Life Is Like A Butterfly

I just realised, I've never told you about Cheltenhams illustrious career as a star of a sitcom. Well, maybe more short lived than illustrious! Back in the late 70's and early 80's the TV program Butterflies was filmed in and around Cheltenham. It was about a woman who wanted to change her life but didn't quite manage it. I only ever watched about half an episode. Once I'd seen the Prom, the Municipal Offices and Hatherley Park I'd had enough! Why watch it on telly when you can see it in real life?!

Glitter Girl

Not a lot to say. A glittery girl sitting in a shop window. Helping to sell sofas! With the obligatory seasonal attire - a Santa hat!

Only two more sleeps!

Simples

Meerkats are everywhere at the moment. TV programs, adverts, cuddly toys, garden ornaments, t-shirts. These ones, in the window of the Pied Piper shop in Montpellier, are all dressed ready for the Christmas festivities. Have you got yours?!

If today's title means nothing to you, go here to see what started the Meerkat madness.

Santa Baby

I wouldn't mind this coming down my chimney on Christmas Eve! Its not the best photo in the world but I was very aware that I was stood in front of the Ann Summers shop taking photos of the lingerie. So it was a very quick point-and-shoot shot! After all I didn't want another run in with a security guard! And the reason why I was taking a photo of sexy undies? Because it was a good contrast to yesterdays post. Obviously!

Snow Head

I haven't posted any Christmas themed window displays yet and, to be honest, there aren't many in town that really stand out, but this one, in the clothes shop River Island, is an exception. Its a bit of a double-take window. At first glance its just mannequins, but on closer inspection one of the figures has, well, you can see! I'm not sure whether its cool or a bit sinister looking!

Neon Blue

I won't mention the 'C' word (Christmas!) yet but every shop in town is bedecked and ready for the present-buying masses. I suppose its the one time of the year that they can attempt to buck the recessional trend. Anyway. I like neon signs (and Cheltenham is hardly the neon sign capital of the world) so this one flashing away, in a shop window on the Prom, caught my eye. The flashing part caused quite a problem (lots of photos of an unlit sign!) but perseverance paid off and I got the timing right. Twice! Which is very unlike me and my camera.

As well as not mentioning the 'C' word, I won't mention that I've started my 'C' shopping. Talk about organised!

All That Glitters

I couldn't decide which photo to show today, so you get both - the original one and the one with added sparkle. The party season will soon be upon us and I'm sure lots of you ladies will be buying new outfits and accessories, because you just haven't got anything to wear!

The winner of last weeks competition, to tell us what's behind the red door, is (drum roll please...) Ken Mac. He reckons its "a long tunnel leading to a basement, then to a drainage grate where a young woman watches frogs mate"! I'll have what he's having! A Cheltenham postcard is on its way to you (Postal strikes allowing!)

Knitwits

A special post for all you secret knitters out there, or secret knitter wannabes!

When I was a youngster, in the early 80's my mum, her friends, my gran and my aunts all knitted. Its was all the rage. Jumpers, cardigans, hats and scarfs were produced on a regular basis, all in wonderful 80's colours. I was a Garfield fan (still am) and my mum and gran decided to knit me a Garfield jumper. I remember it clearly. A black, itchy woollen jumper, badly fitting, with an orange cat on the front, the only resemblance to the cartoon cat being the black stripes. It was horrible and horrible to wear. I think that is why I still avoid knitted jumpers these days. Scarred for life!

Now its time for your confessions. Who is a secret knitter out there? There must be some!

Tea For Two

This cute couple were in the window of the Art Gallery and Museum, also promoting Affordable Art. They look quite happy at the picnic waiting to tuck into their knitted cupcakes. I want the little rabbit! Sad, I know.

Somethings Bugging Me

Giant beetles are on the loose in Cheltenham! Well, not really. Just a creative window dresser coming up with something eye catching for the window of Cavendish House on The Prom. (I told you I had a thing about window displays!)

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The London Borough Of...

...Cheltenham! Regular followers will know I have a thing for shop windows and the ingenius creativity that goes into creating an eye catching display, and this one is know exception. The window of Monsoon's childrens clothes shop on The Prom really stands out from the crowd. All London captured in cartoon style and looking very trendy and modern, just like the really thing. (Notice the address sign - City Of WestMonster! Made me laugh!)

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Gnome Sweet Gnome

When I saw all these gnomes gathered in the shop window of White Stuff (the shop that had the drunk gingerbread man, the squirrel-headed people, the biggest tosser poster, the caravan and the dog leaping through a hoop) I was reminded of Gail's Man's post the other day. As always the White Stuff's window display has nothing to do with the clothes they are selling, which is part of the fun, but is promoting 'Give A Gnome A Home', something we should all consider doing in these financially difficult times! Quite a few of the little chaps have tags around their necks saying who has adopted them. Cute!

Today is my birthday (yay for me!) and we are off to Bristol to see something very cool! More on that tomorrow.

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St Michael Memories

Marks & Sparks, M & S, St Michael or Marks & Spencer. Whatever you call it this retail institution has been a feature on British High Streets for decades. The store started out life as a penny market stall in a Leeds market hall 125 years ago and over the years has grown into one of the most recognisable brands in the UK. To celebrate their birthday M & S held a Penny Bazaar in their stores, with twenty items costing just a penny. Peopled queued on the High Street, waiting for the doors to open, hoping to grab a bargain. The stock was limited (unsurprisingly) and many shoppers left empty handed, but it was a good publicity stunt! Anyway, today's photos show their retrospective window displays. Bright, colourful and full of memories.

As I mentioned yesterday I'm off on holiday next week and I'm planning to do a series of other peoples photos. If you'd like to loan a photo to appear on Cheltenham DP send me an email (address in my profile.) You'll get full credit and a link.

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Caravan Club

I've not shown you my favourite Cheltenham shop window for a while - so here it is. The display at White Stuff, on the Prom, is geared up for the summer holidays that are rapidly approaching. They are highlighting a great British institution - caravanning.

What makes perfectly normal people take loads of stuff from their house, cram it in a giant tin can on wheels, tow it behind their car for miles and miles, and then live in it for a week, normally in the rain?! I'm not adverse to a caravan holiday myself, but its got to be one of those permanent ones on a holiday site, near the sea. All mod-cons, spacious living, built in toilet and no towing hassle. When we were kids most of our family holidays were spent down in Devon and Cornwall in caravans, and I've had a few holidays in them as a grown up. But with lots more alcohol!

All this brings me nicely to asking a favour of you, my dedicated visitors. I'm off on my holidays next week (Greece. No caravan!) and I wonder if any of you would like to lend me a photo. I'm planning to do a series of posts of other places. You'll get full credit and a link. My email is in my profile. I look forward to hearing from you!

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Easter Bunny

Its Easter Sunday, the day the fluffy bunny leaves Easter eggs, its also the day to do with something religious but that has gone the same way as Christmas. Anyway, this rather overdressed rabbit is in the shop window (excuse my obsession) of Vinegar Hill. The shop at the end of the Prom opened at the end of last year and sells overpriced accessorise (notice the price in the basket) for the home and garden, though their Christmas stock was nice their Easter goods are a bit OTT!

Enjoy Easter day and don't eat too many chocolate eggs!

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Egg-cellent Window

Hope you are enjoying the Easter Weekend. This Easter themed window display is in the Orange store (mobile phones, not fruit!) on the High Street. Its very colourful and captures the main (non-religious) features - eggs, chicks and bunny rabbits!

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Green Light

I've been meaning to photograph this light for ages. It hangs, along with half a dozen others, in the window of Jones' Shoe Shop on The Prom. The lights are so unusual. They serve no purpose, other than decoration, but they just make a display of shoes, laid out in the shop window, simply interesting.

I have two prominent memories of Jones's shoe shop. One - going there as a kid to get fitted for school shoes. We had to go upstairs to the children's department, where they had a rocking horse. Always good fun! Two - my dad coming home one Christmas Eve with a bag of Christmas table decorations that came from the window display of Jones'! He was passing by and saw them packing up, ready for the sales on Boxing Day, and asked if he could have them! Well, if you don't ask you don't know!

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Blue Scooter

No, this isn't the latest parking initiative from Cheltenham Borough Council, its a shop window display (you know I have an obsession!) This powder blue Lambretta is always on display in this ladies clothes shop. I'm sure our very own Chuck at 'One A Day - Mostly Seattle' will enjoy this one and perhaps he can tell me the difference between a scooter and a moped!

For my Two Things Challenge entry this week see last week. I got confused!
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Pancake Day

How could I resist this one?! Another day, another shop window. This is from one of my favourites in town, the clothes shop White Stuff. Their window displays have featured on Cheltenham DP before and included the drunken gingerbread man and the squirrel headed mannequins.

For those that don't know, or have forgotten, today is Shrove Tuesday, or Pancake Day. Its the day before Ash Wednesday and signifies the start of Lent. The idea is that you eat up all the things that are forbidden during the period of Lent - eggs, fat, sugar - these are made into a batter and fried into flat...um...pancakes! It seems here in the UK its the one day of the year we have pancakes, unlike other countries who have them year round, like France and America. I'll be having some this evening, covered in lemon juice and sugar, very traditional!

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Fair Weather

You'll probably have picked up through my blog that I have a thing for window displays. I like the thought of the creative process that goes into producing something that is so visual it stops you in your tracks. I like the fact that they convey a message, a theme or a statement in a split second. I know its all about selling but it amazes me how the people behind the scenes come up with such great ideas. Its also a bonus for me as it's a lazy post!

Thanks to everyone who stopped by and commented while I was AWOL, its much appreciated. I'll be catching up with you all today.
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