Birthday Boy

Well it's my birthday and 10th wedding anniversary today.

We are on holiday from work, so it's been nice not having to get up early and take that cycle ride to the city centre.

Although I said the other day that was the final photo of Carla Monaco that I was going to show. But I found another that I think is worth showing.

A rather inventive backdrop at CoCo Studios, being a cheap sheet of chipboard that is normally used in the building trade, or for boarding up windows, that has been painted gold.

Ed's Head

Nottingham had a royal visitor today in the form of Prince Edward. He was in town to help celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Theatre Royal.

I knew he was coming today, but had no idea when. So at lunchtime, I took a walk up to Theatre Square to see what was happening.

I was in luck as he hadn't arrived yet. A small crowd had gathered and the red carpet had been rolled out ready.  A couple of plain clothes police were wandering around. One bystander asked one of them when the prince would be arriving. She was told he was running a bit late due to traffic.   He was coming from Newark, where he visited the new Civil War Centre.

Finally he arrived in a black Range Rover, led by security people in a red Jaguar. He stopped and chatted to the crowd which was about 100 now before going into the theatre where he unveiled a plaque and had a piece of birthday cake.

Don't Be Blue On Your Birthday

Our local TV station Notts TV celebrates its first birthday today.

You may remember this time last year me telling you about how I found a little blue duck whilst walking in town, and how this was being used as a promotional tool to advertised the new channel -   http://beestonblog.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Notts%20TV

Well today the channel is one year old, and to celebrate this fact, the TV station personally and very kindly sent me a special celebratory Blue Duck the other day. So I thought I would make up a little scene featuring him and his unique golden beak.

Down On The Farm

My birthday & wedding anniversary today, and for a pressie Gail got me this model tin tractor.

It's quite big and the wheels go round, but I don't think I'll be taking it down to a muddy field.

Smile!

As a late birthday present; well it did come all the way from Hong Kong, Gail bought me this Minion case for my iPhone.

Isn't he amusing, and being made from rubber, he should hopefully help to protect my phone, should I happen to have an accident with it.

Flyover

Well we made it to Lincoln for the day to celebrate my birthday & our wedding anniversary.

It was quite a nice, relaxing day all round, as the sun came out now and again. But it stayed dry, and that was the main thing.

We parked up and had a stroll along the cobbled streets, looking in the different shops. Gail wanted to visit this particular shop that sold vintage clothes and bric a brac. There was quite a good selection of stuff on offer. I just wonder where it all comes from though, as there seems to be so much of it about these days, even though it might be between 40 and 70 years old. Also at what age does something stop being vintage?

We also stopped off here and there to do a spot of photography.  I like this abstract figures sculpture that fly over the River Witham as it cuts its way along the Waterside area. According to the information on the map that we picked up from the tourist office, the sculpture is called Empowerment. It was created in 2002 by artist Stephen Broadbent.

Be Seeing You

This time last year, Gail & I were wandering around an empty Portmeirion. We had booked a couple of days away there for a treat, as it was my 50th birthday and our 7th wedding anniversary.

Sadly we are not there this year, but tomorrow we will be spending the day in Lincoln, just to have a look round and take some photographs. Hope the weather is going to behave itself. It was very cold in North Wales last year, but it was really sunny, and we spent a lovely day in the Village.

In The Party Mood

You may have noticed that I've been really slipping with my daily blogging recently, which is very unlike me. I think it has been due to doing some DIY at home that has been taking longer than expected, and so haven't had the time to post.

We went to a 30th birthday party on Tuesday, which I've not managed to write about yet, but it took me back to February this year when I turned 50, and Gail and I went away to Portmeirion in Wales for a few days as we celebrated our 7th wedding anniversary too.

We had today off, and spent the day in the house doing some jobs, so I've not had the opportunity of taking any photos. So I thought I would show one of the many Portmeirion photographs that I took whilst we were there. This one is a night shot of some of the unique architectural gems that you can see as you walk round the private village.

Seventh Heaven

Well the big day has arrived, Nottingham Daily Photo is now seven years old.

It's been a bit of a struggle at times; either looking for something to take a photo of, or finding the time to write up an entry.

Today has been difficult too, as the continuing cold and dull weather doesn't help. So I've been thinking of what I could put on.  My favourite sweets at the moment are called 'Sprogs'; the jelly ones that you find in Liquorice Allsorts. So I got seven pink ones and seven blue ones and made up this giant figure '7'.

I took this photo with my Olympus OMD and 45mm lens. How things have changed, as my first camera was a Canon AS420 'point and shoot'. I then upgraded to a Panasonic bridge camera; then a Nikon D90. I have also got a Nikon D3s, but tend to use the OMD; probably because it's a lot lighter and the tilt screen is wonderful.

I've never really specialised in a type or style of photography. Last year Gail and I started shooting models. I found it difficult to start with in talking with the models, but have slowly progressed, so I enjoy it now, and think it's time to do some more.

Over 2400 photos later and here we are. Hopefully my standard of photography has improved over the last seven years. Maybe if you have some spare time, go and have a look through some of the entries and see if you agree.

So what does the future hold in store? Hopefully my photography will continue to improve and that I'll continue to shoot interesting events, models and possibly start to earn a bit of money from it, as it can be an expensive hobby at times; with new lenses to buy etc. Hopefully you'll all stick around to see what unfolds.

Does My Bum Look Big In This?

It's a Happy Birthday to my darling Gail who is ?? today, but looks a lot younger.

Here is one of the presents that I got her. If you can't tell, it's a hand crafted wooden zebra that has come all the way from Africa, from where of course they originate.

She saw a trio of them in a local gift shop that specialises in original art from different parts of the world, and fell in love with them. So I just had to get one for her. I would have liked to have bought her a herd, but we haven't really got the space and they are quite expensive. I think it is quite humorous in the way that it's rear end is sticking out!

Besides the zebra and a few other little presents like chocolates, some mittens, I got her this rather bright and colourful  Doc Marten boots. Pink is Gail's favourite colour. Earlier this year she met a model who was wearing a pair, although in a cherry red colour, and thought she might like a pair herself. And now she has.