Be of Good Cheer ...

... for Christmas is near.  If you're like me, you're looking forward to Christmas because it means you'll get to see your kids and your grand-kids again.  Sure, there are gifts to exchange and great food to share but it's the 'getting together' that's the most important thing.

It's also a great opportunity for some of us to bring our family photo albums up to date by catching the younger ones playing with their new toys. They don't even notice the camera in your hands because they are so fascinated by their gifts. Sometimes, you can also persuade people to gather together for those family group shots that are so hard to get at other times.

Occasionally, in the past, I've printed up recent shots of members of the family and given them as Christmas gifts, usually pre-framed and ready to hang on the wall. They seem to be greatly appreciated. Equally appreciated, by me, are the Christmas family group shots that my kids have taken by professional photographers and give to me each year.