A Change Of Plan

Cycling through Highfields, as is my want these sunny afternoons, I came across some singers being filmed, while they stood near the large stone lions from China.

Stopping to watch, I wondered whether it was something that some university students were doing. Maybe from Trent, rather than Nottingham, as Trent runs the more arty courses. Nottingham is more academic.

So out popped my camera for a few shots. A little while later a guy came over and said that it was ok for me to take photos, as long as they didn't appear on social media. I asked what it was about, and he explained that they were filming for the new series of The Choir, and these were some of the competitors.
I've not see the show before, but apparently a choir is made up of gifted amateurs, and the well known conductor Gareth Malone turns them into a professional singing group.

So instead,  here's a very fine bonnet emblem for a Ford V8 Pilot car that I took on Sunday at Wollaton Park.

You're Not Going Anywhere

A grand day, so I drove over to Wollaton Park to see the annual car show, that happens on the first weekend of June.

As it was such a lovely day, there seemed to be a thousand cars to look at, both old and new.  Some quite common like the Mini, to some really rare and valuable vehicles, that would set you back many thousands of pounds.

But me being me, I wanted to find something unusual to take. So what about a Dalek, strapped to an old American pick up truck? Now that's different. I have no idea about the what and why's, but it makes for an interesting photo, especially with Wayne Manor in the background.

Cannon Fodder

An old cannon on display at Wollaton Hall.

I don't think Batman used it at all during the time that the building was used as Wayne Manor for the Dark Night Rises.

Moonlit Manor

There was a special late night opening of Wollaton Hall tonight, It was Christmas themed, and there was the opportunity of visiting the Tudor kitchen, something that only happens on special occasions.

Some of the rooms had been done up with various Christmas decorations, but not as many as I would have expected. Santa was there of course, with his elves.

During our tour, we stopped off for a cup of tea. A blend that was called Christmas Cheer. A blend of black tea and spices. It certainly warmed me up before we went back outside and took some photos of the hall that had been lit up for the occasion.

The Buck Stops Here

Passing through Wollaton Park, I noticed a group of deer enjoying the shade from the warm evening sunshine.

Wrap Up Well When Driving

The city centre was rather quiet at lunchtime, especially in the Old Market Square, so it's back to the shots that I took on Sunday at the classic car show, and this rather enchanting bonnet mascot.

I can't remember which car this old fella came from, with his jaunty hat, handlebar moustache and warm scarf.

I'm sure it;s not a genuine car emblem, but it's a great little addition to what would have been a great looking car.

Travelling In Style

Don't these Theme Days come around quickly. This month's topic is Style.

I saw lots of stylish vehicles yesterday at Wollaton Park. From the beginning of motoring to a sports car of today.

So which one to choose. Well it just had to be this Jaguar from the 1940s. Even the leaping mascot has style.

Magical Mystery Tour

Despite the town name on this coach, I'm not actually in Wales at the moment, but at Wollaton Park, and their annual classic vehicle show.

Barton is of course a local bus company and this is one of their coaches, A Bedford VAL from the early 1960s. It doesn't belong to Barton's any more, but resides at the Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre in Ruddington.

Barefoot In The Park

Sunday morning saw a few hundred people walk around Wollaton Park without any shoes on. It was all done in the name of charity.

The Nottingham Barefoot Walk was thought of by Lee Todd, and which aims to publicise the fact that there are people in the world that have to walk barefoot every day and so old shoes are collected, to be sent to countries life Africa through the Shoe-Aid scheme.

Fortunately it was a lovely sunny & dry day, otherwise people might end up with very muddy and very dirty feet.

There was a choice of either a 3km or 5km walk and afterwards a few local bands entertained everyone  in the sunshine.

If Music Be Food, Then Play On

Another shot from the weekend's Food & Drink Festival, held at Wollaton Park.

I can't remember what the name of this band is, but they played some jazz styled music, with the girl singing and playing the clarinet. But not at the same time, as I don't think any musician can do that, unless that are using a piano or guitar etc.

Party In The Park

Today I popped over to Wollaton Park, as it was hosing a food & drink festival.

It was quite interesting to see all the different food and drink that was on offer. All grown or made locally.Yes, I know Pimms isn't a local drink, but I like the red of the marquee against the colour of the hall and stormy sky.

Besides food related tastings, there was also some cookery demonstrations hosted by well known chefs. I missed the one by Levi Roots, but sat in the ones by the Fabulous Baker Brothers and my friend Raz, who owns the Curry Lounge restaurant in the city centre, which was famously criticised by Gordon Ramsey a couple of years ago.

The show also featured varied arts and crafts, including glassblowing, a blacksmith an painter and some woodworkers who were using chainsaws to create sculptures from tree trunks.

Sundowner

Alright then folks, who wants to guess where this is?

A tropical island? Cornwall? Dubai? What about Skegness even?

Well you'd be wrong on all counts. It's actually Wollaton Park. Standing near the hall and looking over Wollaton and other parts of westen Nottingham.

A Little Bit Of Over There, Over Here

Independence Day in the States today, and so I was hoping to come across something American  during my lunch hour walk.

Sadly I didn't come across anything, so instead here's a photo of a 58 Cadillac that I came across at the recent classic car show in Wollaton Park. The guy in the shot looked impressed with the vehicle, as he posed for a photograph.

As we have a time difference of some 5 hours ahead of New York and 7 hours ahead of Los Angeles, I still have time to wish all my American visitors a Happy Holiday.

Secret Mission

It was Armed Forces Day yesterday, and Wollaton Park served as the place to see armoured cars, soldiers and obviously the work of the Armed Forces.

Sadly it wasn't as big as last year's, as Nottingham then played host to the national celebrations, which took place at the Embankment. This year Stirling hosted the national event.

I took a photo of this armoured Land Rover as it was being driven away, but didn't notice that the driver had hidden his face as he drove past. He was either camera shy, or a member of the SAS.

Interested

This young lad looks very interested in this Subaru sports car that was on display during the car show at Wollaton Park on Sunday.

I bet he can't wait until his seventeenth birthday, so he can start driving lessons and pretend that he is behind the wheel of a car like this.

Lavender's Blue Dilly Dilly

Went off to the motor show at Wollaton Park this afternoon in the sunshine, and of course the clouds made an appearance, but thankfully no rain.

There were lots of cars, buses and other vehicles there, but I was particularly taken with this lovely lavender E-type Jag.

One of the two pieces of paper in the window record the history of the vehicle, while the other is a sales receipt for the car and show how much it costs in total; £4000 in 1973.

Buying a secondhand one today may cost you anywhere between £39,000 and £1/2 million.

Gladness And Sadness

There is a mixture of happiness and sadness to todays post which are linked by this photo of a Ford Capri, which I took during the summer at a classic car show, held in Wollaton Park.

Ford of course is an American car company, and today is Thanksgiving Day in the US. So I would like to wish all my Stateside visitors a very happy day, for when family members meet up and eat the traditional turkey dinner.

For those growing up in the late 1970s, there was a great action/adventure series on TV called the Professionals. It starred Gordon Jackson, Lewis Collins and Martin Shaw as agents from an undercover police unit called CI5, who battled terrorists, criminals etc in no uncertain terms. Collins' character Bodie raced around the streets of London in of course a Ford Capri. Not a red one though. I think his was green.

Sadly it has been reported that Lewis died yesterday after a long fight with cancer. He apparently had given up acting after parts dried up several years ago. So he moved to California with his family and started a computer business.  Gordon Jackson died many years ago. Besides the character of Cowley, he is best remembered as Mr Hudson, the butler in the long running series Upstairs, Downstairs. Martin Shaw is still a successful actor on stage and TV, with his latest role is that of George Gently, a 1960s detective, based in the north of England.

Bows, Arrows And Bikes

I took a trip to Wollaton Park this morning to see some of the National Archery Finals that were taking place today in the grounds. It was a free event, so seemed silly not to go and see what it was all about.

They had sectioned off the area at the back of the hall, and had provided some raised seating for the spectators. I didn't sit down to watch, preferring to wander around looking for shots.

There were quite a few people watching the action, if you can call it that, as the competitors only get to shoot three arrows at a time. Still it's something that I couldn't do as I am a bit short sighted. I'd have trouble looking for the target, let alone the bullseye!

I stayed a couple of hours and bumped into a couple of photographers I knew. One of which was covering the event for the City Council.

On my way back to my car, I came across this rather neat looking motorbike. Certainly individualistic in colour and design, with lots of native American influences. I couldn't find a makers name, so couldn't tell you if it a Harley Davidson or not.

Would You Adam And Eve It

I don't know if car makers are starting to run out of names for their new vehicles, but Vauxhall seem to have got hold of the Bible and started at the beginning. They couldn't use Genesis, as Hyundai have already snapped that one up.

To me, the front looks like a Renault, while the back looks like a Fiat 500. I'm not sure about the stripes though. It does make the car look a little odd, although it would stand out on the road. Possibly local designer Paul Smith could sue them for infringement of copy-write, as he is well know for producing stripy clothes and furniture, as these Google images show.

The Cars That Ate Wollaton Park

Today was the day for the annual classic car show at Wollaton Park. When it is advertised, I get quite excited and look forward to wandering around all the cars, vans and buses. Although I have to admit, some of them I have seen many times, but as it was lovely and sunny today, I didn't mind. I had a great time, and came across quite a few vehicles that I hadn't seen before.

I thought this converted 1967 VW Beetle looks like a real life Hot Wheels car. I saw that it was for sale, but didn't enquire how much.

If I did have any spare cash, and lots at that, I would be tempted to go out and get a E Type Jaguar, like this one from 1969. Only six years younger than me, but worth a lot more. Probably £30,000.

If you have less money to play with, you could try this 1972 Ford Capri, which may only cost you about £5000. Made famous of course by being driven by Bodie & Doyle in the TV series the Professionals.

Finally of course, if you have a leaning towards pre-war vehicles, you might like to hunt out an old van like this Austin from the mid 1930s. I just thought I would give the picture a little tweaking in Lightroom, to give it that old look.