Night Lights

Don't worry, Nottingham's Council House hasn't been taken over by witches or aliens, it's a shot from the fireworks tonight, as the Christmas lights were switched on, and the festive season has officially begun in the city.

Paralympic swimmers Charlotte Henshaw and Ollie Hynd who won medals in Rio pressed the red button, overseen of course by Robin Hood, Santa Claus and the Lord Mayor. Then a five minute firework display began, which was enjoyed by the thousands who had packed into the Old Market Square for the event.

The city council has purchased a lot of new decorations, which is great, as the previous ones had been on show for at least three years running.

I shall have a look at them another night when there isn't so many people about.

My Station In Life

This week I'm on a training course in the Welsh capital, Cardiff.

I don't know how much free time I'll have for photography, but most of it will probably be night shots, as obviously I'll be training all day.

It is over a three hour journey by train, and although I arrived at lunchtime, I didn't get the opportunity of getting my camera out, as I had to get straight to the office.

After I had unpacked and had dinner in the hotel, I went for a nighttime stroll. I thought that I would start with the railway station itself, which was built in the 1930s, replacing the original Victorian one.

The pride of place goes of course to the 'Great Western Railway', or "God's Wonderful Railway", as trainspotters call it. Sadly the lines themselves are not as wonderful. I think they desperately need replacing, as whenever a train goes by the lines emit this deafening high pitched squeal. Apparently it's one of the busiest stations in the UK. So an upgrade can't come soon enough.

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.

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.

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.

Misty Eyed

Well 24 hours later and similar views from top of the multi-storey car park, but completely different weather conditions.

The fog started to fall last night, and has held Nottingham in its grey shroud all day long, with not a single break .

It is still foggy, and temperatures are expected to drop below freezing tonight, with the probability of snow over the weekend.

So it should be fun cycling to work tomorrow morning!

Telling The Time

Much has now been removed from the old Odeon building, and you can get a really clear view of the Nottingham city skyline from the vantage point that I visit to take my photos of the site.

You can seen the dome and clock of the Council House and the various rooftops of the surrounding shops and offices.

It shouldn't be too long before they demolish the front and the rear of the former cinema. So that should bring some more rare opportunities for photographs.

Sight Unseen

Yes, it's Wednesday again, and that can only mean one thing - the headbanger Challenge.

Tom's choice this week, and he's gone for yellow. Now how to interpret this theme? I mused long and hard. Do I go for something easy, or something a bit more esoteric.                                                                      
Whilst I was venturing up the multi-storey car park yesterday, I saw just the thing. A number of yellow men painted on the ground.  They looked freshly painted too. In fact the whole of the top storey appeared brand new. Maybe as the car park is so big, no vehicle has had to go up on the roof.

For those that may not realise what it symbolises, it is the sign for the area in which pedestrians can walk safely, without having the fear of being knocked down. But as everybody should know, you should always be alert when around moving vehicles.

Don't forget to pop over and see the rest of the entries.

Talking of vehicles, the musical interlude this week comes courtesy of the Banana Splits. A strange children's show from the late 1960s, where odd looking creatures drove around in six wheel buggies.

Today's post is one of the photos that I took whilst on the roof of the car park. You can see the clock tower belonging to the railway station; the British Waterways building, that is now home to a mixture of bars, a comedy club and a gym. Finally at the back is the castle.