High And Thai

One of the girls that I work with is celebrating her birthday on Sunday. She is one of these people whose birthdays last a week, as tomorrow she's organised a 'ladies lunch' which Gail is going to. Men are banned!
Today, some of us went out to a local Thai restaurant, who do a nice lunch menu for £5. I had chicken and noodles. As ever I had my camera with me, so I took a couple of shots of the frieze's that were dotted around the walls. As you can see, they are really effective 3D images that look like they are carved out of stone.

Heavy Plant Crossing

For the past couple of days there has been a number of stalls in the Old Market Square. It has been selling different foods, clothing and trinkets of various kinds. A stallholder had a large selection of plants for sale. They were a number of these spiky plants. I managed to get into the right position with my camera to make it appear that there are some giant palm trees growing around.

Citrus Cooler

Headbanger Wednesday again and this week's theme is 'what makes me chuckle'. So I bet you are wondering why I've put a photo of four candles up. Well the reason is in the sentence; "four candles". It's the title of probably the funniest sketch ever, created by Ronnie Barker for The Two Ronnies. I won't spoil it for you, but you can see it on YouTube here.

Tonight's picture is a clue to another fantastically funny sketch. This time from the BBC's "Not The Nine O'clock News". If you can work it out from my photo, then you've obviously seen it a few times. For the more puzzled amongst you, here's the YouTube link.

Licky Mouse

I think everyone likes to hear the sound of the ice cream van, as it trundles around the streets with a tune blasting out to attract some custom. I don't know what it is, but ice cream out of a machine tastes a lot better then the block in the freezer. I'm not sure if it is down to the continual churning, or the fact that its soft as it comes out of the tap and into a cornet. Not forgetting the Flake.
The world's favourite cartoon mouse loves ice cream too. As well as dressing up as Robin Hood!

Stag At Bay

Besides the hall, lake and various events that go on in the grounds, a number of deer also call Wollaton Park their home. Here's one of the stags enjoying the pleasing shade from a tree. I was cycling through the park when I saw his antlers above the grass. So I quietly got off my bike and pulled out my camera. Fortunately I had my zoom lens on, so got snapping before he realised and came charging after me. Not exactly the Serengeti, but exciting enough for me.

Get Me To The Church On Time

To celebrate American Independence Day, here's a photo of a Ford V8 Pilot. Ford of course is the famous American car company founded by Henry Ford. You may remember he said that "You can have any colour as long as its black". Fortunately this is a nice shade of green, and the white walled tyres went well with the bride's dress.

Voice Of An Angel

This young lady is Ellie Keys. She was one of several very good singers, dancers and musicians that entertained the shoppers this afternoon in Beeston Square. The show was created by the Broxtowe Youth Factor, an organisation designed to show everyone that the majority of teenagers are doing something useful with their lives and not hanging around on street corners, drinking cheap cider or getting into petty theft.

Flying High

Well, you wait ages for a flying motorbike, then two arrive at once. I took today's example in the Old Market Square tonight, at exactly 20:10. This particular daredevil was one of four who were showing everyone stunts in readiness of performing at Battersea Power station on August 14th. They are called the Red Bull X Fighters, and as expected, they are sponsored by Red Bull, which is a type of energy drink.

The stunt you can see being performed here is called the Hart Attack. Which is quite apt, as I'd be too frightened to try anything like that.

Not Exactly British Airways!

So you love flying, but don't like spending hours in a crampt and hot aeroplane. Here's the next best thing. A flying motorbike. Feel the sensation of freedom from the saddle of a Yamaha. One drawback though is that you only stay in the air for 30 feet at a time. So going anywhere will take weeks, and of course riding over water is impossible.

Horse Guards' Parade

Another Wednesday, Another Headbanger Challenge. This week the theme is 'Home is Where the Heart is'. My suggestion is Sydney Harbour. Naturally I love my Gail, and my heart is always with her heart, but we both love Sydney and we would immigrate there tomorrow if we had the chance. Alas we are too old for them and wouldn't have enough points for the authorities to let us in. So we can just dream and try and save up enough money to have a holiday there again.

Today's main picture is of another re-enactment group. This one specialises in pretending to be the 16th Lancers. Some others in the group dressed up as Queen Victoria and her 'servant' John Brown.

Plain As A Pikestaff

Another group that like to dress up in costume are The Sealed Knot. Here they are reenacting one of the many battles between the Roundheads and the Cavaliers that took place during the 1640s. Nottingham has a strong connection with the English Civil War, in that it was where King Charles II raised the Standard near the castle in 1642. The smoke you can see comes from reproduction cannons, which look very effective.

Guard Of Honour

Here's the memorial I was telling you about yesterday. Quite a simple design. If you blow the photo up, you'll be able to read the inscription. On the other side, a plaque lists how many were injured, killed or lost in action during the D-Day landings and subsequent battles. In total 2144 men were involved.

Over There To Over Here

I spent most of today at Wollaton Park. It was the Veterans Weekend, where people get to dress up as soldiers through the ages. And very good they were too. I went last year, and I think I told you then that Wollaton Park was used as a base by some American soldiers from the 508th Parachute Infantry of the 82nd Airbourne Division as they prepared for D-Day in 1944. Today a memorial stone was unveiled as tribute to all those that made it and those that didn't.

It's All In The Angles

Bit of abstract today, basically as I haven't got anything else. I quite like the bronze of the Nottingham Contemporary, and how it contrasts with the blue of the sky. Although it is a genuinely ugly building, and probably one of the worst in the city centre.

Voice Of The People

Flyover pylons seem to be a good target for graffiti artists, going on the amount of spraying that we found when we went shooting on Tuesday night.
Some were just scribbles, but this one is almost poetry. It makes you wonder who actually runs a city, politicians, the police or criminals?

An Angel In The Night

Here's a photo of Amber, the other model who put up with us on Tuesday. Here she is standing in the tunnel that allows people to reach the other side of the flyover. I used my camera's flash, as the other guys were hogging the strobes. Not a bad shot I think, considering that I very rarely use any flash at all.

Model Opportunity

Last night Gail and I went shooting models again. This time we went to an unusual location; underneath a flyover. The main A52 heading east. It was quite eerie, and all the legs of the road had been sprayed with paint. Here's one of the models posing for us.

Tonight is of course Headbanger Wednesday. This week's theme is bugs. There are lots of creepy crawlies to look at the other gang members' pages. My suggestion is the 'Lesser Numbered Beetle'. Also known as 'The Love Bug'. They come in many colours, and are seen all over the world. They originally came from Germany, but now they are mainly bred in Mexico.

Dead Or Alive?

Some of the ladyboys opted to be boys, rather than ladies last night, as this interpretation of Michael Jackson shows. He actually looked quite realistic in some positions. Although his skin is a lot darker than the real MJ. He performed a few of MJ's best known songs, including Thriller.

More Than A Woman

Tonight Gail and I went to see a very unusual show that's on this week in the Old Market Square. It's called the 'Ladyboys of Bangkok'. I wasn't really sure what to expect, as I have no experience of cross-dressing etc. But the tickets were free. They put on a quite a good song and dance show, with a bit of comedy thrown in for good measure. Nothing like your 'end of the pier' shows of old. One or two of them did look a bit like Ting Tong from Little Britain, but some of them could quite easily pass for women, as my photo from their version of "Summer Nights" shows.

Gloves For Foxes?

My good friend and fellow blogger Imac has put some photos on of a foxglove that he shot in the gardens at Belton House, which isn't too far away from where he lives with his DW.

Strangely enough, I took some photos of the foxglove that is growing in our garden. I've gone for more of a dramatic 'Beanstalk' view, rather than a close up of the flowers themselves.

I'm curious to know whether foxes do use them to keep their paws warm?

Moon Madness

As a new moon appeared in the sky this week, I took the opportunity of seeing what a photo of it would look like through my 400mm lens that I bought from Ebay a while back. As its such a long lens, there is an attachment on it so you can screw it to a tripod. I took several shots of the Moon, and this is about the best one. I think it looks OK, considering I'm not NASA or the Greenwich Observatory.

Sleeping Beauty

I haven't shown you our little Marmalade recently, so here's a shot of our pet cat, doing one of her favourite pastimes; namely sleeping. Her other hobbies include eating and being stroked on the back of her neck. Her eating habits have changed. She's getting very fussy these days. She's starting to turn her little brown nose up at some food we put out. She still eats it though when she knows there's nothing else on offer.

Al Fresco

When there are no seats available to eat your hot jacket potato, the only thing you can do is sit on the grass or in a doorway. And that's exactly what this student has done. I know she's a student because she's very close to Nottingham Trent University's buildings in the Lace Market. I think I've told you before that I started my working life there 30 years ago. It was a busy area, as there were lots of factories there and vans used to go around all day long. Now it is dead, except for students coming out at lunch times to buy their jacket potatoes.

Hot Gossip

Another Headbanger Challenge, and this week it's my turn, so I've chosen communication. There used to be an old joke about how news travels; telephone, telegram and tell a woman!
For my headbanger picture, I've gone for the life cycle of a letter. The original form of communication, before phones, computers and email took over. Spending some time writing to friends, keeping them up to date with events, sending cards, or just saying I've not forgotten you.

Not much chance of passing on any information by phone from these boxes, unless you want to see the sparks fly. If you're lucky you'll just get a crossed line.

Casey Jones Jr

Sunday's Mini meet was at Wicksteed Park, which is a combined camping and amusement park. It's been around for over 80 years now. Two people I know went there when they were kids. Here is a shot of the mini steam railway that goes around the lake and parkland, which I have given a bit of a tweak in Picnik.

At The Other End Of The Scale

Well yesterday I showed you what is probably the worlds biggest real Mini. Now here's the smallest!
What this company has done is chopped the middle out of the car. So the front is the same as a regular Mini, while the seats and boot belong to the back of the car. Great for parking, as you'd be able to drive in sideways on into the space.

Not A Mini Mini

This weekend Gail and I went to Wicksteed Park in Kettering, for our first Modern Mini show. I have never seen so many different coloured and designed Minis in my life. There must have been a couple of hundred there, including some classic types that had been lovingly looked after.
By the very nature of the word, I bet you all though Mini's were small. No so this one we came across. Just the thing for those hen parties and school prom parties. It was for sale too, at a shade under £50k. Gail said that if she had the money, she would buy it. Trouble is, I don't think we could manage to drive it up our street!

Swan Song

As it was lovely and sunny cycling home from work, I took a detour through Highfields. Fortunately I came across this swan and her five chicks who looked like they were being instructed in the art of underwater food spotting. I do hope they passed.

They Couldn't Afford A Flagpole

Whilst I was out at lunch, some council workers with cranes were finishing off hanging this gigantic flag over the front of the Council House. I have no idea what it is made of, but apparently it is 18 metres wide, and 8 metres high.
Unless I come across anything unusual or worth reporting, this will be my only World Cup orientated post. I have no interest in football whatsoever, so I will not be mentioning it at all over the weeks that it is on.

Getting Into A Good Habit

Last night I went to a rehearsal of a play that I will be in next month. I am playing one of the monks who lived in a priory which was destroyed by Henry the Eighth, and two of the monks were executed for not accepting him as the head of the church.
We will be performing at the actual priory ruins, which will be quite exciting. Here's the memorial to them.

Reminds Me Of The Sun

Well summer seems to be over for another year. The usual rain has returned. It lashed it down this afternoon. Just like a monsoon. I've not taken any photos since Sunday, so I am getting withdrawal symptoms of not pressing the shutter button.
So here's a raid on the archives. Only taken three weeks ago. But seems a like a lifetime ago.

Step In Time

A happy couple walking in the rain through Wollaton Park. Perfectly in tune with each other.

If Only I Was Barbie..

Then I could buy this bubble gum pink Fiat 500. But as I'm a man, I'll keep to my rugged black one thank you. Apparently they are only making 500 of these, which to my mind is 499 too many. It's going to have to be a certain special sort of someone to drive one of these. Don't get me wrong, the Fiat is a great little car, and maybe it wouldn't look too bad on a bigger car, but on the supermini, it looks a bit like a boiled sweet.

Ski Sunday

Well it stayed dry enough for Gail and I to visit the motor show at Wollaton Park. We saw our neighbours' Mini on the Notts About Minis stand. Gail got chatting to a couple who had some little dogs that she liked, and I took quite a few photos of the different cars on show. Although not as many as in previous years. I was particularly taken with this mascot. It belonged to an old Alpine that had done a run to Switzerland. Hence the skier.
A great shame that modern motors don't have such mascots on their bonnets anymore, as they really make the car into something special. A lady was quite taken with it too, and was snapping away with her camera at the same time as me.

Mini Meal

We met up with some of the gang from the Notts Mini Club tonight at a local pub for a drink, something to eat and a chat. It was a good evening. We will be going to our first Mini show next weekend in Northampton, so we were chatting about that and other Mini matters.
Whilst we were outside, there were lots of flashes of lightening. It continued all the way home. By the time we got back to Beeston, there was an almighty storm, with a monsoon's worth of rain. I hope its nice tomorrow, as we are planning to go to the yearly motor show at Wollaton Park.

The Road To Nowhere

Here's a shot of the road that I took whilst Gail was driving her beloved Mini. We weren't going anywhere in particular. Just cruising around whilst the sun was setting. It's harder to do these days with the price of petrol. Fortunately Gail's Mini uses diesel, so we can go a bit further for the same price.

Attack Of The Cyberman

I had to have another day off work today, as I'm still full of cold and my cough has developed into more of a bark. Gail is feeling slightly better, but we are both still fighting over the box of tissues.
As it was a sunny afternoon, I sat in the garden, hoping that the sun's rays might do me good. Looking at the plants and flowers (and weeds) growing around, gave me an idea for today's post.

Flying Around

The week is going really quickly, and so I can't believe it's Wednesday again and the Headbanger Challenge. This weeks' theme is 'in the sky'. Well two years ago, Gail and I were literally doing that, as we went for a balloon ride over the area. So my picture is what I saw from the basket as we were sailing over the Nottinghamshire countryside.

On the subject of flying. Does anyone recognise what this strange looking insect is? It was attracted to our security light a few nights ago. It was bigger than a bumble bee or moth, and has got those strange 'feathers' on its feelers. Fortunately it stayed still long enough so I could take a photo of it. We made sure that we kept the back door closed, as we didn't want it flying around inside our house.

Concrete Overcoat

Here's something you don't see everyday, a bus disguised as a cement mixer. Well that's exactly what this local company have done to this city based bus as a way of advertising its presence. I'm sure it's a bit disconcerting for both passengers and other road users, as everyone tries to work exactly what sort of vehicle is being driven.

Old Rockers Never Die

I think Jethro Tull were wrong to say that "You're too old to rock n roll", going on the performances this afternoon of these well known singers from the 1960s; Cliff Bennett, Steve Ellis, Chip Hawkes and Chris Farlowe. All were very well known 45 years ago, and its good to see that they can still belt it out at an average age of 63.
Although my cold (I'm too modest to call it man flu) is getting slightly worse, I decided to make the effort and go and see something of the City Pulse festival. I'm glad I did, as both groups 'The New Amen Corner' and 'Animals and Friends' were very good and kept the audience singing and dancing to lots of great songs from a bygone age when things were much better and people were a lot happier.

Don't Fence Me In

I was planning to visit the City Pulse music festival today, which is happening in the Old Market Square. But I have caught Gail's cough and cold, so didn't really fancy venturing out very far today, even though it has been warm and sunny. Unlike yesterday, when it rained all day long. I fancied going today, as Imelda May was playing, and she is meant to be very good. So it would have been great to see her live. If I'm feeling a bit better tomorrow and the weather holds up. Although it never does on bank holidays, I might have a go, as there are some good bands on, including a facsimile Beatles band, the Amen Corner and the latest version of the Animals.
Here's one of the workmen putting up the fencing to keep the audience in order.

Watching the Watcher

As it was sunny yesterday evening, I thought I would spend a bit of time in the Old Market Square after work, and see if I might come across any interesting characters. Quite a few people noticed this rather leggy lady walking through; especially one of the guys who was helping to put up the stage for this weekend's music festival.

Worzel Gummidge Never Dressed Like This

Nottingham Castle isn't renowned for having that many crows in its grounds. Quite a few pigeons, but not crows. So I was quite surprised to see this rather psychedelic scarecrow the other day. It would certainly be a brave man to wear that tie, let alone the shirt. No wonder the crows have stayed away!

The Further They Are, The Longer The Lens

A parcel was delivered to me at work yesterday. And boy was I excited. It was a new lens that I had won off Ebay. It is a Tamron 400mm and has it's own hard leather case. It looks absolutely mad on my camera, as its 12 inches long, and comes with a tripod attachment. I took it for a trip to the castle for a test. You get a good view of the surrounding area from there. This block of flats is about four miles away in Clifton. But through the lens it looks like it is next door. I'm quite pleased with it, although the photos look quite soft. I wanted to take a photo of the Moon last night, but it was raining.

Treemendous

This week's Headbanger Challenge topic is trees. My submission is of the gateway to Southwell Minster. Saturday was a lovely sunny day and so the sunshine had bought out all the different colours of the stone archway and the flowers on the tree.

Today's posting is of a similar theme, as you're seeing some trees through the remains of a window frame at Beauvale Priory. Taken late in the evening, as the sun was fading.

Now That's What You Call A Feather Duster!

Besides photography, one of my other interests is amateur dramatics. At the moment I am involved in an open air production that will take place in the summer at the ruined Beauvale Priory in Eastwood. It's based around some true events that took place when Henry the Eighth was king, and I'm playing one of the monks involved. The priory is in the grounds of a working farm. We all went to have a look at it late last week. There's obviously not much left, but it has been the subject of a recent restoration programme. One of the residents of the farm came out to see us.

Hidden Treasures

A new shop has opened up near the railway station. Only this one is a bit special. Everything on display is free. Yes, a shop where you don't have to put your hand in your pocket or purse. Which these days can't be bad. Nothing is new by the way, just stuff people do not want anymore. It's what recycling is all about. They like it if when you pick something, you give a donation. If only to help with the running costs.

Midnight Train To Nottingham

We went to the Attenborough Nature Reserve last night to try and catch the sunset. Unfortunately we missed it by a smidgin, but we took some photos anyway. The main Nottingham to London railway line runs past the reserve. Fortunately I was in the right place at the right time and managed to get this reflective shot of a train returning from somewhere.

Dreaming Spires

As it was so sunny and warm today, Gail and I took a ride out to Southwell. It's a small market town that's famous for its minster. Here's a shot of the twin towers that it has, together with an appearance from the Moon.

Who's Looking At Who?

Spotted this car mascot whilst coming back from the Attenborough Nature Reserve last Sunday. It's a strange looking creature. His name is Red and that he and his four equally odd looking puppets advertise Vauxhall cars, with the slogan 'C'Mon'.