Look around you

Not for the first time I wrote yesterday about how writing this blog distracts me from a lot of what is going on in the real world. It's become a kind of defence mechanism. Me scribbling about some obscure 70s TV programme, or debating what should or shouldn't be in my Top Five Biscuits of All Time, is the equivalent of sticking pins in my Trump/Farage/Starmer dolls. (Don't get me wrong, I can be a very political animal when I want to be and I'm hopelessly addicted to The Rest is Politics with Alastair Campbell & Rory Stewart.) But I don't want to write tirades or dirges on how fucked up the world currently is anymore than people want to read it.

So, instead, as I touched on in my last blog post, I shall continue to explore new and old cultural themes and whenever possible ask for a bit of feedback from the kind souls who have been following me over the last fifteen odd years. And that's not me seeking affirmation (I don't do needy) but any comments you may leave or photographs you send my way are treasured, I hope you know that.

I also said yesterday that I'm thinking of running a couple of optional Photo Challenges that run in parallel to the main PC. What I'm thinking is twofold: one, a return visit to trees and sunrises/sunsets. If you see a tree that jumps out at you (not literally, that would be a Leshy!) then please send me a photo. Or, like me last week, capturing the sun going down (over a railway line - two birds, one stone!); what I shall do is store them up and, from time to time throughout the year, post them as footnotes to the regular PC. And secondly, I'd love you to take a photograph of someone you know really well and/or a complete stranger and, again, send me the photos. As with the trees & sun pics, I'll post them on an ad hoc basis: I think we could build a terrific gallery with these alone. In my experience the general public like having their picture taken (especially with their favourite 'thing' - dog/cat/bike/car/beer/vinyl LP) - don't be afraid to ask - they're usually vey flattered.

Another theme I love is that of looking down into a city (or even away from a city). Taken usually from high ground you get the feeling of looking at a model village (that's how I see it, anyway). I picked up the car yesterday from its MOT and drove thru a couple of suburbs I don't know that well and saw this view. For anyone who knows Nottingham I was in Aspley looking over at the tower blocks in Radford. To those who don't, I took a picture of Point B from Point A! 

I'll drop a text/email to everyone with a summary of the above optional PCs for anyone who wants to play along. Keep snapping!