Money Laundering - OK with small change but £5 notes tend to get a big soggy!
In 1972, my parents bought me my very first camera, a Kodak Instamatic 133. I was delighted and snapped everything I could until I ran out of film and big chunky flash cubes. Imagine my suprise to find this in my cupboard 36 years later along with a pile of photos I had taken between 1972 - 1979 with this camera.
This is another Reliant that I have recently acquired; a 1974 Reliant Super Robin (Early 750cc version) in "Carnival Pink" . Whilst I drive my blue one to Reliant rallies and shows, Caroline can now drive the pink one ... which she has christened "Gwenn". Yes, for those who have never seen one before, it only has three wheels. ;o) The photo was in Tamworth, UK where the cars were built until 1998.
I've just discovered how different photos can look in black and white when applying different filters. This is one of my favourite, black and white with a red filter. It makes the image look like a shot from an old Reliant brochure in the 1970s.
Alas I didn't get to see the worst of the floods but Caroline and I went down there today and the flood water has receded quite a bit now ... you still need your wellington boots down there though!
There isn't many things I remember from school but for some reason I never forgot that the latin name for the brown rat was Rattus Norvegicus and latin name for the black rat was Rattus Rattus! These rats were spotted on the River bank of the River Anker in Tamworth. I was actually skulking around trying to catch a squirrel and couldn't believe my luck when these came out. Mind you, the click of the camera made then very nervous and we had to wait ages in between shots until they showed themself again.
The castle grounds in Tamworth are still flooded though the flood waters are starting to retreat. Judging by the look on this House Sparrow's face though, he isn't happy about the situation at all.
Unlike his grumpy mate, this House Sparrow was a lot happier, especially when he saw all the bird seed that was next to us!
No matter whether it is 1958 or 2008, a New Year brings the same hope and excitement that the year ahead will be one of prosperity, health and happiness. Happy New Year and thank you for visiting my photos throughout 2007. :o)
This was from a set I did of Caroline in her kaftan ... and I really liked this one so I thought I'd upload it as she looks scrumptious! :o)
My parents bought Caroline a kaftan for Christmas and in it she looks jolly nice. ;o)
I know that most things are controlled by computers in one way or another, though when I gave this old lamp a rub, and awaited a genie to grant me three wishes - things didn't quite go to plan.
The winter sun today was bathing everything with such glorious colour. This is Ladybridge over the River Anker.
All I said was that for Christmas dinner some people prefer Duck to Turkey and this chap was off!
These seagulls were busy chasing each other around, probably hoping that someone knew the way to some food.
Whilst the town centre was packed with folks dashing around buying presents at the last second, this chap figured he'd be much better off finding a quiet spot and doing a spot of fishing by Ladybridge on the River Anker in Tamworth.
This is the River Tame running alongside the Castle grounds in Tamworth just before it joins up with the River Anker.
With temperatures hitting -5 degrees celcius at the moment even the birds have their fluffy winter coats on.
The arches in Tamworth with long winter shadows.
If branches are cut down at Christmas, do they become Yuletide logs?
My reflection was trying to convince me today that I'm better off forgetting about fighting through the Christmas crowds shopping, turn the heating off and put on an extra jumper, turn the lights off and use a candle, buy everyone a lump of coal for christmas and lock away the Port for a special occassion. I was actually going for it as well until the part about the Port.
I let Caroline open a present early as she could not wait until Christmas day. She was mighty surprised when she saw what was inside the box ...
Nanny, I really don't want these brussel sprouts. My nephew Cody on Christmas Day.
My parents' cat decided he was going to guard these Pringles no matter what!
It's been years since I've seen a Punch and Judy show so it was funny to see one in Tamworth town centre amongst the market stalls.
Side view of Tamworth Castle in the cold, dark, winter air.
Barely 6:30pm on a winter's night and the streets of Tamworth were deserted. This is Tamworth Town Hall with a Statue of Robert Peel in front if it.
The back of St. Editha's church (in Tamworth) at night time.
Whilst I was in Dubai my girlfriend was involved in a car crash. The other car was stolen and smashed into her car and then drove off. Luckily she was OK but the car was a mess. Anyway, having run out of words on the phone, I sent her some flowers and finally got to see them when I came back home to the UK.
There used to be a saying, "If you want to get ahead, get a hat." Well I wanted a "clever head" that knew big words, "a chatty head" that was good with the ladies, a "mathematician's head" that knew if I was being short changed and a wine tasters head would tell the waiter in the restaurant that he had just served me vinegar instead of a 1787 Chateau Lafite. So, I got all the hats, found matching heads ... and now I realise they are all no good as I need a photography head!
There are some superb old buildings around Polesworth and this Vicarage next to the Abbey is one of them.
Window shopping just isn't what it used to be. Years ago, you'd press your nose up against the shop window and gaze endlessly at that item you wanted and sigh ... now you just go to google, type it in and look at it on the screen.
I just loved the atmosphere around the Roasted Chestmut seller and couldn't help but take several photos.
Whilst the temperature was dropping outside, a peek through this window showed that this lady was nice and warm with a large coal fire and several candles.
The little buildings full of steam powered motors next to the mine.
The main bonfire was so large that even across the site, its fiery rays reflected off this bus.
My brother invited Caroline and I to a traditional bonfire at the Black Country Living Museum in Dudley and it was superb. There were numerous bonfires going on but the one next to the Helter Skelter was the largest I've seen in years. At one point I thought it was actually going to set fire to it the flames were that big. Ideally I needed a tripod .. but I've lent my sister that and I forgot to ask for it back.
I think these are trolley buses rather than trams? Anyway, what ever they are (I'm sure Geoff will tell me) this is the number 31.
What's a bonfire without roasted chestnuts ... a bonfire without roasted chestnuts I guess. This was the roasted chestnut seller at the traditional bonfire at the Black Country Living Museum in Dudley.
Whilst the main bonfires at the Black Country Living museum were like raging infernos, there were also a number of smaller fires dotted around in metal caskets.
Happy Halloween, it was a bit scary when I realised that I didn't need a mask to scare next doors kids away! Muhahahahahahahaha (That's my evil laugh!)
I actually haven't got a clue what these berries are ... so if you know, please let me know. :o)
One of the roads that runs underneath the railway arches in Tamworth. This is the arch that leads up to Amington.
Ever since I got my new camera, my girlfriend Caroline picked up my old Sony DSC-H9 and now wants to take photos of everything. Sometimes she uses the LCD screen and sometimes the EVF, either way, I have to smile at the sheer concentration she injects into every shot. If I'm not careful, I shall loose my Sony H9. ;o)
Just playing with the Canon 50mm f/1.4 lens.
I've done lots of shots of Tamworth Castle so I thought I try shots that were a bit different and just take shots of a bit of the castle and include more Autumn colours.
The castle grounds along the River Anker.
I've done lots of shots of Tamworth Castle so I thought I try shots that were a bit different and just take shots of a bit of the castle.
The River Tame on it's way to Tamworth to link up with the River Anker near Tamworth castle. Such a glorious viw, especially when bathed in a late Autumn sun ... just a pity that the Tamworth Snow Dome sits like a big blob of industrial refuge on the landscape (I think it is pianted gren to try and diguise it a bit?).
Some one once told me that Hawthorn berries were poisonous but they can't be. When I was a youngster walking home from school, I would always pick loads of these and eat them on the way home. That was eons ago ... so I'm guessing if there were any side effects I would have found out by now!
The colours along the Coventry Canal (Tamworth) in the late Autumn sun.
These swans really added to the cystal clear reflections caused by a late Autumn sun. Everything was drenched in such fantastic colour as the sun slowly vanished. This is the Coventry Canal in Tamworth (near the Park Inn).
I've never really attempted portraits with my old cameras but this one I want to try them out as being able to bounce the flash off the ceiling gives the shots such warmth. I got Caroline posing like crazy and ironically my favourite photo was this one, the one when she thought the camera wasn't pointing at her and I just kept telling her silly things to make her smile. :o) I know I still have a lot to learn though!
Not technically brilliant I know but this was my first attempt at a self portrait with my new Canon. Resting the camera on the table with a 10 second delay, I rushed back to the sofa and captured this shot of Caroline and I ... and I have to admit it came out a million times better than I expected.
Practising in the garden with my new camera and the 50mm lens. I shall have to work out what all those numbers mean on it!
