Collision Course

Sadly two people were hurt this morning when they were hit by a bus outside the Victoria Centre.

Lower Parliament Street was closed from 11am until mid afternoon, as police had cordoned off the area while they investigated as to how the accident had happened.

It is a very busy junction, although it is mainly buses and taxis that can use the roads around there now, as cars have been banned from the area, and are diverted away from this part of town. Sometimes though, people who want to cross the road, don't always wait for the 'green man' to appear, and make a run for it.

News updates haven't reported how the to people are, but I don't think their injuries are life threatening. I'm sure everyone wishes them a speedy recovery.

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.

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!

Empty

Beeston High Road is usually bustling with shoppers, but after about 4pm things tend to die down a little, especially after the 5.30 rush to get home.

I took this at around 6.30, and as you can see the street is empty. Not even any traffic driving past.

The Night Stalker

Beeston's famous Beeman statue. He's usually has his photo taken in the daytime, especially when people pose with him. Children particularly enjoy this.

Well my version was taken at night, with only the Christmas decorations, street lights and shop windows to provide any light.

He was wearing a Santa hat for a short while, before it sadly got stolen. A case of no ho ho then.

Saturday Shoppers

A typical scene along Beeston's High Road. Old ladies out with their shopping trollies to collect their bread, veggies and meat for the week. Customers enjoying their coffee whilst people watching at Rye, and people just walking from shop to shop, looking for a bargain or two.

Hopefully the two trees that have been pollarded will be sprouting green like the others very soon. Just hope the dark clouds don't turn to rain, as it doesn't look like anyone has an umbrella with them.

A Comical Day

My Saturday morning is usually spent in Beeston shopping and having a look around the many charity shops that my town now has. A new one only opened this week. So that makes nine in total to look round and see what goodies I can find.

Besides the many other shops there is one that sells comic books, models and role playing games. It is called Chimera and I think that I have only been inside once before, and that was to see a friend of mine called Tim, who loves playing role playing games. I just happen to walk past and see a poster in the window advertising free comics, as it is apparently Free Comic Book Day, which is news to me, as I didn't such a thing existed.

So I popped inside to see what it was all about. The owner told me that once a year companies that print comic books give copies away to promote their work, and this has been an annual event for some years now. He showed me to a couple of tables that had piles of comics on them. He said have a look and just take any that you fancy, read and enjoy them.

So I picked up some and had a browse. Some didn't really appeal to me, but being a Doctor Who fan, I had to have that one and I was intrigued by the Steampunk version of Goldilocks and the modern take of Alice in Wonderland.

I will give these comics a go, but I can't see them becoming part of my life, as that is shared with photography.

Armed And Dangerous

Don't worry, there wasn't a terrorist attack in the city centre today, it was just the Army on a recruitment exercise. Although not many people seemed to be stopping to enlist.

Either that, or the soldiers are planning a raid on the chocolate shop, to get some luxury Valentine goodies for their wives and girlfriends.

Ping!

I was quite surprised to see a load of people playing table tennis near the Old Market Square at lunchtime.

Apparently Nottingham is one of about 16 cities across the country that are involved in the project called Ping,and organised by the English Table Tennis Association and money from the National Lottery.

Anyone of any ability can play for free, with bats and balls being provided.  Monday was the launch, and the activity goes on until the end of August.

Fashion Parade

I was meant to be heading to the Old Market Square at lunchtime to see what was going on at the Great Notts Show, but I got sidetracked in the Broad Marsh shopping centre.

Walking through the doors I heard some loud music and a big crowd looking at something.  It was a fashion show of some description. It turned out to be clothing designed by students at a local college who have been doing a foundation course in fashion.

Some of the designs were really strange, and something you certainly wouldn't want to wear when you pop off down the supermarket! Experimental I think they call it.

March Of Rememberance

I was doing a little bit of window shopping in our local branch of London Camera Exchange at lunchtime, as they have quite a good selection of secondhand lenses, and I'm always on the lookout for something for my OMD. But nothing today.

Turning round, I saw a large bunch of people at the top of the street, so I went to investigate. They headed towards me and I could see that some were caring a big banner with a serious message.

20 years ago a million people were murdered in Rwanda, one of the countries in central Africa. The genocide took place against the Tutsi, one of the tribes that make up the population.

I had not read or heard anything about the parade, so I was fortunate to be in the right place at the right time, unfortunately not with the right lens on my camera, as I had decided to put my 20mm prime lens on, rather than my usual 12mm - 50mm lens. So the photo isn't as good as it could have been.

There are websites around that could tell you more about the history of Rwanda and the genocide that happened. I remember it being on the news, but I don't think I took that much notice, which I think was the same for the rest of the world.

The Beginning Of The End

More destruction in Beeston. This time they are rebuilding some of the small shopping centre in the centre of the town.

Some of the smaller shops have been demolished to make way for some bigger ones, which is going to include a new gym.

I don't know how long this work is going to take, but it has added to the misery of the tram works that are taking place at the same time.

There doesn't appear to be any end to the chaos that is affecting the town, with roads still closed, shops struggling, as customers stay away and just about everyone is fed up with the place looking like some war zone.

It's Bath Time

As it was such a lovely day, Gail thought we should go out and make the most of it. So we packed our camera gear and headed off for Matlock Bath in Derbyshire.

A lot of other people must have had the same idea, as the town was heaving with people, mainly bikers in their black leather outfits.

We had a stroll around, then stopped off at one of the many fish and chip shops for a plate of Britain's favourite food.

Rescued

An area of the city centre that has been abandoned for the last twenty years, is slowly coming back to life.

Cobden Chambers only appears to be accessible from a small alleyway just off a main thoroughfare. People have not even be aware of it's existence. Maybe that's why its been left alone for such a long time.

But plans are in hand to turn it into a little oasis of independent shops. A couple have recently opened; one selling vintage goods, another which looked like stationery, as the shop was closed and I could only see them through the window.

A lot of work has already taken place to make the area look attractive, with bright colours and murals. And as you can see, another of the buildings is currently being renovated.

Sign Of The Times

This is possibly the biggest sign that I have ever seen. It went up earlier this week in the town where I live.

As I have written before, Beeston is presently undergoing some extensive construction work to build a new tramline. This has caused a lot of controversy, as many people think it is a waste of money. Especially as it is costing an enormous amount, some £570 million. Others have lost their homes, many, many trees have been cut down, and the shopkeepers on Chilwell High Road are worried about their livelihoods, as footfall along there has dropped off as the road has been cut off from traffic whilst it is being dug up.

Fortunately these shopkeepers are getting some compensation. Whether or not it is enough remains to be seen, especially as the road is remaining closed for probably another year.

So back to this giant sign. It has been fixed to the side of the former fire station, and the idea is that anyone seeing the sign (and who can miss it) will instantly head off in either direction and spend their money.

I hope it does have the desired effect, but I fear that many people are now starting to avoid the town, as I think there are less people about on a Saturday morning when I go shopping.

As you can probably gather, I'm not a fan of the idea and campaigned against it some years ago, but sadly to no avail.So we'll just have to see if it ends up a success or not.

The Eve Of Destruction

The continued demolition of the precinct in Beeston continues with bulldozers tearing down a row of shops.

Piles of rubble, wood and metal everywhere.  The local council say that it will be an improvement. But I don't see it myself, as how can less shops be better?

And The Walls Came Tumbling Down

Due to the very extensive tram works that are taking place at the moment, Beeston has become like a war zone. Buildings demolished, trees cut down, holes in the ground and thousands of cones and fencing everywhere. Nowhere is left unaffected. Even where I live; which incidentally is nowhere near the route is having to put up with a lot more traffic, as it has been diverted from the main road in Chilwell.

This row of shops in the Square is the next in the bulldozer's sights. Or should that be sites! I used to go in Diane's Cabin a lot, as they used to sell reasonably priced greetings cards. Then there was Hunts, who sold all sorts of goodies at reasonable prices. But that will all be gone very shortly. I'll probably post a photo when it does.

Letting Off A Little Steam

I was planning to spin one of my fantastical yarns about these two photographs. Of how a team of Nottingham University scientists have discovered a way into the centre of the Earth and that molten lava is slowly seeping to the surface. But I don't think you'd fall for it, right!

So the truth is that one of the main roads into the city centre is presently closed to traffic whilst repairs are being undertaken to mend the pipes that pump steam to buildings connected to the district heating scheme. Reality is a bit boring eh.

You Can't Buy Things This Way Anymore

Close to the Castle, and adjoining the Trip to Jerusalem is the Brewhouse Yard Museum. It's a small museum, but each room is packed with things from a bygone age. One of the rooms, which I am showing here represents a corner shop. These used to be quite common across the country, before the giant supermarkets swallowed up all the trade.

The Yellow Peril

The other day I placed a photo of a Watson Fothergil building with a row of shops underneath, that advertised themselves in a way that was in keeping with the style of the building. That cannot really be said about how this company promotes itself. Canary Yellow everywhere! I bet helicopter pilots can see this building as they fly across the city at night.