Up In The Clouds

For Bluesday Tuesday this week, I showed a photo of a man cleaning a building who was using in a cherry picker. Here's another for Skywatch Friday. The building here was part of the old General Hospital, but is now a curry house. I've eaten there before and it was very nice, but it has changed hands. so that means I will just have to go again!

It might be cold at the moment, but we're having some excellent blue skies and a fair bit of sun. This of course makes for better photos. Although of course, you should be able to take photos in any weather.

To view further skies from around the world, blue or otherwise, click on this link

And Another One Bites The Dust

Here's another Victorian building being made ready for demolition. I know it's not a particularly elegant building, but I'm sure something could be done with it, instead of knocking it down & building something even more boring in it's place.

Bluesday Tuesday - 12

The first time I heard the expression "cherry picker" I naturally thought it was someone that collected cherries off trees. Then I discovered it was actually a mechanical arm with a platform for someone to stand in to reach something high. Nowadays you see them all the time almost everywhere. If only I had the patent!

So today here is a blue cherry picker being used by someone to clean the side of a building. Not a job I could do, as I can't stand heights, unless I'm sitting down in an aeroplane or helicopter.

I Thought I Saw A Putty Cat

hiding under a bush,
His fur was all white and ginger
and his body was rather fat

Tree Of Gold

Now the colder mornings are here, the leaves on the trees are finally starting to turn brown and drop to the ground. This tree in the castle grounds is just on the cusp of turning. I bet it'll be bare in about a week's time.

Robin Again

I have been taking quite a few photos of Nottingham Castle this week, as one of our local radio stations is asking for photos for their website. So I have sent several in. Alas none have appeared yet. Here's one that I have submitted; Robin attacking the castle & rescuing Maid Marian.

Magic Bus

I never thought I'd ever see a coach with a photo of the Great Wall of China running down it's length. But here it is. Nottingham seems to be a favourite destination for tourists & I often see coaches from France, Germany etc parked on side streets while its passengers take a stroll round the city centre. Maybe they've been inspired by this blog.

If you're wondering what's on the other side of the bus, well it's Ayres Rock, or to give it it's proper name, Uluru. I did take a photo of it, but it didn't turn out very well as I was too close. Maybe I'll do something with it for Paintbox Pictures.

Battenberg Sky

Yes, it's Skywatch Friday again and my shot this week is dusk over the lake at Highfields. I like the multicoloured sky in between the rows of trees. Reminds me of a Battenberg cake with the different layers.

Many more skies will be popping up on different blogsites across the world. To access them all from 7.30pm tonight (GMT) click here.

The Original Ebay?

I took this photo when I went to the Bartons bus depot centenary celebration. I couldn't resist it. I bet the guy who originally wrote this out couldn't imagine that many years later the same word would be used for a global Internet auction site. I've used Ebay quite a lot and have got some bargains. I've also bought some duds. But then I guess it's the chance you take when buying something from just a photo and description.

Bluesday Tuesday - 11

Another photo of a canal boat. But this one is dedicated to my blogging buddy Imac, who's on yet another holiday. This time in Scotland. So the name on this boat is very apt don't you think?

Birthday Boy

Today is something special, Nottingham Daily Photo's 800th posting.

I never thought that I would make it this far, as sometimes it has been hard going in trying to find new subjects. Not every entry has been based in Nottingham either. But then perhaps this blog is more to do with my life, than the life of Nottingham. Of course they are inter-twined, especially when I am on the look out for different things to take photos of.

I would like to pay thanks all my visitors, past, present and future for leaving positive comments. I try to amuse, delight and inform with my postings, so please take a special birthday bun and raise a toast to Nottingham Daily Photo.

Shop Of The Stars

I think almost everyone has heard of Harrods. The top people's department store in London. Either through their famous sale after Christmas, the distinctive green bags or the fact that Princess Diana was dating the owner's son.

When I was in London last week, I made my first visit to the Knightsbridge store. I managed to take a couple of sneak photos. Here's the first; a display to show the 75th anniversary of the British Film Institute. I love the Art Deco styling and colours in this part of the building.

Space Cowboys

The other day I wrote about going to the National Space Centre in Leicester and being arrested by some stormtroopers from Star Wars. Mo said she wanted to see the evidence. So for her here it is. Enjoy.

This will be the first time my face has appeared on this blog. It will probably be the last too, as I prefer to be behind the camera. It's not that I'm camera shy, it's just that I'm not at all photogenic and always look fairly dreadful in photos. I bet even David Bailey couldn't take a good photo of me.

The stormtroopers belong to an organisation called the UK Garrison , volunteers who attend functions in return for donations to charity.

Sparks Might Fly

Lord Biro is a local artist & poet with a rather wacky and eccentric style. He has also stood for Parliament under the name of "The Church of the Militant Elvis Party". Alas he didn't get enough votes to serve in the Palace of Westminster. At the moment he has a small exhibition in an empty shop in the West End Arcade, where he has a number of cartoons on show. But pride of place goes to this off the wall creation entitled "Maggie Thatcher Restarting Solar Powered Electric Chair".
Make of it what you will!

London's Calling

Here's this week's submission for Skywatch Friday; the skyline of London. This is taken from the Derry & Toms roof garden in Kensington and shows the top of the Royal Albert Hall & what I take to be the London Eye, but think it is too close.

To view more sights from around the world that contain the sky, have a click here.

The Girl With The Faraway Look

While I was sitting having a drink, this young lady came and sat at the next table. I couldn't resist taking a photo of her and so waited for the right moment. When her drink arrived seemed perfect, as she was so busy stirring her drink, that she was so oblivious to anything around her and had this dreamy look in her eyes.

Bluesday Tuesday - 10

I wasn't sure whether to keep this photo as my Skywatch Friday post, but I thought you may be interested in seeing what some of the National Space Centre looks like. This tower has become a bit of a landmark & can be seen from the M1. I and my co-workers were positioned at the very top; a floor they call the Satellite Zoo, which as the name implies contains some of the well known satellites such as Sputnik & the Beagle 2. We would have had a good view of leicestershire, had they not put some covering over the glass to obscure the view.

The Final Frontier

I was at the National Space Centre in Leicester today, meeting and greeting for work. It's a place I've always wanted to visit, so I was happy to be asked to attend; especially as I got free entry. I must admit overall I was a bit disappointed that it wasn't better than I imagined it to be.

I wasn't expecting Disneyland; this is England after all, but I thought there might have been a few more spaceships etc on display and a few things outside. But alas there wasn't. I did have my photo taken with some Imperial Stormtroopers, as an added bonus.

Smart Geek

Here's another logoed Smart car for your collection. These do seem to be quite popular for companies to use. I captured this one on Campden Hill Road in London, where I lived in the late 1960's until 1977.

For anyone that's interested, the Geek Squad are a group of IT bods that visit homes to sort out customers' computer problems.

Read All About It

Arriving at St Pancras Station on Thursday, I just had to take this photo. The expression on the news vendors' face just about says it all over the financial state that almost the whole world has found itself in.

And from the headlines, it seems even the super-rich are starting to feel the pinch!

Hit The Roof

I'm a bit late with my Sky Watch Friday entry, as I've just got back from a trip to London. It was partly work & partly pleasure, so I had the opportunity of taking lots of photos.

So here's the roof of St Pancras Railway Station, that's just gone through a multi-million pound re-fit, enabling passengers to catch the Eurostar to Paris.

For 300+ sky orientated photos from our global community click here.

Goldfinger

And gold nose, ears and head. Another of those buskers who specialise in being statues, and not moving until someone throws some money into his hat.

I'm not sure whether the model from Marks & Spencers looks very impressed though.

The Old Black & White

I am not a fan of football at all & I don't think I've actually put any football related photos on this site before. But today I am. I may have mentioned it in passing though, as Nottingham has two clubs; Forest & County. Neither of which are as particularly successful as they once were. With both languishing in the lower divisions.

Notts County, locally known as the Magpies and one of England's oldest clubs said goodbye to one of it's best managers yesterday, as Jimmy Sirrel was laid to rest, with a big funeral at St Mary's Church.

My photo shows the gates to the ground covered in scarves, flowers and shirts, left by the fans in his memory.

Bluesday Tuesday - 9

Bit late today, as problems with the Internet. TalkTalk might be a cheap ISp, but they are not very reliable at the moment.

Anyway here's another bus photo from the recent Barton's open day. But you might be asking, this bus is blue, and Barton's are red. That's because it's from an associate company of theirs. All aboard!

Water Music

This carved recorder player sits down by the banks of the River Severn. I couldn't see any information about who carved it or what the statue is called. Still I think he makes for a good talking point amongst the visitors to the area.

Numerical Sunday - 12

Tickets Please!

Yesterday there was an open day at the former Barton's garage. It was very busy with people of all ages coming along to see all the old buses and lorries. There were a lot of ex employees there, reminiscing about their days with the company. Today's photo therefore shows the route number on one of the buses from the 1950's.

The Ultimate Council House

This is the Guildhall, Worcester's seat of power. The building was erected during the 1700's, with a touch of restoration in the 1880's. It really is a lovely building, both inside and out. I popped in as there was an exhibition on about how, where and when new housing was to be built and employment opportunities appearing etc. Generally these ideas are shown to the public for their comments, before being adopted under something called the 'Local Plan'. Most councils across England do them every few years with varying degrees of success.

Rock On Tommy

I've just got back from Worcester, hence my late SWF contribution. Of course I took lots of photos of the town and its buildings etc. Many will be appearing here, or on Paintbox and Black & White.

So for my entry this week, here's a statue of a British soldier, in St Andrews Gardens, so people can look up at him and remember what he represents to us all.

For more representations of the global sky, click here and enjoy.

Clowning Around

This stiltwalking, balloon shaping clown was strutting his stuff at the weekend. Entertaining the crowds at a local art show.