Castle Keep

There was some good news in Nottingham today, as it was announced that the castle had won a £13.9m award from the Heritage Lottery to help with the proposed five year restoration project.

The whole scheme is going to cost nearly £30m and would include a new visitors centre, the opening up of some more caves and the installation of a glass lift, which will take you down from the castle to the Brewhouse Yard area and the museum there. Very Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Naturally Robin Hood, aka Tim made the announcement in the grounds at a big press and media gathering, which sadly I missed due to being at work.  I still went to the castle, just in case there were some more press about, and Tim was still posing for the camera. But they weren't. And it was raining too. That very fine rain that seems to get everywhere.

So I had a wander about and took a few photos. Fortunately my Olympus camera is weather sealed, so I didn't have to worry about any of the rain getting in. There wasn't really anyone around. So I left and went into town to see if anything was happening there.

A Tale Of A Tale

As there hasn't really been much to watch on terrestrial TV lately, we're having a go with a free trial of Netflix.

Because I've read so many comments from people ranting on about Breaking Bad, we watched some of the first episode, but didn't really get on with it.

So looking at what other programmes were on offer, I picked a series called 'Once Upon A Time'. And we are hooked. We are now watching about three or four episodes a night. Which is great, as over 120 have been made so far.

The basic plot centres around this small American coastal town called Storybrooke. The people go about their business, completely unaware that they are actually characters from traditional fairy tales, who have been cursed by the evil queen, who is the mayor of the town. Another antagonist is Rumplestiltskin, who masquerades as the town's antiques dealer, and richly played by Scottish actor Robert Carlyle. The school teacher is Snow White and a waitress is Red Riding Hood.

There is a protagonist of course, in the form of a woman called Emma Swan, who just happens to be the daughter of Snow White's and Prince Charming, and her eleven year old biological son called Henry, who was adopted by the mayor as a baby.

We have now started on series three, and who should make an appearance but Nottingham's own folklore legend Robin Hood. He did pop up briefly in series two, together with a pregnant Maid Marian. But this time he appears to be on his own, but being helped by the Asian soldier Mulan.

Series three takes place in Neverland, where Peter Pan is a baddie and has kidnapped Henry.

Hands Across The Ocean

Today is Robin Hood Day. The sixteenth one to celebrate our local legend.

Of course Tim has been busy up at the castle, getting involved with all aspects of the pageant that's taking place this weekend.

I'm not able to go, so here's a shot of a couple of overseas visitors that were in Nottingham the other day, when the caves exhibition was on in the Old Market Square, posing for a photograph with Robin Hood and Friar Tuck.

I guess besides Mickey Mouse, Tim's smiling face must be in thousands and thousands of photo albums across the globe, as locals, visitors and tourists queue up to have their photo taken with him.

Our very own global superstar.

All The Fun Of The Fair

The castle grounds is being turned into a medieval village this weekend, as it's the Robin Hood Pageant.

There will be fire eating, jousting, a working blacksmith and of course our very own Robin Hood will be turning up and getting involved in all the activities.

I had a stroll up there this lunchtime to see what had been constructed. Some work was still being done in constructing things and preparing the area for the opening show tonight.

I didn't make the opening night, as we were planning to go to the cinema. But after a change of thought, we've decided to go tomorrow night instead, so I won't get to see that show either.

I will read what Tim, who depicts Robin Hood writes tomorrow. It's a fairly warm and dry evening, so hopefully it would have been a good success for all those involved,

Italian Dream

I've been reminded on Facebook that it's a year since Gail and I visited the Italian region of Tuscany.

We went on a ten day holiday with six other people and visited several places like Florence, Arezzo and Siena.

It was a bit of a road trip and brilliant fun it was too. We were in two minibuses, and we shared ours with two other photographers. Which was great, as they perfectly understood why I was taking a photo of a rusty lock.

This castle is in the small town of Radicofani. You get some great views of the area from the top. We also got to meet the mayor of the town and had a group photograph by the statue of Ghino di Tacco, who was their version of Robin Hood.

Watch The Birdie

A new event has arrived in the Old Market Square this week. It's a festival about the caves that run under the city centre.

There are meant to be hundreds of them. There's a lot of them you can visit. The most well known is Mortimer's Hole, which was a secret route into the castle.

There is a virtual reality tour of them, where you wear some special goggles and can explore this underworld, without leaving the confines of the marquee.

I didn't get the opportunity of doing it today. But hope to sometime this week.

Of course my mate Tim, who is Nottingham's official Robin Hood was there to promote the event. Lots of visitors kept coming up to him for a photograph and to say hello.

A photographer from our local paper, the Nottingham Post was there to capture the event for its readers.

Here's Tim posing for the camera. I'll expect to see him on the front cover of tomorrow's edition.

Shooting The Shooter

Another view of the wicker Robin Hood, to the one that I published on July 12th, which is situated in the gardens at the castle.

I've also used a square format and one of the art filters that my Olympus camera comes with.

Field Study

Here's the wicker version of Robin Hood, which stands in the grounds of Nottingham Castle.

Easily Read

Rough Trade is more well known as a music store. They also sell various books, so it was a good setting for the UK launch of The Third Script book; a volume of short stories from writers in the UK, Tasmania and Iran.

My friend Matt has a story in it called Tom's Eyes. It's a true story about a terrifying adventure he had some time ago, when he went to live abroad.  Some of the other writes are in the photo, together with some others who read extracts from a couple of the Iranian and Tasmanian stories, as obviously they couldn't be there in person.

Also in the photo at the very back is screenwriter William Ivory, well known for the film 'Made in Dagenham', which was about a strike at Fords in the late 1960s over equal pay for women. And also at the back is none other than our very own official Robin Hood, who spoke for about five minutes about how good it was to live in Nottingham.

One of my favourite local bands The Madeline Rush played three new songs, acoustically this time. Which were of course very good. I bet they should a lot more grungier with their guitars plugged into their amps.

Thrown Down The Gauntlet

The Sheriff of Nottingham has had another go at trying to stop Robin Hood from stealing his riches to give to the local poor and needy.

His soldiers tried capturing our hero, but of course Robin was too quick and clever to be beaten, and the guards ran away as quick as they could. All they left behind was this old gauntlet.

Robin The Past

Whilst at the Doctor Who exhibition in Cardiff, I just had to take a photo of the Robin Hood costume that featured in the 2014 adventure The Robot of Sherwood.

The story itself wasn't really memorable, but it did have a Nottingham link. Which is never a bad thing.

Robin The Storyteller

As it is the school holidays this week, Robin Hood was out today entertaining the kids with his stories of daring do.

When I caught u with him, he was telling a tale based around the Trojan Horse, only this time involved a magician and a dragon. Of course Robin and his men were inside the dragon and stole the Sheriff's money from the castle. Everyone appeared to enjoy it and Robin really got into his part.

Robin Hoody

No, it's not what it seems. Robin Hood hasn't turned into a vandal. Although I don't think aerosols were around in the outlaw's day, so I think we're safe!

It's actually a scene from a film that a friend of mine is making about the history of Beeston. Matt, who runs and writes the Beestonia blog LINK and Beestonia magazine LINK has written a script about Beeston and filming is currently underway.

I don't know what the finished product is going to be like, but I can expect great nuggets of information, familiar scenes and some surreal humour. Just like with this scene of Robin Hood spraying 'paint' onto a street sign.

Robin Hood is another friend of mine called Tim. He is Nottingham's official Robin Hood and often makes guest appearances at events, promotions and on television. Tim's also a great guy who loves science fiction, the Boar War, prog rock and role playing games.

Snow White At Christmas

It's not everyday that you come face to face with a genuine movie star. But today I did, as I knew he was waiting in the reception area of the BBC building on London Road.

He wasn't particularly waiting for me. In fact he was there to welcome anyone that had come along to the studios to say hello.

He seemed genuinely pleased to see me, and gave a smile and a wave of his arm, while I took his portrait.

If you fancy seeing Nottingham's newest film star in action in his special Christmas film, here's  a WEBLINK to the BBC Nottingham page. The film also features a friend of mine called Tim, who is Nottingham's official Robin Hood and appears in full costume.

Beer Drinkers United

A photo assignment this morning for my folk musician friend Dave Mitchell, who was playing at the Robin Hood Beer Festival at Nottingham Castle, and he wanted me to record the event for posterity.

Dave played for about an hour in the bandstand, while I took some photos of him in action. I was surprised to learn that the sound equipment was being controlled by the engineer on an iPad. No more knobs and dials to fiddle with, just a movement of ones finger on the screen.

Dave enjoyed his gig, but was clearly relieved when it was over, so he could enjoy one or two beers that were available at the festival, from the half pint glass that had been given to him.

I was also given a glass by one of the organisers, and so I decided to christen it by trying the re-introduced Shipstones ale, that has started to be brewed again after some twenty years. I wrote about it earlier this year. Here is the LINK to the story.

Here's a shot of the hand pumps that were dishing out the amber nectar. Although I must admit it wasn't as tasty as I had hoped it would be, and probably won't be buying it again, as I prefer more darker beers.

Learning How To Be Like Robin Hood

As it's the school holidays, there's plenty of activities available to keep the kids amused. Like this one where kids get to shoot arrows like our famous outlaw.

Don't worry, they were safe arrows with suckers on the end, rather than points. But that doesn't explain where the inflatable Robin Hood looks a little limp. If he wasn't punctured by an arrow, then why does he look a bit drunk?

Two Legends For The Price Of One

Beer appears to be the subject of today's blog post.

First a famous local beer is once again being made by a local brewery. 'Shippo's' or Shipstone's to give the beer it's proper name, was a well loved local ale, but when the company was taken over in the early 1990's, and they stopped making this particular beer for some reason. So a lot of people are very happy that it is coming back.

I have never tried it, as I wasn't drinking real ale twenty years ago. I tended to swig lagers then. But now I am 50, I'm into real ales, so am looking forward to tasting this local brew for the first time. I don't know if it is genetic or something, but it seems that the majority of men when they reach middle age, tend to swop lagers for proper beers. Just hope I don't take up pipe smoking, as that seems to be another attribute.

I did have a real ale tonight during the interval at the Beeston Film Club. The second week and the film was The Ladykillers. That classic Ealing comedy from the mid 1950s, and one of Peter Sellers' first films.  I wanted to try a beer called Robin Hood, as it's a darker, but Tim  who is Nottingham's official Robin Hood had the last one. So I had to have this blonde bombshell instead.

All That Dragon Slaying Does Make A Saint Thirsty

St George's Day today, and across England celebrations of all kinds have taken place.

Here in Nottingham, they had a bit of action in the Old Market Square in the form of people dressed up as knights and riding on horses. Very similar in fact to last year. There was also some musicians entertaining the crowd with their take on old English tunes.

I pumped into several photography friends, and Tim, who plays Robin Hood at many local events.

From the Square, the small procession their way up to the castle and then down to the Trip to Jerusalem pub, where they stopped so people could take photos and enjoy a pint or two of real ale. Here's Tim on the left holding his bow, whilst St George is relishing his beer.

Frozen Stiff

Another cold day, but no snow. Which I guess is a bonus, compared to other parts of the country.

I've thought about taking the Robin Hood statue with my fisheye lens for a little while now, and so I thought today would be a good opportunity. Especially if there was still some snow lying around.

It was a bit of a struggle getting up to the statue, as it was still quite icy in places. I tried taking photos of Robin in various positions. I have put an odd angled one on Twitter, but here's a more traditional one for your delectation

Saturday Scrummage

I tend to spend Saturday mornings shopping in Beeston. Besides the usual food shopping, I love to have a look around our plethora of charity shops. We have about seven. Some I buy a fair bit from; others very little.

The only thing I bought today was this ash tray, which I got for the princely cost of 50 pence. I saw it, and knew that I just had to have it, as it has a local connection with Nottingham.

Home Bitter was one of the ales belonging to Home Brewery, a local brewer that unfortunately closed in the mid 1980s.

They of course had Robin Hood for their logo, as on here.

I'm not sure how old this tray is, as there is no date on the back. It was produced in England though and made from Melamine. Maybe someone with an interest in brewerina might be able to shed some light about it.

I don't suppose it is worth much money, but it is a fun thing to own and part of local history.