FEATURE WRITING.....
Who said writing is a lonely business?
It doesn't have to be. And you certainly don't have to spend your time all alone, slaving over a hot computer. Being a feature writer can lead you to some exciting and unusual places - and allows you to meet some very interesting people. Plus you get to go behind the scenes at all kinds of events and organisations, seeing how things all work.
Writing for animal magazines has taken me to the Swiss Alps to meet those magnificent St Bernard dogs who are famous for rescuing people from avalanches and blizzards. These days they are Switzerland's national dog, and are more of a figurehead, leaving smaller, lighter breeds like German Shepherds to work alongside the rescue teams.
Volunteers who give up their time to be in mountain rescue teams do tremendous work, and I was able to imagine what it's like to be rescued by their sniffer dogs on two occasions - once in Switzerland and once in the Trossachs of Scotland. Happily, these were just practice sessions, but the work the men, women and dogs do is fantastic.
Discovering how dogs are trained to sniff for arms and explosives has lead me to various army training bases, but the most exciting was combat flying practice in an army helicopter with trainee sniffer dogs. That was truly amazing!
Another adventure was with the Thames Marine Police who allowed my photographer pal, Rob Tysall and myself to accompany them as they sped after a huge ship in the Thames Estuary and boarded the moving ship (dog as well) in rough seas.
Writing for magazines means you often get the chance to interview celebs, and one person who I was thrilled to meet was Norman Wisdom - an iconic comedian. The most memorable thing was when he sang his signature song to me - 'Don't Laugh at me 'Cos I'm a Fool'.
I hope you enjoy looking at this selection of photographs - which all happened just because I write!
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Ann with Dave Prowse (Darth Vader) and Uri Geller. Amanda Benson from Buffy. Elisabeth Slayden of the Sarah Jane Adventures.
Rescued in the Trossachs. Meeting a heard of buffalo. Champagne tasting!
Switzerland's
Saint Bernards. Champagne vineyards.
Crufts star, Mary Ray and her dogs. 
