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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Little Britain

Well, its 'Little England' really but it doesn't sound as good! I spotted this customised Smart Car at a local Garden Centre and it looked very patriotic. At a first look you would think the owner supported the England football team but that's not the case. He doesn't even like football! The chap that owns it wanted something a bit different, something that would stand out from the crowd, and he certainly got it. He said that he once stayed overnight in Wales and found the car vandalised the next morning!

These photos were taken on my camera phone.
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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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Kitchen Magpie

The reason I first took this photo was because of the black and white window display matching the awning. But when I loaded it on to the computer I realised that the display was magpie themed - black and white and all things shiny. If you click to enlarge the photo you can make out the following written in the window - '1 for sorrow, 2 for joy, 3 for a girl, 4 for a boy, 5 for silver, 6 for gold and 7 for a secret never told.' This is a traditional children's nursery rhyme about magpies. According to an old superstition, the number of magpies one sees determines if one will have bad luck or not. I'm quite superstitious and if I see a loan magpie I salute and say "Morning Mr. Magpie." That does away with the bad luck (sorrow)! Anyway.... if you need something for your kitchen, this is the place to find it. They have everything - pots, pans, baking trays, knives, egg cups - the lot!

Do you have any superstitions?

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School Girl

Just a quick one today. On the side of one of the buildings that makes up Cheltenham College (known locally as the Boys College) I spotted this elegant looking lady. In one hand she is holding a plate with what looks like grapes on it and in the other she is holding a mask. I'm not sure what she might represent (ideas anybody?) but she looks very grand. If you want to know more about the college check out my previous post here.

Thanks to everyone for their kind comments about my macro photo yesterday. If you'd like to see more of my macro photography head over to my other blog - Macro World.

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Snowberries

I thought I'd start the week with a macro photo. The Snowberries are a common sight around town at this time of year, these ones are planted around the tennis courts at Montpellier Gardens. I found the following about the plant at Wikipedia "Symphoricarpos is a small genus of about 15 species of deciduous shrubs in the family Caprifoliaceae. All but one are natives of North America and Central America; the one remaining is from western China. Its common names in English are Snowberry and Waxberry. It is a member of the Honeysuckle Family, the Caprifoliaceae." So there you go! If you split the berry open the inside is like granules of snow, very cool. But they are poisonous - no making Snowberry Pie people!
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Two Things Challenge - Partial / Whole

After many weeks of unrelenting pressure from D.C Confidential I have finally joined in with the Two Things Challenge (I tell you, the woman is not to be messed with!) By joining in with this weekly challenge I put my name alongside those of some fantastic photographers and I hope my offerings live up to the photos that have gone before. Anyway, on to the photos. Pretty self explanatory - a partial moon in the day and a whole moon at night.

If you would like to join in head over to the Two Things Challenge blog.
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Making Tracks

One last snowy photo. These tyre tracks were made by the lorries and vans removing the temporary Christmas ice skating rink in Montpellier Gardens. The rink was inside a giant marquee and didn't attract as many skaters as neighbouring Gloucester's outdoor rink did. The main thing that put the visitors off was the fact that it wasn't real ice - it was plastic! Cheltenham Borough Council really need to get their act together for next Christmas!

The white stuff has all but melted, it is still freezing cold and frosty but the forecast is for milder weather next week. Who knows if we'll see more snow this winter.

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Sky Watch Friday

Rooftop car park at sunset

This is my first Sky Watch of 2009, so if you are a Sky Watch Friday visitor then Happy New Year to you! There is something special about sunsets and sunrises too (but I'm never awake to see them!), the colours are magical and often stunning.

Check out the Sky Watch Friday Blog to see the sky all over the world and to join in too.

Have a good weekend.
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Spoken From The Heart

First things first. This photo is in no way a representation of my own love life!

Well, what can I say about today's photo, apart from its a brilliant piece of graffiti/street art. It just leapt off of the wall at me as I walked by. I wonder if the person it was intended for got the message? And whether they did anything about it! I suppose its a sad state of affairs if the only way you can say what you feel is through a public statement like this. Maybe I'm reading to much into this and it is just something someone did and it means nothing at all.

If anyone wants to use this image to pass a message on to someone special in their life, let me know. I'm the sole of discretion!

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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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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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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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Urban Jungle

I'm pretty sure that most towns and cities the world over have concrete carbuncles like this. Though I quite like the look of this multi-storey car park! It has nice lines and textures. I think it looks good in black and white too. That's it for today. Enjoy your weekend.

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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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Theme Day - Best Photo Of The Year 2008

Happy New Year! I hope 2009 is good to you and yours.

In the last year I've posted 328 posts and shown almost 500 photos. It was a tough choice for today's theme! I really couldn't decided on a photo, Phoebe had several dozen photos that she thought were worthy, but in the end I settled for this one (it was on her list!) I first posted the photo on Monday 14th July, under the title 'Bee-n Waiting'. Here is the text from that post - "The sun finally made an appearance, nature burst into life for a few hours and I got my photo. I'd been wanting to get a photo like this for a while and at last my camera, a flower and a bee all met up! This big bumble bee was busy collecting pollen from a delphinium. The rain stopped and my wait was worth it. I hope the bee felt the same."

There are 150 other City Daily Photo Blogs taking part in this Theme Day. Click here to view thumbnails for all participants.
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Pink Elephants

Its New Years Eve and as we head, inebriated, towards the midnight hour we may well end the year seeing pink elephants! If you want to encourage your New Year party guest to see pink elephants then get a few glasses of Pink Elephant cocktail down their necks! All you need to make the cocktail is vodka, grenadine, galliano and orange juice. I'm not sure of the quantities, just have fun experimenting! The pink elephants in the photo were on a post in a multi-storey car park, it makes a nice change from numbering the levels. Other floors were yellow camel, red parrot, and black & white panda (obviously).

Whatever you are doing to see in 2009 have a great time. Don't forget tomorrow is City Daily Photo Blogs Theme Day - Best Photo Of The Year 2008. If you signed up, join in! Post before you start seeing pink elephants!
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Bargains Galore!

Reduced, discount, bargains, half price, clearance - it all means the same. SALE! The winter sales used to start in January but more recently they've started on Boxing Day. This year the stores were slashing prices long before Christmas. All the shops were desperate to get every penny they could before the festivities and they did all they could to get the shoppers through the door. The best I saw was 70% off, who knows what they came up with for the post Christmas sale - paying you to take it away?! I guess it's a sign of the times, every penny counts. This week more High Street names have announced that they have gone into liquidation. Unfortunately, I think that it'll be common place to see more closures in the next year.

The answer to yesterday's mind play photo - It was a reflection and I posted the photo upside down. Well done to everyone that spotted it.

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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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Merry Christmas

Well, it's finally here. Tomorrow is Christmas Day! Today I thought I'd share with you another photo of the Municipal Offices, all lit up for Christmas. I have bemoaned the lack of festive lights in Cheltenham this year but the Council building really does look lovely.

I'm taking a few days off from blogging (I think we all need a break!) but I'll be back next week. I'm working all day today, this evening I'm off to the pub for a festive tipple, and I may not get round to visiting you all, so I'll just take this opportunity to wish you and yours a very happy and peaceful Christmas. I hope it brings you everything you wished for. Enjoy.

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Christmas Sparkle

Just a quick one today. Here are some sparkly baubles that are in sparkly bowl on our kitchen table (that isn't sparkly!) I though this photo might help spread the Christmas cheer.

Dusty Lens kindly passed this award onto me (thank you!) and now I'm passing it on to the following 8 blogs -

Terrell Texas Daily Photo
Around Roanoke
Knoxville Daily photo
My Manila
One A Day - Mostly Seattle
Birmingham, Alabama Daily Photo
Miss B In NYC
Fresh Eyes On London

I know that not everyone likes passing awards on, and that's fine. I'm not going to go around announcing I awarded it to you, if you stop by and discover it then it'll be a nice surprise!
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Christmas Blues

As many of you may know the chain store Woolworths has gone into administration, one of the latest victims of the credit crunch. The store has been on High Streets up and down the country for nearly a century, after coming to us from America. It was the place to get those things that weren't in every shop - "try Woolies." Unfortunately shops like Pound Land and Wilkos did it better and cheaper, and Woolies just couldn't compete. By January 5th all of its 815 stores will be closed and the 27,000 employees will be out of work. Not the best Christmas for them.

Sorry for my absence - I've been struck down with the Flu. Feeling better but not 100% yet.

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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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Pampered Pooch

Sometimes being stuck in traffic pays off. It gives you a great photo opportunity! I was stuck behind this van on the one-way system around town on Monday and it got me thinking. What on earth is a dog Hydro Bath?! What is Turbo Drying?! Why do fleas need a rinse?! Why does it need to be a 'heated mobile dog grooming parlour'?! Do they have a radiator in there?! All these questions remain unanswered, unless I get a dog and give Dial-A-Dog-Wash a call! Has anyone out there used one of these mobile dog washers? For their dog, obviously.
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Bird Box Bling

Is this the next version of MTV Cribs? Bird Box Bling?! I think its a catchy title for a TV programme, probably only suitable for bird brains though (groan). Anyway, this caught my eye in the window of Accessorize on the Prom. I know I post quite a few photos of shop windows but I like them, hopefully you do too!

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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!

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O Christmas Tree

You may remember I said about the lack of Christmas lights in Cheltenham, well the Council have at least got it right at the Municipal Offices. I'm not sure if this has anything to do with it being the councillors work place! Anyway, it does look good. The Municipal Offices has had Christmas trees on its balcony at this time of year for as long as I can remember. It brings back childhood memories of going to see the lights being switched on and the times that we couldn't go my mum would take us in the car for a drive round town to see all the twinkling lights. What are your childhood Christmas memories?

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Underpass

The title today says it all really. Although Cheltenham is a lovely place with posh shops and Regency architecture it does have a few rough areas. This graffiti covered underpass is an example of what is common in most towns and cities. I think it adds to the feel of a place and keeps it real. That's today's message. Keep it real.

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Twinkle Twinkle

Some of you may say that this photo is blurred, but I say its soft focus! Everything looks so bright, colourful and festive at the moment - shops, houses, windows, trees - its lovely. These are the lights in the Beechwood Arcade. Yes, I took the risk of being told off by that security guard again. Luckily he was nowhere to be seen. Probably stuffing his face with mince pies. Anyway, the photo looked clear on the camera screen but on the computer it was a different story. I still thought it was worth posting though.

Enjoy your weekend.

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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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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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Golden Globe

Yes, I have been using the focal black and white feature again! There are some photos that just cry out for it, and this was one! This spinning golden globe in the window of SPACE.NK.apothecary, on the Prom, really caught my eye. Basically its what I would call a 'smellies' shop! They sell beauty products and have stores all over the country. I think its safe to say, from looking at their website, that they are quite expensive. So if you've got money to burn, and are looking for an extra special Christmas present, then this is the place for you.

Don't hold your breath Phoebe. Its Wilko's for you!
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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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Big Baubles

These giant baubles were at the new Cabot Circus shopping centre in Bristol. I went there a couple of weeks ago, to be honest I won't be bothering to go again - no shops that stood out for me, only the usual high street stores. Anyway, these baubles were about six feet tall and they were stacked up in a pyramid that must have been about eighteen feet high! Imagine the size of the Christmas tree you'd need to hang them on?! It was a pretty impressive Christmas feature, although I'm not sure what those jets of water were all about!

The photo was taken on my camera phone, so its a bit rough looking.

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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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Sky Watch Friday

Pastel Sky

As I said a few weeks ago the winter months seem to have some of the best coloured skies, from bright oranges to delicate violets. This is a view across the fields towards Chosen Hill, you can just make out St Bartholomews Church on top of the hill.

To see the sky all over the world, or to take part, head over to the Sky Watch Friday Blog.

I hope you have a great weekend!

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Raising The Roof

Now I know what you're all thinking. That I'm obsessed with the renovation of the Regent Arcade shopping centre. Well, its not so much obsession as overly interested! Anyway, those that have been following Cheltenham DP know that the Regent Arcade is undergoing a makeover and that the arched roof is being removed and is being replaced with a flat glass one. After weeks of scaffolding the old roof has started to vanish. This photo was taken on the top of the car park, through the safety fencing, and four storeys below those open arches is the Arcade! To stop the shoppers getting wet there is a temporary roof made from planks of wood and lots of plastic sheeting! To see the roof as it was go here.

I'll keep you posted with the work, whether you like it or not!

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Columns

These are the columns around the Pitville Pump Room, which over looks the park of the same name. The winter sun lit the building beautifully the other day. That's it for today, I think the photos say it all.

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Changing View - December

Its the second of the month and its time for the fourth installment of my Changing View series. Today you get the excitement of two photos for the price of one! I was hoping to have a lovely night shot showing the Prom all lit up with Christmas lights, but the Council being the Council haven't bothered to get them all working. The end result is that a third of Cheltenham's Christmas lights aren't lit. Talk about getting into the festive spirit and encouraging shoppers to the town during these difficult times!

The second photo show the familiar scene yesterday afternoon. As you can see all of the leaves have fallen from the trees and winter has taken hold.

To see how the scene has changed click on 'changing view' in the labels below.
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Theme Day - Circles & Spheres

Its Theme Day time again and what better way to start the week than with a bit of sparkle! I think today's theme is one of the broadest subjects we've had for ages and I found there were loads of things to choose from. In the end I settled for this mirror ball in a shop window. Not only are there reflections in the ball but also the sphere is reflected in the mirrored backdrop. If we have the theme 'Reflections' in the future I could use this one again!

There are another 186 City Daily Photo Blogs taking part in this theme. Take some time out today to see how others have interpreted Circles & Spheres. Click here to view thumbnails for all of the participants.

Check back tomorrow for more of my Changing View series.

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