The past six months have been very dark and not just because it was winter.

We were the victims of a crime back in October that saw the perpetrator sent down for 3 years 6 months the week before Easter. During that time our focus was on our world and putting what was wronged right again and believe me that absorbed far more time and effort than you can imagine. The biggest shock however was finding out that we were just 5% of his admitted victims. When I think of the time we lost and aggravation suffered just for our losses and then multiply it by 20 it is staggering.

Most of my creative energy was sapped as all the remedial effort was pushed to the fore so it was with light heart that I ventured out on the 13th April with a spring in my step to kick-start my stalled long term projects. I headed over to Felixstowe for a celebratory bag of chips then sauntered around to what I am told is the most visited ‘visitor attraction’ in Suffolk to find a very rare sight indeed. All bar one container ship alongside belonged to MSC.

Prior to making this image we had wandered around to Manor Road with handy bottle bank. Mrs O likes to make best use of a trip out in the motor to dispose of jars and bottles. I always think that this car park is an oasis in this bustling seaside town and gives an interesting view of the deep water terminal and the Custom House. I know not why but I became fixated by the re-engineered cable drum picnic table. This was Maundy Thursday and a very balmy one at that but this is the dog-walking end of the resort and after noon when most sensible dogs would be snoozing on things they ought not to be snoozing on as opposed to going about their business.

I determined to go back with the large format gear. Such was the weather from Good Friday through to this weekend, that wind speeds put the mockers on doing anything with the 5×4 until this morning. I was up and out by 05:20 – far too late to capture the glorious sunrise as I drove to Felixstowe but I knew that and sunshine was not what I wanted today, just a great big soft box which is what was delivered.

I immediately saw that the waiting was worth it as I pulled into the car park at 05:45. There on the picnic table were two tins. Perfect. I had assumed that these were empty drinks cans but evidence that the table was being used, or at least had been used. I busied myself setting up the tripod and stepladders and it was not until everything was adjusted on the camera with the dark slide loaded, and I was waiting for the light levels to rise, that I walked over and saw that they were in fact tins of meat balls. Even more surreal, meat balls in a meeting place, even more perfect than perfect.

I do not add or remove things from my images other than dust or a crop on the overall negative which is why I love finding stuff like this. I am keen to shoot the other 6 sheets of Kodak Portra 160 and get all 10 sheets off to Peak processing.

The light is very much back. Bring it on.