Somethings Bugging Me

Giant beetles are on the loose in Cheltenham! Well, not really. Just a creative window dresser coming up with something eye catching for the window of Cavendish House on The Prom. (I told you I had a thing about window displays!)

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Walking In The Air

The subject of today's post isn't the signpost with the pigeon sitting on the top (lovely as it is) but the skywalk in the background. I know many cities around the world have these, some to protect people from extreme cold winter weather others to link buildings together. That is what this one does. It links the Regent Arcade shopping centre with Cavendish House department store. The glass covered walkway bridges Regent Street below and is home to Cafe Roma, a nice place for a light bite or a refreshing drink, as long as you don't mind the passing shoppers and the traffic below!

Do you have a skywalk in your home town?
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Painting and Decorating

You've got to feel for this chap, painting the front of Cavendish House. The strip of black that he is sprucing up stretches the full length of the store front, about 100 feet. And all he had to paint it with was a small brush! When I took this photo he had done about five feet, not much more to go then!
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All Ears

Ever wonder what Mr Spock's brother gets up to on a Monday afternoon? Well, now you know the answer - he plays the recorder on Cheltenhams Prom! I think its safe to say this giant elf is the most unusual looking busker I've seen in town, although I've seen far stranger street performers in London. He seemed to be enjoying himself, as did a couple of toddlers who were dancing around in front of him. I resisted the urge to join in!

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Old Doors

I'll start today's post with my recurring line - not a lot to say about this one. Regular readers will know that in Cheltenham we have a large department store called Cavendish House (Cav, if you're local!) and its all very grand and upmarket, so these doors are definitely not their front doors! These ones are on a dilapidated building, on the road that runs behind the store. The building that holds these doors up is now used as a place that teaches martial arts but I bet that it was once Cav's store shed. Just call me Sherlock!

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In At Number 5...

This busker was good, really good. I'm not sure what the instrument was (Jackie at Glasgow DP will fill us in I'm sure) but the sound was jazz/blues and was lovely. As I lined up to take the photo I noticed the sign behind and it just seemed to finish the photo off perfectly.

That's it for today apart from adding that this post is my 400th post! I can't believe how the time has flown by, and I can't wait for the next 400. I hope you will all be with me.

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Stairs Of Desperation

This photo is a filler. I am short of photos to post, so in desperation I decided on this one from my now empty archive. This staircase is in Cavendish House Department Store on the Promenade. I actually quite like this shot (I was reminded I had it by Ming, who posted a similar photo on Saturday.) Recently I've been finding it hard to find anything I'd like to photograph but I'm off work today and I'm going to town to snap anything that moves (or doesn't!) I just hope I feel inspired. Wish me luck.

Busking To Increase Sales

Sitting on the bench on the Prom (the one where I met Walter and his wife) meant I was in prime position to snap a photo of this chap busking. He was outside the front of Cavendish House department store, a popular location for buskers. The store has all sorts of people passing by and I suppose they make a bit of money there. Unlike most of the other musicians this guy was selling Cd's of his music. He sounded quite good but I'm not sure I'd spend even £3 on one of his Cd's! I think he was being a bit optimistic!

Egg-cited About Easter

I'm not a religious person so Easter for me is about chocolate eggs and a nice roast dinner. The photo today is from the window display of Cavendish House (department store) on the Promenade. I'm hoping to get a nice big chocolate egg, like the one shown! (hint, hint!)

Here are five egg-traordinary facts about Easter Eggs -

1. The egg is recognised as a symbol for resurrection, first used in Ancient Egyptian times.
2. The first chocolate Easter Egg was made in 1873 by Fry's.
3. Around 80 million Easter Eggs are purchased in the UK.
4. The most popular Easter Egg is Cadbury's Creme Egg, with 300 million produced worldwide each year.
5. The UK spends £500 million on Easter Eggs every year.

Happy Easter everyone!

Step Back In Time

This clock, with its swinging sixties style, could (to some) look a little outdated, but to me it has a modern retro feel. Its on the front of the department store Cavendish House, situated in the Promenade.
Not surprisingly this shop facade is not the original one, it was built during the modernisation of the shop between 1962-1966, it cost £800,000 and replaced the 1826 art nouveau windowed frontage. The store Clark and Debenham was founded by the same named gents in 1826, and was soon renamed 'Cavendish House Silk Mercery Establishment', a very catchy name for a shop! Over the next century Cavendish House (Cav, as its known locally) expanded along the Prom, buying up neighbouring shops and houses until it had the longest shop front in town, at around 170 feet. The store now has many different departments including menswear, ladies clothes, shoes, electrical, homeware and the inevitable perfume counters. Its pretty much like all department stores worldwide. But not many can boast such a long history and feature an antique clock of the future!