March 28th 2010 - Chinese State Circus

The annual 'Big Top' has come to Sefton Park and this year it is the turn of the Chinese State Circus. I went to see them perform last year and it is worth going to witness the 'Motorcycle Ball of Death' alone! Amazing, it defies belief. The photograph shows it is not all fame and fortune in show business...the washing still needs to be done!

March 27th 2010 - Old Nick's Caves

A strange day weather-wise in Liverpool - so I sought out a 'strange' location...Sefton Park's own grotto, an artifical cave known also as Old Nick's Caves, built around 1870 by French rockwork specialist, M. Combaz. Over the past few years the park has undergone renovation work, and the caves were included, with the addition of a fountain, stepping stones, and reflective mirror pond. As a child, my wife recalls being able to venture inside and explore these mysterious caves, but they have been fenced off for 'safety reasons' for some time now. There are many ghost stories about these caves, I shall save them for the week of Halloween.

February 14th 2010 - Eros

What could be more fitting on St. Valentine's Day than a photograph of Liverpool's own Eros in Sefton Park. Eros is a second casting of the original, by sculptor Alfred Gilbert, which stands in Piccadilly Circus, London. Eros is an aluminium casting on a bronze fountain base. The sculpture was removed in 1991 for conservation work. Sadly, it was found to be so damaged it was decided it should be kept indoors and is now on permanent display in the NMGM Conservation Centre. This cast was recently replaced on the fountain in the park. I liked the way Eros appears to be balancing in mid-air, his dark form standing out against the backdrop of white sky in this photograph.

January 7th 2010 - Peter Pan Statue in the Snow

I've always loved the detail on this statue of Peter Pan in Sefton Park. At first light this morning, his raised arms looked like snow covered branches and blended with the trees behind. Liverpool remains under a blanket of thick snow and ice, but sunny spells are forecast for later.

January 5th 2010 - Fairy Glen at Sefton Park

Heavy snowfall overnight in Liverpool. Took this photograph at the Fairy Glen underneath the Iron Bridge in Sefton Park. Liked the contrast of the bright white snow against the deep green moss and exposed conifer branches. A magical place - it lives up to its name.

January 3rd 2010 - Twilight through Sefton Park

This path through Sefton Park was lit by gas lamps during the Victorian era. Having remained in darkness for decades, replica lighting has recently been installed. This gives a sense of how the park would have appeared at twilight in the 1800's. It was cold and crisp with a cloudless sky when I took this photograph at around 5pm this evening.