A Little Romance

It's my turn this week to provide the Headbanger Challenge. After some thought, I've gone for that wonderful subject of romance. I think just about everybody likes a bit of love in their life, no matter what their age. For a touch of romance last year, I took Gail away to London for Valentine's weekend. We went up in the London Eye, a walk along the Thames and a trip to the theatre to see Dreamboats and Petticoats, a love story set in the 1950s.
My photo shows a couple who are in love and are not afraid to show it in public. It reminds me of the famous photo by Robert Doisneau. Only mine wasn't posed!

Love was in the air on Monday, as the Council House was being used as wedding venue. Alas I missed them coming out of the council building by mere minutes. But I did manage to capture the white Rolls Royce wedding car, as the happy couple were being driven off to their reception.

Don't forget to pop over and see how the gang have interpreted my theme, and enjoy this musical interlude.

The Chef's Special

Earlier this evening I went along to my local Waterstones bookshop, as well known TV chef Rick Stein was signing copies of his new book about Spanish cooking, which accompanies his new series on BBC2. When I got there, there was loads of people waiting to have their books autographed. The queue had stretched around the corner of the building. I hoped that I would bump into my friend Phil, who I know is a devotee of the culinary master. But I had missed him. You can read about Phil's experience on his foodie blog
Due to Rick's popularity, one of the store assistants that was organising things, said that just had a couple of minutes to take my photo. So I quickly rattled a few shots off. How I wish that I had a 'press card'.

I Talk To The Trees

When I had finished up at the farm, I took the long winding country lane back to the main road. There are walls and hedges on both sides of the lane, but every so often there is a gap, due to there being a gate into the fields. Also the lane is quite high up, so you get a good view of the vista below. Here's the classic tree in a cornfield shot, which I am sure that practically every photographer has taken at one time or another.

My Little Red Rooster

Beauvale Priory is situated in the middle of a working farm. So there are a number of turkeys, ducks, chickens and a peacock roaming around freely. Which is good to see and how farm animals should be treated, rather than cooped up in sheds, which is completely unnatural. To me factory farming is disgusting and should be outlawed immediately.
While Geoff and I were there, the turkeys started following us around, as they were looking for some scraps of food. They stated pecking at Geoff's script and took a keen interest in my camera bag, as I had knelt down to take some pictures of the wildlife. Alas neither were very tasty, so they all went looking elsewhere. Here's a close up of Rooster Cogburn on the hunt for food.

Back To The Past

I was up at Beauvale Priory again today, as I am reprising my role of Thomas Leyghton, one of the Carthusian monks that lived there 500 years ago for the third time. It is not a play this time, but I, and another 'monk' will be escorting visitors around the priory and telling them what life was like for these silent order of monks. I met Geoff, who is playing Prior Woodcock, and we went through the script a few times, just to see what it is going to be like and the route that we will be going. Several other people will be giving tours too, playing different characters of course. It is all part of the Eastwood Festival and will be happening for one day only on July 31.

Lincoln Imp

Today I left the stately hotel and took a drive into Lincoln. I have not been to the city in years. I think my last visit was in 1988. It feels quite a buoyant city with the cathedral, the castle and all the old shops. In many ways I think it is a more appealing city for visitors than Nottingham is. It feels like the council has done more to make the city a tourist destination, with the new waterfront area, with its cinema, bars and attractions. I went inside the cathedral, but you have to pay to look round. As I didn't have a great deal of time, I spent a short time inside. I took this photo of the colour from the stained glass windows that appeared on the floor, which was caused by the sun's rays. For those that don't know, Lincoln Cathedral was used as Westminster Abbey in the film the DaVinci Code. I've not seen the film yet, so when I do, I should be able to spot some familiar sights

A Little Time Away

Branston Hall, like many other stately homes in England, was built for the lord of the manor. But as time went on, some of these grand houses fell into disrepair. Many were sadly demolished, but the lucky few, like this one was bought, restored and turned into either a private house, a spa or in this case a hotel.
This is the back of the hotel, which stands in 88 acres of land. I've tweaked the picture a bit to hopefully give it a bit more atmosphere.

Above And Below The Waterline

My old sparing partner Stewart has picked this week's Headbanger Challenge. And what a challenge. Without having a special camera or submarine, how do you manage to take a photograph of being underwater without getting your camera wet? Well the answer is, go to a special aquarium. And this one in my header is very special, as it is inside a shopping centre in Dubai. Yes really! So you can go and buy your new clothes and see some strange exotic fish, including sharks at the same time.

Less exotic, but just as photogenic are these swans and their babies on the boating lake at Highfields. Disappointed ones as well, as they thought I had some bread with me when I stopped and got my camera out. Sorry. Maybe next time.

For more photos that might sink or swim, pop over to the rest of the gang and see how they have interpreted the theme. Links above.

Talk To The Trees

Another lovely cycle ride through Highfields this afternoon on the way home. The sun was shining and not too many people about now that the university has broken up for the summer. Always on the look out for something to snap with my Nikon. One of the photos I took was of these sunlit trees near the boating lake.

Bespoke Tailoring

Here's another one of the unique wicker art works for flowers that have sprung up across the city. Thanks to Dave for the link on yesterday's photo, but I was planning to do that myself tonight, as I realised that I should have researched the photo before I put it on. Then I wouldn't have sounded so dense and not even knowing what's going on in my own city.
One of the drawbacks of late night blogging I think!

Fashionable Flowers

A number of unusual wicker structures for flowers have appeared across the city recently. They all have a fashion theme. So far I've seen a jacket, a ring, a handbag and this high heel shoe, which aptly has been put next to a women's shoe shop. I will see about snapping them all and try to find out how many there are in the set. I couldn't see any information on the shoe to explain what it is all about and who made it.

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.