Merry Christmas

Have a wonderful Christmas. Enjoy.

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!

Dong! Dinner Is Served

We are still having a look around the shops and restaurants in The Suffolks. This figure is one of a pair, ready with a gong, in the window of Indian restaurant B-Ten. I've had a couple of takeaway meals from here and the food is delicious. Best of all if you collect your food you get a discount off of the bill and if they deliver it to your door you get some free beer. A win win situation!

What is your favourite kind of takeaway meal?

Chemistry

Forget the green cross that indicates a chemist or pharmacy, this is how it was done in the past. This pestle and mortar on Rotunda Terrace, Montpellier Street, show you where to find The Spa Pharmacy. The chemist was established in 1838 so I presume that this must be quite an old symbol. I don't think I've ever seen one like this before, how about you?

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Gold Ring

Just a quickie for Saturday. A little something that caught my eye - a gold ring. Sort of! I actually wanted a pun filled title but couldn't think of one. Any ideas?

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St Paul's Church

What can I tell you about the unusual looking St Paul's church? Well, its in one of Cheltenham's most deprived areas - St Paul's, its Cheltenham's only Greek Revival style building, it was designed by John Forbes and dates back to 1831, and was the towns first 'free' church. I think that covers the basics.

It has some really interesting architectural features - some that are familiar to Cheltenham, others that are unique.

These days the church promotes itself for the work it does within the community - offering help to struggling families, youth clubs for young people and workshops for locals. St Paul's really is at the heart of its community.
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Grand Entrance

I think if there were a competition for best door/entrance then this one would win. Its just shouting "look at me!" All that blue and gold, very grand. Nothing more to say other than Alma House is on Rodney Road and the Regency building is used as offices.

Enjoy your weekend.

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Dragon Lamp

Would you fancy a front door lamp like this? I know its a bit ostentatious but it would certainly be a talking point! This dragon lamp is one of a pair that are either side of the entrance to the Thai Emerald restaurant. The eatery produces the best Thai and oriental food for miles around (in my opinion.) They have a wide menu and, if you can't chose what to eat, they offer a buffet style menu with a vast range of dish brought to your table - a great way to try a bit of everything!

Have a great weekend.

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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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Band Of Gold

I know there are lots of autumn coloured photos out there at the moment but here is another one! The colours are so vivid at the moment, it would be a sin not to share them with you. This was taken on the top of Leckhampton Hill, which over looks Cheltenham. It was rather breezy up there (to say the least) but I got some really good photos.

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.

Yellow Leaves

I just realised (thanks to D.C) that I hadn't posted any autumn leaves yet. Time is flying by, soon the leaves will all be on the ground and the opportunity will be lost for another year. To rectify that I share with you some yellow beech leaves! The sun was shining brightly, highlighting the golden shades. Perfect.

Something special is happening here tomorrow so be sure to drop by.

Sky Watch Friday

Vapour trails at sunset.

A golden light was pouring through my front window the other evening, so I got up to have a look and was met by this stunning sky. I grabbed my camera, poked my arm right out of the window, pressed the button, and hoped for the best. Luckily it came out quite well. Notice that I wasn't so bothered that I went outside to take the picture! For another (better) view of this sky check out Mewli's owners blog.

To join in with Sky Watch Friday, and to view all the other skies around the world, head to the Sky Watch Friday Blog.

Hope you all have a great weekend.

Golden Hour

This green and gold clock is above the front entrance to the shop Marks & Spencers, on the High Street. The clock has been there for what seems like forever, in fact so has M&S! Nothing more to say really, just wanted to share a regular Cheltenham site with you.

Also, the Golden Hour is the 60 minutes after an accident or emergency where the police, fire and ambulance services have the best chance of saving lives.

Taste Of The Orient

You will all be pleased to know I completed one of my tasks yesterday. And as you can tell from the new photos it wasn't getting a light for my fish tank!

I took an hour or so to have a walk around Cheltenham, going down streets I haven't been down in ages, coming across a few interesting and unusual things. This Oriental dragons head is in the window of one of the Asian food shops in the Lower High Street (now re-branded as High Street West End.) This area of town has many different independent shops selling all sorts from Asian and Polish foods to picture frames and guitars. Cheltenham doesn't have a huge international community but they are served well by these few shops, this one was packed to the rafters with packets and tins. I'm not quite sure why they also had these figures for sale but it made a striking window display (as you can see below). The large one cost £129, just the sort of thing to pick up with your Lychees!


And don't worry about my fish being kept in the dark (I know you've all had a sleepless night worrying!) I'll get a light today. Probably!