A Light Dusting

Nowhere near as much as the East coast of America, and a bit less than most of Britain, but we have had snow. A light icing-sugar dusting but it still snowed. And it is cold. So cold. But after all it is December, so what else should we expect? We may even get a white Christmas. That would be magical.

Charlotte's Web

Just a web today.

Mother Nature is amazing. How do spiders do this? Amazing!

A Foggy Day In Cheltenham Town

Well, the outskirts of Cheltenham town! After what seems like weeks of rain we had a few cold, fine days and then this. Fog and frost. December is here! It is my favourite kind of weather. All cold and crisp. Love it.

I'll not be around much this weekend, working tomorrow and then our works Christmas party in the evening. Needless to say I'll be hungover on Sunday! Catch up with you all soon.

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.

Changing View - The End

Here at Cheltenham DP the second day of the month means Changing View. Today marks a full year of taking a photo from the same place once a month to record the scene as it changes. To finish this series off today I show all the past photos starting with September 2008 and finishing with September 2009. Enjoy having a look back.

September 2008

October 2008

November 2008

December 2008

January 2009

February 2009

March 2009

April 2009

May 2009

June 2009

July 2009

August 2009

September 2009

Changing View - March

Now don't get too excited about this months Changing View as it hasn't changed much since last month or the month before that! That's winter for you. This photo marks the seventh installment of the series that sets out to record the changes over a year. I'm hoping by next month that there will be leaves on the trees and flowers in the borders. Fingers crossed!

To see how the scene has changed over the months click on 'changing view' in the labels below.

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Snowy Buddha

This is a secret post, posted on 14/07/09. If you find it and leave a comment you'll win a special prize! This very late post is the one day I missed in February.
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A Branch Of The Museum

I've managed to get one of my photos displayed in a museum! What do you think?

OK, its not real but it looks good, and that couple seem to be enjoying the my snow covered branches! I wasn't feeling very inspired for a post today, then I checked out Bibi's blog and my problem was solved. She had posted a similar photo, created with the help of Dumpr, the other day and I did the very original thing - I copied her! (I'm feeling lazy today, let me off.) Anyway, that's it really apart from the branches belong to the cherry tree, in front of my flat, covered in snow last week.

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Two Things Challenge - Hot / Cold

Its Sunday, in case you didn't know(!), and its time for Two Things Challenge. My photos today are of the same place in Cheltenham - the Long Gardens in front of the Municipal Offices. The first one shows some red hot tulips which were in full flower last spring. And the second one shows a wider view of the gardens covered in cold snow, which has been the case all week.

If you want to join in with the Two Things Challenge, or to see what other people have come up with this week, head over here.
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Snow Day

Yes, we've had more snow! Yesterday there was a bonus though, my boss phoned in the morning and told me not to worry about coming in to work - I had a snow day! As some of you know I work on Sundays and I have Saturdays and Mondays off, so for once I've got two days off in a row. Instead of braving the elements to take some snowy photos I decided to use my bonus day to do something that I've been wanting to sort out since the end of last year - I set up the Cheltenham Daily Photo Shop. I've not put many photos on yet but, as time goes by, I'll add more, and if there is anything you would like to see, either product or photo, let me know. Check it out in the side bar.

Today's photo shows the fields across from where I work and was taken on Thursday. More snow still to come.

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Black And White And Red

Here is another snowy scene from the Prom. As you can see, I've played about with the photo a bit and I am very pleased with the result! Modesty is my middle name! Not much more to say, apart from we are due more snow overnight and tomorrow. Winter isn't done yet!

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Tunnel Vision

If you saw my update on yesterdays post then you'll know it snowed. Here in Cheltenham we had a couple of inches, which was nothing compared to the South East of the UK, especially London which saw about a foot of snow and brought the capital to a grinding halt. Actually most of the country ground to a halt. It was a snow day!

I made the effort yesterday to head into town to take some more snowy photos. We don't often get snow in Cheltenham and we've had snow twice this year, which is nice. I wanted to capture the scene in the Prom, as I might use the images for Christmas cards this year - always think ahead!

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Changing View - February

It's the second day of the month and its time for the sixth installment of Changing View. Well, as you can see, not a lot has changed since last month! That's winter for you! All I can really say is that I like the colour in the sky, behind the trees. Since last month one thing that has changed is that some of you have joined in with this idea and that is brilliant. I only started this series to record the changing seasons, so it is an added bonus that some of you have felt inspired to have a go too.

...UPDATE...

The photo above was taken on Saturday but overnight, and as I write this, it snowed. So, as I'm a dedicated photo blogger, I braved the elements his morning and took the photo below. What a difference a day makes.

To see how the scene has changed over the months click on 'changing view' in the labels below.
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Ice Ice Baby

Sorry. Sorry. Sorry. Today's title - sorry! Anyway, last week I said I'd shown my last cold weather photo but I'm short on photos, and I really like this one, so here's another snowy shot. This is Montpellier Gardens again and it was slippery underfoot last week. The white stuff has long gone but we could get more. Someone told me yesterday that the long range forecast is for a very cold snap in February, as low as -18c! That is bloody cold for us!

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Winter Garden

The "big freeze" continues. The temperature fell to -10c the other night, the snow is still on the ground and the roads are icy. We really aren't used to this here, a cold day or two is the norm. Though it is nice to get home in the evening and get warm. I've had to have several glasses of Port to keep my temperature up!

Today's photo shows a snowy Imperial Gardens, just behind the Town Hall. The area used to be the site of the Winter Gardens. The glass roofed building was used for concerts, exhibitions and housed a cinema. The building opened in 1878 and was demolished between 1940 and 1944, partly because its glass roof may have been a target for bombers in the Second World War, but mainly because it was in a poor state of repair. It would be a great if a similar building could be reinstated on the Gardens. I think it would make a fine addition to Cheltenham.

I'm getting cold again. Where's the Port?

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Frosty The...hic...Snowman (& Friends)

The winter arrived with full force over night on Sunday. Cheltenham woke to a winter wonderland yesterday, and very pretty it was too. We don't get snow here very often, only a couple of days each winter, and the recent snowfall wasn't predicted so it was a pleasant surprise. As I walked about yesterday kids were off school (why do UK schools close after an inch of snow?!) and they were enjoying the wintry weather, having snowball fights and building snowmen. The snowman in the top photo looked like he had been on the booze overnight! He was in the small front garden of what I assume was a student house, surrounded by rubbish bins and empty beer cans. They had given him wine bottle top buttons, a beer bottle top smile, eyes made of two pence coins, a Guinness hat, and a traditional carrot nose. Notice the beer can on his stick arm! The mini-snowmen below were a bit more civilised and were doing some Cheltenham sight seeing in Imperial Gardens.

The cold snap is set to continue through the weekend, plenty more opportunities for building snowmen!

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Mini Icicles

Brrrr...it's cold. Well, not as cold as some of your winters but cold for us. The temperature has been as low as -6c at night, we've had frost on the ground for almost a week and icicles have started forming. OK, they are only a few inches long but it's the best I could come up with! These ones were hanging on one of the bins at work. I like all the little air bubbles in them. They look like little pieces of blown glass.

How cold is it where you are?
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Changing View - January

It's the second day of the month (and the year!) and it's time for the fifth installment of my Changing View series. We've been having a really cold spell here but no snow yet. The bright, frosty days have been lovely, but freezing. The sun has been low in the sky and it lit the Municipal Offices wonderfully. Winter still has a long way to go until it's over but the leaves will be back on the trees before you know it.

To see how the scene has changed click on 'changing view' in the labels below.

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Sky Watch Friday

Winter Branches

Its Friday and its Sky Watch time! All the trees look like this now, as the longest day of the year approaches and so does Christmas. Not long to go now. I've sent out the cards, wrapped most of the presents, all that's left to do is buy the booze! After all that is what Christmas is about! How are your Christmas preparations going?

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