My 365 Project

The first 30 days of my new 365 Project. Unfortunately they are not in the correct order - just ordered randomly. Photos and captions can be found on my Facebook page here

My 365 Project

Lest we Forget

Today I went to the Remembrance Service and Parade. It was well supported and very moving. The Last Post was played by a school boy. Prayers were said and hymns sung.

Sometime words are not enough so here are some "moments" in photos.

Some of the wreaths and tributes.

 

Wreaths laid.



A touching moment



Remembering ...

  

It says it all ...

and someone left their own message to the politicians (click on the photo to enlarge).

New 365 Project

Well today is the 11/11/11 and the start of my new 365 Project. As it was Armistice Day I had hoped for a photo of poppies, so I walked to Keele village to photograph the Cenotaph. Unfortunately there was no wreath and no poppies. Luckily I was wearing a poppy so I took it off and used that.



1/365 Armistice Day

 For those of you that don't know about 365 Projects, the idea is that you take a photo everyday of something. I managed to complete my last 365 Project, let's hope I can do the same with this one. I'm uploading photos of my Facebook and hopefully you'll be able to follow my progress by following this link - My 365 Project

New York - Day 5

Day 5 - Tuesday 25th October 2011


I was up early, showered and out. I left the others nursing their hangovers. I stopped off in Times Square and watched them filming Good Morning America (Priscilla Presley and MJ’s son were on). I then walked to Grand Central Station to see it in the daylight. It was very busy this time with a high security presence and there were several sniffer dogs.

Grand Central Station

I nipped in to Market at the station and could resist an almond crossiant.

Market at Grand Central Station

I then wandered along Lexington Avenue (still too early for the shops to be open). I decided to headed back to Rockefeller Centre and watched them filming at NBC (Kelly Clarkson was on). I had a look around St Patricks Church.

I then started heading back. I wandered past New York Library … waiting on the steps for Big to turn up.

New York Public Library

 I wandered through Bryant Park where they were setting up a skating rink. I then headed back for another visit to Times Square.

Times Square

I got filmed as part of the crowd for some show about the Royal Wedding !

Filming at Times Square

 I watched a Harlem Gospel Choir and Rodney Atkins performing for a Heroes ceremony.

Gospel Choir

Rodney Atkins

It was now time to headed back to the hotel as we needed to be out by noon. I just had time for a quick coffee and cream cheese bagel. We checked out of our room.

We were about to hail a yellow cab for the ride back to the airport but we got offered a stretch limo – who would refuse! Had a ride around NYC and across the bridge (not sure which one though!) and back to the airport. It’s the only way to travel !

Stretch Limo

Said goodbye to Marie at American Airlines and then we caught the Airtrain to our terminal. Checked in, got rid of our bags and had a wander around the airport. Made some purchases (would be rude not to !). Security in JFK didn’t take as long as Manchester ! Perhaps they aren’t so particular who they let back into the UK!

Our seats on the flight were between Business Class and the galley. There were just two rows of seats. Felt like we were had our own little space. We watched Bridesmaids and there were some very funny scenes (the bit where they were in the shops trying on dresses). It reminded me of our hotel room that morning !!

The flight back to Dublin took 5 ½ home - he must have known a short cut! We had about an hour in Dublin airport so time for an early morning coffee. It was then a 40 minute flight back to UK. We had arranged for a taxi to pick us up. I was home by 9.00 am. I’d been up 23 hours, so it was a power nap!

New York - Day 4

Day 4 - Monday 24th October 2011


I headed out early while the others had a leisurely morning getting ready. I had a wander around Times Square, watched them filming Good Morning America and people watched. Met up with them just after 9.00 am and we all caught the Downtown bus to Battery Park. This statue came from the site of the original World Trade Centre.

Recovered from the World Trade Centre

We stopped for breakfast (bacon and egg bagel) and then headed off to Ground Zero. Got side tracked at Century 21 (new sunglasses purchased).

We wandered past the protesters who had taken over the park. There was a lot of media interest and police presence. We chatted to one of the policemen who said generally the protesters were well behaved.

We then headed off to look around Ground Zero. While the others rested I had a wander around the grounds of St Paul’s Trinity Chapel and then we headed off to Ground Zero. Unfortunately tickets for memorial had sold out. In fact you can’t get tickets for weeks.

The new Freedom Tower at Ground Zero

The construction workers

The others stopped off in a pub and I headed for the St Paul’s Trinity Chapel and Wall Street, NY Stock Exchange, Federal Hall. How times have changed since I was last there. You couldn’t get near the buildings – metal security fences keeping people away. No sitting on the steps of Federal Hall anymore. Security it very high and cars have to go through very strict security, with sniffer dogs checking them out.

We had arranged to meet up again at 3.00 but I got a text to say “still in the pub – having a fantastic time”. I had a swift beer at Staten Island Ferry port (how that has changed!) and then hopped back on the bus and headed back to Rockefeller Centre. I had a wander along Fifth Avenue and then headed for Macy’s. They still have the original wooden escalators. It was nice to “window” shop.

I had several drunken messages to say they were still in the pub, so I stopped for a bite to eat. I went to check if there were any tickets for Mary Poppins performance that evening, but unfortunately there was no performance on a Monday so I headed back to the hotel. Thankfully they gave me a spare key at reception or I’d have had a long wait!

They rolled in in dribs and drabs after having an evening of cocktails in the Waldorf! I packed away all my stuff as we were leaving tomorrow and I wanted to make the most of the remaining morning.

New York - Day 3

Day 3 - Sunday 23 October 2011


We were up early again but not as early as yesterday. It was more like 6.00 am. Got our own back on the lads next door by playing and singing along to 70’s disco ! Hailed a cab (as you do in NYC) and headed over to Tiffanys so we could have Breakfast at Tiffanys. Not quite like in the film (or Glee) as they had scaffolding up at Tiffanys !

Breakfast at Tiffanys

Our doughnuts and coffee eaten we headed to the Trump Tower and had a mooch around. Still relatively early and the shops were not open. We did bump into a fellow Stokie though ! We then continued down Fifth Avenue to FAO Schwarz but being a Sunday the store was not open (they were queuing though!).

We took a horse and trap ride around Central Park. Carl our Irish “driver” was giving us the football results from back home. He pointed out the locations of lots of film shots and even the fountain where they do the opening scene to Friends. It was great to ride around the park early on a Sunday morning, with the colours changing for autumn. The ride cost us $90 dollars but lasted a good 45 minutes.

Ride around Central Park

By the time we’d finished Schwarz had opened. We had a wander around and headed off to find the piano from Big (well I say “the” they’d also got one in Planet Hollywood!). We arrived just in time as they were doing a show. The played Heart and Soul, Chopsticks, New York, New York. Who would have thought grown-ups could have such great fun in a toy-shop !

FAO Scwwarz

We hopped back on the bus and did the Uptown Tour, taking in Central Park, Dakota Building, Upper West Side, Morningside Heights, Harlem, back along the park and back to Midtown.

We nipped back to the hotel, for some warm clothes and headed off to catch the boat tour around the Manhattan. Our hotel was only a few blocks from the river and Times Square so was ideally located. We caught the boat at 4.00 pm and it was a great evening for a boat tour. Manhattan, Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge in evening sunlight.

Manhattan Skyline

Empire State Building and Chrysler Building on the Manhattan Skyline

View from the boat

Statue of Liberty

Once over we got a cab to Grand Central Station. Wow what a building.

Grand Central Station

It was relatively quiet but I couldn’t recreate the “iconic” photo ! We had a drink in a Mexican Bar - they were on the cocktails me on the beer.

We then walked back to 42nd Street, passing Times Square and ended up in BB Kings club. Had a meal (BBQ chicken, red potato salad and coleslaw – very nice) and watched live music. What a great day.

New York - Day 2

Day 2 - Saturday 22nd October 2011


We were woken around 4.00am by the lads next door coming in. Once we were awake we decided to get up. We all showered, had our coffee and were out for before 6.30 am. Great to walk along 42nd Street so early in the morning. We headed for Times Square and were there for 6.40 am ! Great to watch 42nd Street and Times Square come alive.

42nd Street

Times Square - early morning

Took some photos and purchased a ticket for the NYC sight-seeing bus tours. This gave us a $10 voucher for Planet Hollywood so when it opened at 8.00 am we headed in for breakfast. Ham, cheese and egg bagels and coffee – the girls had cocktails ! Caught the hop-on, hop-off bus tour and headed Downtown. Our plan was to do the whole tour first. Headed around the Theatre District, Maddison Square Gardens, Empire State Building, Bleaker Street, Soho and down to the Financial District, Ground Zero and Battery Park. It was great having a running commentary on everything.

It was then back up the Lower East Side, United Nations, the Waldorf and to the Rockefeller Centre. Whilst it looked a sunny day, sat upstairs on an open top bus can be a bit chilly, so we headed into the Rockefeller Centre for a coffee to warm us up. The skating rink was already up and running ready for Christmas so we watched them skate for awhile.

Once warmed through we headed over to the Empire State Building. Wow what great views from the top.

Looking Downtown towards the Financial District

Chyrsler Building

Don't look down !

We had photos taken with our Stokies in the City t-shirts.

We had a swift drink in the Heartland Brewery bar at the bottom of the Empire State Building.

Once the sun had set we took the evening tour of Brooklyn. We wrapped up warm for this bus ride! The tour started in Times Square and then headed Downtown. We took the Manhattan Bridge over the river. The views back of Manhattan were stunning.

Manhattan at Night

We had a tour around Brooklyn and then headed back to Manhattan. Great day.

New York - Day 1

Day 1 - Friday 21st October 2011


Up at 3.45 am (what an unsocial hour!), taxi picked me up at 4.45 am. We arrived at Manchester by 5.30 am. They were queued right outside the terminal to go through security. I didn’t queue that long to ride Rita at Alton Towers a few weeks ago ! So much for a relaxing breakfast - we ate the Danish pastries in the queue. Once we’d made it through into departures it was a much needed coffee while we waited for our flights. I saw Ange and Carole off on their flight to Dublin and then waited for my flight to Shannon. It was a small plane to Shannon with propellers !

Arrived in Shannon safely with an hour or so wait. That soon passed by as they had free wi-fi! Headed through to US immigration in Shannon airport had my finger prints done and was photographed. I then had to identify my case from a photo. So glad I put a stripy strap on it or I’d have had no chance ! I then waited at gate and the sniffer dogs came round. They stopped at the guy sitting behind me ! They sniffed out an orange – not drugs !

Flight to JFK was good. They fed and entertained me! However, I had to sit next to this old bloke (and he was really old) who never took his hat or coat off. They kept coming and asking him if he was ok and if he had enough room … never mind me pinned against the window as he had “elbow” syndrome and took an early hold on the arm-rest and part of my seat ! The time passed by as I watched Hangover 2, Con Artist and Bad Teacher, oh and an episode of Sex in the City – got that in just in time before we landed. The flight took 7 ½ hours. Looks like the captain took the long route. Views of Long Island from the plane were great. I’d never really appreciated how long they were !

I arrived safely in JFK, claimed my baggage and Ange was waiting for me at the gate. They’d all been in the bar waiting on my flight. They were on the Cosmopolitan cocktails, me I had a Bud!

We took a yellow cab into NYC. Cost $55. We went through the tunnel into Manhattan. Would have preferred a bridge … but you can’t have everything.  Marie talked the driver to death! By the time we got there we knew his life history. We got our first sighting of Times Square – Wow !

We checked in at our hotel – Travel Inn on 42nd Street. Room was ok. We’d got all the essentials, it was clean and we’d got a full sized fridge and a microwave. No kettle though and no mugs for our morning coffee! Dumped our luggage and went out to explore and find something to eat. Managed to picked up four mugs for our morning coffee !

Early night – lots to do and see while we are here.

My 365 Project

Today I've completed my first 365 project. I've taken a photo everyday for the last year. I started on the 10-10-10.  It's made me get out and about over the last 12 months and hopefully over that time my photography has improved. I've not always got my DSLR with me so some photos have been taken on my small digital camera or even my mobile, but not a day has gone by when I've not photographed something.

I've published my photos on Facebook and if you'd like to look at them they are viewable by anyone. You don't need a Facebook account or to be my friend on Facebook.

The first part of the project can be found here

and the second part here

I've really enjoyed doing it and I hope you enjoy looking at my photos.

My next 365 project will start on 11-11-11.

Tour of Britain - Stage 3 Stoke-on-Trent

I couldn't decide where to write about Tour of Britain - my blog or Dad's. In the end I went for Dad's as he has more readers !

However I thought I'd post a link to it on my blog. So here is an account of my day "chasing" men on bikes around Stoke-on-Trent - Tour of Britain

Jury Service - Week 1

There is a lot of waiting around on Jury Service. In fact as I blogged the other day the whole of my first day was spent just waiting. Apparently not much happens on a Monday. However, it did get better.


On my second day the phone rang on reception. It's a bit like the Apprentice. I just imagine someone on the other end saying "send them in". The Clerk then calls for attention and reads out the names of 15 people. As soon as your name is read you rush to the loo ... well it might be your last chance for awhile. Then what normal happens is you sit and wait for an Usher to come and collect you and by the time she does you want the loo again !

The Usher will line up against a wall and when you are ready the she will use a keypad to open a door and take you into a corridor. You then line up again before you are escorted through another door and taken upstairs into an anti-room attached to the Court. The Usher then locks the door behind you. That room only has 14 chairs and there are 15 of you, so one person stands! It's a bit like musical chairs. The Usher then disappears into Court through another door. You then wait in that room and when they are ready for you the Usher knocks on the door and you file into Court. You assemble just inside the Court, again there are not enough benches, so several have to stand. The Court then reads the names (yes your name!) of 12 Jurors and you acknowledge your name and take a seat in the Jury box. You have to remember your seat or who you are sitting next to as you have to return to sit in the same seat every time you go back into Court. I don't much like being on the front row !

The three people whose names are not read out return back to the anti-room and wait. Each Juror is then sworn in. Once this has happened the three that didn't make it into the 12 return back down to the Jury Suite and wait. You are either put in another 15 or if there aren't any more case starting you could be sent home.

Every time you leave Court you have to do this with an Usher. First you congregate in the anti-room, the Court door is closed before the door out to the stairs is unlocked.

The first time I went into Court I took my bag with my phone in it but I was so worried it might ring - how I don't know as it was switched off, that subsequently I locked my bag and phone away in the Jury Suite.

When you go to discuss the verdict you are taken to a room and you have to hand in your phone and they are locked away in a drawer. The door to the room is then locked. You have access to a toilet. If you needed anything you have to push a buzzer and the Usher will come. If it's over lunch, like ours was, then lunch is served in the room. There you stay and discuss until a unanimous decision. If you suffered claustrophobia bad you'd not like it! Mind you I panicked when I thought I'd got locked in the loo ! If the fire alarms sound we were told to make our way to the Town Hall as a group and we would be put into holding room !

I found it amazing how 12 relative strangers from all walks of life could sit and discuss in a coherent way. Very interesting watching people interact with others.

So far in my first week of Jury Service I have been into Court four times. Only once did I not make one of the 12 Jurors. I have sat on three cases now.

It's not much like TV Court Room dramas ... not heard many "objection" or "may I approach the bench". However there have been a few comical moments. There is one particular Barrister that pulls very funny faces when questioning witnesses. Or listening to Barristers swear, in extremely posh voices, whilst reading out the defendants statements is quite amusing.

My second week starts tomorrow.

The waiting around ...

Well today was day one of my Jury Service. I had to report at 9.30 but having no idea on what traffic would be like at that time in the morning I gave myself plenty of time. Needless to say I was there way to early so I sat in the car, waiting for the rain to ease and read my book.

I headed over to the Court. I've never been in one before so  it was quite an experience. First of all I had to pass through the security systems. I was asked if I'd any keys or money in my pockets. Felt around and found a penny. It looked awfully lonely sitting in a bowl on it's own. My handbag was searched and I was asked if I had a camera. Now normally I'm never without my camera, but I'd read the blurb about cameras and it had been left at home much to my annoyance as I'm doing a 365 project and need to photograph something daily ! So I walk through the metal detectors and it goes off. I'm asked again if I had anything metal in my pockets. I feel around my coat pocket.... a couple of tissues, a couple of packets of sugar (why I don't take it) one of those wooden stirrers but I can't feel anything metal. Then I pull out a packet of mints. That was the culprit !

I'm shown to the Jury Suite. There were five of us "newbies". All dressed relatively smartly. We were given a brief talk and we watched a DVD and then we sat and waited - not really speaking to each other. Other jurors started to arrive and the Jury Suite got a bit more busy. The jurors that had been on Jury Service the week previously all sat around chatting. Their dress code was more relaxed, jeans, trainers, etc. Us newbies sat quietly. A few people were reading books or flicking through magazines - others just sat there. Why would you just sit there ! I'd taken Mike Carter's One Man and his Bike, so I cracked on reading it. Nothing much happened  in the first hour or so except some form filling and someone came to service the water dispensers - yes that's as good as it got! 

The TV was on in one part of the Jury Suite, a bit too loud, and I listened to a couple of those house programmes and one of those ambulance emergency programmes whilst reading. About 11.00 ish some of jurors started getting restless ... I could hear murmurs about the "fag break" coming up at 11.15. By 11.20 security hadn't arrived to escort them for the fag break. That didn't go down very well ! He eventually turned up and several jurors disappeared for fag. It was then back to sitting and waiting. It was like sitting in the departure lounge at the airport when the plane had been delayed for an unspecified amount of time ... we'd got a common purposes for being there but we didn't really know the people with us.

About 12.20 the phone rang in the Jury Clerks office. It reminded me of the Apprentice. I just imagined a voice on the other end saying "send them in". The Clerk came out and read out 15 names. I was one of the 15 names read out. I packed away my book. This was the moment ....  the Clerk disappeared and came back again and said that Court had decided to break for lunch. It was 12.30. My moment hadn't last long.

We moved from one part of the Jury Suite to the canteen section - about 20 paces away for lunch. A different view, there were windows. Different tables and chairs. Oh the excitement! Lunch was provided free (well you get a card with £5.17 daily allowance on it).  There was pasties/pies or shepherds pie and chips. I choose a jacket potato.  If the ladies behind the counter called my Sug once, they called it me half a dozen times ... have you got your card Sug, do you want salad Sug, do you want a drink Sug ... and so it went on.

I sat and ate my lunch with one of the newbies. Lunch eaten we shuffled back to "our spot" and I sat and read. It's funny how when you go into a room you pick your spot and that's like your territory for the day! I thought we might get the call at 2.00 (the official time we needed to be back) to go to Court so I packed my book, but 2.00 came and went.  About 2.30 the phone went again. The Clerk came out and read another 15 names out. That meant everyone had been called.  There was a mad rush for the toilets .... it was all about to happen.  The Clerk disappeared and when she came back she said the 15 people whose names she had read out before lunch were free to leave. It was 2.40. The defendant had pleaded guilty and we were no longer required.

So that was my first day on Jury Service ! I read an awful lot, I sat around an awful lot. Court is not like that when you see it on TV dramas !

Take That - Manchester

Well the day arrived ... Saturday 4th June 2011. We'd waited a good six months for this day after spending a frantic morning trying to secure some tickets.

Heard a few reviews from the Sunderland shows and Manchester the previous evening. They'd got a huge job to upstage the Circus tour.

We arrived at the City of Manchester Stadium and after walking half way around the stadium to find our gate we then had to walk up to Level 3. We "people" watched for an hour or so until Pet Shop Boys came on. A great support act who belted out hits like Go West and Suburbia.

We then got the count down and the rain!  First on a rainy slippy stage it was just Gary, Mark, Howard and Jason. Within minutes Mark removed his shoes and socks and sang barefoot ! They performed some of their hits from their time as a four piece band. This included  Rule the World, Greatest Day, Patience and Shine. They alternated between the main stage and the smaller stage.

Then Robbie came on in spectacular fashion hanging from the top of the stage and did an awesome set belting out Let Me Entertain You (which he did), Rock DJ, Come Undone and finishing off with Angels.

Then the five were reunited. They song Flood to a back-drop of acrobats suspended in a huge wall of water. They then belted out a Million Love Songs, Babe, Everything Changes and Back For Good, Pray, Never Forget and finished off with Relight my Fire and Eight Letters. It was good to be seeing all five of them on "home" soil.

They even handled a mechanical problem which stranded both Mark and Howard in the robot (apparently named Om) hands. Step ladders were out and Mark and Howard made their way down out of Om's hands and back to join the others.

Fantastic night. I'd go again tomorrow if I could get tickets !