Rivers Of Rubbish

The magnificent (not) river that is the River Chelt is hardly the widest deepest torrent of water in the world so you'd think the Council could manage to keep it clean. Apparently not. In the past I've shown you a trolley and a bike dumped in the water, today its a bed and a trailer. How delightful.

Trolley Park

Here is another photo of the not-so-nice side of Regency Cheltenham - shopping trolleys and rubbish. This was taken just off of the Lower High Street, by the bridge that carries the former Honeybourne track, now a cycle route. I really like all the elements in this shot - the brickwork, the iron gate, the rubbish and, of course, the trolleys. I know its sort of perverse, but I quite like it when I stumble across a photo op like this. Makes a change from my usual fare, though in some parts of town this is common place.
_

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.

_

Two Things Challenge - Paper / Plastic

Sunday is now Two Things Challenge day for me. It's nice to have to think about what to photograph (if you know what I mean!) and how best to come up with something original for the subject. Basically, I'm enjoying the challenge!

As you can see today's two photos aren't that attractive but they show an important part of life. These recycling skips are at my local supermarket. Most of the big stores have these in their car parks, even though Cheltenham Borough Council do fortnightly kerbside collections of recyclable waste. As well as skips for paper and plastic they also have skips for tin foil, cans, shoes, clothes, books, cardboard and drink cartons. At the moment cardboard and plastic aren't collected so we take ours to the skips. Well, you've got to do your bit!

If you want to join in head over to the Two Things Challenge blog.

These photos were taken on my camera phone.
_

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!

_

Rubbish River

This is Cheltenhams latest bike parking facility. Well, it made me laugh! I saw this bicycle dumped in the River Chelt the other week. I presume it was dumped, I suppose someone could have lost control while out for a ride, ended up in the water and then got swept away by the current! Well, as the River Chelt is like a stream I doubt that very much. I don't know why people do things like this. I also don't know why the Council don't clean up this area more often. I suppose they've got better things to do with our taxes.

Anyway, on a jollier note, the result of the birthday quiz! The winner is...(drum roll)...Denton! He got all the answers right apart from one, which he got right later. Well done Denton, a Cheltenham postcard is on its way to you!

Here are Denton's answers -

(1) the name of the fountain - Neptune's Fountain on the Promenade

(2) the story that goes with this photo - Sweet Injustice, security asked that you to stop taking photos

(3) the name of the building - Town Hall which it sits on Cheltenham's One-way system

(4) the type of Coat of Arms - The Cowardly Lion ... belongs to one of Britain's former Kings

(5) the significance of these birds - Cheltenham's spa water was discovered in 1716 because local people noticed pigeons pecking at the salty deposits

(6) the name of the building the eagle sits at the bottom of - Eagle Tower

(7) what Cheltenham is famous for - the Gold Cup

(8) what this building is being turned into - The Dobells pub ... a proper pub

(9) my first 'blank' - first attempt at the City Daily Photo Blog theme day

(10) my first 'blank' - first photo posted

(11) the name of the building - The Municipal Offices stand on the Promenade

(12) the name of the flower - sunflowers representing children at the Deerhurst Flower Festival

The answer to photo 8 is actually that the Dobells pub is being turned into a Costa Coffee (which Denton got later.)

Thanks to everyone who took part and left me such kind blogiversary comments. Enjoy your weekend!