Tom....

...his real name.

Today, Tom is dressed entirely appropriately for our summer's day. Cold, windy and rainy. Tom provided me with my colour, my good deed and now, my Blip.

Tom is an artist, philosopher and recipient of a donor liver. Two years ago, he wasn't expected to live and was in intensive care. On the waiting list at the renowned Papworth Hospital in Cambridge, he was one of several chasing an elusive healthy donor liver. A few of us campaigned on his behalf to sway the odds in his favour, as frankly, he didn't have much on paper to show for his life and why he should be given the chance to continue it. Tom doesn't know this. That part of his life we never talk about - and quite rightly too.

I hadn't seen Tom for at least six months and he was in full swing talking to my mate Jim, the Big Issue seller, somewhat ferociously about the recent European elections - and its results. So much so, I stood waiting patiently for ten minutes before I could find a gap to ask Tom how he was.

Tom's lifestyle is more chaotic than mine - and that takes some doing. His topic of conversation changes like the wind and what allowed me to snap him was the lens I was using. My very old scalloped all-metal pre Nikon 35mm f1.4 looks vintage and so, being the artist was so pleased that I was using a film camera. Which I wasn't, of course.

His attitude soon melted and soon it was to be this rather pulled pose, but the lens being manual focus I had to get quickly and accurately as it is shot wide open. That lovely creamy bokeh... I also took a few of him and his new dog, with a grand name of "Hobo", who was rather friendly...

NEW! Tom with dog Hobo

I've promised a couple of prints, to be delivered to the woman he used to lodge with, He now has a flat somewhere in town. She was the volunteer I confided in when I was homeless myself. Tom would be dead without her. Tom would be dead without his new liver. She'll be absolutely thrilled with the pictures of Tom. Two hearts touched by the simple act of taking a picture.

It was good to see Tom, today. Especially on such a miserable cold grey rainy day.