Duck Soup

You may remember me telling you last year of a duck that was living in the Old Market Square. He had made the local news, and had become a bit of a celebrity.
Well he's back!
I spotted him today having a paddle in the water feature. He looked a bit lonely though, swimming all alone. Even the pigeons had left him alone.
I hope his mate from last year turns up soon.

Turn To The Right

A very late posting tonight, as I've been to a drama rehearsal for a play that I am going to be in during July, and a bit tired.

Another shot from last night's catwalk show. Just to prove my equality, here's a hunky man wearing a £400 suit by Jaeger.

Turn To The Left. Fashion

I attended a fashion show tonight under the Council House. I went to a similar one last autumn and quite enjoyed it, so I couldn't miss this one. Thirty nine outfits were being modeled on the catwalk. This tempting pink number is by Karen Millen, and yours for £180.

Tonight is also our friendly Headbanger Challenge. This week's theme is 'tools of the trade'. A big subject to think about. I could have gone with the traditional hammers and screwdrivers etc, but decided to think wider. So my photo is a way of showing my appreciation to all our roadsweepers out there keeping our towns, cities and villages free of rubbish, dead leaves, chewing gum and graffiti.

The Quick Brown Fox

Fox hunting is on the political agenda again with the election looming. So there was a demonstration in Beeston on Saturday highlighting the fact. I naturally signed their petition, as killing wildlife with dogs is cruel, as is shooting them or laying traps. Here you can see their mascot gaving me a friendly wave with its paws.

Make Up Don't Break Up

As I said yesterday, we went to a beauty show in Birmingham on Sunday. As Gail is a qualified beauty therapist, she got sent some free tickets. I went, partly to keep her company, but mainly as a photo expedition, as I've got no interest at all in 'slap'. I just about manage to put on a bit of moisturiser after shave!
I was a little disappointed at the lack of things to take. There were certainly some glamorous women there, but with so many people milling about with bags and suitcases full of stuff, it was neigh on impossible to get a decent shot.
I was also disappointed at the lack of freebies on offer. Usually at these things you get the opportunity of picking up key rings, mouse mats; even packets of sweets. But I came away empty handed. Gail came away with quite a bit of stuff, some make-up brushes, two handbags, a scarf and some bottles of something or other.

A Writer Well Written

I was going to show you a shot from a beauty show that I went to with Gail at Birmingham's NEC today, but I have now learned that the well know and loved local writer Alan Sillitoe died today at the age of 82. He is perhaps best remembered for Saturday Night, Sunday Morning. You may remember that I did a little 'then and now' project a couple of months back showing locations used in the film.
As a memorial to him, here is a sign from a block of flats in Radford that had been named after him, which I took during my walk around the area.

The Iron Giant

Another arty shot tonight. This time a treatment of one of the four statues that used to be in the Old Market Square, but were moved when they laid the tram tracks.

George And The Dragon?

St George's Day today, and it was quite busy in the Old Market Square. Besides St George himself on horseback, a dragon was wandering around scaring everybody. Even Robin Hood made an appearance. Here's Nottingham's lady mayoress posing with St George for the local news.
I tried to get a shot of all of them together, but the horse was scared of the dragon and so had to stay away, otherwise St George might have come a cropper!

It's Me In The Spotlight

A line from the famous REM song introduces today's post. The other night I went along to a local photographic studio with a number of other Nottingham Flickr camera buffs, where we started to learn about lighting and the effects you can produce. I've never been in a studio before, so it was all new to me. In fact I don't even use the flash on my G1 when I take pictures. It was an interesting 3 hours. Learned quite a bit, and two amateur models were on hand for us to practice with. This is Tiffany, who sat patiently while I tried to take a decent and flattering shot of her.

Blossom Time

It's Headbanger Challenge Wednesday again, and this weeks theme is people. I've taken quite a few street shots of people over the past year or so. I've chosen this one of some lads larking around with the zebra that appeared in the square the other week.

Don't forget to visit the rest of the gang. Their links are above.

My picture today is of some cherry blossom, the Highfields park boating lake, with the university clock tower in the background.

A Picture Of Lily

Here's another attempt of a shot with using a manual lens on my G1. It's good to be able to bring old lenses back to life, as they were made well and possibly with more care than today.

Going Red In The Sun

Here's another photo of some flowers from our garden. Tulips this time. I'm always amazed how bulbs sprout new plants year after year. No matter how bad the weather has been during the rest of the year.
We've suffered a few losses; mainly pot plants. The weeds have now made an appearance. I don't think even a nuclear war could stop dandelions and cooch grass.

Happy Landings

It's strange not hearing or seeing any planes flying over the area, except for the odd helicopter and light aircraft. Plenty of birds around though and insects. Trying out my old lens, I was taking pictures of this aubretia, when this insect, a bee I think, came into land. Took a few shots, with this one being the best. Although the insect is a little out of focus, you can see he wings beating away.

Cat On A Warm Asbestos Roof

I haven't shown you all a photo of Marmalade recently. So here's one of her looking serene, but alert on our garage roof, enjoying this afternoon's sun while I was doing some gardening.

I took this photo with my G1, but the lens is from my film camera. I've bought an adapter off Ebay, so I can use my Pentax fitting lenses as well as my three Panasonic ones. It's like mixing digital photography with the traditional style.

Rogues Gallery

Well as promised here is the line up of the party candidates for Broxtowe. I've done an montage of the 'famous five' as they weren't all sitting together. Nick Palmer has been our MP for the past 13 years. But I wonder if his time is up? Anna Soubry used to be a reporter on our local TV news programmes. While Dave Mitchell is my neighbour and owner of the old yellow Citroen van I showed you a few months back.

The Big Race

Very late posting tonight as I went to a public political debate between the local candidates who are running for Parliament. I took some photos of the people who were standing, which I may post tomorrow. I wonder which one will win the race to sit in the House of Commons.

But today's photo is about a race of a different kind. The Space one. I paid another visit to the new art gallery who are running an exhibition about Russia's early entry on their trip to the stars. Here are some original posters from the early 1960s.

Three Girls A Drinking

This week's headbanger theme is 'three'. My submission is a koala version of the 'three wise monkeys'. Speak no evil, hear no evil, see no evil. I bought it on one of my trips to my favourite city; Sydney. Gail loves it too, and we would really wish we could move there.

Today's usual post is one of the many random shots that I take when I go for my daily walk around the city centre. There's a touch of serendipity with this one, as it features three girls carrying their drinks across the Old Market Square.

Don't forget to visit my headbanging friends to see what they've come up with.

Do, Do, Do The Funky Chicken

Some of you of a certain age will know this song title, sung by the Goodies back in the days of three channel TV's. Well this chap seems to be doing the dance that went with the song. His wife doesn't look too impressed though. I bet she's annoyed that he's showing her up in public. Especially if he's making the noises too!

Evening Rays

Coming home from work tonight, I stopped off at Sainsbury's for some supplies. When I had loaded my bike up with bread, milk, lemonade and some yellow ticket offers I set off for home. Looking up I saw this amazing sight of the suns rays shining behind a cloud. I was quite taken with it and so had to whip out my camera.

I Want To Ride My Bicycle

A nice sunny day, and what better than going for a bike ride with your best mate. I do a lot of cycling, as its the method I use to get to work. It takes me about half an hour and isn't a bad journey. The only really bad hill is the one up to the castle. So I get off and walk. Well I am getting on a bit now, & the knees aren't what they once were!

Digging For Victory

In a corner of the Brewhouse Museum grounds, just below the castle, something is stirring. Vegetables are growing in the style of a garden during World War 2. I think the experiment is going to tie in with a 1940's knees up event, which is taking place there during the May Day bank holiday. With the sunny weather today, the crops should have put a good spurt on.

Food For The Left Lion

For some reason someone dressed in a zebra costume and being helped by a man in a gold spacesuit walking around the market square today. I have no idea why. Maybe to keep the kids amused on the last day of the Easter holidays. They were certainly putting a smile on the passers by.

Viva Le Nottingham

For those Frenchophiles living in Nottingham, they can now buy artifacts to make their houses and flats feel like Paris apartments. A shop near the castle has quite a number of items for sale. I quite like this cushion with photographs of the Eiffel Tower on it. I wonder if they were taken by Eric?

Love Is In The Air

I was walking up by the castle yesterday and I saw these two balloons bobbing around in the air. Children I thought, going to visit the castle. Boy, was I surprised when I got to the entrance, no small ones, just the balloons tied to scooters. I don't know where the children were, but I like the balloons secretly kissing while no one was looking.

Headbanger Wednesday again. Doesn't it come round fast! This week's topic is 'sport'. Not on my list of favourite past times I'm afraid for various reasons. So I have no photos of balls being kicked or hit, people running or jumping about. Competitive sailing at Bexhill on Sea. Spoils the fun of being on the water if you ask me.

I Wondered Lonely As A Cloud

On Sunday I did wander, but wasn't lonely as I had my camera with me. Besides taking pictures of shopping trolleys, I also took many hosts of daffodils around Beeston's churchyard. Here's three little beauties shining in the sun.

Trolley Good Show

As yesterday was a public holiday, practically all the shops were shut. Why does England get so few bank holidays, compared to the rest of Europe?
A cafe and a couple of take aways were open in Beeston. But that was it. Even Sainsbury's was closed. All their trolleys were chained and lined up outside in rows. So I thought they would make for quite a good abstract photograph.

Flying The Flag

As Gail had gone to try out a gym, I decided to have a wander around Beeston in the sunshine. On my journey, I was quite surprised to see the flag of St George flapping in the wind. The building unfortunately isn't a local castle, but the town's parish church.

A Little Bit Of Italy Over Here

As some of you may know, I bought a new black Fiat 500 car just before Christmas. So every time that I am out, I watch the roads to see if I can spot any others and what colour and decals they have. So I was quite pleased to see this one in Trinity Square car park, publicising a local bar in the Cornerhouse entertainment complex.

Cup Of Rosie Please

I think the name of this cafe is quite amusing and very apt for where it is situated.

Let me explain.

For those that don't know, jam jar is Cockney rhyming slang for car and this cafe is in the part of town where most of the scrap metal merchants are situated and where you can get the odd spare part for your broken motor. For some reason it's called Dunkirk, and has as far as I know nothing to do with the French port where the D-Day landings occurred.

Where Do You Stick The Denver Boot?

Whilst looking for suitable subjects for the Headbanger Challenge, I came across this discarded sofa, dumped tyres and rubbish. As Tom explained on his blog this is known as fly tipping and is very bad for the environment. At least these have been left in an urban location, although bad in itself, it could be worse and be left in the countryside. But the authorities are fighting back with checking through the rubbish for addresses and hiding CCTV in well known dumping areas and recording the evidence.