Golden Days

Quite a sunny day today, except when I was getting ready to leave work and cycle home, when the heavens opened, and the rain came teeming down.

Fortunately it wasn't around for very long and so I could start my journey home. There was a small rainbow in the sky, but nothing really worth taking a photo of.

By the time I had reached Highfields, the grey clouds had disappeared and there was a great sunset to enjoy, as my photo of the lake and the university shows.

A Tentative View

It's back. The Spiegeltent is making a welcome return to the city centre. They started putting together the building yesterday and it opens at the weekend, with shows that go on for the next seven days.

The travelling entertainment space made it's first visit this time last year. Of course I blogged about it, and you can read what I put by clicking on this link.

I will be popping in one lunchtime next week to see if it looks the same as it did in 2015.

A Touch Of Pink

A stroll up to the castle today, as I haven't been in a while. Despite the warmth, it has been a bit of an overcast day.

As autumn is rapidly approaching, I was surprised to see some, what I think are crocuses growing in the castle grounds. I find this a bit odd, as I've always thought that they were a spring flower. An indication that winter is saying goodbye. But sadly we are having to face the cold weather and dark nights once again for half the year.

Best Buddies

My lunchtime amble took me down Hockley today. It's a good area for shopping, people watching and events.

Unfortunately none of those things happened whilst I was there, but I did notice this photograph on the pavement that had been thrown away for some reason.

I casually picked it up to see if there was any names on the back. There wasn't. Only the word 'Agfa', just to prove that it was a real photo.

So I wonder who these two girls are, when it was taken, and how their picture ended up on  the pavement of a Nottingham Street?

They are probably school or college friends. Possibly taken several years ago, when thin eyebrows were popular. Now girls have brows that look like they were painted on with a bingo dobber. Thick lines. I don't think it's a good look at all, but women keep doing it. Why?

A Helping Hand

I've mentioned the Canalside Heritage Centre on here a few times, as it's an exciting and worthwhile project. The plan is to turn some derelict lock cottages into a heritage, arts and educational centre.

The work is progressing well, with the renovations are really making a difference to how the buildings look. Interestingly, most of the building materials have been delivered by boat, as the location is difficult for wheeled vehicles.

The projet team have recently entered a competition that is being run by Marks and Spencer's, to win a biomass boiler, which is worth £12.500.

A member of the project team was out in Beeston today to promote the competition and to get shoppers to vote for them.

They are presently running second, so to help them win, I am asking everyone who reads this post, if they would kindly pop over to the M&S website and vote. The project is listed under the Central East area.

The website address is accessed through this Weblink

Thanks. And I'll let you all know if you have made a difference.

It's A Great Life On The Buses

A couple of weeks ago, the Old Market Square resembled a seaside, complete with sand, slot machines and donkey rides.

Now it has taken on the role of global market, especially with food, as there is all sorts available, French crepes, Thai street food and various curries. Local superstar butcher Johnny Pusztai was there too, offering his famous sausages and burgers to hungry passers by.

Drink wasn't neglected, with a Pimms tent, and this novel use for an old London bus. Quite a good idea, and nice to see this example of the world famous Routemaster get a new lease of life after spending years running up and down the streets of the capital.

I see this musician is wondering whether he could get a gig on board, as maybe the upstairs is a cosy seating area, where you can sit, chat, drink and watch the world go by.

Considering today is the first day of autumn, it was lovely and sunny at lunchtime when I visited the market. Plenty of people were milling around and looking at the things to buy. There was even a stall where you could obtain a mortgage, and another that was selling a special peeler for making vegetables look decorative.

Music didn't go amiss, as when I was there a singer was entertaining everyone with some reggae tunes.

What A Difference A Day Makes

Well, what did I say yesterday about what a great summer it's been. Well it was certainly over today, as it rained for most of the day. I got soaked cycling to work this morning. Not so much from the rain itself, but from vehicles splashing me, as they drove through puddles.

It's not been a particularly good day overall. Quite a disappointing one in fact. The musician Seth Lakeman was meant to be visiting the Fopp music shop in town to give a little show and sign his CDs, but he had to cancel, due to getting stuck in traffic, and he was playing a gig in Derby tonight. So he had to miss Nottingham out.

So I had a walk round the city centre, to see what the stormy sky looked like in the Old Market Square and over the castle.

Fortunately no more rain appeared, so I was able to cycle home dry.

Sundowner

Well I'm back after a few weeks' absence. Has anyone missed me at all?

Due to various things, I've taken a break from blogging. I haven't really missed doing it either, as sometimes it has got to be a bit of a chore.

But anyway, I'm back, and today's photo is of the sun setting behind a dandelion, taken in Highfields.

I had to take quite a few photos to try and get the dandelion in the right place, so that it covers the sun.

It certainly has been lovely and sunny recently. Almost like a proper summer. Although I must admit that I have found it a little too hot sometimes, especially at night, when I've tried to sleep.

If there are any photography geeks reading this, the shutter speed was 1/5000, f2.8 and ISO 100.