Doctors' Orders

Today marks the second one day strike by Junior Doctors over the government's plans to change their working hours and conditions.

Despite having a late lunch, I managed to make it to the Old Market Square to see these skilled, but overworked medicos.

I signed a petition and was given a sticker saying that I support them. Then I asked these two medical staff if I take a photo of them while they were holding their placards, which they were happy to do.

Further to my post from yesterday, I've heard that the couple who were knocked down by a bus outside the Victoria Centre, are elderly and that the man is sadly in a critical condition.

You never know, the doctors who are striking today, were the same ones that treated the couple yesterday.

Collision Course

Sadly two people were hurt this morning when they were hit by a bus outside the Victoria Centre.

Lower Parliament Street was closed from 11am until mid afternoon, as police had cordoned off the area while they investigated as to how the accident had happened.

It is a very busy junction, although it is mainly buses and taxis that can use the roads around there now, as cars have been banned from the area, and are diverted away from this part of town. Sometimes though, people who want to cross the road, don't always wait for the 'green man' to appear, and make a run for it.

News updates haven't reported how the to people are, but I don't think their injuries are life threatening. I'm sure everyone wishes them a speedy recovery.

Stripes

The new look entrance to the Victoria Centre. Nottingham's largest shopping centre.

The centre opened in the early 1970s on the site of a lovely old railway station that was shamefully pulled down. All that remains is the clock tower.

The 'Vicci centre' has recently gone through a large refit and revamp, but has controversially moved the iconic Emmet Clock to another part of the building. A quiet bit, where not many people see it.

Shopaholics

The present buying people have been busy tonight, as it's the last Wednesday for late night shopping in Nottingham.

I decided to go for a wander with my camera after work, to see if I could find anything of interest to take a photo of, as there are usually events happening to entice the shoppers in.

The Victoria Centre has recently undergone a multi million pound makeover, so I wandered over to see what it looked like in the dark and whether there would be many decorations lit up round it.

They've done a good job on the entrance area. Very bright now after the dull concrete of the original. The area was heaving with people, all vying for those last minute gifts.

Pretty In Pink

In the run up to Christmas, lots of companies are doing all sorts of promotions to encourage customers to buy their products for presents.

A cosmetics company called Soap and Glory were in the Viccy Centre showing off their make up to the passing shoppers.

What attracted me to the stand was this pink painted Vespa. I expect any Mods seeing this will be horrified, as its one of the icons of their movement. They usually have loads of mirrors on them and sometimes a RAF roundel stuck somewhere.  Have a look at the film Quadrophenia to see how the Italian scooter should look.

It's Behind You!

Someone at work mentioned the other day that there were only two more paydays until Christmas. That's quite worrying in a way, as it's proved just how quickly this year has gone.

Another feature of the Christmas season is the traditional panto, and the Nottingham Playhouse often puts on the best. No guest celebrity from the world of film, music or TV grace their stage, just good quality actors, slapping their thighs and and shouting "It's behind you". They are always written and directed by the one and only Kenneth Allan Taylor, who has been involved in the Playhouse's pantos for decades.

This year's panto was officially launched today. Not at the theatre as you might think, but in the window of a department store. John Lewis in the Victoria Centre became the stage for a publicity photoshoot for both the Playhouse itself and the local newspaper. I of course popped along to see what was happening and try and take a shot or two for the blog.

Clocking On

Well Nottingham's unique landmark clock has been returned to the Victoria Centre, after being refurbished in Birmingham.

It has been away since February last year and has been missed by many people, as it made for a good meeting place, being near the entrance to the shopping centre.

Although everyone is very pleased to see it back, they are not too happy as to where it has now been placed. The owners of the centre have resisted it upstairs and away from people, unless you happened to go that way. This is because the owners are spending millions doing up the centre and the clock just got in the way of their plans.

And being upstairs, there is no way of looking at it from above like you used to be able to do, where it had sat since the early 1970s.  Looking at it from above was great, because you got a good view of all the moving parts when it struck the hour etc. And of course you also managed to get better angles for photographs.

Meals On Wheels

Many of you will recognise these cheeky chappies, from the television, as they are of course The Hairy Bikers; chefs Si King & Dave Myers.

They have been on the TV a number of years now, cooking up regional, national and international dishes from the back of their motorbikes.

A new series has recently started on the BBC which shows them going around Asia and cooking the various dishes that the continent has created.

They were in Smiths today signing their latest cookbooks for fans. Due to a long team meeting at work, I arrived just as they were signing their last books. So I managed to get this shot whilst they were posing for shop staff.

They then left the store and headed for a stand outside where there were a couple of motorbikes belonging the the Nottinghamshire Blood Bikes. They chatted to the guys and signed a few more books that people had bought, but not had the opportunity of getting signed in Smiths.

Tempest Fugit

Well the Emitt clock has completely disappeared and is now on it's way to Birmingham, and the seating area around it is also vanishing; brick by brick.

After I put up the previous photo of the clock sans faces, a friend of mine put a photo of the area on Facebook (thanks Jane), so I popped over at lunchtime to see what the area is like now.

It's quite sad to see, as it's been there for 40 years. Thousands of people have met under it's gaze, listened to the music and tossed money into the pool, whilst wishing for something nice.

I read somewhere that all the coins have amounted to over £250,000, and the money has gone to charity for some good work with dogs for the blind.

So where will the shoppers, friends and family all meet up with each other now? By the orange fencing, doesn't really have the same feeling to it as under the water clock.

Time Has Stopped

There has been some controversy over at the Victoria Centre, as of part of the plans to revamp the centre, the owners have thought about moving the famous and well loved Emett Clock. This has caused a bit of an outcry, as it has stood where it is since it was erected in 1973.

The Aqua Horological Tintinnabulator, to give it its proper name was built by eccentric artist Roland Emett, who was involved in the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang film, and has been a favourite with local people since.

But the clock is on the move, not to another part of the shopping centre, but to Birmingham. Not for good fortunately, but only for a holiday for a year or so whilst the building is upgraded. It's also going to get a sprucing up. Something that hasn't happened to it for quite a while.

So That's What They Call A Jumbo Jet

I went on a safari today, hunting for elephants, armed of course with my trusty OMD.

I came across this one in the Victoria Centre, trying to disguise himself as an RAF plane. Somehow painting yourself a bright red didn't work. Maybe he should have used the more traditional camouflage colours.

Spend, Spend, Spend

The January sales are in full swing now & people are taking advantage of the savings to be found on almost everything. The shops are full of bargain hunters, as this scene in the Victoria Centre illustrates.

It's always seemed strange to me that you can buy something on Christmas Eve for say £5, only for it to be worth 99p a day or two later. Perhaps people ought to buy all their Christmas presents after Christmas, and in that way they'd save a fortune.

Sub of the Day - 5

One for the shoppers today. Parliament Street, just up from the Victoria Centre. Also popular with shop workers and people waiting for their bus, as with this couple, who are checking the time of the next bus.

Baby, I Can't Drive My Car

Whilst walking over the bridge from the Victoria Centre, I spied this scene of these policemen who'd stopped this young motorist. There was obviously something wrong with his vehicle. But what? The tyres, the bodywork? Whatever it was they were causing some congestion down Lower Parliament Street.

Something Fishy Going On

Upstairs in the Victoria Centre shopping arcade, stands this large fish tank, full of fish of all sizes. There has been some complaints over the years that the tank isn't in the best designed and kids tend to frighten them by tapping on the glass.

whatever your views, they look contented enough, swimming around and watching all the shoppers go by.

Personally I think they should have a few plants, a sunken ship and a bridge to swim through.

Hello Suckers

During a shopping expedition to the Victoria Centre the other day, I came across this small publicity exhibition which aimed to show off the full range of Dyson vacuum cleaners. For those that might not know, Dyson's don't use bags and the suction is so powerful, it can remove the pattern off your carpet! Only joking. But they are very good, but expensive.