No Smoking

Today is the last day in England where you can smoke in enclosed public places, such as restaurants, pubs, buses etc, because as from midnight it will be illegal.

As a non smoker myself, I will be quite happy, as there is nothing worse than going for a drink and coming out smelling like an ashtray.

To promote the new law, yesterday this guy was dressed up as a cigarette and handing out nicotine patches, to help people give up. These two girls seemed to be enjoying the moment.

Tower of Learning

This very ornate tower is part of the Trent University campus. At the moment some demolition work is going on there, and I wonder if this will get knocked down. It will be a shame if it does, as I think it looks quite splendid and should be preserved.

Window Display

This etched window can be found on a pub on Mansfield Road. As you can guess from the picture, the pub is called the Peacock. It is one of these traditional early 20th century watering holes that are popular with both students and the working man.

Blow Up

My local Virgin record store has a sale on at the moment. And to publicise this, they've covered the entrance in balloons. The assistants have also filled one of the windows too.
I wonder whay they've used blue balloons, when Virgin's colour is clearly red?

Water, Water Everywhere

Yesterday was about the wettest on record, with about one month's rain falling in one day. Some parts of Nottingham have been flooded. We've got off lightly where I live. But I had a bit of difficulty cycling into work, as I had to ride through a mini ocean, as one of the drains couldn't cope with the amount of water and had turned into a fountain.

Rabbit On

This display is in the window of Paul Smith's first shop on Byard Lane. It's a small shop and so the display area is small. For some reason the things the store puts on display don't appear to have any relation to the clothes etc that the shop sells.

Was That It??

Summer seems to have disappeared behind black rain filled clouds. Hopefully the sun will return shortly, and last until at least October. But for now here's a sun drenched Nottingham skyline, taken from the Castle.

Anyone For Tennis 2?

As I informed you all the other week, Nottingham has just finished playing host to a major mens tennis tournament, before Wimbledon starts next week. Here's a photograph taken from University Boulevard of the spectators watching one of the closing matches of the week long programme. Some have been delayed by the bad weather we have been experiencing. Notice the dark sky and umbrellas. I couldn't really get any closer due to the location of the courts and security.

Cheers!

Here's a sign that should gladden the heart of most drinkers. 20% off their favourite tipple. As long as it's wine though.

Personally I prefer white and Australian.

What's yours?

Shattered

I like the way this shop window has fractured, from one tiny point, and spread out into little shapes. Like ripples on a pond. Modern panes of glass are made so that they don't just shatter into tiny pieces on the ground. So they are a lot safer. Of course they are expensive, as this mobile phone shop will find out when they get the bill.

You Need Hands

Is it art? Is it vandalism?

You decide.

I took this photo on Stoney Street in the Lace Market. On the building where I first started my working life in. Back in the tail end of the 1970's. Such a lot has changed in the area since then. The biggest being that there are hardly any lace companies there now. If any.

Message For The Masses

This Land Rover carries the message that everyone should follow, although not everyone does, due to their own particular circumstances. We should all make the best of whatever hand we've been dealt, and to make the most of any opportunities that come our way.

I Can See You

This statue is of Major Jonathan White, and stands in the grounds of Nottingham Castle. At this moment in time, I know nothing at all about him. It's a shameful thing to admit I know. But does everyone know the history of all the statues in their town?

Hot Days and Golden Evenings

As you may know from a previous posting, Gail & I were on holiday in Kusadasi, Turkey last week. We had a great time & ended up making friends with a local optician called Necdet, as Gail wanted some new glasses. I sent him the weblink to this site, and have helped him start up a Kusadasi photo blog. Here's the link: http://laraoptik.blogspot.com/
So please drop by and welcome him to our community.

Today's photo is the sunset over our hotel's swimming pool.

Going Through Changes

This building on Angel Row has been empty for well over 3 years now. It is just been bought and will be going through a refit, and opening as something different. The previous shop was called "What Everyone Wants" and sold cheap clothes, toys and household textiles. Not sure why it closed. Poor sales perhaps.

I think the agents have a sense of humour, as they've put 'too late' on the board, rather then the usual 'sold'.

I'm Glad I Don't Look Like This In The Morning!

I have now returned from Turkey, with a slight suntan and enough photos to start a Kusadasi photo page.

But back in Nottingham, this Frankenstein like figure is the work of artist called Simon Mitchell, who graduated from Nottingham Trent University last year.
His aim is to produce works of art for people on ordinary incomes, and he has an exhibition running at the moment at the Friar Lane art gallery.

He certainly has a style of his own, but I'm not too sure that I'd like to see this particular canvas on my living room wall.

The Golden Lady

Here's another one of those street acts that appear more and more over the summer months. She remained very still for quite a while, then she would just move a little bit, and become a statue again. I like the bemused expression on the mans face, as he is walking by.

Gail and I are off to Turkey for a weeks holiday. I don't have a DP buddy to help me out, so my next post will be on the 15th. Try not to miss me too much.

Airbourne Dummy

Here's what a pilot has to wear when they take to the air, and whizz round the skies at 600mph. Personally I prefer to go a bit slower and enjoy watching a film and sip a drink as I'm flying through the air, on the way to some foreign destination.

Ground Control To Major Tom

The Royal Air Force were in town last week on a recruitment campaign, with various stands and military hardware on show. The pride of place being this training jet. I am fortunately too old for them and I do come from a sea faring family, as one of my granddad being a captain in the Royal Navy.

Lines

Gail and I went to a motor show at Wollaton Park yesterday. I naturally took a number of photos. But instead of showing you the whole vehicle, I thought I'd publish this abstract. It is in fact the running board of a vintage car, with the black lines reflected in the very shiny paintwork.

Angels With Dirty Faces

This weatherbeaten & waterstained carving is on a building tucked away along a little side street off Mansfield Road. With the head covering she's wearing, to me she looks like either a nun or a nurse. One for the architectural historians I think.

Anyone For Tennis?

Every June for the past few years, Nottingham hosts a mens tennis tournament as a warm up for Wimbledon. It's normally televised by Sky TV. I must try to pop along after work, to see if there's any shots worth taking.

This gigantic poster was appearing on the side of the Park Plaza Hotel on Maid Marian Way.

3rd June update. As you can see, I've managed to put a photo on. It's not as good as the one I originally wanted to show you, but Blogger is just refusing to publish it.