Barry’s been akin to a kid in a candy store recently. You know that Christmas Day feeling of wonderment, when you open the gift you’ve been longing for?

As a professional photographer for over 35 years, he’d aim to be at the top of his game, purchasing the best equipment he could afford. Photography is more of an enjoyable ‘hobby’ nowadays (notwithstanding the fact that he’s also keen to and does sell some of his images as Greeting Cards and prints), and our budget for outlay on equipment is limited. He’s managed perfectly finely for nine years with a Lumix G1 (you can read a little about it by clicking here). Until the poor tired thing lost the will to work a week or so ago, after providing excellent service.

On Tuesday his new plaything arrived. He was overjoyed. This camera is also a Lumix – a Panasonic Lumix GX7 – which means nothing to me, I’m assured it’s a decent-enough step up.

It’s long been a bit of a standing joke for Barry and those who know him well, that people frequently exclaim “You must have a really good camera to take shots like that!” Undoubtedly the tool used is important. But it’s the person behind the lens that makes the difference between a ‘good’ photo and a ‘superb’ one.

This blog contains the first images from Barry’s new-to-him ‘tool of the trade’. He’s still familiarising himself with all its functions, though I’m sure you’ll agree it’s a mighty fine tool – and he’s rather clever at pointing it in the right direction …

Part one – Lincoln Castle

We’d decided to splash out and be reckless, purchasing two all-in-one tickets to cover us for Lincoln Castle AND Cathedral, for the princely sum of £32. Each gave us an additional opportunity of a return visit within six months. Thank goodness it turned out!

I have to admit it was well worth every penny. Lincoln Castle took our breath away with the magnitude of history, and fascinating structures and stories. We actually spent most of the first day there!

Barry took some fine photos of the Cathedral from the Castle, mainly from the steeped in history Medieval Wall Walk – some are featured below.  Most I’ve saved for the next post.

Another attraction is an original Magna Carta document, one of only four surviving (as King John ordered that they be destroyed after he consulted with the Pope to have the charter annulled, having signed it under duress) housed securely in the David P J Ross Magna Carta Vault, it’s the crowning glory of Lincoln Castle’s £22m restoration.

Unsurprisingly no photos are allowed inside! Lincoln Castle can proudly boast being the only place in the world where an original 1215 Magna Carta and 1217 Charter of the Forest can be seen side by side, on permanent loan from Lincoln Cathedral.

“On 15 June 2015, it was 800 years to the day that King John and the barons met at Runnymede and agreed a charter of liberties that would change the course of history.  Magna Carta enshrined the principle that the king had to act within the rule of law and became one of the most celebrated documents in history with enduring worldwide influence.”

I recalled seeing another version in Salisbury Cathedral, I thought with Barry, but he vehemently denied any knowledge of it. Looking back through my photos I found I’d been with my dear friend Jenny, on a visit in January 2017, and not with Barry after all! I knew I’d seen it before – so we were both right …

This momentous charter continues to influence law and order in the twenty-first century:

“No free man shall be seized or imprisoned, or stripped of his rights or possessions, or outlawed or exiled, or deprived of his standing in any way, nor will we proceed with force against him, or send others to do so, except by the lawful judgment of his equals or by the law of the land.  Clause 39”

What a truly splendid day we had. Barry of course is a veritable mine of knowledge about British history, his recollections of times gone by frequently astounds me. I, on the other hand, can generally only recall one thing – The Battle of Hastings, in the year 1066! Why that file has been saved above anything else I have absolutely no idea. Queens and Kings all such things confound me. Hopefully it means Barry’s going to pass his mandatory ‘Life in the UK‘ test for his UK visa first time – this year!