Triangle of Love

This recent street exhibition was all designed by local children of varying ages. They were also made to be lit up at night.

Thanks to all my visitors who were kind enough to leave messages on the 26th, regarding my birthday & wedding anniversary. Even though we were both working, we had quite a nice day and received several cards.

Double Celebrations

Today is a special day for both Gail and I. Besides being my birthday, it's our second wedding anniversary. Two years ago we stood in the Chinese Gardens in Sydney, Australia and said "We do". It was probably the happiest day of my life so far, and despite the odd difference of opinion, we are both very happy.

Can Pigs Fly?

Besides the famous Pink Floyd pig that escaped and flew over Battersea Power Station, such animals are usually seen on farms rolling around in mud. So I was quite surprised to see this one floating around the Old Market Square one evening.

The Write Stuff

Nottingham Playhouse is staging quite a few literary classics during the forthcoming season. We may go and see some of them. I don't know how similar they will be to both the written source and the film versions, or whether any famous actors will be appearing in them.

Mini Ha Ha

I just had to take a snap of this Mini, with its blue paint and decals. I had no idea of what the website was about, so have just Googled it. The company apparently specialises in student party nights, and are in the process of setting one up in Nottingham. Every night in Nottingham seems to be a student night of some description. It makes me wonder how they find the time to study.

I can't say I'm a fan of the new Mini, as it's not the classic design, and was amused to see that it had received a parking ticket.

Stick Em Up

What better way to disguise a boarded up building than to cover up the boards in stickers. Someone has done exactly that to this one in Hockley. I particularly like the sleepy expressions of the insects.

Russian Around

Here's a shot of the name of one of the many bars / clubs that are dotted around the city centre. I was taken by the red neon lights and the "E" being reversed. I did not see inside, so I don't know if the Russian theme continues with the waiters dressed as cossacks!

Pencil Me In

Here's another effect of the Paint.Net software. It's turned my photo of the Nottingham Eye into a pencil drawing. This is the only way I can produce a sketch, as my drawing skills are virtually nil.

If you fancy having a go with this free software, here's a link to their website

Afterglow

The sky had a really firey orange tint to it last night. Which means a nice day today, although as I'm writing this it's foggy and about -5. So I don't know when the nice day is going to start.

Chinese Checkers

I've learning how to use a software package called Paint.Net. It has some different functions to Picasa. One of them is called Polar Inversion. This is an example of what it does. If you are wondering, this is a Chinese dragon from the new year celebrations.

You're As Cold As Ice

Foreigner provides the song title today. Last night was very cold; probably not as cold as some of the other featured DP countries, but cold enough to freeze our small garden pond. I leave the fountain on all the time & this is the result of the water freezing on contact. A very strange, but very artistic result.

China Girl

David Bowie's 1983 hit introduces this picture I took last week at the Chinese New Year entertainment in Beeston. I think she looks quite angelic with her sunshade and faraway smile.

Boop Boop Di Doop

This is the present I bought Gail yesterday. A Betty Boop handbag. Gail loves the saucy 1920's cartoon figure, and I occasionally buy her a collectable. When I saw this, I knew it would make a wonderful Valentines day gift.

If you're wondering, Gail bought me a pot VW Beetle moneybox & a CD.

What did your loved one buy you?

Love Is In The Air

Today, as everyone knows, and as fellow bloggers add their photos to the theme of love, it can only mean one thing; it's St Valentine's Day.
Here's a photo of the present I bought my Gail.
You'll have to come back tomorrow to see what it is.

To everyone who has a love in their life, long may it continue. And to those that are still looking, may it find you soon.

Neck And Neck

Whilst waiting for my dear Gail at the concert hall last Friday, I took a snap or two of these horses, made in the style of fairground rides. I'm not sure why they had been put on the wall, but they certainly made it look more colourful.

The Lion Roars Tonight

Besides the opening of the Big Wheel, Friday saw what was known as "Light Night". Where the council put on various light shows across the city, to attract more visitors. I couldn't get to them all, as we were going to see Boy George at the Concert Hall. But I did snap this illuminated lion. A lot of people were looking at him so I suppose he would be known as a roaring success!

Watch Your P's And Queues

Here is a snap of the first people to go up in the bug wheel, AKA Universe. As you can see, the queue is long with eager people waiting to see the city centre from such a high position.

This Wheels On Fire

Yesterday my fellow Nottingham blogger Zakscloset published a photo of the big wheel in the Old Market Square. Well here's my version, taken slightly later at night. I've found out that to have a go on it costs £5. I'm not sure whether I'll try it out yet.

The Chinese Way

The old Level 42 hit from the mid 1980's introduces Saturday's pictures. Yes, as a treat I am showing you two photos from the Chinese New Year celebrations, that took place in Beeston Square today. The displays attracted a lot of attention, made even better by a rare, warm and sunny day.

Spider's Wheel

Here's a shot of the shadow that the big wheel is casting over some of the surrounding buildings. I instantly compared it to a spider's web, but I'm glad that it's not one, as I'd hate to think how big the spider would be.

Water Wheel

Here's a shot of the big wheel reflected in the Square's water feature. The workmen have almost finished putting it together ready for the grand opening tomorrow.

The Big Wheel

Back to work yesterday after our trip to Dubai, and I was keen to see if anything had changed in the city centre. Imagine my surprise when I came across this fairground ride being constructed in the Old Market Square. A long time ago, the annual Goose Fair used to be staged in the square before it was moved, but I don't think they had any rides as tall as this one.

More 4 x 4s By Far

With petrol at around £1 a gallon. Yes, that's right, a quid a gallon, people can afford to run a Chelsea Tractor or two. And Dubai is full of them. It seems like every other vehicle is either a Landcruiser, Rav 4 or Patrol. Hummers seem popular as well. Here's one I took outside the Burjuman Centre that belongs to a local radio station.

More photos from Dubai on my other page.

Tower Of Song

Another song title introduces today's photo. This time by Leonard Cohen. I expect there will be much singing when the Burj Dubai is finally completed, as it will be the tallest building in the world. It is estimated to be 800 meters tall when it's opened sometime this year. As it's so tall, I had to chop a bit off the top so you could see the base, or footprint which is one of buzzwords of the moment.

Flight Of Fancy

Here's one of the many shots I took during our 30 minute flight over the city. This one shows the Burj again, standing on its own manmade island. Beside it is the Jumeriah Beach hotel, with its distinctive wave shape, and behind them both is the beginnings of the little private islands that make up the development known as 'The World'. Some are still for sale. So if you want to live next door to actors, sports stars and other people with more money than sense, offers please around the £5-18 million mark!

Blue Is The Colour

Here's probably the most famous landmark in Dubai; the Burj Al Arab hotel. They've self rated it as a seven star. It is a bit OTT inside, but looks fantastic from the outside. During the night, it changes colour. Here's its blue period.

Things will change in the near future when the Burj Dubai is finished. It is reported to be the tallest building in the world. I will be showing a photo of it from the air, as we took a helicopter ride over the city today. Expensive, but great fun.

Hello From Dubai

I've been hoping to post a photo everyday since we got here, but the Internet has been a little erratic & it's not always been easy getting a signal, but here's my first post.

This is not me in disguise by the way, but one of the performers at the Festival Village shopping mall, bringing a little light relief to all the shoppers. They are past of the 2008 Shopping Festival, a month long heaven or hell, depending on your point of view of spending money.

We're All Going On A Winter Holiday

Tomorrow, Gail & I head off to Birmingham Airport to catch a flight to Dubai. We can't wait, as we haven't really had a proper holiday since Turkey last May. We unfortunately won't be staying in this hotel; the 5 star Mina A Salam, but something more modest (and cheaper). Hopefully I will still be able to do a daily post. In the mean time there is my Dubai photo page to keep you going.

A Horse With No Name

Here's another photo from Ross on Wye. A nice sunny day. Very rare for this month, and so an opportunity to take a decent photo for a change. I wonder when the sun will pop its head out again?

Skating On The Thin Ice Of Life

A classic Jethro Tull song title introduces todays photo. The Christmas skating rink in the Square finished on Sunday & this week the workmen have spent every day dismantling the rink, changing room & spectator stand. I have no idea how they got rid of the ice. Perhaps they chopped it up into cubes and sold it to all the local pubs and clubs!

The Golden Shot

Not a reference to an old British television game show of the 1970's, but my snap of the sun going down over the Forest of Dean. I think I've been very lucky with this shot, as I took it quickly whilst I was waiting at the traffic lights. No time for composing, as I had one eye on the red light.

No Pulling The Wool Over His Eyes

Today has seen the arrival of the first farmer's market of the year. To inform people about buying good, locally grown food, rather than the stuff that has been transported hundreds of miles in a refrigerated truck, a kiosk had been set up. And to help publicise this, a pen of some sheep were on display. I don't know what the breeds were, but they weren't the usual sort you find in fields.

Signs Of Future Past

Back in the 'good old days' before television, advertising signs used to be colourful and made of tin. You used to see them everywhere screwed to shop walls etc. Whenever they're seen, people feel a certain nostalgia for those more simpler times. This owner of this Ross on Wye seems to share this view, from the number of signs displayed on the front of his store.

Water, Water Everywhere

I have just come back from an overnight visit to Ross on Wye in Herefordshire. The drive down was really awful, as it rained all the way there & the spray from the motorway meant that I was driving through a car wash. Fortunately it had stopped by the time I arrived at the little tourist town. I had a wander around taking photos of anything & everything. I took a walk to the River Wye, and as you can see it is flooding the immediate area. Lynn from Cheltenham DP has been detailing what effects the flooding is having on the nearby county of Gloucestershire.

Show's Over

The other day, Marley on the Cheltenham site showed an empty disused Odeon cinema. So here's Nottingham's version. It shut several years ago, with the introduction of a Multiplex called Showcase. There were plans to build a hotel on the site, but they have been withdrawn. The Beatles too played there in 1964 and mile long queues formed in 1977 when Star Wars arrived.

Hotel Hell

Here's Nottingham's latest hotel. And isn't awful? I have no idea why they've made the top look like a Portakabin. It's certainly not in keeping with the rest of the area, which borders the Lace Market. It's another example of bad, sloppy architecture. See Jackie's Glasgow page, for an example of what architecture could and should be like.

A Bookworm's Heaven

On Friday, Nottingham's main library held a massive book sale. There were thousands of books of all kinds for sale. All between 50p & 80p, with 3 novels for £1. They were also selling of a large quantity of classical vinyl records (remember them?) for 50p each and a few CD's at a pound a piece. It was packed with people picking over the goods on offer. I was there for over an hour & ended up buying 1 book, 2 LPs & 2CDs.

No Skidding!

Yesterday was another awful day, full of rain and cold winds. The ice rink was deserted, as people either stayed in their offices, or just popped to the shops. So this guy on his ice smoothing machine had the whole of the rink to himself. I don't know if he was actually working, or just doing something to pass the boredom.

Under My Umbrella, Ella Ella

The recent number one song from Rihanna, instantly sprang to mind when I saw this couple in the rain looking at the new water feature in the Market Square. There was nearly as much water falling from the sky yesterday as flowing from the fountain.

Please can we have some decent weather.

Hotline To Love

Hey girls, how would you like this pink telephone in your boudoir? With your boyfriend or husband calling to say how much he loves you!

Well he can go and buy you one from the Tokenhouse, a card and gift shop on Bridalsmithgate, who are promoting Valentine's Day a little early.

Snow Joke!

When I went to lock up last night, I was surprised to find that we had a small flurry of snow. Not wanting to miss a photo opportunity, I grabbed my camera & took a few shots. Especially as Nottingham had missed out on the snowfall at the beginning of the year.

The Watcher Of The Sea

Worn away by the salty sea air, this wooden reminder of an earlier time stands and watches the tide ebb and flow. Dogs and small children run around its base, and the odd seagull will perch on its head. How many more years will it look out to sea?

Knock Knock, Who's There?

I spotted this rather ornate and charming door knocker on one of the small cottages that we walked by in Rye. I think she must be a mermaid, and the scallop knocker finishes it off just right.

The Hills Are Alive With The Sound Of Cobbles

Here's a shot of one of the many streets in Rye that are cobbled. They make a nice change from the usual black Tarmac, although they can be a bit rough to walk on. Rye is quite hilly in places, and is full of these little lanes.

Back In Time

I've not been very lucky at all with my photography this week, as I haven't managed to find anything interesting or new to take. Also the days have been that dull and overcast that everything looks so bland. The ice rink in the Square should be taken away shortly, so there will some more action going on.

So to give you all something to look at, here's a photo from Rye, which is a very old town on the Sussex coast. We went there in August to see some old friends of mine. I had not been before & was surprised how picturesque it is. There are so many photogenic buildings, cobbled streets and the River Rother. A shame there isn't a daily photo site from there, as it's quite an inspiring place.

Keep That Frequency Clear

Here is a road sign on University Boulevard that is promoting all the local radio stations and where you can ring up for information about the state of the roads. There are a few of them dotted around, and I suppose provide a useful service to drivers that are new to the area, or just passing through.

Spend, Spend, Spend

The January sales are in full swing now & people are taking advantage of the savings to be found on almost everything. The shops are full of bargain hunters, as this scene in the Victoria Centre illustrates.

It's always seemed strange to me that you can buy something on Christmas Eve for say £5, only for it to be worth 99p a day or two later. Perhaps people ought to buy all their Christmas presents after Christmas, and in that way they'd save a fortune.

Five Swans A Swimming

Cycling home from work on Monday night, I passed this family of swans out for an evening's jaunt along the canal. So of course I had to stop and take some shots. Don't worry, they were photographic and not lead.

Picture Of The Year 2007

The new year has finally arrived and so I'd like to wish all my visitors and fellow bloggers a happy and healthy 2008.

For my photo of the year, I like to show you this one again which appeared on Nov 27. I know I said that I don't like taking photos of people, but I was quite pleased how this one turned out and certainly works better in black & white. Ideally the background wouldn't be so cluttered. But all in all I'm happy with it and might try taking more pictures of people this year.

One of the problems photographers face in England these days is that they are viewed as either deviants or terrorists. Taking photos of children is more or less deemed illegal and in London especially, the Police often stop and question people that are taking pictures of famous buildings, just in case it's the next target for a bomb. Other countries are more relaxed, and we've seen some excellent photos last year from other DP sites that display humanity in all its forms. And long may it continue.

To see examples of their best work, please visit their sites through the links below:
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