Maria

Besides having some gargoyles, Beeston Parish Church also has quite a few very old gravestones, like this one from 1877.

Doing a quick Google search on her name, I found out that she was born in 1799 and died on the 2nd August 1877. She was originally from Dublin and employed as a lady's maid. She lived on Dovecote Lane in Beeston.

Face In The Crowd

This rather worn out face has seen a lot since he was attached to Beeston's parish church all those years ago.

I wonder how many weddings, funerals, garden parties and Remembrance Sundays he's seen over time?

I also wonder how he lost his nose. Age, an accident, or maybe sadly vandalism.

He's getting a good head of green hair. A Victorian punk perhaps.

The Sloan Ranger

Gail and I had a dabble today at learning how to paint furniture using Annie Sloan's chalk paint.

A local home furnishing shop called Heidi's was running a three hour workshop on the techniques needed to give new life to old furniture using different paints and brushes, waxes and even a hair dryer to make tired tables, sad seats and boring bookcases more exciting.

It was quite a fun session with Phil the trainer. Besides Gail & I, there were three other ladies in the 'class' and we all seemed to enjoy the experience and knowledge gained.

We were each given a piece of wood and asked to choose a colour. I chose a blue colour and slapped on the colour on a third of the wood. Next Phil gave us all small bowl of white paint which we applied to the middle third. He then gave us a hair dryer and we ran it over the wet paint for around five minutes or so. This made the paint crack.
We then had to choose another colour. So I went for red, as some of the colours seemed to have a French connection, so subconsciously I appeared to have painted the Tricolour.

We then got to use the wax, and rubbing on the dark wax certainly highlighted the cracks and lines in the paint. I also used some sandpaper to give my work of art a bit of distressing to give it an aged look.

On the whole I had a good time, and Gail is now planning to paint all our furniture and anything else that's lying about. Watch out Oscar & Marmalade, as that might include you!

Tuning Into The Red

A really wonderful sky tonight over Beeston as I was cycling home.  By the time I got home, the sky was glowing.

As soon I got home, I rushed upstairs with my camera & took some photos of the multicoloured sky. Of course I took quite a few, as the colours were changing all the time as the sun was setting.

I do like this one with the silhouette of a neighbouring house, with just the chimney pots and TV aerial showing. Ideally, I would have liked a plane to be flying by. But sadly one didn't even though we are on the flightpath for the East Midlands Airport.

A Touch Of Red

I was out in the front garden this morning when I saw this red admiral butterfly land on Gail's car.

Fortunately it was still there when I returned with my camera, so I shot a few frames. As the butterfly had landed on the passenger door window, I kept dancing about, trying to get a shot that didn't have a distracting background in it.

I think I have succeeded with this one, don't you think?

Tuning Into The World

Day two of our break from work, but another day of not clicking my camera's shutter button. So here's a shot that I took last week during a walk along the canal near where I work.

The woman was completely oblivious of anything going on around her as she was so wrapped up with listening to music and texting on her mobile phone.

Two Seater

Well the first day of our week's holiday, and what does it do all day but rain.

So have been indoors all day pottering around.

I didn't really get the opportunity of doing any photography, so here's one I took last week when it was sunny.

Yes, it's another shot from Highfields. I feel quite lucky that I have a good park on my doorstep, although I do wish sometimes that there was more things to photograph, like statues or flowers. Although it does make you look for things to take a picture of. Things that might pass you by, like the shadow that has been created by this bench.

Jones The Steam

Here's a super steam powered model railway layout, that was on show yesterday as part of the heritage weekend celebrations.

I think everyone loves watching trains of all sizes, especially the steam ones, as they portray the romance of a bygone age.  Although for me, I think I prefer old cars.

It was a big layout and took up quite a lot of the space in the hall that it had been set up in.  The enthusiasts had a couple of engines on the go, and the town that they had created was really quite quaint with a few houses, some cars and of course a station.

I watched them go round the track a few times and enjoyed looking at the small plume of steam every time the locos started up. Sometimes there was a bit of water on the tracks, and one of the owners had to rub the track with a cloth.  No wrong leaves on the line in the model world!

Beware The Yellow Peril

This weekend is dedicated to England's heritage, with lots of events taking place up and down the country. Beeston of course is holding a number of events around the town, as it has done since the idea was first suggested.
As I have been going to such things for years, I have seen practically all the things on offer, but this year I was pleased to go somewhere that I don't think has been involved before.

The Boat and Horses pub in the Rylands had quite a variety of things to see and do. I saw a friend of ours who does wood turning and was giving a demonstration of his talent, a local beekeeper who was giving tastings of her home produced honey, a display of some old glass bottles and of course a cake stall.

There was also some female Morris dancers and then there were these three characters. There were a number of people dressed as they would have been in say the 1940s, and these two ladies were certainly enjoying themselves as period housewives. The fellow in the centre was part of another Morris dancing troupe, which I couldn't stay to watch, as I had some more visits to make.

Reflecting On The Week

Well it's Friday, and the end of the working week, and the beginning of a week's holiday for Gail & I.

We are not going away, instead we are staying at home and doing a bit of sorting out around the house. A spring clean in the autumn you might say. Plus I will be doing some gardening, but we might find some free time to go on a day trip somewhere.

On the way back home from work, I cycled through Highfields park, as I tend to do most evenings nowadays. Making the most of the light nights, before the clocks go back next month. I, like most people dread it when the dark nights start at around 4pm and carry on till March. I know it's all to do with the way the Earth rotates around the sun, but I wish it didn't happen and that we got the same amount of daylight everyday of the year. Say 7am to 7pm. So come the end of October it will be dark when I cycle home and the park will be be closed at dusk.

Two Heads Are Better Than One

Here's an example of some good graffiti that I came across, during my lunchtime walk.

The big question is, is it a two headed flamingo, or two flamingos?

Maybe the artist wants to keep us guessing. But my question would be about how long will they be on display before they are painted over?

Purrfect

Spotted this little sign at the market that took place today in the Old Market Square.

Gail and I have double love, as many of you know we have two cats called Oscar & Marmalade. I think they love us as much as we love them. Well they certainly love us when it's feeding time, as Oscar tends to sidle up to us and wrap himself round our legs, while Marmalade just sits down and stares up at me until I follow him into the kitchen.

Six Strings And A Song

You met Emma Blazon-Jones yesterday, so today I'm showing you Joe Barber.

Joe is a blues guitarist and singer, and duets with Emma as Midnight Special.

I've posted a couple of photos before when they have played at the Hop Pole on a Friday or Saturday night.

Wallflower

It's not very often that you see Emma Bladon-Jones without her guitar. But here she is posing with just a wall for company.

Still Life

A quiet day at home today, so to reflect that, here's a photo of a flower belonging to an onion plant that is growing in a pot in the garden.

The stem is quite tall, so not sure whether I should have pulled them out a while ago. Still it makes for a nice plant, and they were only old onions anyway, so we've not lost anything.

Peek-a-Boo

He's young Oscar up to mischief on the stairs. I can see you, you little monkey, it's no good trying to hide behind the bannister. And don't scratch the carpet!

On The Run

A bit of an arty photo today of the trees in Highfields.

I used an old manual lens on my digital camera, and was just playing around with the f stops and shutter speeds. I also employed a bit of camera shake, just a little bit to give it a feel of say being chased or the feeling of not quite being alone, but you can't see anyone there.

Pimp My Ride

You can tell that the kids have gone back to school today, because not only is the beach being dismantled, but the city centre was a lot quieter at lunchtime today.

Highfields was also nearly empty. Only the joggers and students were there. This rocking horse in the playground looks forlorn, and nobody wants to ride him, as all the kids are at home doing their homework. He will have to wait until the weekend before he is turned into Black Beauty, Trigger or Redrum. But for now, he's just sitting there watching the world go by.

Including The Kitchen Sink

The beach in the Old Market Square has been packed away for another year. The sand is still there, but will be removed in the next day or so.

All the big stuff have been taken away. They are just now clearing away the odds and ends, including this sing which came out of the bar or cafe kiosk.

Curious?

Today, being the first of the month, it's City Daily Photo theme day.

The theme this month is Curiosity. I'm not sure whether my photo fits in with the theme, but I only just remembered that it was time, and I didn't want to miss the party.

So is everyone baffled about what my close up is of? Can it be some matches, sweets. A toy perhaps?

No, it's none of these things. It's actually a close-up of the stamen from some ivy. I took it with one of my legacy lenses. Hence the soft focussing and a little bit of flare.

I hope you like it and plan to visit some more daily photo sites, to see what they have on offer.

Marriage Lines

It's a bank holiday for us in the UK today, and of course it has rained all day, which is about normal for us. It's the last one too until Christmas, which is a sad and scary thought.

So I have been stuck in all day, pottering around and playing about on the Internet. Not taken any photos either. So here's one that I took on Saturday in Beeston.

A 1974 Rolls Royce Silver Shadow, dressed as a wedding car for a celebration that was going on at the church nearby. I didn't wait around to see the bride and groom, as I was more interested in the car and I was on my way to see someone.

Obscured By Clouds

There was a full moon last night, a blue one at that.

I took this last night when I got home from the Midnight Special gig.

The sky was peppered with small cloud formations, cirrocumulus, which sadly blotted out the full view of the moon.

Midnight Special

Popped down to see two friends of mine who play under the name of Midnight Special.

Joe usually plays the blues, while Emma does folk. They really work together well and have a great sound, mixing the two styles without hearing a join.

They were appearing at the Hop Pole, a real ale pub in Chilwell that holds lots of music nights. I've been to a few, but I think these guys are the most popular.

The Lion Sleeps Tonight

Who can resist this cute toy lion, with his sly look and smile?

I saw him in a shop window display and the child in me went "ah", and of course I just had to take a photo.

It looks like Leo is in the circus, but he wouldn't look that happy if he was, as circuses are terrible places for animals, with the cruel treatment that they receive to make them perform.

Fortunately animal based circuses are on the way out in the UK, but sadly other countries still have them and don't respect the rights of animals and the fact that they are living beings.

As If By Magic

Roy Bond is a local close-up magician. I have met him a few times now at local Twitter meet-ups that I go to.

He is very good, and I still can't work out how he does his tricks, even though I always tried to watch carefully and closely, and as in my photo, even when he had his sleeves rolled up.

The people who came to the Tweet-ups couldn't work it out either, and were amazed at the results, whether it was a tennis ball appearing from under a small tin cup, writing appearing on a blank card and this mesmerising rope rope trick, where three pieces of rope become one.

Meals On Wheels

On my travels down in Hockley and the Lace Market yesterday with my fellow photographer, we came across this handcart that was being used to grow food. It was there to prove that no matter how small your garden, you could still grown your own, and hopefully organic food.

It had be created by the shop you can see in the background called Ice Nine. They sell all sorts of weird and wonderful things, like clothing, jewellery and gifts.

I don't know if the shop sells this bee wind chime, but he was a cute bit of decoration for the barrow. Just a shame that he was hanging upsidedown.

Facing The Future

Walking through the Lace Market at lunchtime today with a pal from work, we came across a road that was closed due to some building work that was going on.

Whilst my mate was talking to one of the construction workers about what sort of building they were putting up, incidentally some more students flats, I was looking around and what the construction site was like, I noticed this silver face staring at me.

He didn't say anything at all, even when I took his photo. He was a strange looking creature. Not very tall. For a moment I thought he was related to the Cybermen, as he face was silver colour. Then I realised that he was actually the side and handle of an industrial sized wheelie bin!

Sunk

Over the weekend I was reading about some people who had been boating on Highfields' lake and got stuck in the mud at one end of the lake.

Apparently they didn't see the warning sign that is close to where the mudbank starts. So I thought I would have a look at this sign and work out why the boaters didn't see it.

Here's the said sign, and it's not surprising the people got into trouble, as you can't even properly read what the sign says, let alone the small size of it. It doesn't even look like a proper sign, just maybe something that has been thrown in the water.

No doubt the council will now replace the sign with a new, bigger and easier to read one. But surely this is something that should have been done a long time ago.

Jazz. Nice

Here's Jeanie Barton entertaining the audience at the Proms in the Park. Her light style of singing was just right for the early evening concert, that took place in Dovecote Lane Park.

People brought along chair, blankets and picnics, as no seating was provided. It certainly added to the party feeling. There were a couple of burger vans around, if people didn't fancy doing any washing up.

I first knew Jeanie when she was a small girl, as I was involved in a local drama group that her parents ran. We lost touch when I left the group, but met up a few years ago in Beeston.

All Aboard

Phew, I've had a busy day today.

Firstly I took some photos to a local shop where I have a small display, as part of Beeston's week long Arts Trail. Then I went to the launch of the Arts Trail at the White Lion, where I saw a storyteller I know called Melvyn. He plays a character called Professor Popup, but could be an incarnation of Doctor Who.

I then went down to Beeston Marina to see the World War 2 landing craft that is moored there. It was going on a rare voyage along the canal to Nottingham. Instead of taking soldiers, for which it was designed for, it was taking passengers on a trip for which they had paid a fare, which was going towards a couple of local charities. I didn't go on the trip, as I had some shopping to do.

Then this evening I went to Proms in the Park. Jeanie Barton was singing. I wasn't sure whether it would be going ahead, as there was a terrific rainstorm about half an hour before it was due to start. But things were OK and so I popped down to see her. Her family were there too, so I had a chat to them whilst listening to Jeanie.

Wrapping Up Well For Winter

Yarn bombing is a fairly new phenomenon. It was Beeston's turn yesterday evening, as a group of three ladies were decorating the Beeman statue, ready for Beeston's Arts Trail, which starts tomorrow.

Besides giving the statue a crocheted hat and poncho, he also received a fake beard, even though he has one of his own. The accompanying beehive was also bombed by a number of wooly bees.

Beeston sadly woke up to some bad news this morning, as all the knitting had disappeared. An early idea was they had been stolen by people passing by, but the truth came out later in the day; some silly council cleaners had taken them away and put them in the bin. Somehow they didn't realise that they had been placed there for a reason.

 A plea had gone out on Social Media for people to quickly knit some more to replace the ones that had been lost. Hopefully lots of knotting has taken place today, and there will be plenty to see tomorrow.

Ship Ahoy

Today apparently is World Photo Day. The day when everybody is meant to take a photo. But some of us try and take a photo every day anyway. Especially when you have a daily photo blog, that requires a new photo every day.

So here's my small contribution, an old boat that has been painted up and used as a decorative planter. The boat is probably one that used to be paddled on the lake at Highfields, but has become dangerous to use, so instead of chopping it up for firewood, they've recycled it into something useful and pleasing to look at.

Brutal Architecture

No one can really say that this is great architecture. It's part of the Broad Marsh shopping centre, and it certainly is ugly.

Even if it is not a part that is easily seen from the street, I think they should still have taken a bit more care with it. Maybe if they mended the windows thinks might look better.  But there are plans for the whole shopping centre to be redeveloped, so maybe it will happen then.

Secret Squirrel

Another dull day, and another cycle ride through Highfields.

One of the many squirrels that inhabit the park posed for me today, whilst looking for food. Not having a zoom lens on my camera, I had to creep very slowly towards him. I actually had a legacy lens on my Olympus, the Nikon 50mm f1.4D. I moved very quietly too, so that I wouldn't scare him and he would make a bolt for the nearby tree. But he sat there quite contentedly posing for a photo or two, before scuttling off in search of some more titbits.

A Touch Of Pink

A quiet Monday, so here's a shot of one of the flowers that I photographed at the garden centre yesterday. A lovely little pink flower, that sadly I don't know the name of either.

Post Man

We went looking for plants this afternoon at a local garden centre called Bardills, as Gail wants me to update the garden a bit, as it looking a little tired in some places where plants have either died or its looking a little bare.

Of course I took my camera with me to take any pictures of scenes that I come across, like this unusual blue flower, that I didn't note the name of. We had lunch there to start with, before looking around the vast site and at all the different plants for sale.

I just had to take a photo of this 'person' made from wood and resting on a fence. His flowerpot hat just adds to the sense of fun of the character, and would look at home in the right garden. I was tempted to buy it, but resisted. Still we did spend a lot of money on various plants, including lavender, some herbs and a small magnolia tree.

Lucy

I went to see my favourite local band The Madeline Rust tonight at Rough Trade; a record store that opened earlier this year. It was quite an intimate gig, as the space wasn't large, but the devoted audience loved it. As they usually do. The band have quite a faithful following of friends and fans alike.

Here's Lucy, the singer and bassist with the band. Whilst she sports a unique, dramatic look, she's one of the loveliest people I know. Her hubby Gavin, also photographs the band in action, and we often do a sort of photographic dance, as we move around and swap places at the front of the stage, to get different views of the action.

The whole band are great fun to chat to, and I do hope that they get the opportunity of going on to bigger things with bigger audiences, as I think they are as good, if not better than some of the headline bands that are out there these days. But that's just my biased opinion.

Remembering

It's been an awful day today. Just rain, rain and more rain. But there was only very light drizzle by home time, so I was able to cycle through Highfields and see if there was anything worth taking a photo of.

Being a park, there are naturally quite a number of benches scattered about, where people can sit and look at the views, or watch the ducks and swans swimming on the lake. A number of them have plaques on them telling visitors that a loved one enjoyed coming to the park and sitting on that seat.

I noticed this particular seat, as someone had stuck a bouquet of flowers to it to remember the person, a Mike Brown who enjoyed walking through the park with a woman called Susannah.

Orange

A bit of colour on a fairly grey and overcast day.

Saw these growing in a bed in Highfields. Their bright orange colour certainly stood out to me, so I couldn't resist taking a photo or two.

It's raining whilst I am writing this. So does that mean that summer is over for another year?

The Clatter Of Bottles

Anyone over a certain age will remember the milkman. That early morning delivery of fresh milk, just in time for breakfast and the first cuppa of the day.

And of course milko was environmentally friendly, with their electric floats and recycling the glass bottles; the empties. Seeing this old toy milk float in a local junk shop brought back the memories of hearing the whirl of the motor, and the clanking of the milk bottles.

But sadly those days are done, as everyone seems to get their milk from the supermarket nowadays, in either plastic bottles or cardboard packs. Not so green. And also the farmers that supply the milk are not getting such a good deal as they used to. In fact I read somewhere that they actually lose money on each tanker full they supply.

So I wasn't surprised to see on the news a load of Somerset farmers protesting about this in an unusual way. Firstly they led a cow into a supermarket and then they bought every carton of milk in the store and went on to hand it out to people in the street once they had paid for it all. It was quite amusing to see them all load up their trollies. It's a serious matter of course, and there is a public campaign underway to get farmers a better deal, by just raising the price of a pint of milk by a couple of pennies.

Baby You Can Drive My Car

You never know what you may come across in a junk shop.

Looking in the window of my local one, I saw this old and rather battered model car. Clearly a Mercedes from the logo on the front, but have no idea of what model number it is.

It is probably made by Dinky Toys during the late 1950s. The shop was closed, so I couldn't pop in and see it, and dare to ask how much they wanted for it.

I Heart Beeston

This is Stephanie, one of the organisers of the Beeston Bay attraction, that and the other events that have taken place over the last few years.

She works for an organisation called Beeston BID, who's main aim is to promote Beeston as a tourist and shopping destination.

I personally enjoy living in Beeston and getting involved in things that take place; usually with my camera in my hand.

Land Ahoy

Here's a happy looking pirate, one that's around twelve foot tall.

Don't worry, Beeston isn't being invaded by Blackbeard and his gang, it's all part of the Beeston Bay community day.

Besides Cut-throat Jake, there were a number of stalls, both trade and charity, a music stage and of course a beach.

It has been lovely and sunny and lots of people have attended the event at Broadgate Park, and I think have had a whale of a time.

Posing Pussy

Today is apparently International Cat Day, and clearly Oscar is well aware of this, with the way he is relaxing on our garden seat. Laid out like lamb and lettuce, as the saying goes.

Shepherd's Delight

There is an old saying which goes "Red sky at night, shepherd's delight".

Well, we certainly had a red sky last night, but I don't think too many Nottingham based shepherds, or anyone else for that matter would be pleased with today's weather, as it certainly wasn't a delight, being dull, cold and the constant threat of rain.

Lets hope the weather over the weekend will be better.

Quadrophenia

Had a walk through the Park Estate at lunchtime with a pal from work, who is also a photographer, but mainly takes landscapes.

Strolling through the quiet leafy streets, we came across the Mod inspired motor scooter, the type that was featured in the movie Quadrophenia, with music by The Who.