The Office

I'm one of the lucky ones. I don't work in an office. I'm sure lots of people out there love working in a little cubicle or in an open plan working area, but its just not my thing. I couldn't think of anything worse. But if I did work in an office I'd love to work for Ricky Gervais' David Brent. Now that is a boss! Cringe makingly hilarious! His comedy series The Office was one of the funniest TV shows of the last decade. Brilliant stuff.

Speaking of office based brilliance, I've found a fantastic blog. It was Blog Of Note last week and it is laugh-out-loud funny. Mr London Street is wonderfully observant of all aspects of life and his office sounds hysterical. I've just started reading and playing catch up, but this post, about food descriptions and the staff canteen is so funny my sides were hurting from laughing! I should say that the sensitive amongst you might be offended by some of Mr London Streets tales but it is so well written I'm sure you'll let him off. Anyway, check it out. Very funny! Did I mention I found it funny?!

Christmas Blues

Look at the pretty lights! Ooo! This tree, surrounded by artificial snow, is outside the front of the Daffodil Restaurant. Its a bit garish for me but it does make a lovely festive scene. Very Christmassy.

Christmas is a strange time of year. It means all sorts of things to different people. To some it is a Religious celebration, to others its about friends and family, to some its about the presents, and to others its the food, drink and all the seasonal trimmings that make Christmas. To most people its a combination of all these things. Christmas is also a time to look forward with optimism to the coming year, but at the same time remember with fondness those people that are no longer with us, those people that have left our lives. We can look back on mistakes made with wise eyes, missed opportunities with sorrow, and things to come with joy. At this time of year its fine to occasionally have the Christmas Blues.

Great Dane

This is a 'What The ***?' photo. Nothing particularly unusual about a dog in a window but it is when its a Great Dane in a wedding dress shop! This big beast was almost filling the small shop and was surrounded by dozens of expensive dresses. The shop was closed and completely secure with metal grills across the windows. Very strange!

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.

Through The Rectangular Window

This is me doing my spying-through-peoples-windows trick! Actually it was an office in one of the Regency townhouses that surround Imperial Gardens. The glamorous light fitting caught my eye and the window made a good frame.

I don't condone spying through windows in any shape or form, unless you are a professional stalker, where its really quite essential!

New Discovery

Having lived in Cheltenham all my life (exciting, I know!) and having featured the Pitville Pump Room here several times before, I realised I'd never actually been inside! So yesterday I took a little photo trip. Its fantastic inside, though a little eerie as there were no staff to be seen (I think they were all having their lunch!) The primary purpose of the Pump Room is as a venue for music performances, parties, conferences and weddings. The main room is surrounded by a balcony and topped by a fantastic dome. There are so many wonderful features to photograph and the afternoon light showed the place at its best. It was a real treat. Here are two of my favourite photos, but there will be more to come.

Shapes

Lots of new buildings - offices and homes - are appearing around Cheltenham. Not as many as at the height of the property boom, but new-builds are still happening. These modern town houses, just off of Imperial Gardens, have a funky design with interesting shaped windows, different textures and unusual features. I quite like them, though they are very expensive, so I won't be buying one anytime soon!

I'm away for a few days. I'll catch up with your blogs next week.

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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Sky Watch Friday

Pink Road

Not the best photo in the world but this was the view out of my front window on Tuesday night. There had just been a heavy downpour and then the sky suddenly cleared to this beautiful shade as the sun went down, turning the grey road pink. Gorgeous.

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

Another "at last" photo. Last week I managed the yellow taxi and this week the elusive Blue Tit! I mentioned quite a while back that a pair of these little birds were feeding in my garden but that I'd only seen them twice, and that I wasn't ready with my camera. Well this time I was, sort of. I saw one of them feeding and had to leg it into the lounge to get my camera and creep back, hoping not to disturb the little chap. I managed this one half decent photo through the window (I think the window needs cleaning!) Anyway, that's it today. Just thought I'd share.

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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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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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Wallsworth Hall

Locally this magnificent Georgian mansion is better known as Nature In Art. This grand house is home to art creations inspired by nature. Its situated between Cheltenham and Gloucester, and I've never been there before! Until this past weekend. Nature In Art has been host to a very special exhibition over the last few months - Wildlife Photographer Of the Year. The exhibit is on a national tour, as well as being on display at the Natural History Museum in London. I just had to see it, nothing of such note ever comes here and it would have been rude not too!

The photographs on show were fantastic but, unfortunately, no photos were allowed inside the building, so you'll have to make do with the outside.

Find out more about the Wildlife Photographer exhibition here. If you can't make it to London or, if its not coming to a venue near you, here is the winning entry by Steve Winter. That link will also lead you to all the other fantastic photos.

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

At last - Spring! This is the first blossom I've seen this year. The weather has been milder over the last few days and life is starting to creep back into the parks and gardens around town. We've had a really long and cold winter by our standards so this sight is a very welcome one. Soon the daffodils will be flowering and then spring really will have sprung.

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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Windows

Another photo of the Ladies College. Sorry its a short post again. I'll be glad when things get back to normal on Monday.

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All White

I had this photo all lined up for the other day and then Lynn at the other Cheltenham Daily Photo got there first! This is The White Company shop on the Prom a few nights ago. The store was closed, there was nobody working inside yet the place was all lit up like a big white (shop-like) Christmas tree! I can understand the need for a few lights being left on for security, but why the whole place a glow?! Anyway, as you can see, the place lives up to its name - all white.

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Sky Watch Friday

Autumn Cherry Tree & Grey Sky

I know you were all thinking to yourselves "I wonder what that cherry tree outside Marley's front window looks like now?" Well, here is the answer. I've posted several photos of this tree before (blossom, green, turning) and now here it is almost ready to drop its leaves. I'm not sure why but on grey days, like yesterday, all of the autumn leaves seem brighter. Anyone know why?

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

Have a good weekend everybody!

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Gods Window

A photo from neighbouring Tewkesbury today, as I need to get out and get snapping in Cheltenham. This is one of the stained glass windows of Tewkesbury Abbey. I'm not sure what this one depicts (any ideas?) but the detail and colours are amazing. If you think that when this was created there were no computers, no special technology aiding creation, just man made skill, it is even more impressive. It must have taken many weeks, if not months, to create this marvellous window. God knows how they did it. Actually, he probably does!

Click on the photo to get an even better look at the detail.

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