Chairs And Tables 4

Seating outside the HA! HA! Bar in Montpellier. I like the colour of the wood and the finishing touch of the potted plant. Nice.

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Chairs And Tables 3

This could also have been titled 'Shades Of Brown'!

This set of table and chairs were just begging to be photographed for the series started by Virginia at Birmingham, Alabama DP. They were just tucked off of the Prom, outside the recently opened Costa Coffee. Normally the tables are covered in empty cups and plates but someone was actually doing their job and cleared them off! As you can see Cheltenham is not as litter free as people think - look on the floor. Standards are slipping!

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Born Free

At last, I've finished work for my holidays! Yesterday was my last day for 18 whole days and next Wednesday we are off to the Greek Island of Rhodes. I can't wait! What better way to illustrate the fact than this shop sign?!

As of next Monday I'm handing Cheltenham DP over to you, my dedicated visitors. If you'd like one of your photos to feature here then send me an email (details in my profile.) Thanks so much to those of you who have sent me some fantastic images so far. You know who you are. As I'm in holiday mode you can tell me what you want to see here tomorrow - either a bank in black and white or a shoppers starry sky. Let me know!

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Dandelion

I suppose the humble dandelion must be one of the worlds most recognisable weeds. They are a bit scruffy looking, have a long tap root, seed themselves all over the place and grow anywhere. This clump had taken root in between some paving slabs. I like the contrast between the flowers and the litter in the background, behind the fence. Not the prettiest image but its out there to be photographed.

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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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Flowery Fence

This makes a change from normal wrought iron railings. I'm not sure about the colour but the detail and design is brilliant. It must have taken ages to create this fence, but the time was well worth it.

Don't forget tomorrow is Theme Day. This months theme is Paths and Passages. You don't need to sign up anymore, just post your photo and copy the code from the CDP site to be added to the list. Its easy! Join in tomorrow.

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Step Into Autumn

My plans for taking some autumn photographs yesterday were scuppered. I headed into town to do a few chores and then I was going to the park to capture the colourful scene, but the heavens opened and I came home instead. I'm a fair weather photographer! In desperation for a photo for today's post I snapped the leaves piled up by my front step. In the end it worked out OK. I still want to get some autumn photos, fingers crossed for a dry weekend.

Its Just Not Cricket

Well actually it is, but it was the only title I could come up with! I wasn't sure of the difference between a cricket and a grasshopper but its apparently that crickets are brown and grasshoppers are green. Crickets make their chirping sound by rubbing their forewings together, while grasshoppers make theirs by rubbing their hind legs against their wings. Also crickets are nocturnal (active at night) and grasshoppers are diurnal (active in the day.) Someone should have told that to this cricket, as he was hopping around in the middle of the day.

I'm playing around taking macro photos at the moment. Sometimes they come out really well and other times they are just a blur (more practise needed!) I just love the detail that you can capture (click on the photo to see what I mean), especially with things that you don't normally notice.

And finally, one more difference between crickets and grasshoppers. A grasshopper can play cricket, but a cricket can't play grasshopper! No, I didn't laugh either. Anyone got a better insect joke?