Trading places

Hello and welcome to March's Photo Challenge. This month I was asking for photographs of your favourite places. Everywhere from a three and a half thousand feet high Scottish mountain to an East End dive bar. All life is here. Thank you to everyone who responded. Our gallery is positively brimming - I can see us moving to larger premises before too long!  

Rol Hirst gets to go first. What have you got for us, Rol? "Hello John, this month's challenge offered too much scope (I have hundreds of photos of such places), so I tried to focus in on real favourites. The first photo below is of Pickering Castle (I know it well - JM), a place we've visited quite a few times in the past few years as we tend to stay in a holiday home just a short walk away. We'll be there again this summer."

"Next, one of the old planes at the South Yorkshire Aviation Museum in Doncaster. Sam and I usually spend and afternoon there every summer." 

"And finally, Sam investigates the Hall of Mirrors at the National Science and Media Museum (it changes its name every year - used to be the Museum of Film, Photography & Television years ago). As a Twin Peaks fan, this is my favourite part of the museum. All the best, Rol." Thank you, Rol. Loving the mirrors.

David Cooper has got three stunners: "This month's three from me, John. Whenever I pass St.Pancras Station I have to take a photo." 

"Another station which I have visited a number of times is Leipzig Hauptbahnhof."

"And Quarr Abbey on the Isle of Wight is a favourite of mine and my Mum. David." Thank you, Coops. Leipzig looks like the quietest station in the world.

My new drinking buddy, Tim next: "Hi John, thought the brief was easy at first but found it one of the trickiest to narrow down. We kick off with Nottingham Station. Can’t say I ‘love’ the 6.50 arrival for work but I do love the timeless vibe." 

"We then have a lovely bit of symmetry at Porto station. (Tube Mapper's got a lot to answer for! - JM.)

"Then it’s the turn of one of our local stately home, Wayne Manor, taking on a psychedelic air." 

"Next it's somewhere I do properly love, the Track Brewery Taproom. The way the beers are listed with individual letters in a cool font really appeals aesthetically. The fact the beer is superb also ticks boxes."

"We then have the cafe in Newport Street Gallery. This is what you get if you let Damien Hirst loose on the design. A work of art in its own right and well worth a visit. The degree of detail is insane. Free tea & coffee in there too!" 

"Finally, a textbook old school Nottingham pub the Kean’s Head. All tastes catered for from strong cask stout to obscure craft beer. An excellent place to while away a cold winters afternoon chatting over a few pints as a lovely recent meeting with Mr. Medd confirmed!" Some great shots in there, Tim. I particularly like the beer list in the Track taproom: a podium finish, for sure!

Celia: "Morning John, my favourite place is this one, just up the road, a place where your mind can wander along with your feet and where the mistletoe hangs in the long avenue of lime trees. You can say hello to the sheep and the rooks and, occasionally, a fellow human! C x." Thank you, C. This looks like proper mindfulness.

Lee Lloyd makes a rare appearance: "Hi John, my entry into March's Photo Challenge - Oulton Hall nearLeeds - our happy place😁." Liking it, Lee. Did you tinkle the ivories?

Miss Turner a.k.a. Sam: "Singapore Art Museum. Didn't go in, I just loved the sign!"

"Science & Industry Museum, Chicago. A captured U Boat - it's absolutely huge!" Thank you, MT. Having a museum named after you must be a great honour. There's a Trump gag in there somewhere but I'm not gonna go there.

Kate: "This will be a favourite place going forwards - restaurant at Broadstairs."

"And the lovely Kanu Poké in Shrewsbury."

"There's heaps of places I love to go but ultimately my favourite place to be is wherever Vaughan and Harry are." Well, Kate, what can I say? Your last sentence brought a lump to my throat. I like Harry's coat btw.

Ernie's gone all philosophical on me, questioning what a favourite place is: "I think ‘favourite’ is a function of time not just place. So here is a photo taken one New Year’s Eve in The Eleanor Arms in Bow, which for many years was my favourite local until the landlord and landlady retired and the new owners took it in a different direction." Thanks, Ern. I'm guessing you went as a Flock of Seagulls?

Pete Zab: "Hi John, pictures this month include The City of Liverpool Museum, The Chinese Arch (also Liverpool), Hopkinson (and TinTin), Broadway Cinema, Nottingham and The Playhouse & its Sky Mirror." Nice one, Pete. I've gone for The Playhouse too - such a good venue.

Matthew: "Culzean Castle, South Ayrshire, designed by Robert Adam. We've been visiting this Scottish National Trust property for years, starting with many trips with the children to the monthly nature club, taking friends and relatives and attending the annual classic car event. Before all that, it was used as a filming location for the 1973 film, The Wicker Man, providing exteriors for Lord Summerisle's residence."

Drei von Walter: "One of my favourite places is a lake not far from my hometown. It's calming to hike around and feel at one with nature every season."

"Another place that always draws me back is Breitenstein, a rock next to a medieval castle located 500 metres above my town offering a fantastic view of the entire area."

And finally, Stuttgart's landmark TV Tower. The surrounding forest is particularly inviting for long hikes in the Fall. Danke, as ever, Walt!

Sir Harry Harrington Harris has captured your truly looking at one of his favourite buildings whilst at the same time both of us have our backs to the Abdication - a favourite place of us both. Thank you, Harry.

Claire: "Live music venues, a favourite way to spend an evening. Lots of great smaller venues across Nottingham but this one, larger and enduring (opened in 1980), stands out in terms of memories." I couldn't agree more, Claire. I too have been there hundreds of times and always had a cracking night.

Alyson: "Hi John - I think I will submit my photo of the view from my daughter's house looking north on a crisp, sunny, winter’s day. Ben Wyvis is 30 miles away but it stands out so clearly against the blue sky."

"Another of my favourite laces, the local Floral Hall. Great therapy on a cold winter's day."

"And my final photo for this month’s PC - my local theatre/arts centre, The Eden Court, where I spend lots of my time. Just back from viewing Wuthering Heights and my friend and I actually really enjoyed it, despite what the reviews are saying." Thank you, Alyson. I think the view of Ben Wyvis secures you a podium finish.

Here’s Alfa Dave’s wheels outside Le Grand Hotel, Dinard. "We celebrated our wedding anniversary there last October; modesty prevents me mentioning that Sasha met Jennifer Saunders in the bar (it was Dinard Film Festival week). Cheers, Dave. Name dropper.

Riggsby: "Hi John. My favorite place to visit is the Museum of Making Music (MoMM), located inside the NAMM headquarters in Carlsbad. Its galleries showcase instruments from the late 1800s onward, tracing the rise of mass‑produced, affordable music gear, and it also offers two hands‑on rooms where visitors can try instruments. Current special exhibitions feature Paul Reed Smith guitars and a remarkable collection of handcrafted guitars and basses celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Roberto‑Venn School of Luthiery. The museum also hosts intimate concerts. Recently, I’ve seen Leland Sklar, Steve Postell, and Nathan East perform there, and the exhibition opening receptions typically include a live performance." Cheers, Richard. I love the back stories to your selections. 

Adam: "Some favourite places: Casterigg stone circle in the Lake District."

"Sitting in the window of a bar in Sale with a pint of Guinness watching the world go by."

"Following my recent trip tp Brussels the Atomium, a 1958 Space Age building that is even better than it looks."

"And a Brussels bar: À La Mort Subite - it's like stepping back into the early 20th century - wooden tables, waiters in. aprons, Belgian beer (you don't say! JM) and plates of cheese and olives." Great stuff, Adam. Beer, Brussels - what's not to like?

 

K: "I love going to a gig and I particularly love going to the Forum in Bath, even on the approach, there’s a welcoming glow."

"In July 1991 I spent a day canoeing through a modest part of the stunning Katherine Gorge in Australia’s Northern Territory. My partner was a Welsh girl called Eriann who I barely knew but we had a lot of fun. Although I’ve never returned, I can close my eyes and I’m back there in an instant.

"Closer to home, whenever I’m working in Gloucester and able to take a lunch break, I head to this stone bench in the grounds of the Cathedral. It’s not built for comfort, but it’s an oasis of calm, and the view of the Cathedral is spectacular." Thanks, K. Where's Eriann now we all want to know.

It won't surprise you to learn that Ye Olde Johnny Legs was sniffing the barmaid's apron as soon as he was in long trousers: "The Sal: a favourite of mine since 1978." Cheers, Johnny.

A couple of mine to round things off. Firstly a montage of pics taken around Meadow Lane, home of Notts County FC. Before James went to University he and I would trudge over Lady Bay Bridge week in, week out, to experience the highs and lows of supporting a highly unfashionable football team. 

National Portrait Gallery WC2. One of my favourite London galleries. The pic below was taken during Paul McCartney's Eyes of the Storm exhibition.

In my Top 10 Bookshops Scarthin Books sits at the top. I could live in this shop. 

Nottingham Playhouse. A terrific arts venue.

Hull. Paragon Station. And Philip Larkin.

The lady in the green dress resides in The Bath Inn. She always says hello.

And finally, Broadway Cinema where I seem to be spending more and more of my time.

Thank you again for all your photographs. I hope you enjoy them as much as me and have perhaps discovered a new favourite place as a result.

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Sunrise/Sunset Reprise

An opportunity to revisit one of our most popular themes of the last four years. This, from The Swede: "Hi John, this popped up as a memory from Google photos. Taken from my bedroom window of the former Swede Towers, looking out across the misty marsh at sunrise, February 6th 2020." Thank you, TS. Stunning. And if anyone else has any sunrises and sunsets then please feel free to share them.