Wreath

I think this Christmas wreath is much cooler than a boring old holly wreath. Modern versus traditional. What's hanging on your front door this Christmas?

Sardines

More terraced houses in the Fairview area of town. This curved row is on a narrow street but isn't as claustrophobic as it looks. A bit of cropping and a tight angle did that!

Instrumental

While I was having a sneaky peak around Pitville Pump Room last week I snuck into a side room off of the balcony. The room was full of these oriental-looking musical instruments, not what I was expecting to find in the Pump Room. Does anyone have any idea what country they might originate from? I have no clue.

In The Red

I know you've seen it all before but Autumn is in full swing (we even had a frost last night) and the trees are looking at there absolute best. This red maple was just crying out to be featured on Cheltenham Daily Photo. Its actually the only decent photo I've taken of leaves with the light behind them. I'm quietly pleased with this one. Over the next few days I'll share some more Autumn photos with you. I know, I know but its not here for very long! Humour me!

Paved With Gold

Just a shot of the paving slabs that make up the Prom, sprinkled with golden autumn leaves. I like the contrast with the colours and textures. I should have used this for theme day!

Sky Watch Friday

Multi-coloured sky

Yes, another Friday, another Sky Watch and another sunset. I just love the colours in this sky. Its just beautiful.

To join in with Sky Watch, or to see the sky the world over, head across to the Sky Watch Friday Blog.

Posters

The Brewery complex in town has been open for about three years and several of the units are still empty. In a bid to try and integrate them with the surrounding restaurants and shops the management are hosting an art competition for local school children to brighten up the boarded facades with posters. Nice idea, in fact its...

Lollipop, Lollipop

Anyone fancy a lollipop? What colour do you want?

Yummy Cakes

For my birthday last week Phoebe made these delicious cakes, and this photo is all that is left of them! Today its Phoebe's birthday, and I'm no master baker, so instead of offering burnt cakes I give a photo of scrummy cakes!

Happy Birthday gorgeous.

Glad Its Green

Mother Nature, with a helping hand from us humans, creates flowers of all kinds and colours. These gladioli are the limiest zestiest colour green imaginable. A real colour punch!

The London Borough Of...

...Cheltenham! Regular followers will know I have a thing for shop windows and the ingenius creativity that goes into creating an eye catching display, and this one is know exception. The window of Monsoon's childrens clothes shop on The Prom really stands out from the crowd. All London captured in cartoon style and looking very trendy and modern, just like the really thing. (Notice the address sign - City Of WestMonster! Made me laugh!)

_

Long Garden

A quick one today, with hangover! Needless to say the beer festival last night was great!

This is the Long Garden in front of the Municipal Offices planted up for summer and bursting with colour. The image of the Council building and the planted beds is one of the most popular postcards in town, it sums Cheltenham up really.

_

The Under Glass

Today's post has been inspired by Petrea at Pasadena Daily Photo. Actually I just copied here but imitation is the highest form of flattery, or something like that! Anyway, when I saw her photos I remembered we had the same glass skylights in the pavement in Cheltenham too, and thought they were worth sharing with you. Basically they let some natural light into the basements below. These examples are on the Prom by the HSBC bank. Most of them have been filled in with tarmac but two still survive. I think they are a really ingenious design feature.

Blooming Lovely

The Town Hall (at a funky angle) in full bloom. Yet again the gardeners behind Cheltenham's parks and gardens have pulled off a fantastic summer display, with yellow flowers at the top end of town, pink and blue a bit further in, and red, white and blue in the town centre. As the summer progresses I'll show you more of the flowers.

The Town Hall looks great at the moment, just in time for the Music Festival, which is lucky as it is one of the main venues for the fortnight long musical extravaganza. We went last Friday night to see one of the first performances, and it was brilliant. We saw The John Wilson Orchestra performing Hollywood Rhapsody, a celebration of film music. The 70 strong orchestra were breathtakingly good, with such a rich sound. They played music from all sorts of films - MGM studio productions, Star Wars, Gone With The Wind and Harry Potter, to name but a few. And the best part was that this was a preview before the orchestra heads to The Proms in London!

_

Colourful Stairs

Colour is everywhere, all around us, even in the simple and boring. Even in a staircase.
_

Marley In Rhodes

I'm back! First things first - once again many thanks to my fellow CDP bloggers who lent photos to appear here in my absence, and thanks to those who continued to visit and comment while I was away. Now, on to the holiday snaps!

We had a fantastic week in Rhodes, staying in the village of Pefkos. Lots of lazing by the pool, eating and, of course, drinking! Today and tomorrow I'll share with you a few photos.

The view from our balcony of the bay towards Lardos.

Colourful beach balls and buckets.

Night time view of Enigma restaurant. We ate here a couple of times and sat on the open roof terraces. Lovely.

Bell tower in the neighbouring village of Lindos.

The Greek sense of humour shines through everywhere, like on this sign outside a bar. Who could resist an offer like this?!

More snaps tomorrow.
_

St Michael Memories

Marks & Sparks, M & S, St Michael or Marks & Spencer. Whatever you call it this retail institution has been a feature on British High Streets for decades. The store started out life as a penny market stall in a Leeds market hall 125 years ago and over the years has grown into one of the most recognisable brands in the UK. To celebrate their birthday M & S held a Penny Bazaar in their stores, with twenty items costing just a penny. Peopled queued on the High Street, waiting for the doors to open, hoping to grab a bargain. The stock was limited (unsurprisingly) and many shoppers left empty handed, but it was a good publicity stunt! Anyway, today's photos show their retrospective window displays. Bright, colourful and full of memories.

As I mentioned yesterday I'm off on holiday next week and I'm planning to do a series of other peoples photos. If you'd like to loan a photo to appear on Cheltenham DP send me an email (address in my profile.) You'll get full credit and a link.

_

Decked Out Chairs

Not much of a seaside view from these deckchairs - they're outside Habitat, over looking the Cheltenham ring road! Nice bright colours though, which contrast with the grey slabs of The Brewery. I wonder if the staff have the usual problems associated with putting up deckchairs when they put them out in the morning?!

_

Windy Fish

Next to the spinning daisy from yesterday was this wind sock fish, and they were both in the outdoor eating area at Pizza Express. They certainly brightened the place up.

_

Spinning Daisy

What could be easier to care for than this flower? No need to feed or water, just add wind!
_