Birmingham Blitz Dames

This picture shows four members of the Birmingham Blitz Dames roller derby team on a recent visit to play the Leeds Roller Dolls at the Leeds University Sports Hall.

I got some paper out to make a note of their names and they came up with a novel answer, more on this tomorrow.

Roller Doll

In this picture Nuclear Miss-ile No 17 one of the Leeds Roller Dolls looks happy! I was too busy getting the photo and have no idea if perhaps there were some points involved.

Having watched the recent bout between the Leeds Roller Dolls and the Birmingham Blitz Dames I thought it was great entertainment and look forward to seeing the Roller Dolls in action again in the not too distant future.

Leeds Roller Doll - Nickname

This picture shows Bruise 'em Banshee, No 88 of the Leeds Roller Dolls all female roller derby team at the Leeds University sports hall during a recent bout.

One thing I think is great about the Roller Dolls is that members can pick both a nickname and also a team number, these then being printed on the back of the team T shirt.

If you live in or somewhere near Leeds and fancy trying this great skating sport, the Leeds Roller Dolls are looking for new blood. You must be 18 years of age or over. I think the girls would help with a nickname if you struggled with it.

Birmingham Blitz Dames Visit Leeds

This picture shows a member of the Birmingham Blitz Dames skating during a recent bout against the Leeds Roller Dolls held here in the city of Leeds.

Whilst this photo is not quite as good as I would want it to be, I think it demonstrates the speed and agility of the sport of roller derby.

I will post more pictures from the Viva Bash Vegas! bout over the next few days.

Leeds Roller Dolls

This picture shows one of the members of the Leeds Roller Dolls, taking time out from the bout held between them and the Birmingham Blitz Dames at the Leeds University Sports Hall on Saturday.

I know very little about roller derby and the first thing I noticed was that all the girls wore good safety wear including helmet, knee pads, elbow pads, wrist pads and a mouth guard. Having now watched my first bout of this full contact roller skating sport I can see why they need this protection.

I was pleased to be invited to watch and photograph this bout by the Roller Dolls No 5, Frantic. All the girls have a roller derby name and also a team No.

Roller derby is fast moving and before I went to this bout I had not really thought that this was the first time I photographed someone moving around, rather than posing for me. Oops, just as well I have digital rather than film, I took lots of frames!!

Each of the Leeds Roller Dolls has a profile and I think, having consulted the Dolls website that the Doll in the above photo is their No 10, Gorgon Roller. On her profile there is a great roller derby quote "So why exactly do you do it? For fun?" - a slightly baffled work colleague.

The Leeds Roller Dolls are looking for new recruits, who should be aged 18 and over.

I shall post more pictures of the Leeds Roller Dolls v Birmingham Blitz Dames on my Leeds Daily Photo over the next few days.

Tropical World - Roundhay Park

This is a picture of the building that houses Tropical World, home to the Meerkats of Leeds.

There are Butterflies, Meerkats, Parrots, Iguanas, Lemurs and even a variety of crocodile within this building.

Yesterday I finally caught up with the Leeds Roller Dolls who were hosts to the Birmingham Blitz Dames here in Leeds at the Sports Hall, Leeds University. I had no real idea what to expect my only experience of roller derby being a viewing of the movie Whip It. It was faster than I thought and Leeds Roller Dolls were gracious hosts. When I have sorted through the photographs I took, I shall post several here on the Leeds Daily Photo.

Exotic Bird at Tropical World

This bird lives along with others in the desert house at Tropical World in Roundhay Park, the same house as the Meerkats.

I think that it is a kind of finch, but that is just a guess and am not really sure. Whatever kind of bird it is, they are quite pretty.

Meerkat Kits

These two young meerkats are now about nine weeks old and along with their brother or sister were the first baby meerkats born here at Tropical World in 10 years.

I visited Roundhay this week to catch them at play and discovered that their mother is now expecting more kits.

Not a Dalmatian

This is a picture of Muldoon, a very pretty horse here in Yorkshire.

I was driving along a country road and saw in the distance a very spotted white horse and went around the field to get access. He is very friendly but has according to a lady who lives opposite a bad habit of nipping with his teeth.

Sadly I had no carrots or even an apple with me, though perhaps next time I go over to the village of Esholt I may well remember to take one with me. He is called Muldoon after the Peter Cook song, Spotty Muldoon.

Marina Lewycka - We Are All Made of Glue

This picture shows writer Marina Lewycka at home in her garden in Sheffield, Yorkshire.

My friend photographer Lorne Campbell took this photo of Marina Lewycka for a newspaper article in 2007. Lorne returned to take some more photographs for the Sunday Times a week or so back. Lorne told me that Marina likes this photograph, I do too.

Lorne told Marina that I liked her work and have both "A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian" and "Two Caravans". Marina was kind and gave Lorne a copy of her latest novel, with an inscription to me, for Lorne to give to me when next he saw me.

I know that Marina has a laptop and uses the net, so I would like to say thanks for letting me have "We Are All Made of Glue". That was very kind, Thank you.

Also a thank you to Lorne Campbell for the use of this photograph.

Sex and Politics - Victoria Hall, Saltaire

This picture shows a rehearsal of a play by Colin Lewisohn, Tom loves Jo. But who does fellow Labour Party member Simon love, his wife Sarah or someone else?

I was lucky to catch this rehearsal at the Leeds Film School on Millennium Square and in the above picture can be seen from left: Brian Richardson, Emily Maguire and Humphrey Casely-Hayford these being three members of the cast.



Brian and Emily are also in the above photo, trying to resolve where they stand with each other.

Encore Drama presents: Sex and Politics is a double bill of one-act plays.

In the second play All Good Men, by Michael Yates, a Labour party conference is convulsed by the death of the prime minister. A leadership contest pits aristocratic Sir Marcus Bridgewater against working-class Peter Porter. Only sexy Lady Bridgewater and her journalist lover believe they can make a difference.

This double bill can be seen this weekend Fri 23, Sat 24 Apr 2010 at 19:30 at the Victoria Hall in Saltaire village.

Having seen this rehearsal, I thoroughly enjoyed the half that I saw.

For further info please contact Encore Drama Group Tel: 0113 293 3385

Outer Ring Road in Bloom

This picture shows another view of the daffodils on the bank of the A6120 outer ring road, Leeds.

There are many thousands of daffodils along this stretch of road, on both sides of the roadway.

Roadside Daffodils

These daffodils are on the bank of the A6120 the Leeds ring road on one of the fastest and busiest stretches of road around the city of Leeds.

I saw them and just had to park up and walk over to get some photos of them. They do not last long but whilst they are here they brighten up a dull day.

Kirkstall Abbey Flowers

All over Leeds the daffodils have finally bloomed, later than last year by perhaps a month.

I was walking around Kirkstall Abbey and now that the daffodils are out caught them with my camera. I Prefer wildflowers but most of them are quite small, so you cannot get a decent picture with more than a couple of flower heads as the subject.

Free Tap Water

This is a picture of a glass being filled with free tapwater.

On April 6th here in the UK a new law came into force, anywhere selling alcohol for consumption on the premises must provide free tap water should a customer ask for it.

This measure is one of several that was introduced on that date with the intention of encouraging people not to drink alcohol to excess.

Thanks to my friend Ellen for the water and the plate, glass, fork and also for pouring from the jug...

Coco in City Square

This is a picture of Coco, who is around 7 months old and she was playing in the water feature in front of the old post office building in City Square, Leeds earlier this week.

I chatted to her owner Eric, he was not sure what kind of dog she was, I thought possibly Ridgeback. One thing I do know she was curious and friendly, always nice features in any dog.

Golden Owl in Millennium Square

This picture shows one of the two large golden owls that stand on pedestals in front of the Leeds Civic Hall on Millennium Square.

Around Leeds city centre there are several owls to be seen, the owl being an emblem of the city of Leeds with three owls featuring on the cities coat of arms. These two golden owls were designed by John Thorp in 2000, the Civic Hall has two more perched on each of the two towers.

Yorkshire Air Ambulance - G-SASH

This picture shows G-SASH one of the the Yorkshire Air Ambulance helicopters coming in to land on the roof of the Leeds General Infirmary (LGI) in Leeds city centre this weekend.

I have never before seen this helicopter close enough to get a photo and I was surprised that there is no tail rotor. I served in the military for some years and have been onboard quite a few types of helicopter, this is a more recent development.

The Yorkshire Air Ambulance is an independent charity flying two helicopters G-SASH and G-CEMS, they are both MD 902 Explorers.

Abbie and Friend - City Square

This picture is of Abbie and her friend, photographed whilst sitting at the Loch Fyne on City Square in Leeds city Centre yesterday.

I was taking more photographs of the features that make up City Square for my Yorkshire stock photography project when I noticed Abbie wanted her photo taken. Abbie was with a group of friends and I explained about peoples reactions to seeing someone with obviously serious camera gear.

1. Try to get out of the picture.
2. Pretend it is not happening.
3. Shout Me, me, me! Trying to get into the picture.

Abbie falls into category 3, so I obliged and here is Abbie and friend sitting in the Leeds sunshine on one of the nicest days so far this spring.

Sunflower

This picture shows the sunflower that I bought a while back, just a simple photo of a nice flower.

Sea Holly Flower

This picture is of a Sea Holly flower I bought to give to a friend and I could not resist getting a few photos before I handed over the flower to my friend.

Whilst the common name of this plant is the Sea Holly its proper name is Eryngium and that is what the florist called it when I bought it. This Sea Holly plant is a cultivated variety of the native plant found around coastlines in Europe.

My nearby florist keeps some really nice and unusual flowers and the building has a movie connection too, perhaps I will do a post about that sometime.

Colt at Shipley Horse Fair

This photo is the last of the pictures from this years Shipley horse fair. This colt was very friendly and although I am not really a horse person I did quite like this one.

Shipley Horse Fair Yorkshire

This picture is another from the Shipley, Yorkshire horse fair held this Tuesday as has been for many years.

Horse Parked Up For Fish and Chips

This picture shows a horse and buggy parked up outside a fish and chip shop in Shipley, not far from where I live.

I nipped home and got my camera and returned to get this photo. This fish and chip shop (Whitakers) on canal road featured in one of my early stories on the Leeds Daily Photo.

I spoke with and an older man a local who liked horses and he told me that the Shipley horse fair was always held on the piece of grass opposite every Easter Tuesday.

Middleton Railway - Blue Plaque

I visited the Middleton Railway at Hunslet the other day for the first time and was impressed by the great heritage railway that is entirely run by volunteers.

This photo is of the Leeds Civic Trust blue plaque that is near the main entrance to the Middleton Railway building it reads:

The Middleton Railway

Began nearby in 1758
to carry coal from Middleton colliery
to Leeds by horse-drawn wagon.
The world's first commercially successful
steam locomotives, designed and built by
Matthew Murray and incorporating
John Blenkinsop's patented rack
wheel, started work here on
24th June 1812.

This blue plaque rightly commemorates the achievements of these early railway and engineering pioneers here in the city of Leeds.

Middleton Railway - Living History

This picture is of the steam locomotive Sir Berkley on the rail tracks just outside the Engine House at the Middleton Railway, Hunslet.

This last week has seen the reopening for the 2010 season of the worlds oldest continuously working railway here in Leeds, Yorkshire.

Middleton Railway was the first standard gauge railway to be run entirely by volunteers when they took over the running of the railway in 1960.

Today the railway is a heritage railway running passenger trips by either steam or diesel powered locomotives. The journey from the museum's Moor Road station to Park Halt in Middleton Park takes around 10 minutes.

Middleton Railway is just south of Leeds city centre in Hunslet.
Address: The Station, Moor Road, Hunslet, Leeds LS10 2JQ.
Telephone: 0113 271 0320

I was very pleased to look around Middleton Railway, despite living and working in and near Leeds for many years I had never visited this gem of a visitor attraction. I will be posting more about this railway of the next few days.

Millenium Square

This picture shows a view across Millenium Square towards the Leeds Civic Hall and on the left of the photo is part of the LGI.

It was a cold day when I took this photograph and there were not many people about.

I have an exiting (to me at least) new project with my photography, to be announced soon and it will expand my photography horizon.

Granary Wharf - Leeds

This picture shows a view of Granary Wharf on the Leeds waterfront showing both the old and the new buildings.

On the LH side in the photo is the Leeds and Liverpool Canal Warehouse dating from 1777.

In the middle is the new City Inn hotel and to the left and at the rear of the City Inn is Candle House the city of Leeds latest apartment building.

On the right of the image is Watermans Place a new apartment block (end on).

In the foreground there is a lock on the Leeds - Liverpool canal, the canal narrows at the lock, I think to save water.

Bridge at Granary Wharf

This picture is of the bridge over the Leeds - Liverpool Canal to Granary Wharf on the Leeds Waterfront.

The bridge is part of the original structure of the canal but a new roadway surface has been laid across it. The area that this bridge leads to has been redeveloped over the last couple of years with apartment blocks and the City Inn hotel.

This photo was taken at the end of the afternoon and it is perhaps a little over photo shopped into black and white on the left in the photo is Bridgewater Place.

I had intended to post today about the Middleton Railway here in Leeds but I was having problems with blogger last night and somehow managed to delete the post, then discovered picture I was going to use was far too small. Arrgghhh!