Welcome to my blog, Whats this about then?

This is a place where I will be posting all sorts of things not just things relating to Derby and Derbyshire. On here you will find details of any videos I’ve made of things in Derby and also Time-lapse, stop motion animation, Tutorials etc. If I find some useful software for PC or iPhone then I will feature it here.I’m sure that there will be something of interest to someone on my many posts.Please leave comments on any posts if you like them.
Don’t forget if you are new to my blog and would like to read through the previous posts then see the Blog Archive section on the left side of this page.
Also there is a Search box at the top left of the page if you are looking for something but cant remember where it was. I am a trustee member of "Friends of Friar Gate bridge", aiming to get this bridge restored.

Friday 31 August 2012

Video - Station Road, Mickleover, Derby. Derby streets by car in HD. August 2012.

Here is my latest video in my Derby streets by car in HD series. Station Road, Mickleover, Derby. Filmed on 26th August 2012


Or click this - Video - Station Road, Mickleover, Derby. Derby streets by car in HD. August 2012.


This is a real-time car journey along the entire length of Station Road (B5020), Mickleover, Derby, Derbyshire, UK. Starting at the Radbourne Lane end of Station Road and ending in the car park of Tesco off Kipling Drive.

Google Streetview has NOT captured the northern part of Station Road so this video should help those wanting to see what its like :)

Best watched at 720p/1080p fullscreen (if your system/net connection is up to it)

This was recorded on Sunday 26th August 2012. Station Road is an almost perfectly straight road for most of its length as you will see.

Points of interest:
0:00 Radbourne Lane
0:09 Left into Station Road (B5020)
0:36 On the left is the Great Northern pub http://www.thegreatnorthern.co.uk/
0:42 At this point on Station Road you are passing over the former GNR Friargate railway line. To learn more about this railway line see my detailed map : http://www.derbyphotos.co.uk/features/friargatebridge/maps/
2:47 On left ahead you can see the Nags Head pub.
2:51 This roundabout is where Station Road meets Uttoxeter Road and Kipling Drive
2:55 On right is Tesco superstore http://www.tesco.com/storeLocator/default.asp?bID=2404
3:10 Right into Tesco car park.
3:23 Find a space, there are plenty as people don't realise its still open after 4 on a Sunday !
3:34 End of journey, time to shop.

Tescos was still open even though it was 430pm on a Sunday ! It seems very odd being able to go shopping after 4pm, if your not from the UK then you may not understand but all supermarkets close at 4pm on a Sunday, but because of the Olympics they are allowed to stay open until 8pm on a sunday.

Music credits :
Launching Into 2012 by Snowflake
http://www.ccmixter.org/files/snowflake/35087
Used under creative commons license

Andy's Driving videos around Derby, Derbyshire, UK :
Are you an ex-pat of Derby, feeling homesick? Or perhaps you just want a clear way of giving someone directions to a location in Derby or just want to show people your Derby Street. Well in this video and the many others I have made, you will be able to take a virtual drive around the city of Derby's streets as though you were in the driving seat. I use a dash-mounted camera, Traffic lights and heavy traffic have been edited out.


Thanks
Andy

Sunday 26 August 2012

Jurys Inn Hotel Derby, Video Guide to location etc etc

The Jurys Inn Derby Hotel is located on King Street, Derby, Derbyshire, UK
The post code is : DE1 3DB
This Derby hotel is located in Derby's Cathedral Quarter, it has 213 rooms and opened in July 2009.

or click - Jurys Inn Hotel Derby, Video Guide to location.

If you are going to see a band play at the Flower Pot pub then this has to be the best hotel to stop in as its just across the road from the venue.
Its also handy for anything in the City as when you come out of the Hotel entrance you are looking at the top of Queen Street where Derby Cathedral is located. If you then walk down Iron Gate you reach Derby's Market Place where you will find the Assembly Rooms and The Quad. Derby Westfield shopping centre is just a few minutes walk away up St Peters Street.

The nearest car park to the Jurys Inn Derby Hotel is Chapel street which as you can see in my video is just a 2 minute walk away.

One unique point that this hotel has is a view of the Peregrine Falcon nest on Derby Cathedral. You can see a live streaming video of this nest on my Derby webcam page :
http://www.derbyphotos.co.uk/webcams/

Chapel street car park, Derby
SatNav postcode for car park : DE1 3GU
More information on this car park :
http://www.derbycathedralquarter.co.uk/ChapelStreetCarPark

I can't personally recommend any specific hotels in Derby as I have never stopped in a hotel in Derby because I live here :)
What I would advice is that you firstly have a good look around their website to see what the hotel has to offer and secondly use a Hotel review website such as TripAdvisor. Trip Advisor was established in 2000, it's a website that allows customers to rate and review hotels they stop in, even allowing them to post photographs they have taken at the hotel.

When using hotel review sites such as Trip Advisor, you have to remember that everyone's idea of what constitutes a "good hotel" is different.
Some people expect all the extra features that luxury hotels have to offer such as spas and concierge car parking. Then there are other people that just expect somewhere cheap and comfortable, this is why you need to read all the reviews on TripAdvisor for the hotel you want to stop in rather than just one or two people that may not like the hotel. Remember not everyone's the same as you!

You can sometimes save money by booking through other websites such as trivago and laterooms.com but the best way to save is to book your room in advance as much as possible.

My Derby website :
http://www.derbyphotos.co.uk/

ORGANISERS of an abseil down one of Derby's tallest buildings hope to raise £1,000 more than they did during last year's event. It is the fourth time the Sight Support Derbyshire charity has organised the challenge at the 110ft Jurys Inn hotel, in King Street. Last year, people raised more than £3,000 by taking part in the event. This will take place from 10am on Saturday 8th September 2012. Hope this helps

Thanks
Andy

Saturday 25 August 2012

Video - A drive around the former Derby County Ground "The BBG" (D.C.F.C.) Now a housing estate.

This is a special edition of my Derby streets by car in HD series. This is a  real-time drive around the former Baseball Ground  (D.C.F.C.) land that is now a housing estate. I took this video on 23rd and 24th of August 2012. This estate is not on Google maps or Google Streetview so doubt many people will have seen this new estate.

My video :


Or click this link :
A drive around the former Derby County Ground site "The BBG" (DCFC) Now a housing estate! Aug 2012

One thing that may not come across in my video is the diabolical road surface, I've never seen such a terrible road, you need a 4x4 to use these roads and they have been in this state for a couple of years. Must be a pain for those people living here!

Points of interest
0:00 Aerial view of the former BBG back in 1997
0:12 Cambridge Street heading towards the former Baseball Ground.
0:36 Ahead you can see the location of the commemorative sculpture designed by artist Denis O'Connor.
0:40 Left here if you want Shaftesbury sports centre.
0:43 Right onto Shaftesbury Crescent North.
0:49 Left onto Baseball Drive
1:12 Right, Baseball Drive continues.
1:31 On the right is Keepers Green
1:54 These blocks stop you from driving onto Harrington Street ahead.
1:56 Right onto Vulcan Street.
2:10 Left onto Shaftesbury Crescent
2:31 180 degree turn and back in the other direction.
2:32 Shaftesbury Crescent towards the former BBG
2:46 right into Vulcan Street
3:00 Left into Baseball Drive
3:07 On left is Keepers Green
3:37 Woman with a deathwish !
3:45 Colombo Street
3:51 Right here for Rachel's Flying Sausage mobile takeaway !
3:52 The away fans would have walked this way.
3:56 X4 speed all the way to Osmaston Road.
4:10 Views of the Baseball ground commemorative sculpture (see below for more details)

Strata Euphoria, Prospect park :
This 149 house estate consists of designer 2,3 and 4 bedroom apartments. This estate is known as Euphoria, Prospect park, Derby. The streets have been given suitable names in keeping with the history of the location such as Baseball Drive and Keepers Green.

How do I get to Strata Euphoria, Prospect park, Derby?
As you can see in my video there are just three access roads onto this new housing estate. If your not from Derby then I think the best way is via Osmaston Road (A514) turn onto Shaftesbury Street and follow it around the bend until you see Colombo Street on your right (just before Leys Mess Hall). Carry on driving in a straight line and you will reach Baseball Drive where you can get to all of the new streets from this point.
The other two access roads are Shaftesbury Crescent off Holcome Street and Cambridge Street off Dairyhouse Road.

Baseball ground commemorative sculpture :
The 15-foot high metalwork, featuring three footballers dribbling, shooting and tackling, was officially revealed at the Normanton site on 10th September 2010 by ex-Ram Roger Davies and designed by artist Denis O'Connor. Commissioned by developers Spirita and Strata, which built the 149-house estate on the former ground.

I have a special section on my website of photographs from the BBG :
http://www.derbyphotos.co.uk/special/the_bbg.htm

Hope you found this of interest.

Thanks
Andy

Friday 24 August 2012

Video - Normanton Road Derby, clear and quick journey. August 2012. Derby streets by car In HD.

This is a realtime car journey down Normaton Road in Derby at 7am on 15th August 2012. If you use Normanton Road on a regular basis at different times of the day then you will know that this has to be one of the worse roads to drive on in Derby.
I took this video to proove how quick you can actually drive down this road when there are no people about!

Or click - Video of Normanton Road, Derby when its clear of traffic and people, Aug 2012.

I think everyone that has driving lessons in Derby should be made to drive on Normanton Road as it "features" pretty much every driving hazzard you could ever imagine including some that you would never see in a lifetime. Such as...

Cyclist that ride on the wrong side of the road or change from the pavement to the road and back. Example here : http://youtu.be/apBup2IFNMc?t=14s
Nobody seems to indicate so you never no where people are going.
People walking out in front of you with big boxes.
cars pulling out of parking spaces right in front of you.
Car doors sudenly being flung open as you drive past them.
trucks reversing out into the road.
Double yellow lines and disabled parking spaces don't mean anything on this road!
The main problem is caused by PAK foods which is very popular but is not suitable to have on a road like this. A great shop with some good bargains but it would be better where there was good parking for them.

I really feel sorry for bus drivers (Arriva 41 route) on this route as it must be stressfull.

In my video here you can see I manage to drive all the way down Normanton Road in just 1 minutes and 20 seconds. If you were to try this during the day, then expect it to take 5-15 minutes sometimes.

0:00 Journey starts on Mercian Way
0:22 Start of Normanton Road.
0:43 Right here if you want Mill Hill Lane
1:49 End of Normanton Road.

Best watched at 720p/1080p fullscreen (if your system/net connection is up to it)

Andy's Driving videos around Derby, Derbyshire, UK :
Are you an ex-pat of Derby, feeling homesick? Or perhaps you just want a clear way of giving someone directions to a location in Derby or just want to show people your Derby Street. Well in this video and the many others I have made, you will be able to take a virtual drive around the city of Derby's streets as though you were in the driving seat. I use a dash-mounted camera, Traffic lights and heavy traffic have been edited out.

Thanks
Andy

Wednesday 15 August 2012

Tenth annual beer and music festival, The Swan Inn, Milton, Derbyshire. August 17th - 19th 2012

MILTON-FEST Beer and music Festival

The pubs 10th Year Anniversary Beer Festival takes place this weekend Friday 17th August to Sunday 19th 2012 at the Swan Inn pub, Milton, Derbyshire. Roger and Stella will make you feel at home in this nice little village pub.
All the proceeds raised from the beer festival and all affiliated stalls and events will go to the Derbyshire Leicestershire and Rutland Air Ambulance.

The Swan Inn and Cygnets Tearooms can be found in the village of Milton, near Repton.
49 Main Street,  Map location :  Swan Inn and Cygnets Tearooms.


Miltonfest 2012 - Beer and Music Festival flyer.
Saturday will be the main fund-raising day and will include a number of local bands performing for free to help raise money (from 2pm). One of the bands will be The Weasel Kickers.

There will also be a barbecue, karaoke and a disco which will finish later in the evening.
4 ciders will be available including Thatchers Traditional, Doris Stokes and two Scrumpy ciders and of course Beers.

If you would like to learn more about the Derbyshire village of Milton then see my village page :
Milton, Derbyshire.


Paul Young
Four weeks after this event, Paul Young (yes really, the pop star from the 80's) will be performing at the Swan Inn in his new band The Los Pacaminos for a charity gig in aid of Macmillan Cancer. This will take place in a large marquee in the pubs garden.

For tickets and more information see their website :

www.lospacaminos.com

Paul Young has performed charity gigs at this pub a few times over the years. If you don't manage to get tickets in time the you can catch him at the Flower pot pub in Derby on 17th November.

Thanks
Andy

Tuesday 14 August 2012

BBC DVD now available to order of the London 2012 Olympic Opening and closing Ceremonies.

Finally at last you can now pre-order both the DVD and Blu-ray versions of the London 2012 Olympic Opening and closing Ceremonies from Amazon and its £10 cheaper than from the BBC Shop...



Click the above to pre-order you copy now.
The most popular question that brings people to my blog at the moment seems to be "will there be a dvd of the 2012 olympic opening ceremony". Hopefully this answers that question ! Get it from Amazon now.

Your chance to enjoy again that amazing opening ceremony from Friday 27th July 2012.
Chariots of Fire
Mr Bean playing his part in the London 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremonies (BBC DVD release)
The London 2012 Olympic Games DVD and Blu-ray release will feature over nine hours of footage marking some of the best of the BBC’s Olympic coverage including highlights from Danny Boyle’s hugely-celebrated opening ceremony as well as the closing ceremony from Artistic Director Kim Gavin’s entitled “A Symphony of British Music”.  In addition to the successes from Team GB, it will also feature additional key moments from the London 2012 Olympic Games.

The official BBC DVD of the 2012 London Olympics is now available to pre-order. It includes the opening ceremony, key Olympic highlights and the closing ceremony:

Note its £10 cheaper on Amazon here that buying it from the BBC shop website !



Its even available in glorious HD via the Blu-ray version, also available to pre-order now :


You will also be able to see all the closing celedrations too, such as the Spice Girls !
The Spice Girls at the closing ceremony (BBC DVD release)
The music from the opening ceremony is also available as a double CD or to download as mp3s :

Thanks
Andy

Saturday 11 August 2012

Video - Derby streets by car in HD, Derby City Centre July 2012. Genting Casino, Bus Station, Westfield

Here is my latest realtime driving video around Derby.

This is a car journey that took place on Saturday 28th July 2012. In this drive you will see the New Bus Station development, The Council House refurbishment, Westfield shopping centre.
Best watched at 720p/1080p fullscreen (if your system/net connection is up to it)

Or click this link for HD version : Derby streets by car, Derby City Centre July 2012. Genting Casino, Bus Station, Westfield.

Andy's Driving videos around Derby, Derbyshire, UK :
Are you an ex-pat of Derby, feeling homesick? Or perhaps you just want a clear way of giving someone directions to a location in Derby or just want to show people your Derby Street. Well in this video and the many others I have made, you will be able to take a virtual drive around the city of Derby's streets as though you were in the driving seat. I use a dash-mounted camera, Traffic lights and heavy traffic have been edited out.

Why not start with the original video and watch them all one by one...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIMdVNMVc4U

00:00 Cathedral Road
00:03 Queen Street Baths on the left
00:28 Ye Olde Dolphin Inn (Derby's oldest pub)
00:30 Full Street
00:31 Ahead is the Old Silk Mill pub
00:35 Cathedral Green
00:40 Statue on left of Bonnie Prince Charlie
00:42 Ahead is Assembly Rooms car park
00:49 On left is the old Police Station site (still waiting regeneration!)
00:56 Derby Council House being refurbished (completion Autumn 2012).
01:05 Corporation Street
01:22 Morledge
01:24 Ahead on tight is Derby's Eagle Market
01:37 On left is Holiday Inn hotel, Derby bus Station and Genting Casino - http://www.absolutelyandy.com/derbyphotoscouk/gentingclubderbyriverlights/
02:03 Going under Westfield shopping Centre Car Park
02:21 On right is Derby's Westfield Shopping Centre
03:10 Ahead is the former DRI site (awaiting redevelopment)
03:12 London Road
03:30 The Stuart Hotel on the left.
03:48 Midland Road (end of)
END

Music Credits:
If You Wait For Me by scottaltham.
http://ccmixter.org/files/scottaltham/36642
Licensed under Creative Commons.

Thanks
Andy

Friday 10 August 2012

Pot Fest - Three counties Beer and Cider festival at The Flower Pot, Derby 23rd-26th August 2012.

There is a Beer and Cider festival starting in a couple of weeks (The August Bank Holiday weekend) at The Flower Pot pub in Derby. This is the "three counties" Beer festival.
It runs from 23rd of August until 26th August 2012.
If you are coming into Derby to try this Beer Festival then why not stop at the Jurys Inn Hotel as its just across the road from the Flower Pot.
There will be Live music and 40 Real Ales and Ciders to try.
Paul Miro will be performing on the Thursday, he did some really good stuff last year.

If you tried the Bumble Berry Cider here and liked it then you may be interested in my
post here - How to buy a box of cider for home (35 Pints)

Here is a flyer for The Flower Pot Beer Festival 2012 :

Derby potfest 2012 flyer




The Flower Pot is located on King Street (A6) very near the Jurys Inn Hotel.
You can see The flower pot in this Google Streetview.

If you have a smartphone then you can use my drop pin below to find your way to the pub using the mapping application.
Smartphone mapping drop pin. <-- Tap this link on your smartphone to get accurate directions.

Hope you found this of interest.
Andy

Wednesday 8 August 2012

Video - Derby streets by car in HD - Mackworth Estate, Derby, Derbyshire,UK. July 2012. A real car journey

My latest video is driving around Mackworth Estate in July 2012.

This is a realtime car journey around Mackworth Estate, Derby, Derbyshire,UK.
Recorded on Saturday 28th July 2012.
Click play :

Or click - Mackworth Estate by car in HD, July 2012.
Best played fullscreen at 720p/1080p.

Andy's Driving videos around Derby, Derbyshire, UK :
Are you an ex-pat of Derby, feeling homesick? Or perhaps you just want a clear way of giving someone directions to a location in Derby or just want to show people your Derby Street. Well in this video and the many others I have made, you will be able to take a virtual drive around the city of Derby's streets as though you were in the driving seat. I use a dash-mounted camera, Traffic lights and heavy traffic have been edited out.

Points of Interest
00:00 Streatham Road
00:41 right onto Mornington Crescent
01:02 Left onto Prince Charles Avenue
01:12 Left onto the parade. Shops include Co-op, Pizza Cottage,Greggs
02:03 Left onto Knightbridge
02:35 Right onto Humbleton Drive
03:12 Left onto Fulham Road
03:46 Left onto Greenwich Drive South
04:31 Right onto Brackensdale Avenue
End

Why not start with the original video and watch them all one by one...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIMdVNMVc4U

Music Credits:
http://ccmixter.org/files/scottaltham/21436
Licensed under Creative Commons.

Thanks
Andy

Sunday 5 August 2012

Flashback to the 80s Concert on Saturday 18th August 2012 at Clumber Park.

On Saturday 18th August 2012 the Flashback to the 80s Concert will take place at Clumber Park.
A view of last years 80's Flashback Festival at Clumber Park.

If you love music from the 1980's and live in the East Midlands then this is THE festival for you.
The acts for this years festival are :

OMD
Marc Almond
ABC
Belinda Carlisle
Go West
The Christians



Lets hope the weather is not too bad for this as this is an outdoor event!
Looking at this stage the weather is looked very good, see weather for Chesterfield (the nearest place to the gig) - Weather for the 80's flashback festival.

If you do go to this I suggest you make your chairs stand out from the crowd as the main problem is finding where you are sat if you go to the toilet as there are so many people here.
There are food stalls around the venue but you can also take in food and a picknik.

Looking forward to seeing Go West again, Saw them in Sheffield in December, See here.

Last year I made a  video of the car journey there from Derby and you can also see brief clips of the 2011 acts and firework display :
My video - Time-lapse car journey to the Clumber Park 80s Flashback Festival August 2011 and Fireworks show.

Small bits of the 2011 Acts in my video.

Google Streetview just happened to capture the 80's flashback festival sign when it visited Clumber Park in 2009 as you can see HERE.

Facebook page for 80's flashback concert.

For latest information on the 80's Flashback festival see their Twitter feed :
https://twitter.com/flashbackto80s

Map location for the 80's festival.

Here is a photograph I took at last years festival of The Human League on stage.

See you there!

Thanks
Andy

Friday 3 August 2012

Undercover boss in Derby at the Francesco Group Hairdressers.

If you have never seen Undercover boss UK before then I highly recommend it, very interesting to see how large companies seem to loose control of whats going on at grass roots level.

In the latest episode of Undercover boss two weeks ago on 23rd July 2012 (Series 4, Episode 4) , the company in question was The Francesco Group Hairdressers.
The second place she visited in this show was the Hairdressers on Victoria Street, Derby. Francesco Group Hairdresser is located at 32 Victoria Street, upstairs from Savers as you will see in the episode.

Jacqui McIntosh asking a local lady is she knows where Francesco Hairdressers is in Derby.

Ben at the Derby salon.

Former celebrity hairdresser Jacqui McIntosh, now a senior manager of The Francesco Group, is on a mission to find out why the company's profits are down. Even in recession, the health and beauty market is buoyant. But if Francesco want to expand and take on the major players, Jacqui needs to go undercover to find out where things are going wrong. But she's left reeling when she's turned away by staff who don't feel trained to wash and dry Afro-Caribbean hair.
She also unearths empty salons, complacent stylists, ageing franchisees and an older clientele, and meets a desperate owner dealing with visits from debt collectors.
It's not all bad though, as she's inspired by a young, visionary stylist, and moved by a franchisee passionate about his NHS work crafting wigs for patients.

By the time she returns to Head Office Jacqui knows there's a lot of work needed if Francesco Group is to take on the industry leaders.

Looking online now its not yet avalable on 4OD yet but perhaps it will be soon.
There is only a clip available at the moment :
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/undercover-boss/video/series-4/episode-4/s4-ep4-francesco-group-hairdressers

It was available on Virgin on demand last week but see its gone now!

Thanks
Andy

Wednesday 1 August 2012

Lefty-loosey righty-tighty FAIL. The rhyming Aphorism fails.

Lefty-loosey righty-tighty is a well known mnemonic (memory aid) for remembering which way to turn a spanner for tightening or loosening bolts etc. Clockwise tightens, Counter-clockwise loosens until NOW !

Apart from a gas cylinder valve I have never seen anything that does not obey the Lefty-loosey righty-tighty rule. Have you?

The reason this item is the opposite to normal is because its a fan that spins clockwise so it the big cap on the end was screwed on clockwise then it would unscrew its self when the fan was spun up and the fan blade would fall off !

Video of the fail
Thanks Andy