Ilkeston (mainly) - Spoilt For Choice
w/e 01 May 2011
All this week's pictures were taken
with a Kodak DX6490
There are some weeks when I struggle to find somewhere
different to go for images or to find an event that is taking
place. At other times photo opportunities come thick and fast.
I am reminded of the phrase "You wait for ages for a bus,
then three come along together" and it's been a little like
that during the last fortnight so I've been spoilt for choice.
So with little more ado, let's get on to this selection of images
from the local area.
A prolonged spell of fine weather with no rain to speak of has
been a real benefit to the spring flowers. Blue skies have been
the order of the day on many occasions and despite an infrequent
cool wind, the flower beds have never looked better. This particular
image of the Market Place was taken on Palm Sunday about midday.
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  The fine
weather continued all week and the traditional Good Friday Walk
of Christian Witness through the town's main streets was conducted
in brilliant sunshine. Several hundred people took part in the
silent procession up Bath Street (right) and paused at a number
of locations for drama presentations (left) including one around
the old horse trough and fountain (above).
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The title of this year's walk was "Were You There?"
a reference to the song "Were you there when they crucified
my Lord?" but with so many people participating it could
well have been a question posed later after the event was over.
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A number of special events for Easter were held in the town centre
on Easter Saturday, including an Easter Egg Hunt around the Market
Place but I caught up with the Easter Bunny at the ice cream
van.
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All thoughts of rabbits were forgotten on Easter Day and although
cream eggs kindly supplied by the Mothers' Union and the Vicar's
wife were handed out as the congregation left St Mary's Church,
the focus of attention was drawn to the Easter Garden designed
and created by two girls from the Junior Church.
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Whilst most of the images on this page are from in or very close
to the town centre, on Easter Monday we took a short drive to
Dale Abbey for a walk around the village and into Hermit's Wood.
And at this time of year you can't go to Dale Abbey without also
going to Ockbrook Wood to enjoy the wonderful display of bluebells.
Of all the woods in the area this is most probably the one with
the best and most bountiful display.
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Easter of course is a movable feast and can fall in March or
April. This year it was about as late as it can be, so late in
fact that it coincided with St George's Day on the 23rd, Easter
Saturday. St George's flags were flying all around to celebrate
and we were also treated to flags (or irises) in our garden which
the fine weather had helped to produce the best display we have
seen since they were transplanted there.
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The St George's flags were supplemented throughout the week with
Union Flags prominently shown in many shop windows as the build
up to some wedding or other took place.
And just in case you missed it, not that there was much chance
of that as it has dominated the TV, radio and newspapers for
what seems like an eternity, here are three images captured from
the TV screen as the wedding was taking place. So there you have
it, I was really spoilt for choice with Easter, St George's Day
and a Royal Wedding and there's the May Day Bank Holiday next
week but then it'll be a case of waiting for the bus again!
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