Sky Watch Friday

A Room With A View

A Sky Watch of sorts this week. This is the view from the top floor of Pitville Pump Room, looking out across Pitville Park. The Statue is one of three on the front of the building. This photo was taken back in October, hence the Autumn leaves on the trees.

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

Have a great weekend.

Sky Watch Friday

Winter Branches

Just a quickie for SWF (let the photo do the talking and all that.) I really like the silhouette of the bare branches against the cold blue wintry sky.

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

Across The Pond

A view from the bridge across Pitville Park lake. Winter has really arrived now.

Green Roots

Ok, I told you I was in a green mode at the moment, so here is another! A bit different to the others, an all natural green. I like all the moss on the exposed tree roots. I am slightly annoyed with myself that I didn't take a macro of it. You live and learn!

Last To Leaf

Not actually the last leaf but one of a very few on this tree, and there aren't many left on others. It won't be long until they'll all be naked for winter. The very windy weekend helped a lot of the trees shed their autumn clothes. Is it spring yet?!

Morgan

This is what you call a proper car. None of that modern rubbish but real design and quality. That is Morgan. At least I think so. This fine example belongs to Hotel On The Park in Cheltenham, and advertises the in-house restaurant Parkers. The hotel overlooks Pitville Park and the vintage car suits the hotel perfectly. Classy.

Stepping Into Autumn

Just another quickie (as it were!) These steps in Pitville Park are showing signs of the Autumn air that is creeping in. The days are sunny (as we always seem to get in September) but the nights are chilly and the winds are starting to blow. It'll be Christmas before you know it!

Henny Penny

I'll end the week with a real bird - a chicken at Pitville Park. I used to have a couple of chickens called Jennifer and Clarissa, named after the Two Fat Ladies (two women that had a cooking series on TV.) We used to get a dozen eggs a week off of them but they met an untimely end. They lived in a greenhouse, with the glass removed, and at night they got shut into an old rabbit hutch. One night I'd been out on the town and didn't shut them away. Next morning I went down the garden to feed them and they were gone. All that was left were a few white feathers and half a wing. A fox had his fill that night. Poor Jennifer and Clarissa.

On a lighter note, I'm off to the Cotswold Beer Festival tonight. Hangover tomorrow!

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Water Tree

A tree reaching for the lake in Pitville Park.
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Alvin, Simon Or Theodore?

As promised the other day here is one of the chipmunks at Pitville Park. I'm also showing this photo to annoy Virginia at Birmingham, Alabama Daily Photo who is over run with them in her garden!

That's it for today. Enjoy your day.

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What's Up Doc?

What's up? Its hot! Well, it was when I took this photo last week. This brown bugs bunny was sheltering from the sun in a drainpipe at Pitville Park, one of several shady spots in his enclosure. He was sharing his run with some other rabbits and a couple of chickens. Some of the other cages are home to an array of birds, a pair of peacocks and a host of chipmunks (they'll be making an appearance soon.) Time for a carrot ice lolly!

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Little House On The Park

How about a house with one of Cheltenhams largest open spaces as a front garden? Not enough for you? How about a garden pond that just happens to be a boating lake? Still not enough? OK, how about an 18 hole golf course in your front garden? No? What's wrong with you?!

This little Victorian red brick house has all three. It faces on to Pitville Park, the boating lake and, just beyond that, the golf course! This house stands out from the crowd too. All the other surrounding houses are made up of row upon row of terraced housing, that all face away from the park. Talk about bad planning.

I'm glad to see the owners have got chairs under the front porch to take full advantage of their extra special front garden.
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Grand Scrolls

Want a word for the day? How about 'volute'. For those that don't know what it means (and I didn't) its the posh name given to the scrolls at the top of Ionic columns, like the ones shown. These grand pillars are helping to hold up the roof of one of the Regency houses that surround Pitville Park. I also like the tiles with the fancy details, I've not seen these before in Cheltenham. I wonder if they are original?

Don't forget its Theme Day tomorrow across the CDPB community and the theme for July is 'Empty.' There's no need to sign up any more, just copy and paste the code and you're in!

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Tree Trunks

I think I'll just let the photograph do the talking today. I'll just add that I love the light and shadow in this photo.

I've got a lot on this week, and its not work - its fun! Anyway, I'm scheduling posts and will comment when I can.
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On Time?

Is this bloom early or late? I'm not sure, but is very pretty with its soft, delicate flowers.

Enjoy your weekend.
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Lights, Camera, Action!

Its not everyday you come a cross a music video being filmed, but that was the scene I stumbled across in Pitville Park. Actually they stumbled across me. I was happily taking photos of the lake and the swans when I heard this singing behind me. I turned round to see this gaggle of people heading in my direction, with a chap singing and playing his guitar while being filmed. As I walked around the park they settled down on a bench and really got down to the hard work of creating a music video. He sang, the other bloke filmed, and the girls stood around watching! I presume the video was for Myspace or something like that. I guess I should have asked! They might be famous one day!

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Mind Play

Cheltenham DP is back after a little break for the festivities. I hope you all had a great Christmas, I did, and I hope Santa brought you everything that you wanted. Its a bit of a struggle getting back into the routine of life after all the fun of Christmas. I'm back at work tomorrow and then we get a day off for New Year. All this partying is taking its toll!

I thought I'd test you all with today's photo, to help get your Christmas addled brains back into gear. Who can spot what is going on in this shot?

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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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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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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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