Black and white photograph of a man walking down a stone-built Alnmouth village street, a red telephone box on the right and cars parked along the kerb.

NORTHUMBRIAN SUMMER PART 1

Back in Alnmouth, summer takes a slower shape. A walk with my dad, a hello in the village shop, an espresso and muffin at Scotts. Nothing dramatic, just small rituals that somehow mean everything. This is Part 1 of Alnmouth 2025—a story of home, family, and quiet moments.

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Black and white film photograph of children walking to the Grotto in Lourdes, Pentax ME Super with Kentmere 100, July 2025

Summer 2025 Part IV.  What I Gave Them at the Grotto.

A father reflects on one final family trip to Lourdes in What I Gave Them at the Grotto, a heartfelt essay about faith, fatherhood, and the quiet moments that shape a child’s soul. As his children grow older, he grapples with what it means to pass on belief—not through preaching, but through presence. Set against the sacred landscape of southern France, this personal narrative weaves Mass, memory, and a grainy film photograph into a meditation on legacy, letting go, and the imperfect love that lasts a lifetime.

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Photograph from the summer 2025 road trip to Lourdes, faith and family in the Pyrenées, IJM Photography

Summer 2025, Part II: Faith, Family, and the Road to Lourdes

A family road trip to Lourdes in summer 2025 — film photography, the Pyrenees, faith, and laughter with the Nikon FE, ME Super, and Ilford HP5.

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Photograph from the summer 2025 road trip to Lourdes, IJM Photography

Summer 2025. Part I: Beer, Bad Decisions, and the Road to Lourdes

Beer, family, and a spontaneous road trip to Lourdes — shooting film on the Nikon FE and Pentax ME Super with Ilford HP5 this summer 2025.

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AI-generated illustration of a family portrait with sick father-in-law in a hospital bed, hero image for "Mon beau-père, ce héros", IJM Photography

Mon beau-père, ce héros

A bittersweet final chapter from our trip to Brittany—where a rogue mussel, a warm family lunch, and a hospital visit intertwine. This piece reflects on changing roles, quiet heroism, and the passage of time, with humour, tenderness, and a toast to a man who may be fading, but remains the man.

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AI-generated illustration for "Fireworks, and the Party in My Pants", French firemen's ball, IJM Photography

Fireworks, and the Party in My Pants

Fireworks, family chaos, and an unexpected party in my pants — not the kind you’re thinking. A night out at the French firemen’s ball turns into a seafood-fuelled disaster. Light-hearted, witty, and utterly relatable.

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AI-generated illustration of a quaint French courtyard in the evening, companion image for the Bastille Day 2025 article, IJM Photography

Back to Hell’s Belz

Welcome to Back to Hell’s Belz — a heartfelt tale of family, hearing aids, and last-minute rescues in coastal Brittany. Amid apéros, fireworks, and a faulty plan, our narrator navigates familial chaos with humor and warmth. From deafness to shrimps and Kir, it’s a story of love, resilience, and the joy of being gloriously imperfect together.

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AI-generated hero illustration for the Bastille Day 2025 article on French national holiday traditions and family lunches, IJM Photography

Bastille Day 2025

Join us for Bastille Day 2025 as we explore the history, traditions, and chaos of France’s national holiday. From the storming of the Bastille to modern-day fireworks, family lunches, and infamous French road rage, this post blends history, humour, and heart in a uniquely Anglo-French summer tale.

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Lourdes 2025

There are places where the air feels different — where time slows and grace moves quietly among the crowds. Lourdes is one of those places. This is the story of my pilgrimage there with my son Killian, and the moment that changed us both — a quiet encounter, a listening heart, and a whisper from God.

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The Pyrenees Mountains – and the Pont d’Espagne which isn’t in Spain

This article follows a deeply personal journey through the Pyrenees Mountains to the Pont d’Espagne — a place in France often mistaken for being in Spain. It’s not just a travelogue, but a reflection on fatherhood, healing, and connection. Along the way, there’s ice cream, photography, winding roads, and moments of quiet understanding between a father and son.

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