Chinese Crackers

There was a day of celebrations today in Beeston to celebrate the Chinese New Year. Here is an expert on Tai Chi who entertained the crowd for around 15 minutes, doing loads of different moves that I wouldn't even contemplate, let alone try.

I was lucky enough to snap him at just the right moment, and you can see the concentration on his face. I don't know about you, but he reminds me a lot of Jackie Chan.

The Look Of Love

A wife gives her husband a loving hug as they both watch the Chinese dancers from yesterday.

Gail and I are quite romantic when we are out together. Always holding hands and stealing a quick kiss while waiting in queues. Hopefully you're all the same, as it's important to tell your partner that you love them.

Go on, do it now.

It Takes Two

An authentic Chinese dance to mark the Year of the Ox. Nottingham has quite a large Chinese community and they have their own association to help and support each other.

A Pint By Moonlight

Here's the Trip to Jerusalem pub, lit up on a dark, rainy night. It is reputed to be the oldest pub in England. But hopefully the beer and food they sell is ultra fresh!

A Dentist's Nightmare

A huge selection of Pick n Mix sweets just waiting to be bought and eaten. These can work out quite expensive if you go a bit too mad with the scoop.
So what's your favourite?

Spreading The Word

This guy was trying to spread the word of the Lord yesterday. But not many people were stopping to listen. In fact very few were listening to what he had to say. I was off as well, just after I had taken this photograph.

Castle Keep

Nottingham has a castle, but it looks nothing like this one in Norwich. Ours looks more like a stately home & is a great disappointment to visitors. There are suggestions that the council should rebuild it in a more familiar Robin Hood style. But this is highly unlikely, especially in these cash strapped times.

I didn't have the time to go inside, so just walked around its base and took a few shots of the skyline. I must say it looks a very daunting and dramatic building. I wouldn't want to have been a prisoner in there.

Who Paid The Ferryman?

Another local pub gone to the wall. This one is just off one of the main roads that lead to Norwich city centre. I have no idea why it closed, but from the lack of vandalism, it couldn't have been that long ago.
I wonder what it looked like inside?

Sky Watch Friday - Norfolk Style

I'm very late with my SKF picture this week, as for the last couple of days I have been in Norwich for work. The weather on the whole has been appalling, rainy and very cold, so I didn't take as many photos as I'd like. Some will be appearing over the next few days. I will also be doing some backdated postings, as I made sure that I generated a post.

When I saw this sky, I just had to stop the car and take some snaps. It's very moody and as dark as the day has been.

For other pictures from the world featuring the space above us click on this link

Shopping In Style

I rather like this Art Nouveau influenced shopping arcade. A shame I didn't really have the opportunity of investigating it further. I think it would look even better on a sunny day and a blue sky to match the tiles.

It's Plane To See

I am in Norwich for the next few days through work. When I arrived at the offices of Norfolk County Council, I was very surprised to see this former RAF Jaguar fighter plane on display in the grounds. It was given to the council by the RAF in recognition of the number of airbases, both English & American that have been in the county, especially Coltishall, where it came from.

Another, more sunny photo of the plane features in Joy's Norwich Daily Photo page. In fact I left a comment about it being like an Airfix kit!

Robin Out

It's now official. The Tales of Robin Hood has now ceased trading. I don't know what will happen to all the exhibits. Whether someone will buy the lot and open an exhibition somewhere else, or they'll have an auction and sell everything off to the highest bidder. I shot this through the window, as the building is now in darkness. It just gives an idea of what was on offer.

Window Name

Carrying on with the pub theme, here is the name of a local brewery in leaded glass. Home Ales doesn't exist anymore, having been taken over by Scottish & Newcastle in 1986. Many pubs across Nottingham still retain the name 'Home Ales' somewhere on the building, whether it be in the windows or part of the brickwork.

Bottle Bank

A group of bottles in a bar, taken through the pub's window. I wondered whether to keep the picture in clolour, or turn it into black and white. But as the labels and bottle weren't that exciting, I decided monochrome looks better.

Boy George And The Dragon

It was a sad day for Boy George and British justice yesterday, as the former Culture Club singer was sent to prison for 15 months. He had been convicted of various things in a incident that happened in his home. Many people think his sentence was too harsh, as the other person wasn't exactly innocent. I'll not go into the in's and out's of the case here, as it's been well publicised in the media.

This photo of George and I was taken late last year on his tour bus, when I went to see him in concert the Assembly Rooms in Derby.

The Full Monty

These construction workers are taking a break from their labours. They are helping to build the new arts centre in the Lace Market. It's costing millions and will be about the ugliest building in the city centre. No thought has gone into how it will blend into the surrounding conservation area and will stick out like a very sore thumb. I don't know when it is supposed to be finished, but the project has run into some financial difficulties recently.

We've Got Our Eyes On You

With the post Christmas lull, nothing seems to be happening in town at the moment, so I'm trying my hand at street photography. I've joined a local group on Flickr and it's not going too badly. Still learning to keep my eyes open all the time for that elusive shot. I'm not that brave yet where I can stick a camera in someone's face, like some of my co-photographers can.
Here's one of my latest efforts.

Taxing Time

I've showed you this building before, but a long time ago and in the daylight. It's the Inland Revenue HQ, down by the canal. An unusual design, and doesn't look too bad at night either. Just a shame it's not been put to a more popular use.

Paperchase

Believe it or not, this highly decorated paper is for wrapping presents. It looks more like wallpaper to me. I think you'd have to give a very expensive gift wrapped in paper like this. How disappointed the person would be, if they see the paper and then open it, only to find something bought from the pound shop.

A Close Shave

This barber was obviously short of work when I took his photo, otherwise he wouldn't be idling his time away reading a newspaper. he's not a customer waiting for his highlights to take, as he's not wearing the usual black cape hairdressers always put round you. And would you want hair colour on your special white T shirt?

She's A Model And She's Looking Good

The classic 80's top ten hit for Kraftwerk accompanies today's picture; a group of mannequins waiting to be dressed for a window dispaly at John Lewis. I don't know what they will be wearing, as all the windows at the moment have posters promoting their winter sale.

Superman's Perverted Brother

This must be one of the ugliest and rather peculiar figurines that I think I've ever seen. It's in the window of a small office not far from the castle. I don't think it's something I'd like in our house. But someone must like the look of him.

Flatpack End

There's been quite a few photos over the death of Woolworths, but I don't think I saw any of the MFI stores pulling down the shutters. So here's one to level things out a bit. OK, so the furniture wasn't very good, and they were the butt of many jokes, but still lots of people lost their jobs and many customers have lost their money or kitchens.

A couple of well known local restaurants threw in the towel yesterday. It is almost an everyday occurrence now. We are all wondering what will be next? My money is on H&M, the cheap & cheerful clothing outlet. I passed through our local store the other day & I think there was only about 6 customers in total, and that was at lunchtime.

Apologies to my global visitors, as these shop names may not mean anything to you. But I'm sure you could list some well know names in your country that have gone to the wall.

Robin And His Not That Merry Men

Besides the really big names like Woolworth going under, the recession is also affecting small companies like our Robin Hood visitors centre. It's future is in doubt, as the owners owe a lot of back rent and visitor numbers are down. There has also been a fair bit of criticism about the attraction, as it's a bit tired looking, not very attractive and in the wrong place. it isn't too far away from the castle, but not in a very central location. I'll let you make up your own mind from my picture on whether it's somewhere you'd like to pay a visit.

Double Trouble

Although it was very cold yesterday we had no snow, unlike other parts of the country. So I have no fantastic wintry scenes to show you. Instead I took this yesterday in one of our shopping centres.

Christmas Moose

The skating rink and food stalls are still continuing in the square, even though Christmas has long gone. Looking round the other night, I noticed this rather comical moose head above one of the kiosks which was selling alcohol and doing a good trade.

Kate Two

Here's another photo of Kate Rusby singing her little heart out for her audience. Lack of new material means dipping into the archives. But also because I like her and her music.

Balloonatic

I must have shown you this balloon seller before; but some time ago. Anyway, here's another shot of him. More of a close up this time.

Now that Christmas has just about finished, I'm hoping to find some new subjects to take, as it's a real struggle at the moment, especially with all these dark, dim and dull days.

Guilty?

Spotted this chap reading a magazine article and I thought, hello a murder
mystery. But after blowing up the photo, I discovered the headline related to the
last bout of climate change and what happened to Europeans during that time.

I took the photo through a window, hence the picture not being up to my usual
standard.

All The Fun Of The Fair

As I mentioned earlier in the week, a roundabout has appeared in the square. I think it happened last year as well. As I was meeting Gail in the early evening, I took some photos of it. Instead of the standard full shot, here's a close up of some of the horses.

Happy MMIX

As yesterday was very foggy, I didn't take any photos, so today's picture is another montage to tie in with Sky Watch Friday. A collection of pictures from different places where Gail & I have been to; Dubai (of course), Sydney, Crete, Switzerland, Turkey and of course Nottingham.

For more photos of skies from around the world, just click on this little link.

My best wishes for a good 2009 are sent to all my fellow bloggers, keen followers of this page and occasional visitors. I hope this year is good for you and the economic downturn doesn't affect you too much. Keep safe and well. Gailsman