March 13th 2004. 7.45 am.

It's six years ago to the day since these pictures of Wilf and Digby were taken on the beach in Scotland . They were the first photos taken on the camera phone and somehow they managed to capture an immediacy and intimacy that was impossible to get with the heavy old Leica. The two boyz are looking remarkably lean after a trip to the groomers for what turned out to be a rather teutonic haircut. People thought they were Scotties ! In 2004 they were just two weeks shy of their third birthday and were a constant blur of high octane investigation and activity. Everything at that tender age was a source of captivating wonder, excitement and amazement. Crabs in rock pools, puffins on the cliff tops, drift wood in the dunes.

Digby didn't yet know what a camera was and would unconcernedly stare into the lens. He has since developed a canine sense , shared with Afghan hill villagers, that having his photograph taken will somehow imprison his soul. He now turns away from me the second the phone is produced. Since the first experiment six years ago all the photos posted on the blogs have been taken using the camera in the original mobile handset or its much improved successors.

Looking at these scenes brings back memories of just how beautiful Scotland is - a combination of Alaska and Norway with a special northern light . Our old house was surrounded by sea on three sides and every morning before breakfast the two boyz used to rush across the fields and down to the shoreline to watch the sun rise, all the while howling at the waves and frantically chasing gulls. Digby once came across a large family of seals . They were quite unperturbed by his presence but Digby came racing back across the sand for reassurance. An early lesson never to get too far away from the family.

Looking at the photos is a reminder to me just how quickly time moves on and what great companions Wilf and Digby have been in our journey through Europe and life. Their great gift to us has been, and is, constant laughter. The beach has gone but croissants, lizard chasing , soft breezes and warm weather have taken its place.

Back from the beach.

Weird weather. 20 degrees plus during the day and minus three at night. I fear that my 200 tender young geraniums have gone the way of all flesh. Wilf and Digby thoroughly enjoyed the freedom the beach offered . The two of them exhausted themselves by multi-tasking - inefficiently chasing seagulls while simultaneously barking at the waves.