Nosebag

Hello and welcome to April's edition of Photo Challenge. I'm running a couple of days late but, in my defence, the dog ate my homework. This month I was looking for takeaways and off licences (or liquor stores, if you will). Thank you as ever to everyone who took the time, I really do appreciate your support. Without further ado, let's crack on; Rol needs his caffeine fix, so he gets to go first...

"Hi John - three photos of the only takeaway I can afford these days & the only ones that count. Not the best photos, but candid and surreptitously snapped over the last couple of days in desperation. (The last one shows the lid of my own reusable mug, showing my green credentials - and also it's my way of still getting a free coffee stamp even though I also use meerkats to get a 25% discount. This is probably far too much information, but there's a story behind every photo.)" Every picture and all that. Thank you, Rol. And as I've told you before, I hope you'll allow mw to by you a cup of java sooner rather than later.

Pete Zab: "Here you go, John. All taken in Sherwood on Monday night, I've used all these for takeaways except the kebab place." I know 'em all, Pete! Thank you.

I can't begin to tell you how thrilled I am to see the lovely Jo from Cornwall back again. She says: "Living by the sea it's got to be fish and chips!"

 "Pigs in blankets because every beach cafe should sell them!"

The Cornish pasty - I eat too many of these! Ann' pastes are my favourites!"

And lastly the cream tea: Cornwall is the only county that will kick you out if you don't puttee jam first!" Jo - I'm hopping on the first train down to you! My mouth's watering.

Alfa Dave'S got a pair: "Arnold chippy, 2009." Cheers, Dave. For the tape I'd just like to add that Sasha hasn't changed a bit. The boys, however, are both six foot six giants.

And if you can tell me where this one was taken I'm sure Dave'll give you the money himself.

Ernie never disappoints: "Three photos for you: a snail stall, Jemaa el-Fnaa, Marrakech Fun and games at the Wurst Meister, Leipzig, New Year's Eve 2012  and a holy akara joint in Woolwich - I was experimenting with a feature called 'colour pop' but Woolwich is so drab I'm not sure it was really needed." Cheers, Ern.

Kate: "You almost stumped me with this one, but there's a workaround! My favourite take away is Wawin, but the local kitchen is in an industrial unit - delivery only. Happily, Sheffield has a shop front, so carryout applies! On the offies, I'm not sure a picture of Tesco's or M&S will inspire much, so I'm sending a picture of what, to me, was hilarious when I saw it - a drive through off-licence, called locally a 'Bottle-O' in Australia. They're all over the country. You drive in, tell them what you want and someone puts your order in the boot/back of the pick-up ) whilst you pay. As a backpacker when I was there, I can confirm they'll still serve you if you walk in." Nice one, Kate. See below for further Bottle-O action!

Johnny legs has seen the ghost of a rock and roll legend: "Marshalls Fish & Chips in Tynemouth. Not sure if this is true but I'm sure he would have enjoyed them if he did." I bet he did, Johnny.

Claire's been to Mapperley: "The place that says 'thank you for not giving up carbohydrates.' Lots of delicious baked goods to take away." Nice buns, Claire.

Miss Turner and the welcome return of Alfie. Here he is posing for a photo before siding into The Abdication next door for a lick of the slop tray.

Tim from Hucknall: "Hi John, hope you are well. I do like a takeaway but only tend to properly indulge when down in St. Reatham seeing my daughter & then it’s invariably delivered. So here’s a brace for you. First it’s the sadly missed Hopology in West Bridgford. Owned by my friend Nick this was a staple Saturday morning haunt for beer collection. There was always a small mixed bag of regulars loitering and chatting creating an Early Doors vibe (To the regiment! - JM). Nick also kept me stocked up during those strange days of lockdown - secretly opening  when required. Secondly it’s yet more beer - this was the wonderfully named AlkoSpot in Gdansk. I was like a kiid in a sweet shop - ridiculously strong Polish craft beer game on display here! I also find the fine raft of can & bottle art aesthetically pleasing." Nice one, Tim. It's always sad when a beermonger bites the dust. 

Matthew & Samantha from Dumfries and Galloway: "The Star Fish Restaurant in Stranraer has rather wishful signage; basic New Zealand chip shop interior in Taupo Fis; a chip kiosk in Cape Town'; an extremely convenient drive-thru Bottle-O in Tasmania and finally a pizza joint in Venice Beach, California. M&S x." Thank you both. Around the world in a bag of chips.

Walter in the Motherland next: "I don't use takeaway food often but this is the best chicken takeaway in town." Danke, Walt.

Riggsby in California: "Hi John, first up, a pretty non-descript liquor store (as most are) at 2901 W Sunset Blvd. in the Silverlake district of Los Angeles - from which the band Silversun Pickups derived their name. The band's friends would frequently make late-night 'Silversun pickups' to the store for supplies and the nickname stuck.The inside of the store was quite ordinary and no beer hut or cave (see later). The Silverlake Lounge, opposite, is often mentioned in the same breath about the band's early days. I liked the band's early releases and saw them a number of times in Southern California but have only been to Silverlake to take pics. 

I associate Trader Mort's (Shelter Island Drive, San Diego) and its two tiki torches with going to concerts at the Humphrey's by the Bay venue on Shelter Island. It has a pretty good selection of drinks and a refrigerated Beer Hut packed to the ceiling, and the drive-thru option is quite common.

"A couple more: some pics of liquor stores along Pacific Coast Highway 101 in San Diego, North County. Harbor Liquors is like the Tardis, huge inside and an incredible selection - a place to go for specialist items. I drive by the Leucadia liquor store fairly frequently and can't recall a time when all the lights on the sign were working. It looks a bit sad. Big Pig in Carlsbad is the most colorful and clean of the stores, and Coast Hwy Liquor illustrates the vibe along the PCH." Cheers, Richard. Loving the collages - gives 'em that postcard vibe. 

 

Adam: "I'm not sure it's the best takeaway in the world, or even the street, and it won't win any awards but when you're coming home late after a gig or night out and you need a kebab, Pinocchios has what you need." I know what you mean, Adam. At the end of the night it's ballast you need!

Charity Chic spotted this: "Buon Appetito - a chippie at Sheddons roundabout, Clarkston (I think I've caught the last train to there - JM). Does great gluten free pizza." Cheers, CC.

Portuguese George: "Hi John, we used to get lovely veggie samosas from this cafe a few km from our house. We've not been since there was, allegedly, a drive-by shooting! I think it has now shut down. Best wishes, George - in the Alentejo Litoral." Thanks, George. Now I know why you didn't get out of the car!

As is trad I get to round things up. This month is what I'd call a scattergun collection. Some I've been in some I just like the look of. I think a few non-runners this month assumed I wanted pictures of establishments they'd crossed the threshold of. Not a bit of it - these neon palaces of tack are so much part of our landscape now I felt they had to be recorded in some way. No lengthy descriptors needed (tho' my first draft that disappeared into the ether actually did), this versh I'll just namecheck the locations, if that's OK with you. 

West Bridgford.

Nottingham.

Derby.

York.

Nottingham. Pre and post makeover.

Newcastle.

Nottingham

Chicago. For the avoidance of doubt I was not staying at the Men Only Hotel.

And the last few are all in Nottingham. Keeping it local this month.

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Sunrise/Sunset reprise

As you know we're revisiting one of the most popular Photo Challenges of the last four years - this month I received a fabulous photo from Samantha. It doesn't get much better than this. Thank you, Sam.

March saw some amazing sunsets around these parts. I tried to catch the red ball as it was going down a couple of weeks ago and managed to get this through the trees.

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People Pics

Another little PC spin-off I mentioned last time was asking regular Photo Challenge contributors to take a picture of someone they know really well. Or, someone they'd never met before. Sasha took this lovely photo of a 'random' bereted couple at an 80s indie disco we were both at recently(!). She just went up to them and said " Would you mind if I took your photograph?" As you can see, they acquiesced.

On the flip side, this is my Auntie Margaret - my dad's younger sister. She's been stopping with us for a few days (she lost her husband - my Uncle Brian - just before Christmas). I took this photo of her with the current Mrs. Medd on Tuesday evening.

I'll post May's theme in the comments section in the next few days. In the meantime, stay safe and please do send me any sunrises/sunsets and people pics you have for me.