Monday, October 31, 2011

The 2011 Derby's Christmas Lights Switch on by Gareth Gates and Joe McElderry, Saturday 19th November 2011. Derby Ice Rink and Victorian Christmas Market.

Gareth Gates will turn on Derby Christmas Lights on Saturday 19th 2011 on Derby Market Place. While Joe McElderry and Dale Diva will be switching on Westfield Derby Christmas lights.

Remember - That's two seperate Christmas switch-ons for Derby.

Joe McElderry inside Westfield Derby at 4pm and then
Gareth Gates on Derby Market Place at 6pm.


If you are a new visitor to Derby then see my smartphone drop pin links below.


This is the  very same night that the New Derby casino near the bus station opens.




The show will begin at 3.30pm, on stage in the Market Place, on Saturday, November 19th.
Join a festive parade from Sitwell Street (just off Babington Lane) at 4.15pm or head down to the Market Place and enjoy a variety of entertainment, including DaleDiva, Trinity Band, pantomime stars Linda Robson and Mike McClean, Santa and headline act, Gareth Gates, leading up to the big switch-on event at 6pm.

This year the Derby Xmas light switch on will be done by non other than Gareth Gates !!!
The Pop Idol runner-up will join Birds Of A Feather star Linda Robson for the Derby switch-on, the show is hosted by Captial FM presenters Dino and Pete.

Map location for Derby's Christmas Lights Switch-on 2011:

View Derby Christmas Lights Switch on 2011. in a larger map

Smartphone mapping pins for smartphone owners:
If you are a new visitor to Derby then you will find my smartphone naviagation pins of use. Simply view this blog on your smartphone and follow my instruction below.

Gareth Gates on Derby Market Place.  <-- Tap this link for accurate location.

Joe McElderry in Derby Westfield.  <-- Tap this link for an accurate location.

When you tap one of the links above, it will launch your mapping application and place a "push pin" onto the map with the exact location of the switch on.
You can then use this marker to get walking directions from where you have parked.

For example on an iPhone you tap the "Directions" button at the bottom and this will pre-fill in the start location with your current location and the end location with the switch on location.

So all you need to do is just tap the "Route" button at the bottom then tap the walking icon and it will show you walking route. If you tap the bottom left icon 3 times then this will turn on follow mode, Centre mode and direction mode. What this means is that a blue flashing dot which represents you will stay in the centre of the screen and orientated in the direction that you travel in.

If you tap the middle button at the top, this will even show you which bus number and when the next bus to Derby from your nearest location.
My push pins are far more accuare than any other map as its not based on the postcode which most maps are. My map is based on local knowlege of the locations.

Parking
If you are looking for somewhere to park in Derby for these two switch-ons then best to get here early as this is going to be popular. This site shows all the local car parks
www.parkopedia.co.uk/parking/derby/

The Derby Victorian Christmas Market
A couple of weeks after the xmas lights are switched on, a Victorian Christmas fair will be held in Derby Market Place. About 30 huts will be in the Cornmarket from December 1st to 24th and will open from 9am to 5pm, except on late-night shopping days, when it will stay open until 7pm.

Useful Links :

Westfield Derby Store Guide Leaflet.



Derby Ice Rink
This year there will be an Ice Rink on Derby Market Place from December 1st until January 8th.
It will be open for skating every day except Christmas Day. This year it will be a real ice rink with proper ice rather than fake ice.

Westfield Derby:
2009 X Factor winner Joe McElderry and DaleDiva will be switching on Westfield Derby Christmas lights from 2pm onwards. He will be turning the lights on at 4pm.




On Saturday 12th November Santa will be opening his brand new Wish Kingdom Grotto with some very special friends including Rastamouse and Sam and Mark.




Derby's Westfield awaits Joe McElderry to turn on this years Christmas lights.
Rastamouse is in da house meeting families and children throughout the day. See the CBeebies favourite for free, make sure you don’t miss out and pick up a free wrist band from Westfield Derby Concierge on the day from 9am.
Plus a free super-glittery craft workshop where kids can make their own tree decorations. All hosted by TV and Gem 106 boys Sam and Mark!

Joe McElderry Poster in Derby Westfield :

Joe McElderry

---------------
Belper:
Belper's Christmas lights will be turned on : Friday November 25th.
This is also the night that the Scouts ping pong ball race will take place on King Street at 7pm.

Long Eaton :
Long Eaton's Christmas lights will be switched on by the Mayor on Friday 2nd December at 7.00pm.

Bakewell:
The Bakewell Christmas Lights Switch on takes place at 4pm on Saturday 26th Nov 2011.

Ilkeston:
The Ilkeston Christmas Lights switch on will take place on Friday 25th November 2011, The lights will be switched on by the Mayor of Erewash at 7pm.

Ashbourne:
Ashbourne's Christmas lights will be switched on Friday 18th November at 6.30pm, in the Market Place.

Swadlincote:
Swadlincote's Christmas lights switch on will take place on Friday, November 25.
Seven-year-olds Jack Benton and Phoebe Johnson, both pupils at the town's Belmont Primary School, won a competition organised by South Derbyshire District Council.
An array of entertainment will be taking place as part of the celebrations from 11am.
It will include special performances from schools, dancers, cheerleaders, singers and a Santa stilt-walker.
Rides and stalls will be set up along Swadlincote's High Street.

Burton-on-Trent xmas lights
Burton's Christmas lights switch on will be done by Chesney Hawkes on Sunday 20th November 20 at 5pm. This will take place at Burton Market Place and will be followed by a Spectacular Fireworks show !
If your too young to know who Chesney Hawkes is well his song "The one and only" was heard as the ring tone in the 2011 film Source Code
.

Video of Chesney Hawkes:


Andy

Derby of the Dead - Derby zombie walk 2011 videos. A unique event raising money for a good cause.

Shoppers looked astounded as the 150-strong army of zombies invaded Derby on Saturday. This was "Derby of the Dead". Here are some videos of the first ever Zombie walk in Derby. The horror began in the Market Place at noon on Saturday. There is a Facebook page dedicated to the Derby Zombie Walk.



Video of the Derby of the Dead around the Strand, Derby.


The Derby Zombies as seen on Sadler Gate, Derby.


Were you on this walk?

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Derby and Derbyshire webcams updated.


I maintain a list of all the current webcams I have found that feature content from within the city of Derby and the County of Derbyshire as well as Staffordshire webcams.
I have just updated my Derby webcam list as quite a few have now gone offline but I have included some new ones that you may not have seen before.

See my local webcams here :
Webcams in Derby and Derbyshire

For each webcam I have listed what type of webcam footage it offers and if you need to install a Browser plug-in to view them and if they work on an iPhone. Live webcams are great for checking out the weather if you are about to travel somewhere as you can see for yourself if its raining or snowing etc.

The most popular webcam in Derby is of course the Peregrine Falcons on Derby Cathedral, this webcam has been in place since 2006 and attracts online visitors from around the world and is extremely popular.

Derby needs some more webcams, can you help by providing a webcam stream for the city?
We only have 2 webcams in Derby, that's very poor ! I'm sure we can do better than that !

Just think of how many people out there in Derby who have permanent broadband connections and a computer that is "always on" and have a nice view out of their window.
Also lots of businesses around Derby that could have a webcam to generate publicity for their company, How about a pub cam?

Its so easy to setup a webcam these days it would be great if we could put Derby on the "webcam map". In recent years it has become possible to buy what is known as an IP Webcam which is the simplest method of getting a webcam online.

All you have to do with an IP Webcam is connect it directly (via Ethernet cable) or wifi to your Broadband Router, it has its own web server built in. you just configure the camera via a webpage and thats it ready to go live !


I have had to remove several webcams as they have gone offline, I will add them back again if they return. The following have been removed.

1) Mercia Marina in Willington. Dead ! UPDATE 31/10 Reinstated as link now updated and working.
2) Ram FM, Iron Gate, Derby. Taken over by Capital FM
3) Broomfield College bird feeders. A real shame this one has gone as it was one of the best webcams.
4) Hathersage, Gone !

If YOU know of any webcams in Derby or Derbyshire that I have missed or one that you have just set up and want promoting then please get in touch with all the details and I will add it to my list for you.

While looking for other local webcams I found a new one in Derby but then realised its actually a Derby in the USA.

Live streaming webcam in Derby, Wichita, Kansas.
This is a view of their New Derby Public Library at 1600 E. Walnut Grove. A pity we don't have a live webcam of Derby library !

I have added a few new local webcams, I will let you see if you can spot them.
On my Stafforshire webcams page I have added a live webcam of Burton on Trent, this has a great view of High Street where the infamous Burton Bollard is located.

See my current webcams list here :
Webcams in Derby and Derbyshire

Thanks
Andy
www.derbyphotos.co.uk

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Who is this Actor and what is being filmed here?

Last Sunday morning while on a break in London there was some filming being done on Duke's Road, Camden. I took these photographs on Sunday 16th October 2011.

Anybody know who this actor is and what they are filming?
Looks like its set in the 1940s, I don't recognise the actor. Could be a film or a TV series. I'm sure someone out there will recognise this.

Who is this actor ?


More photos of the filming :
Who is this actor?

Filming taking place in Dukes Road, London in October 2011
Filming in Dukes Road, London

Filming taking place in Dukes Road, London in October 2011
Filming in Dukes Road, London

Filming taking place in Dukes Road, London in October 2011
Filming in Dukes Road, London

The filming was attracting lots of attention from passers by, The only reason I spotted it was because of the old bus.




Duke's Road is a side street off Euston Road which is the main road that runs past St Pancras International railway station.

I posted this question on Answerbank HERE.

Here is a Google Streetview of this road.

I found these videos of other filming going on in this location in the past.
Dancing in Dukes Road.

Eurovision Flash Mod Dancing.

Looks like Duke's Road is a popular place!

Post your answers to who and what is going on as a comment to this post.

Thanks
Andy

Friday, October 14, 2011

Adrian Edmondson & The Bad Shepherds gig in Derby on Saturday 12 November 2011.

Did you know that Adrian Edmondson has a band called The Bad Shepherds? Well I saw them in London at the Great British Beer Festival and really enjoyed them so much that could not wait to see them again, And thankfully they happen to have a gig in a few weeks in Derby.

Adrian Edmondson &The Bad Shepherds perform in Derby on Saturday 12 November 2011.
The show starts at 8.00pm
Tickets are £17.50 from Derby Assembly Rooms Box Office or the old way by phone 01332 255800

If your old enough then I'm sure you will remember Ade Edmondson as Vyvyan in the early eighties TV show The Young Ones. If your not so old then you may know him as the star of the ITV series The Dales.

The band have a couple of Albums out, the last one was Hook Or By Crook in November 2010.


The Bad Shepherds play punk songs on folk instruments. Not as a gag, but because they really like the noise. They think the songs are better than people remember. They love folk instruments. It works.
They do songs by The Sex Pistols, The Clash, The Stranglers, The Jam, Sham 69, The Undertones, The Ramones, The Buzzcocks, The Specials, Talking Heads, Squeeze and others, even Kraftwerk! Alright, they're not all punk, but they come from roughly the same era.
They've mostly given the songs a kind of Celtic feel, and they've stuck in the odd reel and jig here and there. But occasionally they just thrash!
They've always thought the excitement of a reel taking off is the nearest thing to the excitement of watching punk live in the 70s.

Here is my video of them performing Rise by Public Image Ltd at the Great British Beer Festival.

More info on the band on their website :
http://www.thebadshepherds.com/

Hope you enjoy the show.
Andy

How to make a 2012 personalised calendar from your own photographs. Free templates provided here.

Looking for a personalized gift this Christmas that will be enjoyed all year?
A couple of years ago I created a set of calendar templates and a video tutorial on how to use them.
The free 2012 templates have a decorative framed image area into which you can import your own images to produce the nice edge effect below.
My tutorial has proved very popular with nearly ten thousand people following my guide so far.

Here is an example of what you will be able to create using my free 2012 Calendar templates. Go on make someones day this Xmas by giving them one of the best and very unique presents that they can enjoy all year.

My 2012 Calendar Templates. Here is January, what will you create?

It will soon be Christmas and you may find this of use, I created an easy to follow tutorial on how to make a printed calendar using photographs YOU have taken.
The monthly calendar templates are provided free so you can make a unique gift for someone right now.
All you need is Corel PaintShop Photo Pro (or any photo editing software that supports layers such as Gimp, Photoshop etc), A colour printer, some Matt finish paper and 12 images of your choice.

If you are interested in giving it a go then have a look at my 2012 Calendar Guide page here :
Complete guide on how to make a 2012 personalised calendar from your own photographs. <- Click me now to start making a great gift for Christmas.

I hope this has inspired you to have a go at producing a truly unique personalised Xmas present that you will be remembered for, for the whole year ahead. Use Matt Paper as I suggest and it will not cost a lot of money to make several of these calendars.

Matt Paper allows printing of high resolution images but has a finish that you can write on which you need for a calendar! Matt paper can be bought for as little as 4 Pence per sheet.




In my written guide I have supplied detailed instructions on how to use my templates with Photoshop and even the free image editing software Gimp.
If you think its too early yet to think about Christmas then don't worry I will re-post this on my blog again each month up to Christmas. If you do find my tutorial of use then please leave a comment on either the video or my blog post saying what you created.

Thanks
Andy

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Video - A week in London in time-lapse as seen from The Monument in 360 degrees

Please watch at full screen and at 720p/1080p if you can.
I created this unique time-lapse video from a total of around 10,000 photographs taken from the live Monument webcam.
The Monument webcam is a special 360 degree webcam that updates every 60 seconds.
I have only just got around to creating this video even though I had the frames for over two years on my hard disk.
My video is rendered at 1080p and needs to be played in fullscreen due to the letterbox aspect ratio otherwise you will not be able to see all the little details.

The Monument to the Great Fire of London, more commonly known as "The Monument", is a 202 foot tall stone Roman Doric column in the City of London, England.
Its located where the Great Fire of London started in 1666. It was constructed between 1671 and 1677, it is the tallest isolated stone column in the world!
The monument closed in July 2007 for an 18-month, £4.5 million refurbishment project and re-opened in February 2009. A special live 360 degree webcam was then fitted
to the top of the Monument. Based on a Kaidan VR360 with a Canon EOS 1D Mk3.
My time-lapse video is made from the 360 panorama's taken by this equipment.


My Video:



Music - Repercussions Of 7th Heaven by 808Chunk
www.audiotool.com/track/repercussions_of_7th_heaven
Used under creative commons license Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Points of interest - If you watch this video in Full Screen mode at 720 then you will keep spotting new things, here are some you may have missed
01:19 to 01:29 - The Moon rising on left and travelling across sky.
01:50 - Window cleaning gantry going up and down on the brown building about 35% across from left of panorama.
02:08 - Tower Bridge lifting. It can be seen lifting several times in my video.

If you spot something of interest let me know the time-code.

When was the week of recording?:
Monday 6th July 2009 to Monday 13th July 2009
First frame captured at noon on the 6th.
Frames were captured every 60 seconds for a whole week and then played in sequence.

The frames were captured using a CRON job on a Linux machine.
The images are 1024 x 240 pixels and cover a full 360 degree view of London from the top of The Monument.
I had to go through thousands of frames and delete all the corrupt ones, these are images that contain vivid colours due to jpeg corruption. I'm guessing this happened due to the images being
sent by Wi-Fi from the camera?
I may have missed the odd corrupt image in my video but I think I caught most of them.

Map Location:
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=The+Monument+is+here@51.51011716135102,-0.08596184152520436

Google Streetview:
Here you can see the Monument captured during restoration as seen from Monument Street with its junction with Pudding Lane.
http://g.co/maps/yqswq

Here you can see the Monument captured after restoration work was completed.
Fish Street Hill
http://g.co/maps/u3vv3

I discovered this unusual situation. In this Google Streetview you can see the Monument wrapped up during restoration but then you move forward two steps and the restoration work is fully completed!. I guess they must have driven this bit of road in two parts.
http://g.co/maps/uzc8q

The 360 degree Panoramic webcam:
There is a very detailed explanation of this camera system on the website here.
http://www.themonumentview.net/about.php

The equipment :
http://www.themonumentview.net/about.php?content=Technical%20Concept

The Monument to the Great Fire of London reopened after a £4.5m restoration which took 18 months. Here is a short video by the BBC:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7893738.stm

Note:
This webcam seems to have stopped working as of August 12th 2011, It keeps showing the same image. I have contacted them about this but not had a reply. I hope they get it up and running again soon.

Live webcam :
http://www.themonument.info/panorama/

Hope you found my video of interest.
Rate and comment if you enjoyed it.

If you would like to see some local webcams for Derby and Derbyshire then have a look at the selection on my website :
http://www.derbyphotos.co.uk/webcams/index.htm


Thanks
Andy

Hope you enjoy the view.
Andy

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Andy's guide to O2 Pay and Go Tariffs and Bolt-ons for use with your iPhone and other Smart phones.

Do you own an iPhone with a o2 Pay as you go SIM and your free unlimited data deal that you got with your new iPhone is about to run out? Then you will need to sort out a tariff and bolt-on.
Are you confused by all the jargon and options available? Which o2 Tariff is best for you?

Hopefully I will have all the answers for you here in my Guide to O2 PAYG Tariffs and Bolt ons.
By combining a suitable o2 tariff with a o2 Data Bolt-on you can get a real good combination.

For example a o2 Unlimited Tariff and the The Works Bolt-on will give you unlimited voice and text messages to anyone on o2 as well as 1Gb of 3G data a month all for just £15 a month.
Check out the other Tariffs and Bolt-ons in my guide.

My guide :

Andy's guide to O2 Pay and Go Tariffs and Bolt Ons for use with your iPhone and other Smart phones.

Hope my guide is of use.
Thanks
Andy

Saturday, October 1, 2011

Video - Elvaston Castle, The last days of Summer in the Old English walled Garden.

On a sunny day like today why not visit the local attraction Elvaston Castle?
Did you know it had an elglish Walled Garden?, despite visiting this place many times since the 1980s onwards I had never seen this before. I madea two part video of the gardens below:
Play in full screen and at 720p if you can.

My videos of Elvaston Castle.:


Part II:


thanks
Andy