China In Our Hands

A couple of new statues have appeared in Highfields. Two Chinese guardian lions.

They have been a present from Ningbo in China, a city that the University of Nottingham has been involved with for the past ten years.

In fact parts of Ningbo's university is based on the Nottingham site, especially the Trent building, which you can see in the background.

Flags Of The World

Believe it or not, Nottingham is currently hosting the world croquet games.

They are playing at Highfields Park, as there are a couple of croquet pitches each side of this pathway.

As you can see, there are a number of flags from different parts of the world blowing in the breeze. I think this is the first time that I have ever seen flags flying in Highfields. The flagpoles are certainly a new addition, albeit only a temporary one.

Night Light

Well at long last the evenings are really drawing out now. It was even still light as I cycled home.

But the light began to fade by the time that I reached Highfields. But not too dark to stop me taking a photo or two of the University and lake without a tripod. Although I did rest my camera on a nearby litterbin bin.

Seat Of Learning

Here's a night time shot of the University's Trent Building, which I took tonight from Highfields Park.

Up In Smoke

I was out shooting a band tonight and when I had done, I rang Gail to say that I was on my way home. Gail said that she had read on Facebook that there was a big fire at the university's Jubilee Campus. So I sped off in search of some photos.

Obviously with such a big fire, all the roads surrounding the campus had been taped off by the police.  But Derby Road was still open. So I pulled up on a side street and rushed over to where I thought I could take some decent shots.

As I had been shooting in a pub, I didn't have any zoom lenses with me, except for my 12-40 f2.8, which wasn't long enough, but I did have a 75mm f1.8, and a digital teleconverter, so I managed to take some reasonable shots like this one.

The building that was burning, wasn't even finished yet. A laboratory, funded by a big pharmaceutical company. It has cost £20 million and was meant to be carbon neutral.  Not anymore going on the amount of smoke and flames in the night air.

A Global Image

I watched a video the other week about using things to take photos with, and one of them was a globe. I just happen to come across one yesterday in a sale for a couple of quid, so I snapped it up.

As it was a sunny evening, I cycled through Highfields and decided to try out my globe. I don't think think that I had the right lens on my camera, but took a few test shots anyway, which this one I think is the best one.

Glad To Be Gay

It's Pride weekend in Nottingham this weekend. There's an event on tomorrow in the city centre which I will be going to, as there's bound to be some good photographs to be taken, as it's generally a very colourful time.

Although I'm not gay myself, I do have some friends that are, and I have absolutely no problem with this at all, as they are the nicest people you could meet. Probably better than some straight people I know!

I do find it sad that loving someone from the same sex is seen as wrong, immoral, or even sinful. Surely it is better to love someone whoever they are than to hate them, as there's enough hate in this world as it is.

This is actually the first time that I have seen a flag flying on the university's Trent Building. Hopefully there will be lots of other flags flying throughout the coming year.

The Signs Are Good

Although not described as a tourist attraction, something new has appeared in the grounds of Nottingham University.

In the style of the famous 'HOLLYWOOD' sign; students at the university have created 'NOTTINGHAM' and includes lots of photos in the letters that make up the name.

Each letter is about six foot high, and they have been placed on the top of a hill, so it can be well seen from different parts of the area.

Music Lesson

For the past few years Nottingham University has hosted a one day event called Mayfest. It's where various schools of education open their doors to let people know what they do. Geography, science, history etc. It's mainly aimed at children to give them some enthusiasm towards education and going to uni sometime in the future, but adults are welcome as well.

This year was no different. I wandered around the Trent and Portland buildings looking at the different things on offer, such as teaching people about Mobius strips, recycling and becoming a vet.  One of the lecturers told me about his work in obtaining some Victorian moulds of the geology of the Lake District, which he intends to put on display in Kendal, after making a few images from them.

A couple of things I came across and which had nothing to do with the event were seeing a plaque on the wall in the entrance of the Portland Building which stated that Paul MacCartney' new band Wings played their first gig there in 1972. It was the first concert in a number of dates at different universities. The ticket price was 40p, which is worth about £4 in today's money. Which is probably very cheap to see an ex Beatle.

Talking of which here's a poster of the supergroups' popular work Yellow Submarine. I was walking up some stairs and came across a small booth. It might have held a telephone before everyone had mobiles. The walls and ceiling were covered in posters of gigs, albums from different rock artists.

University Challenge

Well the days are slowly staying a little lighter longer. Another month to go, then we can put the clocks on an hour andI'll be able to cycle home in daylight.

The light was rapidly disappearing by the time that I reached Highfields, but I stopped off and took a photo of the Trent Building lit up and with some shafts of golden colour in the lake.

Misty Moments

I think everyone, including the weather people were a bit surprised to wake up and finding Nottingham covered by a misty shroud.

Apparently visibility was quite poor at first light, but it had eased a bit when I cycled off to work. Still the fog made a trip through Highfields worthwhile. A shame that it wasn't the 'pea-souper' like England used to get in the 1950s, but it was worth stopping off and trying to get a few shots.

Above you can see the boating lake and can just about make out the clock tower of the Trent building. While below is a low shot of the fallen leaves and some of the railing that surrounds the lake. Shame that all the ducks had hidden themselves away, as one would have added a little extra interest to the picture.