Choice of Equipment

The camera i have at home is the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ8. The specifications can be seen here

As i am working with a compact this may restrict some aspects of my images.  
Some of the restrictions with using a compact are as follows:
Focus isn't manual - with a DSLR you can physically move the lens to manually adjust the focus. This allows for more accurate focussing than the electronic autofocus on a compact.
Slower shutter release - with a DSLR the image is captured soon after you press the button. With a compact there is a noticeable delay between these actions. This is particularly an issue when there is something moving through the frame.
Noise at higher ISO Levels - Due to the smaller sensor size in a compact the images are of a lesser quality than most DSLRs. This becomes more of a problem when taking photographs in low light as the ISO has to be increased and noise is more apparent.
Lack of accessories - When using a DSLR there are more options available. For example, you can change lens type. This allows the user to be more creative with the images they take than with a compact. Other examples include off camera flash and lens filters which can both make a huge difference to an image.
Crop factor - As there isn't an optical viewfinder on most compacts this means composing an image is done purely through the screen on the back. This wouldn't be too much of a problem if it showed 100% coverage of the sensor. However, what you see on the screen usually crops a bit off the edges of the captured photograph, meaning that distractions at the side of the image are not noticed until the image is uploaded.
Less Manual settings - Even on compacts that offer manual control there are still some restrictions. For example being able to change the aperture size when the range is F/3.3 - F/6.3 isn't much use. The most frustrating aspect of this being, that it isn't possible to get a really shallow depth of field effect unless you are using the macro setting and happen to be extremely close to your subject. This is a major restriction compared with using a DSLR.
Image format - DSLRs now offer the option to record in RAW format as opposed to just JPEG. Using RAW allows more flexibility in the post processing stage, such as the ability to adjust white balance and exposure without loss of quality. Very few compacts let you shoot in RAW.