Full Of Christmas Cheer

I met up with some of the other writers that contribute to The Beestonian magazine that I am involved with.

We all got together at a local pub to celebrate Christmas and how successful the local, almost monthly magazine has become this year.

I usually get an article plus some photos in every month. The latest issue contains my report on the trip to Tuscany that we went on in October.

Whilst we were chatting and drinking, a load of people piled into the White Lion, all dressed up, some in fancy costumes, all with a Christmas theme.

There were a couple of guys dressed as turkeys, a Christmas cake, some Santa's, Joseph and the star of Bethlehem.

But I was drawn to this guy in his bespoke snowman suit. He looks a bit of a joker, with his toothy grin and Christmas stocking.

Night Life

The Pitcher & Piano in the Lace Market is a fab bar, set in an old converted church, complete with stained glass windows.

It has been open a while now and is very popular with young and old alike. So when they recently announced that they were building a new outside area bar, I was quite excited.

I follow P&P on Twitter, and they ran a competition the other day to win tickets to their special opening night party. I entered, and fortunately I won. Gail was busy doing something, so couldn't make it.

So after work I popped along to see what was going on. I met up with a few of my Twitter pals, who I didn't know were going to be there. There were waitresses walking around with plates of free nibbles, which were very tasty, especially the stylish fish fingers.

As you can see the building is very modern with a good stocked bar. Obviously not as well stocked as the one in the main building, as that's huge, and situated in the middle of the ground floor. There is a garden too, complete with a flower covered piano.

I should think the new endeavour will do well, as it's like being outside, but inside. I wonder how it will look when it's decorated with Christmas decorations.

Jazz. Nice

Here's Jeanie Barton entertaining the audience at the Proms in the Park. Her light style of singing was just right for the early evening concert, that took place in Dovecote Lane Park.

People brought along chair, blankets and picnics, as no seating was provided. It certainly added to the party feeling. There were a couple of burger vans around, if people didn't fancy doing any washing up.

I first knew Jeanie when she was a small girl, as I was involved in a local drama group that her parents ran. We lost touch when I left the group, but met up a few years ago in Beeston.

Whiskey And Rye

For the past few years Beeston has been home to a great little bistro called Belle & Jerome. But it closed a couple of weeks ago, while some renovations took place.  The bar has also been renamed as 'Rye', named after part of Beeston called the Rylands, which is near the river.

They have also rebranded it as a bar & restaurant, but will be open from 8am for breakfast. It officially opens to the public tomorrow, but there was a special opening event tonight, which I got an invitation to.

The owners looked like they have invested a lot of money into the refurb. I have been following their Tweets over the past couple of weeks, and have found out that the new wooden floor that's been laid comes from a four hundred year old mill in Yorkshire.

The place was buzzing tonight and people seems genuinely impressed with the decor, choice of food and drink and general ambience of the place. It should do well, especially as the previous version always had such a loyal customer base.

Party Time

We invited come close friends and neighbours over today for our first ever barbecue.

I've never really been a fan of barbecues, as I've often found that sometimes the food hasn't been properly cooked, but since Gail cooked everything in the oven first and then I finished it off on the BBQ, it all worked out fine, and everyone that came seemed to have a good time.

It was nice to catch up with people and share a glass or two with them. A shame that some we'd invited couldn't come. But isn't that always the way?

I'm glad that we held it today, as tomorrow's weather forecast isn't very good. But then that's typical for a British Bank Holiday.

Emergency Rations

Gail and I were invited to a party at the weekend. One of the staff at the hospital where Gail works was retiring and was of course celebrating the fact that she didn't have to work anymore.

Of course we took our cameras, just in case there was anything exciting to record. A bit of hospital scandal perhaps!

But no, it was a lovely, civilised affair. Full of laughter and dancing. And of course food. Talking of which, we were very impressed with these cupcakes and their medical themed icing. They didn't last long either, as they were delicious. I had one with a heart on it. Just for Valentine's!

That Hitchcock Moment

Here's the moment that I was telling you about yesterday, when I walked past the BBC interviewing Stephanie live on local television at the Nottingham Playhouse.

That's me carrying my camera and looking for the next shot and not sadly the dapper looking gentleman in the DJ.

Fortunately I found the interview on iPlayer, so I was able to grab a quick shot off my computer.

Walking Tall For The Queen

A trip to Broadgate Park was called for today, as a Jubilee tea party was taking place.

There were a number of stalls and an old Barton's bus on show. Together with a cake eating contest which had been organised by a local radio station.

But I just had to take a shot of these two guys on stilts, who were walking about publicising the event.