Snow Going

I had a very long and difficult drive to Manchester today. It took just about twice as long as it should have.

Firstly there were some roadworks on the M1, so speed was restricted to 50mph, instead of the usual 70mph. This of course resulted in vehicles going at 40mph, and sometimes coming to a standstill.

Next came some rain, which made driving hard work, as there was so much spray about. It was like being in a car wash.

Then when I got on the road that runs through the Peak District National Park in Derbyshire it was snowing. And snowing quite hard at times. In fact in one part, there was no movement of traffic at all. I think we were all stuck in the same spot, or moved very slowly forward for almost an hour.

Finally when I reached Manchester, there was a lot of building work going on. So roads were closed, a few diversions or single lanes. There was one particular main road that had single file traffic on each side, and on the side I was on, there must have been about twenty buses all in a queue, and not going anywhere. So that added to my journey time.

The return journey was a little easier, except for the dreaded roadworks on the M1. But what got me, was the fact that I couldn't see anyone working. But isn't that always the way?

A Dusting Of The White Stuff

The weather people have been informing us for a couple of weeks now that snow was on its way. But none had appeared. Possibly because it has been too warm, despite that it is supposed to be January.

But tonight it has finally happened. Only a slight dusting at the moment, but who knows what it is going to be like by the morning. Snowman building perhaps?

Carry On Christmas

On occasions I will participate in with the City Daily Photo contest. This month's theme is shop window.

Quite oddly enough, yesterday I wrote about a local charity shop window that had been decorated in a Christmas theme, complete with small Dickensian figures.

So I thought I would show a couple more; a paperboy and musician, who seems to have lost the rest of his band.

A Winter Wonderland

I've never really been a great fan of Christmas. Especially these days, when shops start filling their shelves with cards etc from about the end of August. Far too early.The summer isn't even over yet.

One of the things I do like however, is seeing how the smaller shops decorate their windows. Using their initiative, as they haven't the budgets like the big stores have.

A local charity shop called Treetops has done a lovely job when I saw it on Saturday morning, as part of my weekly shopping trip to Beeston.

They have taken the Victorian theme and dressed some mannequins in old fashioned clothes. Which looks nice, but I was more taken by some tiny Dickensian figures and a snowy townscape.

So cycling home tonight, I thought I would have a look at whether the window display was lit up in any way, so I could take a photo or two, without the glare of the glass. And here's the result. I think the golden balls of bokeh are reflection from the Sainsbury's sign opposite.

Foaming Hell

No, this isn't snow, but foam bubbling around the water feature in the Old Market Square.

Someone must have sneaked in some shower gel or washing up liquid to get the effect. It used to happen quite a lot in the old days when there were two fountains near the Council House.

I used a fast shutter speed to freeze the action of the water droplets, so it looks a bit like snow.

The Wonder Of Christmas

To boost trade for the shopkeepers and to remind people that the shops on Chilwell High Road still exist, the Beeston BID team put on a promotional evening tonight to attract people to the area.

Due to the ongoing tramworks, which has seen the road practically cut off from the rest of Beeston, the shops seem to have been neglected, and although the owners have received some compensation for loss of trade, it doesn't seem to have helped much.

I popped along to show some support and of course take some photos for the Beeston Bid team. There was some music in the shape of the ever ear pleasing Emma Bladen-Jones, a young blues singer and guitarist Joe Barber and another local musician called Jeanie Barton, who is a jazz singer. I knew her when she was a child, as I used to belong to the drama group that her parents ran.

There was also a hot chestnut seller and a hola hoop dancer who used hoops that lit up. They had also attached a snow machine to the stage which attracted these two boys to play with it. Oh I bet they wish it was real!

A Matter Of Heat And Cold

Well today has actually felt like a proper summer's day, with local temperatures reaching a dizzy 25 degrees C.

Although its been sunny, I didn't take any photos, as I've been busy pottering around the house and garden.

So here's a shot which I took in Highfields, in the middle of February. All that snow. Be great now for keeping cool. But of course it would soon melt.

Yellow Fever

Well what a strange day it has been weatherwise.  I woke up this morning to the ground being white again, as it had snowed a bit during the night, but it was lovely and sunny when I cycled home tonight. And in daylight too.

So I thought I would have a trundle through Highfields, to see if there were any blossom appearing on the trees, or any flowers coming out.

Although the trees were still bare, I saw this little 'golden host' of daffodils near to the lake. So I stopped and tried to take a photo or two.  So I wonder if spring is really, at long last on its way?

Snowly Going

Although we've had no more snow since last weekend, it is still hanging around. Refusing to budge, as the day temperature barely passed the 2 degree mark.

Nottingham seems to have gone into a state of suspended animation at the moment, as there doesn't seem to be a lot happening. So here's a bit of an arty shot from Highfields.

Frozen Stiff

Another cold day, but no snow. Which I guess is a bonus, compared to other parts of the country.

I've thought about taking the Robin Hood statue with my fisheye lens for a little while now, and so I thought today would be a good opportunity. Especially if there was still some snow lying around.

It was a bit of a struggle getting up to the statue, as it was still quite icy in places. I tried taking photos of Robin in various positions. I have put an odd angled one on Twitter, but here's a more traditional one for your delectation

Cat On A Hot Tin Radiator

A bit more snow today, so I didn't bother going out, as I had a few jobs to do around the house.

So here's a shot from yesterday of Marmalade, who had made himself comfortable on top of the radiator in the conservatory.

But don't worry, the radiator wasn't on very high. But then I don't suppose Marmalade would be laid there if it was.

A Winter Shade Of Pale

Who would have thought it? I woke up this morning and saw that our back garden looked like this. It's hard to imagine that yesterday's photo was taken about the same time last year. What a difference.

It was strange, slushy snow, not the normal dense stuff that makes for good sledging and firm snowmen.  It also seemed to be thawing too, and the roads were very slushy as I cycled into Beeston.

I don't know if it was my imagination, but I seem to have been coming across Christmas references all day long. It first started this morning on Facebook, when a friend had posted a photo of Santa fighting with the Easter bunny. Then I heard the Spice Girls song "When 2 Become 1" in a shop that I was in, that was number one in the charts during December 1996. Then there was a fake Christmas tree that was for sale in a charity shop.

Some parts of the country have had it worse than us, but tomorrow is going to be bad, as all the slushy snow turns to ice during a very cold night tonight. I don't think that I'll be going anywhere.

Bridge Of Size

Yep, here's another fisheye photo. Have you had enough yet?

I took this whilst cycling home from work, as I was drawn to the late afternoon sun shining and reflecting off a building. So I thought I would stop and take a photo or two. Especially as the path makes for a good leading line to the bridge.

You may notice a little dusting of snow near the grass and trees.  Yes we did have another little session. I wonder if it will ever come to an end and we get some decent warm and dry weather.

Day One

Well the first day in my new job passed fairly well. I cycled in with a slightly heavy heart, as I wasn't going to my old job and to see all my friends anymore.

The day didn't start that good either, as it had been snowing during the night, and it was very, very cold. It took me ages to get to town as the wind was blowing against me all the way. There were a couple of heavy blizzards during the morning, but it had melted by the time I took this photo of the place where I am now employed.

I have to look to the future now and my new life in a different job. I am hoping that it works out well for me and I have as just an enjoyable time as I had before.

Snow Joke

Well it happened again. Snow was predicted, and indeed fell during the afternoon.

I was on half a days leave, and was cycling home when the real flakes began to fall. The wind was blowing strongly too, so my face was being stung by the flakes.

The ground was becoming white quite quickly, and so by the time that I had reached Highfields, it was beginning to look a bit like Switzerland.

As it was all fresh snow, there weren't that many footprints about, so I stopped off and took a few photos of the different scenes.

I don't know whether it was just the snow, or some knock-on effects, but it took Gail and I the best part of two hours to drive into the city centre for a photoshoot, whereas, it normally only takes about 15-20 minutes.

All the roads were gridlocked. Nothing was moving. In fact it took us the best part of half an hour to drive along the road next to Highfields. Something we can usually do in about five minutes.

The Sun Has Got His Wooly Hat On

Well, what do you know, the sun came out today. It was still 0 degrees C though. It was certainly nice to see, even though it wasn't doing anything to melt the snow on the ground.

So I took a trundle through Highfields for a change, as the snow along University Boulevard has become quite bad to cycle through. I try to stay within the rut created by other cyclists, but it's not always possible. Especially with the construction works that are going on at the moment.

Couple of arty shots here. I did take a couple of photos of the Trent Building, but thought you might like to see these trees and this park bench with the icicles twinkling between the two planks of wood.

It's Snow Time

Well we had a little dusting of snow last night, so work up to more whiteness, as it had settled on the compacted snow from the last couple of days.

So here's a couple more photos taken today. Above is the castle. I'm not sure if it the front, back or one of the sides, as the building has no clear demarcation of what side is what. But this is the side that has the cafe in it and the main viewing area towards the west of the city.

Below is a bit of the canal towpath, not far from the Broad Marsh shopping centre. It runs parallel to the road above, although more in line with the castle itself.

Who's Who?

Hello, what's going on here then?

Seems like Colin Baker's Doctor isn't too happy about being turned into a Gallifreyian snowball.

Matt Smith's and Sylvester McCoy's Doctors are certainly up to mischief with their former self. No doubt William Hartnell's version of the time lord will have something to say!

Cold As The Grave

No more snow today, but the snow from yesterday still remains. So as usual, I went into Beeston to do some food shopping and to have a look around. I also went on the hunt for some snowy pics.

And what better than Beeston's parish church. I often have a wander there when there is a wedding going on. Remember the buses from last year?

So here are a couple of shots; one of the church itself, and one of some of the old gravestones that date from the 1800s.

Bet He Wishes He Had A Scarf

The weather people said that we were in for a snowstorm today. I and a few friends at work sat and waited for it to come. It seemed to be ages and ages before we saw the first flakes.

Darryl, one of my co-workers kept looking on the Internet for weather updates.

Then at around Noon, it began. Not much to start with. Only tiny flakes, which I called dandruff.

The flakes slowly got bigger into what I would call proper flakes and lasted for an hour or so.

It was still lightly snowing on my way home. I took care on my bike, as it was quite thick in places and possibly slippery.

I stopped at a few places and took some photos for Twitter. I also decided to take some for my blog. Above is the bust of Jesse Boot at Highfields, and below is the sandstone rock that the castle was built on.