Well, we’re back on the train to London having had the best night possible in Necastle. And this train had better have some sandwiches or we’re going to be writing a letter to someone.

Last night it was an absolute privilage to be at the Master Photographer’s Association Annual Awards Dinner at the Hilton Hotel overlooking the river. It’s always a little overwhelming being at the awards as some of the biggest names in photography are there and our images are amongst them in the final shortlist for awards. It’s always a bit weird when the head of the MPA says “and here are the nominees” and then you see your image 20ft wide on screens above the stage. Weird but somewhat exhilarating!

We were proud guests of Martin Baynes and Jeremy Price from the world’s largest album manufacturer, Graphistudio , who produce many of the amazing books that we’re lucky enough to create for our clients along with some old friends of ours – Dave and Jane from Classic Photography.

Dave and Jane are an amazing outfit and a team we both love meeting up with and exchanging ideas and stories with so it was always going to be a good night! Their images were up for Parent and Child Photographer of the Year (the very same award that we received last year) and The Wedding Photographer of the Year, while we had an image for Press/PR/Commercial Photographer of the Year.

Sadly, neither of us won the overall title this time round but, hey, who wouldn’t be pleased with being runner-up in the most prestigious awards in the UK? I have to admit, we did spend a very happy night er… celebrating … our success in the bar!

So there it is for another year. And here’s to next one!

I love train travel. No, seriously, I really do.

I love the sensation of hurtling across our beautiful country. I love the gentle sway and the chit chat of passengers.

I love the excitement (as with all long journeys) of knowing in a few hours we’ll be somewhere completely different, somewhere with a different outlook and scene. And today that somewhere is Newcastle, so it’s somewhere with a completely different accent as well.

But why do train operators manage to introduce failure when all else is so good? Our seat booking has worked perfectly. Me an’ Sarah are sitting happily exactly where the paperwork said we would. And that, frankly, is somewhat of a relief as there are an awful lot of people without reservations who will no doubt be sitting/standing/sleeping by the doors for the next three hours. The seats are comfortable and there is power (Sarah is currently engrossed in Series 5 of ‘24′ while I type this) and we have the wonder of 100mph wireless. Very cool.

But then, just when I thought all was well in the world, I went to grab a sandwich and a cup of tea. Tea? Yes. Sandwich? No. Uh? How can we have paid as much as we have for tickets for a journey that will take 6 hours from start to finish and there is nothing savoury to eat. Mars Bars. Yup. Kit Kat. Oh yeah. Muffins. Plenty. But something as simple as a flipping sandwich? Nope. Nothing.

Now call me old fashioned if you will, but surely if they can get their heads around the technology of booking systems and in-coach wifi infrastructure they can muster up some bread, margarine (I would prefer butter, but let’s be real here), a few wilted leaves and a bit of cheese or something long-dead to create the simplest of lunches.

We are now stuck in a fast-moving steel tube with hundreds of people who, like us, got on a mid-morning train that doesn’t arrive until 3pm, thinking (wildly optimistically as it turns out) that food would be something that National Express (yes, I’m more than happy to name names) might just have considered.

Anyway, end of rant. Back to my tea and Kit Kat.