Gray's Blog

2008-02-12T22:46:00.000Z

11th February 2008 - Down on the Range

The golf season is not far off now, soon the clocks will go forward for British Summer Time and I'll be able to meet my golf mates for a few holes after work.

My game was very poor last season and I've spent a lot of time at the driving range over the winter, working on my swing and just hitting balls off into the night in an effort to get my game back for the coming season and regain some form.

Last night was the first night in a long time that there was still some colour left in the sky when I got to the range.

2008-02-12T22:37:00.000Z

10th February 2008 - Spring still Sprung

Spring is still well and truely sprung. This week has been wall to wall sunshine which gives me an excuse to post another picture from my walk in the woods on Sunday morning.

2008-02-10T20:37:00.000Z

10th February 2008 - Busta and the Snowdrops

It would appear that Spring is finally here. OK, so it's not late for Spring, but this Winter has been miserable and seems to have dragged on and on, and frankly I'm sick of it.

We looked after my other half's two nephews and their Golden Retriever, Busta, this weekend. As it was a beautiful Spring morning we decided to pay a visit to Coombe Abbey park. Whilst they went to play on the swings and climbing frames I took Busta for a walk in the woods. It was gorgeous, the warm sun burning off the early morning frost and mist, birds singing in the trees and hardly a soul about. I couldn't have been happier.

Busta was a very willing and obedient model and I managed to get him to pose in this crop of Snowdrops.

I hope this is a sign of things to come and the dull grey days of Winter are finally behind us for another year.

2007-12-12T22:47:00.000Z

11th December 2007 - Don't look back in anger

After a few weeks of dull and damp weather there was a beautiful sunrise the other morning. Sadly the only way for me to see it was in my wing mirror as I drove up the M6 Toll to work in Telford.

The last few months working in Telford have been quite tough and this photo kind of sums things up nicely. Let's just say I'm looking forward to the Christmas break.

2007-11-20T22:59:00.000Z

18th November 2007 - Snow

It snowed on Sunday night, this was the view from our bedroom window at about 10pm. It hasn't snowed in November for years.

Sadly it had all gone by morning.

2007-11-07T20:05:00.000Z

3rd November 2007 - The City Ground

I'd been looking forward to this game for a long time. My team, Tranmere Rovers, have made a good start to the season in League 1 and Saturday saw them visit fellow high-fliers, Nottingham Forest. On paper, it should have been a good game, with both sides playing good football, picking up points and finding themselves in the top 5 places in the league. Sadly, Tranmere were badly out of sorts and were soundly beaten 2-0 by a Forest team that hardly had to break a sweat.

Despite the result it was a good day out. Forest being a former 'big' club, have a decent stadium and a fairly large following, the 1000+ Tranmere supporters, including my Dad, my brother, my mate Andy and myself, made for a good atmosphere.

2007-11-07T20:00:00.000Z

2nd November 2007 - Drivetime

After another long week working in Telford I left the office on Friday night looking forward to spending a relaxing and enjoyable weekend with my Dad. Unfortunately, due to a serious accident on the M6, I spent Friday night sat in my car for 5 hours. Having acquanited myself with the minutae of my glove box and found nothing of interest, I was so bored that I started taking pictures of my dashboard and car stereo, just to see how they came out.

2007-10-31T20:43:00.000Z

31st October 2007 - Trick Or Treat

Halloween and the much derided 'Trick Or Treat' are normally the kind of things I would get grumpy about. However, for the last few years we've adopted an "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em approach". The other half even went as far as carving a pumpkin this year.

Happy Halloween.

2007-10-23T19:25:00.000Z

21st October 2007 - Winter League

Sunday saw the first round of the annual Winter League competition at the golf club. The competition involves a monthly fourball match against other pairs in your league throughout the winter months, with the winners of each league progressing to the final in March.

A chilly night and early morning fog meant that the weather was suitably apt for the first round.

2007-10-11T19:37:00.000Z

9th October 2007 - Telford

Not many posts lately as I'm currently working in Telford, which, to be fair, isn't a particularly photogenic place.

These blue office blocks are pretty much the only buildings of interest (I wasn't sure if I liked them at first, but now I've decided I do) in this dreary 'new town' (when does it stop being 'new'?).

2007-09-15T21:14:00.000Z

14th September 2007 - Lollipop

For some reason I found it amusing that they have Lollipop ladies in London. I imagine the reason this one is here is because the City of London School (how cool would it be to go there) is just over the road.

2007-09-15T21:06:00.000Z

13th September - Strand

After a lonely dinner at my hotel I went for a walk down Strand. Earlier, as I'd arrived at my hotel, the place had been packed with commuters and office workers enjoying some lively after work drinks. By 9pm it was much quieter. Some of the bars were still relatively busy but I couldn't bring myself to pop into one for a drink. Working away is fine and I enjoy having some time to myself, but it's no fun on your own.

2007-09-15T20:58:00.000Z

13th September - Embankment

After a busy day working in the basement of an office block near St Paul's on Thursday I was looking forward to the mile or so walk along Victoria Embankment to my hotel on Strand. It didn't disappoint.

This is the view back towards the London Eye.

2007-09-15T20:44:00.000Z

13th September - Lunchtime at St Paul's

Another trip to London this week. My earlier post from the other week went on about how much I enjoy going to London, however, I feel I need to qualify that statement now. What I like is 'The City', this being the famous landmarks, the river, and the buzz about the place. While I was there last week, walking to the office along Victoria Embankment with all the joggers, I began to wander if somehow I'd missed out by not living here for a time. My thoughts then turned to the times I'd visited friends living in London, they hadn't lived in 'The City. They'd lived in Harlesden and Camden and in one instance, not far from Islington. These places didn't appeal to me and they still don't.

Anyway, I took myself out for a walk around St Paul's on Thursday lunchtime and came to the conclusion that it is a very fine Cathedral indeed. It has pleasant green spaces and plenty of benches to sit upon and enjoy your lunch. Beats Notre Dame hands down.

2007-09-05T21:18:00.000Z

5th September 2007 - Hyatt

The Hyatt hotel, just off Centenary Square in Birmingham. I've actually stayed there a couple of times for work parties, it's almost as impressive on the inside as it is on the outside (but not quite).

2007-09-05T21:06:00.000Z

4th September 2007 - Work and Play

Two pictures this evening. Quite simple really, the first was taken outside work in Birmingham at lunchtime and shows the BT Tower illuminated by some late summer sunshine.

The second picture was taken at the golf club as my mate Andy and I made the most of the good weather we've finally received in this washout of a summer. For the record, I beat him 2&1!

2007-09-02T09:03:00.000Z

31st August 2007 - London

I went to London on Friday for work. I know that for a lot of people, London is just a place where they live or work, however, for me, a simple Northern lad, a trip to the big city is always a bit of an event. From the moment I step out onto the platform at Euston (less than an hour from Coventry on the new tilting Virgin trains) I'm like a big kid. Getting lost on the underground, turning a corner to find yourself at the foot of a famous monument, the variety and number of people, I love it all.

I was in London for work, but made a point of getting out at lunchtime and taking a wander across the Millenium Bridge. This is the view from the bridge towards St Paul's Cathedral, turning through 180 degrees you would see the Tate Modern at the other end of the bridge.

However much I love London, paying £2.50 for a 99 ice-cream (medium sized, not even large) outside the Tate Modern confirmed to me once again that I could never contemplate living there.

2007-08-30T19:05:00.000Z

27th August 2007 - Bank Holiday

Seeing as it was a Bank Holiday and the sun was actually shining, we probably should have done something more enjoyable than shopping. As it was, we popped into the West Orchards shopping centre on a fruitless search for the new Tad Williams book (fruitless because it isn't actually out yet!). This is a view out of the quite impressive glass dome that sits atop this otherwise mundane and soul-less temple to commercialism.

2007-08-30T18:50:00.000Z

26th August 2007 - Summer at last

Summer made a brief appearance over the Bank Holiday weekend. Here's Ben playing on the lawn at the golf club. Of course the real focus of this shot is the tricky par 3 8th you can see in the background. Incidently, I had my one and only hole-in-one on this 187 yard par 3 completely over water!

2007-08-20T18:54:00.000Z

17th August 2007 - Cookery

There's nothing better than a lovingly prepared home cooked meal, sadly, I rarely have the time to cook a meal from scratch. However, as a treat on Friday I decided to cook us something special. On the menu was Pork with Apple and Blackcurrant with Gratin Dauphanoise followed by Plum and Raspberry Pancakes and Vanilla Ice Cream.

After much sweating over a hot stove the final result wasn't bad, however, the kitchen ended up in its usual state.

2007-08-16T07:02:00.000Z

15th August 2007 - City Beach

Birmingham is trying to be cool and in conjunction with bmibaby have created the 'bmibaby Beach'. Of course being Britain, the weather is crap and all people really want to do is watch telly.

They have one of these in Paris called 'Paris Plage'. I know where I'd rather be.

2007-08-14T20:26:00.000Z

14th August 2007 - Tiger and Ernie

We bought a fishtank recently and after a week or so of letting the tank settle and adding various fish friendly chemicals we finally got to buy some fish and introduce them into the tank.

Say hello to Tiger (the gold one) and Ernie (the silver one)!

2007-08-14T19:59:00.000Z

11th August 2007 - Tranmere v Leeds

Saturday was the opening day of the football season and saw the newly relegated Leeds United make a trip to my beloved Tranmere Rovers. It was a much anticipated game as this was Leeds first game in the third tier of English football and the first league meeting between the two clubs. Leeds recent and well publicised financial difficulties resulting in them starting the season on -15 points, and their rapid decline from Premiership giants to League One minnows only added further weight to the encounter.

Despite starting brightly and taking the lead in the first half, Tranmere, as they often do, let their nerves get the better of them, losing the game 2-1 to a very late Leeds winner.

The photo shows the Leeds fans filling the 'Cowshed' stand to the rafters as their faithful following made the trip across the Pennines to Merseyside

2007-07-18T20:40:00.000Z

17th July 2007 - Welcome To Coventry

This is the view from the new multi-storey car park at Coventry Station. I thought it might be funnier if it said 'Sent to Coventry'. Despite it's bad reputation Coventry isn't all bad. The night life is poor and the city centre 'rough' on a Friday or Saturday night. However, there are some pleasant areas around the city, specifically Kenilworth and the Warwickshire Countryside.

2007-07-11T16:23:00.000Z

11th July 2007 - Lambo

The area of Birmingham where I'm working at the moment accommodates lots of legal and financial companies. Needless to say, there's always a few nice cars about. This Lambo is around most days.

2007-07-06T20:17:00.000Z

4th July 2007 - Clear Skies

After another cold and damp evening playing golf and practising my short game, the clouds parted (momentarily) over Warwickshire.

2007-07-03T19:09:00.000Z

2nd July 2007 - Dodging showers

I ducked out into Birmingham at lunchtime and took this picture in the grounds of St Philip's Cathedral. Half an hour later it was chucking it down.

2007-07-03T18:43:00.000Z

30th June 2007 - Saturday

We took Ben swimming at the club on Saturday, which we hadn't done for a few weeks. Here he is in the cafe afterwards enjoying a cookie. A pleasant and relaxing morning.

2007-07-03T18:39:00.000Z

28th June 2007 - Spitfire in Birmingham

I enjoy going into Birmingham for work, being England's second city you ocasionally see something interesting. For some reason there was a Spitfire in Victoria Square, I was rushing to catch a train so didn't have time to find out why it was there.

2007-07-03T18:35:00.000Z

22nd June 2007 - Damp day in Birmingham

The rubbish weather continues, a very damp morning in Birmingham.

2007-07-03T18:31:00.000Z

16th June 2007 - Flooded River Avon

Large parts of the UK have been on flood alert for a number of weeks. This is a picture of the River Avon at least 6 feet higher than usual.

2007-07-03T18:29:00.000Z

16th June 2007 - PULL!

We went shooting for my brothers 35th birthday and had a jolly good time! My bro and I were tied and a 'shoot off' was required to decide the winner. I won!

2007-07-03T18:24:00.000Z

12th June 2007 - On the golf course

Although the weather has been abysmal this summer, I have managed to enjoy a few games after work, this evening was particularly nice.

2007-07-03T18:12:00.000Z

4th June 2007 - Ricoh Arena, Coventry

We had a swanky company conference at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry, home to Coventry City FC. Nice little stadium, must try and get to a few matches next season.

2007-07-03T18:00:00.000Z

31st May 2007 - Victoria Square, Birmingham

I changed jobs in April, one of the reasons was to get out of the office and do a bit more travelling. My first project has involved me commuting into Birmingham city centre a few times a week. This is a picture from Victoria Square near to where I'm working.

2007-07-03T17:55:00.000Z

It's a hard life

I've been taking pictures on my new camera phone for the last few months with the intention of uploading them to my blog on a regular basis. So here's one from 30th May. I had the day off to look after Ben in the afternoon, only he fell asleep in his pram on the way home from nursery.

Return of the blog...

2007-05-22T20:25:00.000Z

My blog returns. All the old posts have been deleted, they were rubbish.