Theme Day - Yellow

Click on the photo for more detail

Its the first of April and its that Theme Day time of the month. As you can see from my photo collage I liked this theme (and that's not an April Fool!) For once I've been prepared and have been taking lots of yellow photos for the last three weeks. I had so many to choose from that I couldn't decide (a first for me on Theme Day) so I got creative.

Here's a run down of the photos - New gas pipes on the High Street, litter poster and bin, macro of a yellow blossom, more gas pipes and a yellow rubbish sack, CCTV sign, fire hydrant marker, a little yellow birdie, Forsythia bush in full flower, divide on the ramp of the Regent Arcade car park, and, finally, Snappy Snaps photo shop on the Lower High Street.

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants.
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Fancy Bank

I've shown you parts of the fancy HSBC building before (here and here) but here it is in all its glory. Standing at the corner of the Promenade and the High Street it is one of the town centres oldest and most ornate buildings. The higher up the building you look the more detail you see. I wonder why that is? Maybe its to do with presenting to Heaven. Who knows.

Don't forget its CDPB Theme Day tomorrow. The theme is Yellow and you don't have to sign up to join in, just copy the code into your post, so there are no excuses!

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Horny

A rather intense looking Rhinoceros at Nature In Art, as featured the other week. I remember going to a zoo when I was a kid and leaning over the railings to pat a Rhino. The thing I remember most about that day was a boy whose red baseball cap fell off his head, landed in the enclosure and the rhino ate it. Funny the things we remember. This begs the question - what bizarre childhood memories do you have?

If you saw yesterdays post and want to know the difference between a scooter and a moped check the comments for Chucks explanation. Thanks Chuck!

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Blue Scooter

No, this isn't the latest parking initiative from Cheltenham Borough Council, its a shop window display (you know I have an obsession!) This powder blue Lambretta is always on display in this ladies clothes shop. I'm sure our very own Chuck at 'One A Day - Mostly Seattle' will enjoy this one and perhaps he can tell me the difference between a scooter and a moped!

For my Two Things Challenge entry this week see last week. I got confused!
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Primary Colours

Here is the Primary Colours Day Nursery in Montpellier. It is one of the many nursery schools in and around Cheltenham that occupy former residential buildings. This one is a four story dwelling over looking Montpellier Gardens. I really like the coloured (primary coloured) shutters and front door. The shutters are closed as I took this photo on a Saturday, they don't tend to keep the children shut in the dark!
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Sky Watch Friday

Pylons At Sunset

I took this photo over a year ago and thought I had already posted it, but I hadn't - until today! All I can say about the shot is that it shows electricity pylons and the sun setting behind the fluffy clouds in the distance. There you have it! Have a great weekend.

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

Just a random peacock photo from the old archive today. Aren't they an amazing bird? Just look at all those colours, no wonder they are well known for being show-offs. Wouldn't you be if you looked like that?!
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Shoeshine

Here is another installation from the windows of the Cheltenham Art Gallery & Museum, making up part of The Open West contemporary art competition. This piece is the creation of Henny Burnett and is entitled The Shoemaker's Shrine.

Burnett says "This installation is a response to Northamptonshire's shoe industry both past and present. The central piece consists of hanging cast latex shoes suspended in a cluster, each lit by its own pool of light. Entrapped within the translucent casts are various pressed flowers, field grasses and butterflies which make reference to the Victorian "secret Language of Flowers." A memorial to the shoe industry's Victorian heyday."

I liked this piece for its simplicity, though I'm sure it was far from simple to create.

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On The Edge

Its amazing what you find on your way to the library. All these little white plastic men were lined up in the window of the Cheltenham Art Gallery & Museum. The background was black so the window perfectly reflected St Matthews Church, opposite the museum. I've added to the art!

The installation is entitled On The Edge and was created by Swedish born artist Charlotte Jonerheim. She is one of 40 artists selected to exhibit in The Open West, a competition for contemporary arts. Submissions include film, painting, drawing and sculpture. Just seven of the entrants were selected to show their work at the Art Gallery & Museum, with all exhibiting at the Pitville Campus of the University of Gloucestershire. Over 2300 works were submitted by 380 UK and international artists. The exhibition runs until the end of the month.

Jonerheim says "Exploring detail is what often begins the process. I am not interested in an object per se, my fascination lies in its multiplication - in tens, hundreds, thousands or tens of thousands! An important aspect of my practice is the way I assemble my work. Grids, patterns and structure play an important role in transforming apparently insignificant objects into an entity in their own right which then attains its own object sense.My work is obsessive and time consuming, however I find a great sense of calm in repetition. My concerns also lie in the surface of my work. This can be manipulated by placing a small object in a specific order thereby creating an unexpected result."
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When Will I Be Famous

Fancy a new suit? Want to be treated like an extra from Are You Being Served? Then The Famous is the place for you. Well known for being the best specialist menswear shop in Gloucestershire, they boast knowledgeable and experienced staff. The Famous was established in 1886 and its still in its original premises on the High Street, still being run by the same family. They also do formal hire and school uniforms. I remember my mum taking me here to get my first school blazer, ready to start senior school. As you'd expect the blazer was too big but I was told "you'll grow into it!"

"Always look after the man who wants to buy a collar stud; he may want a shirt some day"

Mr. A.N. Cole (founder)

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Two Things Challenge - Foot / Step

I wasn't really prepared for this weeks challenge so I had to have a root around in the archives and this is the best I could manage - rabbit prints in the snow! Almost on theme but not quite! Oh well, must try harder next week.

To join in with, or to see better interpretations of, Two Things Challenge head over to the blog.

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Hellebore On Earth

These Hellebores, or Christmas Roses, are still flowering even though spring has begun. I don't know if they are late due to the cold weather we had in February or if they are supposed to flower in March! You normally see them in white but other colours, like this pink one, are now quite common. They certainly add to the springy feeling that is in the air. At last!

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Sky Watch Friday

Peach Sky

We have been treated to some lovely spring weather over the last few days and last nights sunset created this wonderful pastel coloured sky. What more can I say? Mother Nature is good.

If you want to join in with Sky Watch, or to see all the other views of the sky, head over to the Sky Watch Friday Blog.

The winner of yesterdays sheep related pun/joke challenge is...drum roll please..."Ewe down there - must grin & bear it!" from Tash at Palos Verdes Daily Photo. Pun-tastic winner!

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Sheepish Grin

Smile. On second thoughts, don't bother! I'm not sure if this smiling sheep is cute, scary or just plain disturbing. Whatever, she certainly isn't camera shy!

Best sheep related pun or joke wins a Cheltenham postcard. The winner will be revealed tomorrow.

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Little Birdie

I'm back! Thanks to blogger for working its magic while I was away and thanks to everyone who has visited and commented too.

For a while now I've been trying to photograph a pair of Blue Tits (yes, we all know the jokes!) that have been feeding in my garden, but to no avail. The little buggers are too quick for me. I'll have to persevere...anyway, back to the photo. Instead I bring you a little House Sparrow. Notice that he is sat still in the spring sunshine, perfect for my photographic abilities! Anyone got any top tips on photographing birds?

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Stickle Brick

Last photo today from Nature In Art. This simple piece was quite impressive. Just some bleached driftwood attached to the red brick wall. Very effective.

If you want to see a close up of this head over to Macro World.
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Whale Of A Time

If you've been visiting last week then you'll know I'm not here and post are appearing magical. Over the past few days I've been sharing some photos I took at Nature In Art last Sunday.

This whales tail was just amazing sticking out of the ground. I think it must have been life sized as it was huge!

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Two Things Challenge - Window / View

Its Sunday and its time for Two Things Challenge. As with my other posts over the past few days this post too is appearing by blogger magic. It continues my series of photos I took at Nature In Art last weekend.

The building had loads of windows, like the one above, and if I could have taken photos inside the building the shot below shows you the view I would have seen!

How does the artist go about carving a piece like this?!

If you want to join in with the Two Things Challenge, or to see who else is taking part this week, head over to the Two Things Challenge site.

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Unearthly Flowers

Over the last few Saturdays I've shown a few flower photos and today is no different. Well it is, these are giant alien looking blooms and seed heads. I love the colour contrast in the above photo.

These giant (ten foot tall!) poppy seed heads look like perfect replicas.

And here is a colourful close up.

I'm away until the middle of next week but posts will appear by magic.
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Invasion!

As I said yesterday I couldn't take any photos inside Nature In Art but there was no stopping me in the grounds surrounding the building! There were all sorts of different nature-inspired sculptures outside, and over the next few days I'll show you a few of them.

I love this oversized bug made from all sorts of scrap metal. I couldn't see the name of the artist anywhere, and there is no reference on Nature In Art's website, so for now he or she will remain nameless. What I do know is that this is a very creative way to recycle!

I'm away until the middle of next week but post will appear by magic.
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