Christmas Sparkle

Just a quick one today. Here are some sparkly baubles that are in sparkly bowl on our kitchen table (that isn't sparkly!) I though this photo might help spread the Christmas cheer.

Dusty Lens kindly passed this award onto me (thank you!) and now I'm passing it on to the following 8 blogs -

Terrell Texas Daily Photo
Around Roanoke
Knoxville Daily photo
My Manila
One A Day - Mostly Seattle
Birmingham, Alabama Daily Photo
Miss B In NYC
Fresh Eyes On London

I know that not everyone likes passing awards on, and that's fine. I'm not going to go around announcing I awarded it to you, if you stop by and discover it then it'll be a nice surprise!
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Christmas Blues

As many of you may know the chain store Woolworths has gone into administration, one of the latest victims of the credit crunch. The store has been on High Streets up and down the country for nearly a century, after coming to us from America. It was the place to get those things that weren't in every shop - "try Woolies." Unfortunately shops like Pound Land and Wilkos did it better and cheaper, and Woolies just couldn't compete. By January 5th all of its 815 stores will be closed and the 27,000 employees will be out of work. Not the best Christmas for them.

Sorry for my absence - I've been struck down with the Flu. Feeling better but not 100% yet.

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Sky Watch Friday

Winter Branches

Its Friday and its Sky Watch time! All the trees look like this now, as the longest day of the year approaches and so does Christmas. Not long to go now. I've sent out the cards, wrapped most of the presents, all that's left to do is buy the booze! After all that is what Christmas is about! How are your Christmas preparations going?

To join in with Sky Watch, and to see the skies all over the world, head over to the Sky Watch Friday blog.
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Pampered Pooch

Sometimes being stuck in traffic pays off. It gives you a great photo opportunity! I was stuck behind this van on the one-way system around town on Monday and it got me thinking. What on earth is a dog Hydro Bath?! What is Turbo Drying?! Why do fleas need a rinse?! Why does it need to be a 'heated mobile dog grooming parlour'?! Do they have a radiator in there?! All these questions remain unanswered, unless I get a dog and give Dial-A-Dog-Wash a call! Has anyone out there used one of these mobile dog washers? For their dog, obviously.
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Bird Box Bling

Is this the next version of MTV Cribs? Bird Box Bling?! I think its a catchy title for a TV programme, probably only suitable for bird brains though (groan). Anyway, this caught my eye in the window of Accessorize on the Prom. I know I post quite a few photos of shop windows but I like them, hopefully you do too!

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Fire!

OK, I admit, its hardly a scene from the film Back Draft but it was a bit of excitement, and I had my camera with me! No, its not one of those shops on fire. It was the bin! I was in a shop on the High Street and this panic stricken man came running in, wanting to know the name of the street so that he could phone the Fire Brigade. As I left the store, expecting to see the towering inferno, I was greeted by the sight of a few wisps of smoke coming out the waste bin. I guess that someone had dropped a cigarette in it. I hung around waiting for the Fire Brigade to arrive, camera in hand. I'm sure people thought I was some kind of arsonist, waiting to see the result of my crime. It wasn't me Gov'! Honest!

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O Christmas Tree

You may remember I said about the lack of Christmas lights in Cheltenham, well the Council have at least got it right at the Municipal Offices. I'm not sure if this has anything to do with it being the councillors work place! Anyway, it does look good. The Municipal Offices has had Christmas trees on its balcony at this time of year for as long as I can remember. It brings back childhood memories of going to see the lights being switched on and the times that we couldn't go my mum would take us in the car for a drive round town to see all the twinkling lights. What are your childhood Christmas memories?

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Underpass

The title today says it all really. Although Cheltenham is a lovely place with posh shops and Regency architecture it does have a few rough areas. This graffiti covered underpass is an example of what is common in most towns and cities. I think it adds to the feel of a place and keeps it real. That's today's message. Keep it real.

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Twinkle Twinkle

Some of you may say that this photo is blurred, but I say its soft focus! Everything looks so bright, colourful and festive at the moment - shops, houses, windows, trees - its lovely. These are the lights in the Beechwood Arcade. Yes, I took the risk of being told off by that security guard again. Luckily he was nowhere to be seen. Probably stuffing his face with mince pies. Anyway, the photo looked clear on the camera screen but on the computer it was a different story. I still thought it was worth posting though.

Enjoy your weekend.

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Seeing Double

One of the swans on Pitville Lake. As you can see from another park photo, Christmas and life have got in the way of new photographs.

Although I love the festive season I'll be glad when things get back to normal. One good thing - I've nearly finished my Christmas shopping. Only a few things left to get, to then give to Santa, for him to put into Phoebe's stocking! I have still got Christmas cards to write and post, but I'll do that at the weekend. Best thing about Christmas? The works party! And that's tonight! Ours is at a hotel close by, so I can walk home and no need for a taxi - more money for drink! The downside is going to work tomorrow with a hangover, but we'll all be in the same boat. I guess Friday will be a-go-slow day!
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All White

I had this photo all lined up for the other day and then Lynn at the other Cheltenham Daily Photo got there first! This is The White Company shop on the Prom a few nights ago. The store was closed, there was nobody working inside yet the place was all lit up like a big white (shop-like) Christmas tree! I can understand the need for a few lights being left on for security, but why the whole place a glow?! Anyway, as you can see, the place lives up to its name - all white.

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Golden Globe

Yes, I have been using the focal black and white feature again! There are some photos that just cry out for it, and this was one! This spinning golden globe in the window of SPACE.NK.apothecary, on the Prom, really caught my eye. Basically its what I would call a 'smellies' shop! They sell beauty products and have stores all over the country. I think its safe to say, from looking at their website, that they are quite expensive. So if you've got money to burn, and are looking for an extra special Christmas present, then this is the place for you.

Don't hold your breath Phoebe. Its Wilko's for you!
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Light & Shade

I really like this photo, its simple and yet effective. Its another photo from Pitville Park. I hope your not getting bored of these park photos. I need to get myself motivated to get some more varied photos. I find I'm slipping into a rut again, I think its due to the run up to Christmas. The days seem to be flying by and there are lots of things to do and to sort out on my days off. Anyway, enjoy this photo and I'll do the worrying!

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Big Baubles

These giant baubles were at the new Cabot Circus shopping centre in Bristol. I went there a couple of weeks ago, to be honest I won't be bothering to go again - no shops that stood out for me, only the usual high street stores. Anyway, these baubles were about six feet tall and they were stacked up in a pyramid that must have been about eighteen feet high! Imagine the size of the Christmas tree you'd need to hang them on?! It was a pretty impressive Christmas feature, although I'm not sure what those jets of water were all about!

The photo was taken on my camera phone, so its a bit rough looking.

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Two Moorhens

Another photo from Pitville Park. These two are just a couple of the many moorhens that can be found around the lake. The habitat there is ideal for them - water, long grass and reeds, and plenty of insects, snails and seeds for them to eat. According to the RSPB (The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) website there are an estimated 270,000 breeding pairs in the UK. These breeding pairs are resident birds and they seldom travel far, so once you've got a pair they stick around!

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Sky Watch Friday

Pastel Sky

As I said a few weeks ago the winter months seem to have some of the best coloured skies, from bright oranges to delicate violets. This is a view across the fields towards Chosen Hill, you can just make out St Bartholomews Church on top of the hill.

To see the sky all over the world, or to take part, head over to the Sky Watch Friday Blog.

I hope you have a great weekend!

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Raising The Roof

Now I know what you're all thinking. That I'm obsessed with the renovation of the Regent Arcade shopping centre. Well, its not so much obsession as overly interested! Anyway, those that have been following Cheltenham DP know that the Regent Arcade is undergoing a makeover and that the arched roof is being removed and is being replaced with a flat glass one. After weeks of scaffolding the old roof has started to vanish. This photo was taken on the top of the car park, through the safety fencing, and four storeys below those open arches is the Arcade! To stop the shoppers getting wet there is a temporary roof made from planks of wood and lots of plastic sheeting! To see the roof as it was go here.

I'll keep you posted with the work, whether you like it or not!

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Columns

These are the columns around the Pitville Pump Room, which over looks the park of the same name. The winter sun lit the building beautifully the other day. That's it for today, I think the photos say it all.

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Changing View - December

Its the second of the month and its time for the fourth installment of my Changing View series. Today you get the excitement of two photos for the price of one! I was hoping to have a lovely night shot showing the Prom all lit up with Christmas lights, but the Council being the Council haven't bothered to get them all working. The end result is that a third of Cheltenham's Christmas lights aren't lit. Talk about getting into the festive spirit and encouraging shoppers to the town during these difficult times!

The second photo show the familiar scene yesterday afternoon. As you can see all of the leaves have fallen from the trees and winter has taken hold.

To see how the scene has changed click on 'changing view' in the labels below.
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Theme Day - Circles & Spheres

Its Theme Day time again and what better way to start the week than with a bit of sparkle! I think today's theme is one of the broadest subjects we've had for ages and I found there were loads of things to choose from. In the end I settled for this mirror ball in a shop window. Not only are there reflections in the ball but also the sphere is reflected in the mirrored backdrop. If we have the theme 'Reflections' in the future I could use this one again!

There are another 186 City Daily Photo Blogs taking part in this theme. Take some time out today to see how others have interpreted Circles & Spheres. Click here to view thumbnails for all of the participants.

Check back tomorrow for more of my Changing View series.

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