Lucky That I'm A Pisces

Will this rain ever stop, and we get some sunshine and a proper summer, like it's meant to be? I feel that I'm turning into a fish, every time that I get wet. Which has been quite often this week.

It's rained practically every day for a over a week or so now, and there seems to be no let up to it. We are going away next week, so I hope the weather improves for our road trip down south.

There was a particularly heavy downpour at about half seven tonight. A real monsoon. Thunder and lightning too. Here's a bit of a grab shot that I took from the porch, which shows the heavy raindrops and a grate that just can't cope with the sudden influx of water.

Apparently there have been several reports on Facebook of localised flooding across many parts of Beeston. Which is expected, considering the amount of rain that fell in the space of about thirty minutes. It's a good job that we live on a slight hill, otherwise we may have experienced it too.

Restive

One of those photographs that you often see with some motivational message on it, like:

"You don't spell love, you feel it".

A gentle landscape taken on a warm summers day somewhere in Nottinghamshire.

Going Down South

I took a long train ride today down to Bristol. Just for the day. It took over three hours to get there, and then another three hours back. In fact I was sat on the train longer than I was sat in the office.

I had about half an hour for lunch, so I went in search of a sandwich and a drink. I then had a little walk around the area close to where the office that I was visiting was. Couldn't stray too far and get lost now could I?

Bristol has the River Avon running through it and I was pleased to discover that it was just a short walk from the office to reach a part of it. As I didn't have too long,  I only managed to take a few shots like this one. It was lovely and sunny too, with a great blue sky. I wish I could have spent longer there to look around and see what else was on offer.

First Of The Summer Wine

Gail & I shot a friends' marriage blessing in Long Eaton today & then went to Trent Lock Marina to take some photos of the happy couple in a relaxed environment.

It was a blessing, as they had got married in Holland, a few weeks ago. Alas we didn't get to cover that, as I've never been to Holland before, and it would have been a good experience.

It's been a lovely sunny day today. Almost too sunny! And hot too. The sort of weather which we should have got during July and August.

We have never visited Trent Lock before, so it was a bit of an adventure. It was a great place to walk around. Maybe bigger than Beeston Marina. Certainly a lot busier.

Whilst we were having a look around for suitable places to stop for photographs, I saw these three young girls relaxing and enjoying the warm weather; so I just couldn't resist taking a shot.

The Good Doctor Must Have Gone On A Diet

For all Doctor Who fans, the TARDIS is one of the most iconic images from the long running television programme. That and the Daleks of course.

So I was very surprised to see this slimline version of the time travelling machine, whilst walking along the Victoria Embankment, close to Waterloo Bridge.

I waited around to see if the Doctor, Amy or Rory made an appearance, but alas they didn't show up. Maybe they were busy saving the Earth again from aliens.

Salt, But No Vinegar

Yesterday we decided to take a trip to Saltaire, a small town that was created for the workers of the nearby wool factory by Victorian industrialist Sir Titus Salt.

The town had it's own church, hospital. Almost everything that is, except a pub. There is some debate as to why. But he certainly knew how to look after his employees better than the other factory owners at the time. Similar in a way to that of Cadbury's, who built the village of Bourneville near Birmingham.

Nottingham's own Jesse Boot, or Lord Trent did something similar and provided land for the new university.

Wouldn't it be good if today's industrialists were more philanthropic and did the same sort of thing for their employees, or for the towns that their companies are in, instead of wasting it on sports cars, yachts and other personal indulgences.