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.

Sepia Sunset

A quick snap of the lake in Highfields, as the sun was setting over the water.

Up In The World

Now I know that the Christmas market and fairground rides are very colourful, but I wanted to see what they would be like in sepia.

This shot for example looks quite Victorian with the snow covered roof of the gift stall, to the dominance of the helter skelter.

Art In The Dark

Here's another shot of the Lakeside Arts Centre at night.

The cutout shapes are of Peter Pan, as there's a show about him that being staged at the moment. It's not a pantomime as such, and it's aimed squarely at youngsters.

Nothing Left

As it's the first of the month, I thought I would participate in the theme day, which this month is 'ephemeral'.

According to the dictionary, ephemeral means something that doesn't last for a very long time.

Well this meal that I devoured at Restaurant Anna in Piancastagnaio, a small hilltop village in Tuscany didn't last very long. It was delicious. It was actually part of a five course lunch that we sat down to.

The restaurant was packed. There was hardly a seat to be had. Mainly families; mums, dad, children and associated relations. One old lady there was celebrating her birthday, and one of the waitresses bought out a cake, to a chorus of 'happy birthday'.

Family Of Man

Today has been Oxjam Day. Over twelve hours of music across Beeston, at different places including cafes, pubs and the former Barton's bus depot.

There has been in the regions of seventy bands, singers and musicians playing to raise money for Oxfam.

I managed to see quite a few through the day. One of the highlights was watching The Jar Family at Barton's. Unfortunately I couldn't watch the whole of the gig, as I had to pop over to another venue to catch The Madeline Rust.

This has been the third time that the Jar Family have done Oxjam in Beeston, and the audience enjoyed themselves, with dancing and cheering along to the band's infectious style of music. Industrial folk they call it. So I thought this sepia tinged photo would complement it.

A Blinding Success

One of my photographic concoctions taken from the inspiration of a bottle of beer that I bought the other day.

For those that don't know, a 'Peaky Blinder' was a member of a gang of violent criminals and thugs that lived in Birmingham  in the late 19th & early 20th century.

The BBC made a drama series a while ago that illustrated their violent exploits around the city.

I've not tried the beer yet, but I just hope it doesn't turn me into a monster!

Feeling Old

A slightly alternative view of Wollaton Hall for a change. A bit different from the usual full frontal shot that you usually see in books, postcards etc.

It certainly has become very well known now through last year's Batman film. And it is indeed a striking building with all sorts of architecturally interesting nooks and crannies on both the inside and the outside.

A Sepia Moment

A bit of a grey day today. Although the snow has completely disappeared now, the sun hasn't replaced it. But the wind has. It was a bit of a struggle cycling to and from work today. Headwind all the way on bot journeys.

I was hoping to show a photo or two of a demonstration that took place at lunchtime in the Old Market Square. But there were only about six people there. So it wasn't worth it.

I have therefore nothing new today. So it's a quick raid on the archive, and thought I'd show this from a foggy ride through Highfields a couple of weeks ago.

Well, Here's Another Fine Mess You've Gotten Us Into

A Model T Ford with Laurel and Hardy. A classic comedy grouping and one that would certainly make anyone chuckle. How many times in their old short films of the 1920s did their car either get cut in half, smashed in two or just get blown up?

Of course the Model T was cheap and readily available; and Henry Ford famously said: it was only available in black. I don't know if this is an original or a reproduction. The figures obviously are. But they were a bit of fun at the Hemlock Happening.