Numerical Sunday - 7

Welcome to the world of being a grown-up. It's what they say when someone reaches adulthood. It used to be 21, but now it's 18. You can vote, get drunk legally and get married. And to mark the occasion, one of Britain's leading greetings card retailer is selling these balloons.

And to any one reading this who is reaching maturity; Happy Birthday.

Music From Above

Another Saturday, another band. This week was a bit different, as it featured a gospel group from a local church. They performed in many different styles; jazz, rap, soul, but all the goal of passing on the word of God. They even bought along their own mixing desk. some of the locals were a bit bemused by it all, but some were joining in the dancing and singing.

A Drink Between Acts

This is The Stage pub & restaurant. It is the nearest one to the Theatre Royal. And I bet when a play is on, a couple of the actors send out for a pint or two, that they can knock back in between acts. In fact I bet a couple of them even toddle out for a swift half during the break!

On The Waterfront

Here is another shot of the new canalside apartments being built in town. I know nothing about how many, or what they will look like. Not sure whether I'd like to live in a flat though, no matter how posh, as I'd miss my garden and pond.

This is an early entry to Sky Watch Friday and follows on from last week's posting of the cranes in the sky.

Ha ha Me Hearties

For some reason this old city centre pub was flying the skull & crossbones. I didn't know if they were running a pirate night, or going in for some smuggling, to dodge paying the taxman.

Bluesday Tuesday - 3

A new service seems to have sprung up over the past few years; paying companies to store your possessions for you. I don't know if its due to people having more stuff than their house can hold, or just because they live in smaller houses these days, but companies like this seem to be popping up all over the place. I can understand it if someone was moving house or emigrating, but to pay £5 or so a week to have someone look after your stuff seems a bit crazy to me.

Too Good To Eat

Gail was mucking around with a bag of Licorice Allsorts that she had bought the other day. She had this idea of making me a smiling face out of some of them, as a token of her affection for me.

Once when I went away for work, I spelt out "I Love You" in chocolate fingers for her to see when she came home, as I wouldn't be around for a day or two.

Numerical Sunday - 6

A baker's dozen today. Don't know if this driver is worried that he's using van number 13. Triskaidekaphobia it's called by the way.

Down Mexico Way

Beeston became alive with the sound of trumpets this morning as another local band took to the stage in the square to entertain the shoppers. They played a number of tunes in the Tijuana style. Even the sun came out to add to the Mexican mix. Here's a clip featuring the music of Herb Alpert, which gives you an idea of the style they were playing today.

Fingers In The Sky

Today is of course Sky Watch Friday, and here's my contribution; some cranes dancing in the air.

To view more lovely photos of blue and not so blue skies, pop over to the Sky Watch Friday page.

Signing Up

Derby Road is also known as the A52, and is a busy road through Nottingham. One end goes to Stoke on Trent and the other arrives at the seaside town of Skegness. The section that joins Derby is dedicated to the former football manager Brian Clough; who in the 1970's had some success with local team Nottingham Forest. He died some years ago, and the team linger on in the lower rungs of the football ladder, and are nowhere as successful as they once were.

Picture This

A professional photographer taking publicity shots of and for the Nottingham Playhouse. Mainly of people eating and drinking in the sunshine.

I'll be looking out for the pictures appearing in publications etc.

Bluesday Tuesday - 2

This is a new extension to our local hospital. It's a bit more colourful and better looking than the main building, which was erected during the 1970's.

They treat a variety of patients in this new wing, and there's a overhead tunnel, which connects the old with the new.

Barge Bike

Another shot of a narrowboat and a b1cycle. Both the most green methods of traveling. Besides walking that is.

Numerical Sunday - 5

Top of the shop today with number 1. This sign is on the canal and shows the direction and how far it is to go before a boater reaches the River Trent, where they can head in a number of directions to the east of the county.

See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil

These three swans seem to be following the rules of the three wise monkeys, from the old Japanese legend or folk story.

They look like they care more for their appearance, with all that preening going on. Perhaps they are getting ready for lunch!

Sky Watch Friday - Staying Power

Today's photo is one of the main hotels in Nottingham. It's only been open a couple of years & the guests get a good view of the city centre. It's also very close to the railway station and the canal. So if you like boats & trains, you'd be in your element.

Happy Sky Watch Friday & have a good weekend.

OK, Say Cheese!

Here's a shot of some tourists having their photo taken by the statue of Robin Hood. There must be thousands of photos in albums across the world, with very similar poses. Have you got one in yours?

Office Block Rock

This is one of the buildings that belongs to the credit card company Capital One, who have a presence in the city. I like the reflection of the cranes in it, rather than the building itself, which is the usual square glass block, which seems so prevalent in towns & cities today.

Bluesday Tuesday - 1

A new feature for your delictation. Every Tuesday I'm intending to publish something with a blue theme. A good start for today is of this narrowboat called the Blue Belle.

Why Tuesday you might ask? Well Wednesday is ABC day. Then there's the famous Sky Watch Friday feature. I thought of Tuesday, as it rhymes with bluesday.

Please feel free to join in if you want to. The more the merrier.

Food To Go

Our local market has just held an event to promote buying locally grown & produced food, rather than getting it from supermarkets where its imported from all over the world. This chef was giving a demonstration of how to cook a dish called kedgeree; which is basically boiled fish & rice. It didn't take very long to prepare. He and his assistant then dished up the food into little pots for people to try. It was very tasty. So good, I just had to have seconds!

Numerical Sunday - 4

Who can remember the chart topper that shares the same name as today's number? The song was by Paul Hardcastle, and was released in 1985. It was basically an anti war song, done to a dance beat. Some of you may recognise a snatch of Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells in the music.
I've tried to link the video that is available on YouTube. Hopefully It'll work, but apologies if it doesn't, as I'm no computer whizz.

Singing In The Rain

As it's supposed to be summer. Ha ha! Our local council put on a series of open air concerts by local musicians, every Saturday during August. Today was a band called The Feds. They were very good, despite the pouring rain. Which I think you can make out in my photo. They played quite a range of tunes from pop to soul, and the small audience were very appreciative. If you are interested in learning more about them, their website can be found here.

Syywatch Friday - 20'000 Feet Above

Happy SWF, and what better than flying through the sky to a foreign destination? Our house is on the flightpath of the East Midlands Airport. Although we don't get bothered too much, and it is exciting in a way to try and spot the airline. Usually this is BMI Baby, Thmpson's or UPS. This is done through binoculars of course, as I haven't got bionic eyes!

All You Need Is Money

What can one say about the Beatles, that hasn't been said before? They are still the world's number one group, even after splitting up nearly 40 years ago. This window display at my local Past Times store, clearly shows what a draw they still are, with a whole host of goodies on offer to make the 1960's swing just that little bit longer.

River Transport

I've noticed that a lot of bicycles have been featured on CDP recently. So here's my contribution. It's just what you need when you've stopped on the canal and want to explore the local area. Find a good pub, or some subjects worth taking a photo of.

Three Men In A Boat

A glorious warm sunny day. A gentle speed of 3 miles an hour. Good company. What could be a better way for cruising along Britain's waterways?

Numerical Sunday - 3

Number 6 today, which many of you may remember was Patrick McGoohan's character in his Prisoner series. But today 6 represents the cycletrack number which I use all week as I make my journey from Beeston to Nottingham city centre each workday. It gets quite busy throughout the day with other cyclists, joggers, walkers and a girl that practices her rollerblading.

Picnic In The Sun

Here's a group of friends having a picnic lunch together under the watchful gaze of Robin Hood, just by the Castle.

Sky Watch Friday - Black Over Bill's Mother's

"Black over Bill's mother's" is a local saying. I have no idea who Bill was, or why we should be interested in his mother. But it's what someone says when they see a very black cloud hanging in the sky.

Well this sky is very black, and It may have hung over someone's mother. But it also hung above our house, and a deluge followed.