Howcroft]

@kerristephens kerri what can I say..i think you have commented on every pic of mine....awesome...many thanks

[Phil Howcroft]

@judithg oh no Judith , the wedding isn't until 2013...that means I'd have to be in a 3rd year of 365 !!! thanks for all your support...Cambridge never looked as beautiful as it does through yours and Monty's eyes :) Thanks :)

[Phil Howcroft]

@sleepdozer57 cheers Peter I've enjoyed your look at Leeds life :) especially the urban / work shots and your big skies ...'marching all together' :)

[Phil Howcroft]

@sparkle Juliette, thanks for your very kind words, it's been great seeing your pics, your HDR and your transport 'hub' pictures...airports, railways...you do great HDR and many people have been inspired to try the technique having seen your pics.

I'm amazed how your fit a picture in every day with your busy work schedule...I know Peter @sleepdozer57 and myself sometimes told you to 'slow down'...but hey it's what you appear to do best.... work hard and take awesome pics...thanks Juliette :)

[Robin Mersh]

I can just imagine you singing this in the office!

[Mike]

Phil
I'll miss your shots.
I'll miss shots of the darling Ruby.
I'll miss checking the reasons you give for Bolton losing... Well done and I hope you create a coffee table book of some or all of your photos for posterity.
I hope you'll check in now and again, even if you don't continue on 365, A big thank you for all your comments.
and Good Luck in your next project ...whatever that maybe!

[Phil Howcroft]

@caddick cheers Mike, I will miss your whippets !!! Bolton seem to have found a bit of form now :)...I did a photobook of my 2011 pictures up to the beginning of Dec , so that was 10 months of 365 :)

[Anita]

Congratulations Phil! I've had so much enjoyment seeing your pics.

You've been a great supporter for my project and I thank you for your time, friendly/funny comments and encouragement.

Enjoy your little break but then come back to us. You and Ruby will be missed. x

[Phil Howcroft]

@robinmersh thnx robin:) , me sing in the office :)

[Phil Howcroft]

@anron aaaw thnx anita, it's been good to support a fellow "Nottingham 365'er" ....i've enjoyed playing spot the location with you...oh and i've enjoyed your photography too.

[Heather 43]

Sorry to be tardy in commenting and to have missed your final day. Many congratulations on your 365 year. Have so enjoyed your photos and your commentary. Very fitting that you and Ruby should take centr stage in this final shot. Have a good break and take care xx

[Phil Howcroft]

@heatherwatters heather thank you for your kind words, i've enjoyed your view of the world through your camera . take care too :)

[Rich Foster]

A belated congratulations on finishing your 365 Phil. What a great acheivement, I'm a tenth of the way there at present and hopefully I'll make it to the end! Hope you stick around, if not with a picture everyday then maybe a picture or 2 a week.

Unfortunately the football suffered a blip at the weekend, hopefully it is just that and we'll be back on track on Saturday! COYW!

[ShadowDancer]

Phil, for some reason, I totally missed your last shot... :-O Congrats on finishing your project! Always enjoyed your pictures and your comments, and I hope I'll see you back here on 365 after your break. :-)

[Phil Howcroft]

@shadowdancer shadow , thanks for your comment on my final pic, your macro photography (especially your flowers and bokeh) were always beautiful to see . It was great to be with you on my 365 :)

[Phil Howcroft]

@rf20 Thanks Rich, your comments are much appreciated. As for the wanderers..........yesterday at the Reebok was totally embarrassing and extremely cold too !!

[Steve Hollingsworth]

Hey Phil sorry i missed your final shot ...umm wigan lets not say anything about that one .... Hope the bus finally arrived good luck matey (o;

[Phil Howcroft]

@steveh cheers steve, thanks for your support during my 365...as for wigan......well did you have to remind me !!

[Cherrill]

Lord I'm always missing something! I suddenly realised I hadn't seen you around for sometime, so I came over to find out if you had finally gone into a downward spiral over Bolton's perfomance...........but NO! You've gone!! aaaaargggggghhhhhhh.....how did I miss this Phil?? I really feel like you are waving at me here...I do hope you return, I loved following you and appreciated all your helpful comments. Hope you pick this up during your 365 retirement Phil and lots of love to Ruby x

[Cherrill]

PS..Brilliant song! :-)

[Phil Howcroft]

@Cherrill hi cherrill thanks for the kind words. I found the 'run in' to the end of my 365 really hard (note the use of a football term there ...'run in').

I do keep thinking about posting on an 'occasional picture on here', but that seems against the spirit of 365.

I always enjoyed your flower and garden pictures. Take care . Phil x

[Eva Needham]

I've enjoyed your comments on my occasional photos and your take on street scenes. Hope you'll visit 365 now and again without the stress! God bless

[Phil Howcroft]

@keneva Eva, thank you for your kind words and support throughout my 365, you were one of my first 'friends' and 'follower' on here :)

[Pat Knowles]

You have finally gone then Phil !!! I have had a 3 week break from 365 & truly was liberated from the commenting bit so was very undecided whether to continue but took the plunge again & was surprised how soon L got back into the swing ! I am sort of retired now so much more time than folk who work. Might not post everyday & know what you mean about against the spirit but ''' I'll do it my way '' !!!! I wouldn't think anyone would mind . We miss you though !!!

[patsyj]

Thanks for all of the wonderful posts and photos that you shared on 365 Phil. It was great fun. I have been taking a break from my project and I have missed all my wonderful friends I met through the project. I hope to be back on soon and share new images with everyone. Take care!

[Phil Howcroft]

@happypat hi Pat, thnx for your kind words, i got a mail alert on my mobile to tell me you'd commented on my pic :)....I do miss the friendship and banter on 365 and i've took a few nice images while 'away' ! I might return as a 'weekender' 365 .....I miss you all too :(

[Phil Howcroft]

@patsyjphillips thanks PAtsy, it is hard to walk away from 365 and your friends after you finish ....Take care in whatever you do...I enjoyed sharing your journey on here . Phil

[andy c]

Hey mate... sorry for the very late congrats on finishing your project.... very well done chap and look forward to catching up with you should you come back for a second year...

[Cherrill]

Hi Phil.....just in case you pop in from time to time....so sorry about Muamba. What a shocking thing to happen to a fit young man. Prayers to everyone associated with the club.

[Judith Greenwood]

Hi Phil - I was mentioning you in a discussion with Pat (High key photo!) a while back and she said you'd picked up a post - and then with this Muamba thing I thought I'd get in touch and say hello. I'm guessing you went to the game which must have been very traumatic - and it's the same thing that happened to Adam's friend last year - just goes to show that he didn't stand a chance without the medical assistance right there. Like @Cherrill says - praying for recovery.

[Constance Brinkley]

It was so good to hear from you. Sorry I missed your 365th. January was a busy month for me. I did enjoy sharing your journey with you. I am so glad you are back to continue the going's on in 2012.