Lights From Another Area

As an early introduction to tomorrow's theme day. Here are some street lights I took, when I recently visited Wolverhampton. I like the white of the fitting against the blue of the sky. And I am intrigued by the design of the little crowns on the tops of the fitting.

The Chocolate Factory

Here's a shot of the famous Cadbury factory, near Birmingham. It doesn't look very exciting, and certainly nothing like the one Charlie visited with his golden ticket. Today's Cheltenham DP mentions the chocolate company.

Hot Chocolate

You may have noticed that I haven't done a post for a few days. That's because I have been away on business in Birmingham. Whilst there, I called into Cadbury World, the tourist attraction based around the production of chocolate. As chocolate & Cadbury's are universal names, and a lot is eaten in my household, I thought I'd put on a photo of the founder: George Cadbury.

Saint's Preserve Us

Yesterday was St George's Day, and it was celebrated in the usual low key style, that we've come to expect. No public holiday like in Ireland, no parties or celebrations. Looking around the city; besides a couple of card shops promoting the day, this was about the best I could come up with.

Lighting Up Time

This is a close up of the entrance to the Council House, where all the decisions, good and bad are made, that affect people that live in the city. You've seen the building before in previous postings, but today I thought I'd show you the Gothic style lights.

Let Us Eat Cake!

Here is one of the best stalls of the farmers market. One that sold fairy cakes. They look too good to eat. I've tweaked the colour saturation a little; just to make them even more tempting!

Cooking Up Some Interest

Yesterday there was a large farmer's market in the Market Square. There were many stalls selling goodies like locally produced cheese, fudge, ostrich meat, cakes and wine. Much tastier than some supermarket fare & a lot better for the planet. Whilst munching on an ostrich burger (delicious), I watched this cookery demonstration. Rachel Green's car (Toyota RAV 4)had an interesting number plate. It is C11 HEF!

A Matter of Perspective

This small arcade is on Bridalsmith Gate; a few short steps from Waterstone's and used to be called King John Chambers. It contained a cafe, a charity shop, offices and a boutique. It's now been painted up and renamed Bridalsmith Walk. But alas none of the shops or companies have returned. Still I think it is a good example of converging perspectives.

Books and Mortar

Waterstone's on Bridalsmithgate, is the biggest bookshop in Nottingham. It houses 5 floors of books, magazines and a coffee shop. On the 6th floor is an art gallery and small lecture theatre. When I popped in the other day, there was an exhibition showing wedding photographs from different companies, which demonstrated their particular style.

Climb Every Mountain

Another tenuous Sound of Music link, this time referring to this mobile mini mountain, that arrived in the Market Square last week. I'm not very good with heights, so didn't queue up for a go.

Fields of Gold

Whilst coming back home from a business trip today, I got stuck in a traffic jam on the A453 near Clifton. Naturally I had my camera with me, and so had a go at taking a photo of these fields of rape seed plants. This one has a touch of Panavision about it, as I had to do a fair bit of cropping.

Hall's Well

Here's a closer view of Wollaton Hall, which has just re-opened after a £9 million restoration. The work is still ongoing, but last weekend the doors were opened once again.

Steam Power

Besides the gardens and grounds, Wollaton Park has a small, but informative industrial museum. Amongst the many exhibits is a very big steam powered beam engine. Once a month and on special occasions, the boiler is lit and people can see it in action as in todays photo. It's noisy and hot, but is a great spectacle.

Blue, Green and Stone

Here is a shot of Wollaton Hall taken from the garden. It reminds me of the castles you find in Germany or Switzerland. I can imagine Julie Andrews living there and looking after all the Von Trapp children.

Tree of Life

I love the way the sun has cast a shadow of a nearby tree across this part of the castle. You could almost climb up it to the windows above. You can see the remains of the original stonework at the bottom & the replacement at the top, which took place in the 19th century.

Dinnertime Dinosaur

This is Barney the Dinosaur, who entertained the children at lunchtime last week in the Square. As it was the Easter holiday, the area was packed with kids and their parents, eagerly awaiting the arrival of the purple one.

Fountain of Youth

These two girls were posing for a professional photographer and getting very wet at the same time. I tried to ask him where he was from & he just said the national press. So perhaps he was working for a travel brochure or publicity material.

Everyone Goes Shopping

Spotted Robin Hood the other day, wandering the streets of Nottingham. I don't know if he was looking for a bargain like the rest of us, or attempting a modern version of robbing the rich, by undertaking a little credit card theft. Whatever he was doing, he was away from his usual home of the Tales of Robin Hood exhibition.

The Wollaton Park Chainsaw Massacre

Here is post 300, and what better way to celebrate the milestone with a photo of some performance art. Richard Janes is the guy wielding the chainsaw and turning this big tree stump into a work of art. I don't know what the finished sculpture will look like, or where it will be going. But if you have a big enough garden...

Red Cars and Red Hoops

Another event in the Market Square. This time it's a local radio station promoting good health by getting people to use hula hoops. It was mainly aimed at children, but a few adults were having a go.

Man of Stature

This bust is of Lord Trent, who is usually known of Jesse Boot, the founder of Boots the Chemist; a leading drugs company & retailer. The statue is situated at the main entrance to Highfields park, with the university's Portland Building in the background. As a philanthropist, Jesse bought the land for the park to be created in the 1920's.

Spring Has Sprung

The lighter nights and warmer weather have appeared at long last, and so has the blossom on these trees in Highfields; a fairly large park next to the university. It's a shame that the flowers don't last very long. But then you see the blossom fall to the ground like snow or confetti.

Fanfare for the Common Man

While Princess Anne was being entertained by the Lord Mayor, the public were being entertained by these military musicians. Their red uniforms brought a bit of colour to what was a cold & dull day.

My Royal Appointment

Yesterday saw the official opening of the new Old Market Square. Princess Anne came to cut the ribbon. But alas she did this while I was still working in the office. But I caught her leaving the Council House and being escorted to her car by the Lord Mayor.

Read All About It

Today's photo is a bit different, in that it's a newspaper article. About me and my blog site actually, that appeared in my local paper on Saturday. It's short, but informative and gives some welcome publicity to our community and what we're trying to do.

I think you will have to expand the picture to read it fully.

Clothes on Wheels

Here's the back of another local bus, this time advertising a city centre clothes store. The opening day of this particular shop appeared here a few months ago, when they had some stilt walkers standing outside.

I've had a comment from someone who used to live in Nottingham, that I don't always give the location details of my photos. To keep all my viewers happy, this one was taken on Lower Parliament Street, just up from the Victoria Centre.

April Theme Day

This month's theme is postboxes. Due to various circumstances, I've not had the opportunity of shooting anything new, so I am showing an old picture that I published around 9 months ago. But I think it's good to show some things again, as people may have missed it the first time, and new members of our blogging family may not have seen it at all.

Over 60 Daily Photo sites are participating in the 1st April theme. Please use the links to below to visit them.

Due to time zone differences and other factors, the theme photo may not be displayed until later if you are viewing early in the day.

London (UK) -Grenoble (France) -Rotterdam (Netherlands) -Greenville SC (USA) -Hyde (UK) -Villigen (Switzerland) -Albuquerque NM (USA) -Mazatlan (Mexico) -Montréal (Canada) -Stayton OR (USA) -Shanghai (China) -Jing -Arradon (France) -Sequim WA (USA) -Newcastle upon Tyne (England) -Seattle WA (USA) -Kim -Bastia (Corse) -Minneapolis MN (USA) -Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) -Joplin MO (USA) -Sharon, CT (USA) -Cottage Grove MN [USA] -Houston, TX (USA) -Candice & Megan -Singapore - by Keropokman. -Guelph, ON (Canada) -Menton (France) -Monte Carlo, Monaco -Naples, FL (USA) -Kyoto (Japan) -Tokyo (Japan) -Aliso Viejo, CA (USA) -Cape Town (South Africa) - Jakarta (Indonesia) -Kitakami (Japan) -Tel Aviv (Israel) -Vantaa(Finland) -Guadalajara (Mexico) -Auckland (New Zealand) -Nelson (New Zealand) -Tuzla (B&H) -Brussels (Belgium) -Anderson, SC (USA) -Lubbock, TX (USA) -John, Melbourne, (Australia) -Stavanger (Norway) -Tenerife (Spain) -Stockholm (Sweden) -Boston, MA (USA) -Not Strictly Seattle, Susan -New York City, (USA), Ming the Merciless -Paris [Eric], (France) -Ampang (Selangor) -Sydney (Nathalie) Australia -ailea , HI (USA) -Manila (Philippines) -Sydney (Sally) Australia -Cork (Ireland) -Saarbrücken (Germany) -Saint Paul MN (USA) by Carol -San Diego, CA (USA) -Mexico [POLY], (Mexico) -Budapest (Hungary) -Singapore (Singapore by Zannnie) -Madrid [Dsole] (Spain) -Bandung (Indonesia) -
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