And So It's Goodnight From Me

Please be seated, as this is my final post from Nottingham Daily Photo.

After nearly 11 years and over 3500 entries, I have decided to stop posting. It has been a tough decision; being part of my life for so long, but there doesn't seem to be as much interest in photoblogs these days, and I have seen a visible drop in visitors and comments over the last year or so I know that isn't the main reason for doing a blog, but it is good to get feedback and to know what you're doing is worthwhile, rather than something to do to pass the time.

But I've not really been getting that recently, and my enthusiasm for posting everyday has wained too. I could take a sabbatical from it like I have done before. But I don't think the situation would improve after the break. So I have made the decision of not doing it anymore.

I will of course still be taking photos every day, as photography is my passion. And so will probably just post daily on Facebook and Twitter, as I get more interaction there. I may even give Instagram a go.

Also the Blogger platform has changed over time, and I don't find it as easy to use anymore, as they keep tweaking with it, and it seems to take ages for it to perform tasks. It might be down to having so many photos on here now.

So my final photo from Nottingham shows the Pitcher and Piano bar, a converted church in the Lace Market. I was there to take some photos and videos of my friends band The Disco Prophets, who performed there and saw in 2017 with some great covers of disco classics.

Finally I would like to thank all the visitors down the years. All 545,000 of them, and especially those that have left comments. William Kendall and Stefan Jansson who are regular visitors and to my long suffering wife Gail. The ultimate photography widow.

So it just leaves me to wish you all a great 2017. Which after 2016, should be an improvement.

Talk To Me

A shot of Kayes Walk in the Lace Market today, which runs parallel to St Mary's Church.

All the old buildings have been turned into offices, and makes for a good backdrop to any scene.

I spotted these two people coming up the gentle slope towards me, and thought I would take a shot or two. It looks like the woman is doing all the talking, whilst the man, possibly pretends to listen, but thinking of the tasks that he has to do back in the office.

I've given the photo a slight sepia tinge, just to make it a little different.

It's All In The Angle

Another day of random shooting, but this one has been a little different, as I have been using a manual fish eye lens.

A little bit harder too, as there's no auto focus. So it really is random, as there's no guarantee that anything is even going to be in focus.

But this one isn't too bad, as everything is in more or less focus. Three people on the corner of Angel Row and Market Street. And see how the specially designed lens distorts the building and pylon, but the people remain normal sized and not distorted.

It's A Great Life On The Buses

Well I've now found the time to start blogging again. After coming back from Cornwall and catching up with things at home, I can hopefully get going with the blog again, and even write about the days that Gail and I were away on our road trip around what Thomas Hardy called Wessex.

Today's story also deals with the past, in the form of a trolleybus that has been missing from the streets of Nottingham since 1 July 1966, when it was taken out of service, as this method of transport had been phased out.

To commemorate this fact, a number of vintage buses were on display in the Old Market Square today, as all this happened 50 years ago. An AEC Regent belonging to West Bridgford UDC, An Atlantean city bus from the 1970s and one from the South Notts Bus Company were all parked up for everyone to see.

But the trolleybus was getting the most interest, as a lot of people had never seen one in the flesh so to speak. Even me. Especially the one that took that final trip all those years ago.

It has been subject to a lot of restoration work, as it wasn't in very good condition when it was sold off. But now it looks brand new, even though they haven't really bothered that much with the driver's cab. It all looks so primitive, compared to today's state of the art buses and coaches.

Ding, ding. All aboard!

No Blues In The Pottle

Beeston welcomed it's first new pub in a long, long time today, and what makes A Pottle of Blues extra special, is the fact that it is a micro pub. It opened at lunchtime today, and I believe I was the first paying customer, with someone I know quite well being the second.

The pub is a based in a former shop, just of the high road, and I have been following it's progress, both on line, and in person, when I've been on my way to Sainsbury's. Being a micro pub, it's if course not that big, but has some quirky features, like the bar being made out of an old piano.

I found out that a pottle is a container that is big enough to hold half a gallon of liquid. It is also the maiden name of the co-owner Jen, while her husband Ralph plays in a blues band. Hence the unusual name and the musical theme.

I took Gail along tonight to show her what it was like, and to see how busy they were. The place was really buzzing when we got there. Someone we know called Matt was sitting with a drink, so we sat with him and chatted about the pub and how good it is for Beeston, especially as so many pubs are currently closing around the country.

They have a small selection of real ales, fruit ciders and wines. We stayed for a while longer, then went to a local pizza place called Poppa's Pizzas and bought a couple of 8 inches to take home and enjoy whilst surfing the net.

Ann And Thomas

A bit of a quiet day on the streets today, so I just spent my lunchtime walking and shooting from the hip, to see if I could get anything useable.

Wouldn't it be amusing if the two people entering the photo were really called Ann and Thomas!

A Hazy Shade Of Winter

I'm not sure exactly what happened to this photo, but that's how it appeared, when I downloaded it into Lightroom.

It's quite a strange effect, like there's a very bad snowstorm happening, or a dense fog. But it's just been a normal, slightly cold day.

Missing You Already

Believe it or not, it hasn't rained yet in Beeston today. In fact it has been quite a sunny day, albeit a cold one.  You could be mistaken in thinking it was say October, rather than January.

Managed to do a couple of jobs in the garden. Still a little wet to do any digging or jobs like that.  The weather people have forecast snow to arrive in the next day or so. In one way I look forward to this, for photographic reasons, but then I can't stand it, as it makes travelling difficult.  We will just have to see.

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.

Fete-A-Ccompli

Yippee, the very popular annual church garden party is back after an absence for a couple of years due to the tramworks.

And what a lovely day for it, being so very warm and sunny. A typical English summer's day. Such a shame that we don't get that many these days.

There were plenty of people mingling about looking at the various stalls, including a large one for books, listening to a small orchestra, eating a freshly cooked burger or just sipping tea in the sunshine.

Even though I am still not feeling very well, it was good to sit in the warmth, or chat to some people that I know, including some neighbours, who had a homemade soap stall.

The Human Dynamo

A touch of showbiz magic arrived in the Old Market Square today, in the form of illusionist Dynamo.

He was essentially in town to promote his show, which doesn't take place until later in the year.

Quite a crowd had gathered when I arrived in the Old Market Square, and I found it a little difficult to get into a good position to take some reasonably good photos. He performed a few small tricks, mainly with playing cards, but involving the astounded audience.

I'd not really seen any of his tricks before, so I didn't know what sort of things he could do. Somehow I was hoping he would do something really amazing, like making the Council House disappear.

Waiting

I forget who said that bus stations are full of lost people and lost suitcases, but walking through the one in Broad Marsh, the people there certainly look lost, whilst they wait for their bus to take them to their destination.

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.

Pick Up Truck

Oh dear, one unlucky motorist is going to be in for an expensive shock when they come back and see that their car has disappeared, as they will have to pay a release fee of £105, plus any penalty charges incurred.

Quite a few people had stopped to watch the event, and a small group of youths were sharing a joke between themselves; probable at the misfortune of the driver.

The car had been removed from the disabled parking bay, but I couldn't see if there was a Blue Badge on the dashboard. If there was, then I think it was a bit mean of the traffic wardens, but if there wasn't, then it's a fair cop, as non disabled drivers shouldn't park in such places.

Caribbean Queen

Nottingham city centre came alive with the sounds and colours of the Caribbean yesterday afternoon, as the annual Caribbean Carnival took place. The parade started on Castle Gate and made it's long slow way up to the Forest Recreation Ground, where they site the Goose Fair in October.

There were certainly some varied and very colourful costumes being worn by the participants.

Native American anyone? Or what about some wings that can help you fly.

Not your average outfit to go shopping in. But he'll certainly help you wave you on your way.

Hundreds of people lined the route, and despite a quick rainstorm in the middle of the procession, I think everyone had an enjoyable time. I know me and my camera did.

Market Day

It's been a cracking sunny day today. The best one of the year so far. So I thought I would take a walk to the market in the Old Market Square.

And boy was it packed with people walking up and down and looking at the things on offer. While I was wandering around, I got to thinking about how would the market look from above, with all the coloured tarpaulin roofs and people milling about.

So I called in at the Council House and asked if I could go up to the balcony to take a shot or two. They said yes, so I popped up and took a few 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.

Always Judge A Book By Its Cover

I think nearly everyone on the planet has now heard of Brandon Stanton and his HONY Facebook page, which has now been turned into a book.

For those that don't know, during 2010 Brandon gave up his job as a bond trader, moved to New York with the idea of photographing 10,000 New Yorkers. Whilst taking their photo, he would ask them a simple question, like  "What's your favourite thing?" or "Do you have any regrets?"

I think at first he found it a little difficult, but as his fame spread, people are actually coming up to him and asking Brandon to take their photo. They might not be the best photos in the world, but they are honest and show the people in the raw.

The book contains 400 portraits of people, doing all sorts of things, in all parts of New York. Some are dressed strangely, or eccentrically. Some are just strange. I guess that's one of the beauties of living in a big city, strangeness is normal.

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.

It's Your Round Next

I received an invitation the other day to see the re-launch of the Pitcher & Piano bar in the Lace Market.  It has just had nearly half a million pounds spent on it.

I've been in a few times before. In fact Gail & I went to a latex fashion show there a couple of years ago. In factor the stage area is in about the same place as this new showcase bar.

The place was heaving with people when we got there. No doubt attracted by the free bar! We both got a drink before taking some shots of the thirsty crowd.