We went to Leicester today, to watch the Leicester Caribbean Carnival. We got the park and ride bus to the city centre and I thought, there’s not many “carnival people” on the bus. We walked into the city centre and I said to my wife “Jane, there are no barriers for crowd control”. I did a google on my phone… the event had been cancelled ! I’d only checked last week, the carnival website displays a pop up “cancelled” message on the home page, but if you go direct to another page it doesn’t appear!
Anyway, tradition has it that Jane and I always have some “Awesome Chips” from a city centre outlet, they sell chips and chips!
I struck up a conversation with one of the colleagues of the outlet, Marko. He saw my camera and we had a chat about cameras. His father is amateur photograher, a hobby now he is retired. Marko’s father does landscapes and scenery and posts to Flickr, Marko told him Flickr is old hat and he should post to Instagram. I told Marko I used to be on Flickr, but closed my account because the portal had lots of dodgy content. I asked Marko for a photo as my genre of photography was taking photos of people I met.
Marko said it was OK to do so. I asked him about the cancelled Carnival and told him we’d visited the city from Nottingham to watch it. Marko told me he’d done a Masters degree in Illustration at Nottingham Trent Uni’ and would be starting an internship after the summer, designing all the branding.
I thanked Marko for the photos and we exchanged Instagram handles.
While I was talking to Marko his colleague, Winnie served my our chips.
“Are you going to take my photo?” she asked, "I love having my photo took"
Winnie thought she’d seem my photography online at Leicester County Council. I told her I was an amateur and it wasn’t me. Winnie did however pose for a lovely photo as she handed over the chips (photo to follow)
So no carnival, we did a bit of shopping in the city centre and returned home early!!!
What a shame that you didn’t get to see what you went for! Leicester is not the place it once was for shopping. The market is more or less no more - no Linekers fruit & veg any more ( with a young Gary helping his dad 😜) & I think I read that M&S was either closing or closed?
Super portrait of this happy chap!
What a great story and how lovely to meet an enthusiastic model. Glad you were in Leicester and not Nottingham with the current riot situations. This is a super portrait and such a fun warm smile
Lovely portrait Phil and what a story! Wasn't it a disappointment that the carnival didn't take place? Well, I have to say that being a pensioner it doesn't matter much, any other day would be ok.
I guess the carnival was cancelled in case it attracted the thugs that have been on the rampage lately. I just don't understand some people. :'-(
Great portrait as always and, as always, an interesting narrative to go with it. Good luck and all the best for the future, Marko, sounds like an interesting career choice.
@dulciknit Alison , it was cancelled in July about 3 weeks before the date. It rained hard last year and the attendance was poor and the committee didn't have enough money !!! As for the thugs and far right , it saddens me, it's like going back to the 1970s
@phil_howcroft Ah, I see. Yes, I agree with you re. the current unrest and violence. I came across this article today, though, which I found thought-provoking reading: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czx66dkx3wlo
I do wonder if there's an element of rose-tinted specs to the last bit; I hope not.
@dulciknit Alison , thanks for the link and read , I think Nottingham is a great city , really diverse , inclusive and multi cultural and our politicians and councils work hard to achieve that. The far right have reared their head a few times in the city , but have always been met with a wall of police and a strong voice against them from most citizens .
@phil_howcroft That's good to know. I've never been to Nottingham, sadly, something I hope to rectify while Lester and I are still ok for distance driving.
August 5th, 2024
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@busylady thanks Judith , I think the background helps tell the story
Super portrait of this happy chap!
Great portrait as always and, as always, an interesting narrative to go with it. Good luck and all the best for the future, Marko, sounds like an interesting career choice.
I do wonder if there's an element of rose-tinted specs to the last bit; I hope not.