H2 Oh No

There was a terrific rainstorm yesterday afternoon, complete with thunder, lightning and hailstones. It was still raining at 6pm, when I was planning to leave work. It was raining so much a man in a rowing boat went past the office!
Anyway the rain eventually ceased and I was able to cycle home. When I got to the university and Highfields, I noticed that there was this gigantic puddle where some cars are able to park. Fortunately no vehicles were there, so I stopped and took some photos of the reflections in the water.

Speaking in Tongues

This Canada goose doesn't seem to like the idea of me taking his photo, as he has stuck his tongue out at me. And I just thought it was the rich and famous that didn't like the paparazzi. How wrong I am!

The Green Moth

Yes my title does sound like one of those comic book heroes. Man bitten by bug, learns to fly and catches baddies with unusual superpowers. Alas nothing so exciting, although I was rather excited at seeing this insect asleep on the back door yesterday morning. I've never seen a moth or butterfly with such pale colouring. It didn't even fly off when I unlocked and opened the door.

Everyday In Every Way

One of our three Stateside Headbangers; Sandy, has come up with this weeks theme. She's gone for 'everyday'. Now this is a theme and a half and no mistake. There are lots of things that happen every day, and plenty of things that people do day in and day out. Whether it is basic stuff like eating and sleeping, talking to one's husband or wife, or reading a novel. Personally I blog every day, much to the annoyance of Gail sometimes! And of course to produce a daily photo blog one must of course keep taking photos. So my Headbanger photo this week is of my Nikon D90. One of the three cameras that I use every day to take that wonderful, but very elusive photograph.

Today's elusive photograph is of a bunch of flowers that Gail received from a friend yesterday. It's not her Birthday, but she is recovering from a small operation that she had to have last week. Gail is slowly recovering every day, but has good and bad days. We both hope that she will be back to normal soon and can start doing some things that she can't do at the moment.

Don't forget to see how the rest of the team have viewed the theme. And enjoy this vintage song from the 1950s by the late Buddy Holly.

Beware The Lion's Mouth

Here's a different shot of the gatehouse to the castle. This lion waterspout is busy tonight, as we are having our first real rainstorm for a couple of weeks. While I am writing this, Marmalade has just come in and rubbed her wet coat up against my legs. The price of love eh!

Dig This

There is some demolition work going on at the Queen's Medical Centre at the moment. They are presently knocking down the nurses quarters, that have been there since the hospital was built in the early 1970s. They will be replaced by a new car park, as the old multi storey one had to be demolished as it was crumbling away and in danger of falling down. They have just about all gone now, and so I thought I would take a shot of this bulldozer standing over the ruins of the destroyed buildings like some victorious Roman gladiator.

Saved For Another Time

Here is a pile of discarded placards from Thursday's demonstration. I expect that they will be stored somewhere, ready for another demonstration against the government and it's plans to make people work longer and for less pension. It wouldn't be so bad if all the politicians announced that they would be doing the same. But of course they won't. They'll still expect to receive thousands of pounds for doing very little.

Power Tower

You may think that I took this photo somewhere in the countryside, as the church tower looks like it belongs in an English village. But you'd be wrong. This is St Nicholas' Church and is in the middle of Nottingham. Just a short walk from the Broad Marsh Centre. It was built in 1678, after the original one was destroyed during the English Civil War. It's only a small church, and I've never been inside, so I don't know if there are anything of interest like statues or unusual gravestones. There are a number of gravestones surrounding the church. Many though were lost when they built Maid Marian Way in the late 1960s.

Holy Smokes Batman

Well I just had to do it. Last night a pal of mine called Lewis and I went to investigate the exciting events currently taking place at Wollaton Park. As many of you know, they are shooting scenes for the new Batman movie at the hall, or now known as Bruce Wayne's gaff. There wasn't a great deal happening that we could see, but everywhere is sealed off, so we couldn't get any closer than the main entrance that was being used by everyone. Various passers by stopped for a while and then walked away. Cars slowed down as they got closer. The people inside then realised that they couldn't see anything and so drove off. It was amusing that a security guard put up an umbrella to try and stop me taking any photos. He just reminded me of the Penguin. Alas we didn't see any of the stars like Christian Bale, Morgan Freeman or Michael Caine, even though we hung around until gone 10:30. But I did take a couple of snaps; one of the vehicles they were using, and a speeding van belonging to Gotham City Movers.
Tomorrow is the last day of filming, then the park is reopened once again to the public. Apparently the city council has received close on a million pounds for the exclusive use of the park. Hopefully it will be used wisely to improve things in the grounds, the reopening of the industrial museum would be good and more facilities or exhibits in the hall itself.

Fighting For Their Future

Right across the country today, many thousands of public sector workers, such as teachers, civil servants and council employees went on strike over pensions, job cuts and the rise in the retirement age. There was of course a big turnout in Nottingham. Estimated at 1200. I followed the march from Trinity Square to the Albert Hall, where they were to listen to a number of speakers. They couldn't meet in the Old Market Square this time because the food festival is now underway for two weeks. But there have been cuts here too, as there doesn't appear to be any famous chefs popping by. But more of that another day.

Expressionism

Dave has chosen this weeks Headbanger Challenge, and he has plumped for 'expressions'. A person's face can produce many expressions, from anger, frustration and fear, to love, pleasure and joy. Those tiny fluctuations in the skin can mean all the difference from being a friend or a potential enemy. Expressions can also mean how a person views, produces or interprets art. The expressionists like Munch, who painted how they saw the world, rather than what they saw. Then there are those stark black and white films from 1920's Germany. All angles and shadows. But there are no angles and shadows on my header photo this week, just joy and laughter, as these friends in the Old Market Square are amusing themselves with photos taken on a mobile phone.

Today's photo also shows an expression. Only this time it is a visual one. These two guys, also in the Old Market Square are enjoying listening to the music. They are expressing their pleasure through waving and pointing their hands in the air, like many people do at concerts. Proving that they belong to the 'tribe', or fans of that particular band they have gone to see.

Please don't forget to see how the other Headbangers have interpreted the theme on their pages, links above. And enjoy the video of Madonna, as she expresses herself from 1989

On The Tourist Trail

While waiting to see ZU2, I was doing a bit of people watching and looking for suitable subjects for my camera. I found this Asian couple worthy of my Nikon viewfinder. Very trendily dressed and enjoying the summer sun. I've tweaked the photo a bit to give it that 1960s Kodak look.

That's Something You Don't See Everyday

This is the tank I showed you on Friday, it and another armoured vehicle were getting a police escort while they were leaving the event at the castle. Only it didn't get very far as the traffic lights had turned red. It's a good job that the gun barrel is quite some way off the ground, otherwise the people crossing the road may have had to do some limbo dancing.

A Bono Fide U2

I was a bit late going to the Armed Forces event today as one of Gail's brothers came over with his partner to see us, and we went out for lunch together. In fact by the time I got to the city centre, the castle was closing, even though it said 5pm on the posters etc. So I wandered down to the Old Market Square, where I caught a U2 tribute band called ZU2. They were very loud and very good. I'm not really a fan of the Irish rockers, but I enjoyed the gig, so did the audience that were standing and sitting in the Square and singing along to some of the more well known tunes. No demonstrations about tax evasion, like the real band received at Glastonbury!
I was happily snapping away with my camera, so were a few others, and the show was being filmed for something or other. This is Russ Ashford who did a fine job of being Bono, while I presume his brother or cousin Richard was a very commendable Edge, complete with wooly hat and a fine line in guitar playing.

Magic Mushrooms

Walking along the canal towpath, I came across a narrowboat that had a shelf full of wooden mushrooms on display. The owner of the boat is a woodcarver and they were on sale. A sign said 'knock for service. Prices start at £5". There were quite a few on display, but I liked this one with an angel or fairy sitting amongst them.

Tanks A Lot

It's the Armed Forces weekend this Saturday and Sunday. This year is going to be slightly different as it is taking place at the castle and in the Old Market Square, rather than at Wollaton Park, where it is usually held. The park is presently closed due to the filming of the new Batman movie. Yes Wollaton Hall is standing in as Bruce Wayne's house! It's a well known secret in Nottingham at the moment. What is not known is whether any of the stars are coming here too, or whether it's just going to be external shots, and all the interiors are done in Hollywood.

I was still surprised though to see a tank parked close to the statue of Robin Hood at lunchtime. There weren't any soldiers about guarding it. But then, how many people actually know how to drive a tank? And anyway, it wouldn't be too difficult to chase it, but maybe it would to stop it.

Target Practice

I was expecting to get very wet tonight cycling home, as there were some very black clouds in the sky during the afternoon, but I was very surprised to see that the sun had come out by 6pm. It was still very windy though, and it was a bit of a battle on my bike. Think the wind won by the time I got home as my legs were a bit like jelly.
As it was sunny, I had another trundle through Highfields, to see if the creative muse had returned. I don't know if this photo works or not. The miniature clock tower of the university. But I think it is a little arty.

White Out

"What's Buggin You" is this week's header challenge courtesy of Lanny. It's certainly a wide theme, and can be taken in all sorts of directions. Obviously creepy-crawlies spring to mind. But for me, it means turning into a grumpy old man. A bit like Rick Wakeman from last week, but without the money and musical ability. Because what's buggin me at the moment is the lack of inspiration for finding worthwhile scenes that are worth photographing. I just can't seem to find very much to get me shooting. I don't know what it is. I walk around every day with my camera, but very rarely do I find something of interest. Maybe I've seen everything in Nottingham now, and that there's nothing new to see. Or maybe the photographic muse of mine has gone on holiday for a while. Hopefully I will get it back soon, otherwise I'll have nothing to put on my blog!
So this week's picture is of a frustrated Gailsman and a blank Polaroid.

Today's blog photo is a bit of a cheat, because while I was sorting out the header photo in Picnik, I tweaked it a bit and ended up with this abstract work of art. It's amazing what you can do to digital images these days, even with free software.

Don't forget to see what my fellow gang members have come up with in this weeks challenge and enjoy this slideshow of street photographs from a Flickr friend of mine called Stephen Wright, who has an amazing ability of being in just the right place at the right time.

That Winning Smile

This is Andrea Bertolini, the winner of Sunday's Superstars International Series race at Donington Park. I was quite lucky to get this shot, as Gail and I were thinking of going home, as we had been a bit disappointed with the day. I said that I'll just take a walk, and see if there is anything happening before we leave. So I had a stroll and came across a number of the cars that had taken part and Andrea, being interviewed about the race. Of course, I didn't know who he was at the time, but took his picture anyway, as I like the way he is nonchalantly holding the winners cup.

Comic Timing

There was a bit of a reunion tonight at the Playhouse, as some of the cast of The Cries of Silent Men got together for a bit of a party. It was good fun and Gail enjoyed it too. Towards the end of the evening I saw Gail talking to a woman who was sitting in the bar having a drink. I went to say hello, as I thought it was someone that she worked with. But it wasn't a fellow co-worker, it was in fact Jenny Eclair the comedian who had just done a performance there and was enjoying an after show white wine.
I said hello and asked her if I could take a couple of photos for my blog. She was very nice and said yes. Word then got back to the gang that Jenny was around, and a steady stream of starstruck came asking for photos and autographs.