Keeping Track

Some of you may remember Formula One racing driver Nigel Mansell from the 1980s & 1990s, although his moustache may be more famous than his driving skills.

He was in Nottingham tonight to sign copies of his autobiography 'Staying on Track'. There were quite a crowd waiting, both inside and outside the shop. In fact the queue stretched halfway up the side of the bookshop.

Slightly earlier than planned, Nigel made his entrance. Then he did something that I've not seen before at a celebrity signing, he went outside and said hello to the waiting fans. He also signed autographs, so some people didn't have to wait in the queue.

I was standing with a couple of other photographers, including one from the Evening Post. The manager of Waterstones then gave the OK for us to take some photos for our various publications.

Rebel With A Heart

Another day, and another famous person visits Nottingham.

This time its been Huey Morgan, front man of the Fun Loving Criminals.

He was at Waterstones today signing copies of the book that he has written about rebels in music. Singers like Billie Holliday, Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix.

It was fortuitous in a way that I had arrived at the bookstore later than I wanted, as I had missed all his adoring fans and more or less had him to myself. So I politely asked if he wouldn't mind posing for a photo or two, which he was more than happy to do.

Artography

Photography takes many forms, from the straight portrait to documentary and street photography. If you've been following my blog for some time, then you would have seen that I have tried them all.

But I came across a new and probably unique form of photography today, when I visited my local Waterstones bookshop.

Howie the artist has taken normal photos of Asian women and then tweaked them in Photoshop so that they look like paintings. He also gives his photos an old sepia look too.

I enjoyed looking at the photos in the exhibition and chatting to Howie about photography. Here's a WEB-LINK to his site, where you can see some more of his fine art photography. And if you have the opportunity, do pop into Waterstones and see the work in real life. You won't be disappointed.

Fragility

I went to the opening of an exhibition tonight, that's only on for a few days at Waterstone's bookshop on Bridalsmithgate.

The work is very colourful as it's made of stained glass and lit by lights; similar to a Tiffany lamp.

Sadly the artist Simon Leivers couldn't attend as he committed suicide in May 2012. He was only 45. Not that age has anything to do with it. Simon had some mental health issues and decided to end it all by drowning in the River Trent.

The exhibition is called 'Into the Light' and is on between now and Friday (18th). It's well worth seeing, as the pieces are so colourful, as you can see from the photo below. Some leaflets are available from organisations like the Samaritans promoting the good work that they do.

Bookshop Bonanza

Our local branch of Waterstones has got this wonderful window display to promote it's range of Christmas titles.

The scene almost accurately portrays the area around the Old Market Square, with its range of Victorian buildings, the Council House, and Greens Windmill out at Snienton.

The only thing missing from the diorama is the market stalls, rides and animated snowmen that have taken up residency there at the moment.

I'm not sure whether we are going to get any snow this year, but I don't think it is going to be a white and silky as the one here.

Crime Does Pay

Wednesday night is Headbanger Challenge night in Blogland, and Richard, our newest recruit has come up with this weeks' theme. He has picked 'through the window'.

Now this sentence takes me back to my childhood when I watched Play School at about 4pm every weekday. And everyday they used to either go through the round, square or arched window, and we'd see a film of something being made, a different country or some such thing.

So I'm taking you through the oblong window to Chester today and this pirate who was standing guard inside a shop; which I just can't remember what it's name was, or what it was selling. Still it makes for something different.

Don't forget to pop over to the other blogs to see how they have interpreted the theme, and enjoy this nostalgic song from the 1930s.


The famous American crime writer Lee Child was in town today, doing a book signing at Waterstones of his latest novel "A Wanted Man'. And he certainly was wanted, as there was a queue a mile long that stretched up the side of the building.
His wrist must really have ached after autographing so many editions. In fact one guy came along with a bag full of his previous novels to sign!

I have read one of his novels so far called 61 Hours. It was a good read too. Quite suspenseful and certainly a page turner. I will probably get this one when it appears in my local library, which I think is about his 12th so far.

I also had a bit of a surprise, as this young lady came up to me and asked if I was "Gailsman". I said I was, and she introduced herself as Eva, and she helped to write the Nottingham Confidential website; of which you'll find a link on my favourite blogs. She said that she enjoyed looking at my blog and thought my photos were great. I said that I found NC very useful for finding out about some of the events that were taking place in the city. So if you are reading this Eva, nice to have met you today and hope to bump into you at the next event.

What A Grey Day

There has recently been a big hoo-har about a novel that's been out for a short while now. The tale is called "Fifty Shades of Grey" by E.L James.

It appears to be a romance, with a liberal sprinkling of eroticism, and from all accounts is very popular with the ladies.

Gail has heard some of the nurses she works with talk about it. Apparently once you pick it up, you can't put it down until it's finished. It appears to have sold more copies than even the Harry Potter novels.

My local Waterstone's obviously feel they are on to a good thing by advertising the fact that they have had a new delivery of some more copies. One at a time please. No need to rush!