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ATR Aircraft ATR 42-500 G-LMRC

ATR Aircraft ATR 42-500 G-LMRC by George Aldrich
Via Flickr:
Scottish regional carrier Loganair’s ATR 42 ‘Clan Calder’ arrives on short final for Runway 33 at Birmingham Airport, running a Sunday evening service from Aberdeen with LM67. Loganair operates a handful of ATR 42 turboprops alongside the stretched ATR 72 on it’s predominantly domestic network of destinations. Delivered to the airline in May 2020, G-LMRC is an ex- Air Littoral, Air Botswana and Hop! machine, flying as F-GPYB until it’s recent arrival on the UK register. Check out more of my work on Instagram! www.instagram.com/georgealdrichphotography Copyright © George Aldrich

#george aldrich photography    #loganair    #scotland    #scotlands    #airline    #calder    #aircraft    #atr42-500    #g-lmrc    #tartan    #birmingham    #airport    #regional    #domestic    #propeller    #turboprop    #airliner    #civilian    #aviation    #flying    #flight    #travel    #landing    #summer    

I’ve still got a post to write about the remaining part of my holiday, but as Colin has published some of his photos tonight of Birmingham Pride, I thought I’d best write a blog post about it.

This year’s pride followed not long after the Manchester Bombing and that meant there was an increased police presence on the streets around the start of the parade – but that didn’t mean to say they weren’t getting in to the spirit of things – and their Chief Constable even posed with the Pup Group for a photo – and tweeted it!

We also had a chat with people from The Dog’s Trust before the parade, as they had a giant dog at their float.

It was also suggested that we form a Pride Rainbow out of the pups – so that was soon organised!

As we approached the start of the parade, a minutes silence was held in memory of those that had been affected by the events earlier in the week, and this was a very eerie moment. However, as soon as it was finished, the parade was underway.

The parade set off, following the same route as previous years, and as usual there was the usual good natured fun as we went down the streets. Thankfully, it wasn’t quite as busy as last year, but also the puppy group were still getting attention off the crowd.

Thankfully, the weather held out – although if the wind was blowing it could be kind of cool – but as usual, it was great fun to walk in the parade with everyone.

Enjoy the photos of the walk on this post – there will be another blog post to come from when Colin and I went in to the events in the village.

*woofs*

Spot

Birmingham Pride Parade – 2017 I’ve still got a post to write about the remaining part of my holiday, but as Colin has published some of his photos tonight of Birmingham Pride, I thought I’d best write a blog post about it.

One of my last outings as Mr Puppy UK 2015 was to attend the Birthday Bonanza organised by Buster (@BirminghamPup) for his Birthday – a Puppy event being held at Underworld in Birmingham, designed to be a fun evening where you could be a pup or take part in other activities.

The event itself was fun, with a raffle, various games going on and many pups just chilling out and hanging out – as well as a fantastic buffet provided.

Unfortunately, I didn’t really get many photographs of me as a puppy, but I did get some of puppy getting up to other things :)

Buster’s Birthday Bonanza One of my last outings as Mr Puppy UK 2015 was to attend the Birthday Bonanza organised by Buster (

At the start of the year, I became involved, through SLOSH, in helping write a script and planning for some filming which happened at a venue in Birmingham back in May. Although it was a “Wet and Messy” film, I did manage to stay clean throughout the process – the “benefits” of being backstage crew and also the techy pup on site (I took a van load of filming equipment, power distribution, microphones and props etc). … Hopefully in the not to distant future the ‘film’ will be released to the members of SLOSH ;)

However, if you do want to see some messy photos, then some films that I starred in are for sale on a website known as “UMD”, which you can sign up to for free if you want to buy them… You can buy them from http://dalmatian_productions.umd.net/ but as a special treat for readers of my blog until January 6th 2017, spotxmas2016 will get you 10% off!

However, at the end of the 3 days of filming, there was an offer from the venue owners of allowing us to make use of the equipment in the venue… so we did. Although, truthfully, we didn’t – we only made use of one piece of equipment :-)

The venue in question, Underworld has a nice suspension frame with 4 electric winches… and I have a set of suspension cuffs, and take pleasure in being suspended – so this seemed to be a winning combination :)

I was suspended in all sorts of weird and wonderful directions, and eventually had some E-Stim added while I was upside down… resulting in somewhat of an explosion :)

Apologies for this post being so late… I’ve been so manic recently that I haven’t had time to write the post or get some of the photos edited.

The late May Bank Holiday weekend saw me going to Birmingham to join in Birmingham Pride, as I’ve done for the last few years. Thankfully, the weather was a lot better than I was expecting, as the early forecast was for rain… and I go a bit see-through in the rain!

I joined the Midlands Pups walking group again who were, perhaps ironically, placed behind The Dogs Trust walking group. This caused some amusement in the crowd but we didn’t really get up to any mischief – although I did manage to get a snappy wristband!

The parade, as ever, was enjoyable and the crowd fantastic. I managed to do quite a bit of it on all 4s, but not all of it as most years. I do prefer to do it on all 4s but sometimes, needs must… from the pictures, it also looks like I had a sleep half way through!

After the parade had finished, and after queuing to get the wristband, I went in to the village to have a wander round and also to join @Puppai_Buumi‘s Club Scritches outside Clonezone. Buumi roped me in to helping him with a contest as well for the pups that were there, so we had some fun with that as well

I had a little rest here as well, but for some reason I seemed to end up half in the tent and half outside it!

During the time in the village, I also took a wander around, looking at what else was happening and posing for photos with people as they requested. The village had a different layout this year, which meant things weren’t quite in the same place, but it was still enjoyable and I ended up chatting to a few people – including the Chief Constable who was quite cheerful!

Of course, as is becoming traditional – Spot had to go on the funfair!

As I got off the funfair ride, a couple of the staff came up and asked if they could have some photos with me as well as they aw my owner taking some as well.

Birmingham Pride – May 2018 Apologies for this post being so late… I’ve been so manic recently that I haven’t had time to write the post or get some of the photos edited.

On the weekend of the 21st November, the first ever Mr Puppy UK event was held at the Pup Social in Birmingham. I was a late entrant to the competition though, as my ability to attend was looking doubtful until almost the last moment.

After an uneventful journey there, I arrived at the venue, and started to get nervous about entering, so made the decision to have a drink and calm down and think about it… so I changed in to my outfit, had a drink and thought about it while saying hello to the pups around that I know and generally chatting.

I eventually made the decision that I should enter as I’d only have been annoyed at myself if I hadn’t, so duly did the necessary paperwork and now I had become a contestant in the competition. *gulp*

I had to think of a party piece / stage type of performance to use later in the event, if I was to get that far through the competition… so while chatting, and relaxing, and talking to my owner I made a nervous decision on what to do.

We got called through and, just before the rest of all the pups and handles came through, the pups that had entered decided as a bit of fun to build a pup-pyramid:

Puppy Pyramid

The competition got underway; information about the event and introduction of the judges complete, then 7 participants were introduced to the rest of the pups and handlers that had come along to watch. I was introduced as pup number 6 ‘ZentaiSpot’… the number was so people could vote for me for the “Puppy Congeniality” competition (a side competition to the main event).

After being introduced, I realised I still had my badge on from Sexpo which was the weekend before, where I had been there with E-Stim Systems as their Puppy, and had 3 days of demo-ing their equipment. I thought about taking it off, but then I decided “no, that’s me, I am the E-Stim Systems puppy” so I left it on my harness.

The first challenge was to be an agility course. The rules and the course were explained – ‘be yourself as a pup and do the course, it’s not Crufts’, ‘first you have to weave through the cone slalom, then get the tennis ball home in the basket, then through the hoop followed by the `Canyon of Temptation` (or the home straight had loads of puppy treats on either side to guide you home)’… and then we were all sent out the room – we weren’t allowed to see what the other pups did!

5 Pups later it came to my turn!!! Whilst I was being introduced I had found that I was leaning on one of the hosts having head scritches starting to doze off like pups do … Then it was “3… 2… 1… GO!”. I was a bit naughty and pinched a Flapjack from the end of the course and a chew toy before setting off to weave in and out of the slalom (still munching the flapjack WITH a chew toy in my mouth!), and it took me slightly longer to get the ball in the hole as I managed to catch it with my side claw :( and so the ball completely missed the basket. A kind on-looker rolled the ball back to me and I tried again with success. Then through the hoop, which I just bounded through without thinking (since if pups realise what they have to do, then they seem to bail out and go round the obstacle) … then onto the ‘canyon of temptation’ … so a few more biscuits later I cross the finish line.

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There was now a chance to relax before the next round – interviews, in private, with the judges!!!!! I haven’t done an interview in more than 10 years, so was a bit nervous by this point. Contestant 5 couldn’t be found, so my interview got moved forward early, so I had even less time to think before the interview! By the time I came out I was convinced I’d done really badly at this, as the questions weren’t easy!

Again, there was more time to relax and have a chance to pup out with everyone, before we were whittled down from 7 to 5.
7 puppies
This was quite scary in it’s way, as it was done in a fashion very much like TV shows – you’re called forward, then with a long delay before being told if you’re safe or not. This was a bit of a blur, as I couldn’t say if I was called forward as the 4th pup top be decided on, but I think I was! So I was called forward, I stepped forward, I was then told to step forward again, then back then forward a small bit … and then I was told to extend my right leg. After a bit of a pause, I did (as I sometimes struggle with Right and Left due to my theatre work as it’s all backwards in the theatre industry) and after another long pause I was told I was safe… I was through to the last round. By the end of this elimination round, only 5 of us were left, and my commiserations have to go to Pup Rocket and Wolfie who were eliminated at this point.
5 remaining puppies

Again, there was another break and then we were on to the final round – the talent show. One of the hosts came back into the room to the backing track of ‘Cruella-de-ville’ … me being a Dalmatian started to bark like crazy as Dalmatians don’t like this character! Though I let my guard down and wandered out to have ear scritches.
Curella ear scritches
… After a quick intro about this part of the competition it was our turn. First up was Pup Cody, who did some tricks with lettered cards and a game of fetch (helped by his handler, Del). This was followed by Minty, who was acting like a playful puppy with a toy. Oakleigh followed next… and took a bag of magic stars, popped them, and then proceeded to eat them.

The first thought through my mind was … *WHINE* – as this was what I planned to do, but with Galaxy Counters!

Pup Shadow went next, and proceeded to perform some comedy which gave me a bit of time to think about what to do next… but then, suddenly, it was my turn.

I took the Counters on stage, was asked if I was ready, and I barked. “3… 2… 1… GO!”. I looked at my treat bag, carefully picked them up and walked over to the judges proudly and put the bag on their table. What happened from here on in was now completely unknown and out of my paws!!! They opened the bag, took one out and just as I thought the judge was going to balance the Counter on my nose, he threw that Counter on the stage area, followed by about half the bag of Counters. I don’t know what happened in that brief moment – my chance to go and eat them up… while the judges ate a few Counters too!

Then my minute was over… and the results were almost imminent, a very quick break whilst the judges added up the scores and then we were gathered together. First up was the announcement of “Puppy Congeniality”, it was announced as Minty! He got a tiara and a sash and a BIG jar of either buttons or jelly sweets … he chose the jelly sweets (never found out what happened to the jar of buttons after).
Minty Pup - Pup Congeniality

Then, came the moment of truth…
Remaining 5 pups
first the nervous 5 of us were whittled down to a final three. Unfortunately really huge commiserations and big hugs had to go to Cody and Shadow, the 2 that were now eliminated – thus leaving Oakleigh, Me and Minty in the final three *gulp*
Puppy hugs
3 remaining pups

The results were announced in reverse order and so 3rd place… and this went to Oakleigh who got some great prizes and a brone coloured bone medal.
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Minty and I sat next to each as pup and we were hugging each other so tight that we could feel each other shaking with nerves. Then it was time to announce 2nd place … … … …

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the wait was unbearable … … … … …

… … …

and the tension built … … …

after what seemed forever, it was announced as Minty in 2nd place! He got his wonderful prizes and a silve bone shaped medal.
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This only meant one thing! I’d won Mr Puppy UK 2015 (and the first one ever!)
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I honestly can not remember much about what happened after that, I was in shock with a tear in my eye; and still am to a degree, it’s still not quite fully sunk in!

I was awarded my prizes – a gold bone shaped medal (which I later found out was custom made for the event and is unique so is irreplaceable), £100 travel voucher for Mr Puppy Europe, £50 The Kinksters voucher, a years entry to ‘Kink’, a Mr-B puppy hood, a waistcoat with Mr Puppy UK 2015 patch on the back, and I look forward to representing the UK pups in Mr Puppy Europe next year.

And here’s the 3 pups with prizes:
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The rest of the night was great, but being on a shell-shocked nervous buzz of the win, I can’t remember all that much – it was all a blur!
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I do remember that on leaving at the end of the night, it did take me nearly an hour to get out from the social as everyone wanted a hug before I went.

Just to end this post with 2 more bits to say …
1) It’d be unfair to ‘steal’ all the praise and glory of the event, so I’ve added a gallery of all the other contestants involved in the Mr Puppy UK competition, so you can see what they got up to … it’s only fair to share as they have deserved this moment of fame as they had the courage to enter and compete:

2nd and Lastly, I’d like to say thanks to: @thekinksters(http://www.thekinksters.com/) for sponsoring the event, @mrpuppyuk(http://www.mrpuppy.org.uk) for the event, @pupsocialfor the hosting the event. I’d also like to thanks to my fellow contestants @mintypup,@pupoakleigh,@puprocket and the other competitors whose twitter handles I don’t know.

Pup Social & Mr Puppy UK On the weekend of the 21st November, the first ever Mr Puppy UK event was held at the…

Mr Puppy UK 2017

Congratulations to @PupPiglet on being crowned as “Mr Puppy UK 2017″… Why 2017, I here you ask? Well, because of timings, it has been decided that the title will run for a calendar year, so the election on Saturday 24th September was to find the pup who will hold the title from 01/01/2o17 until 31/12/2017; and I’ll be Mr Puppy UK until 31/12/2016. I know I’ve been quiet on the blog recently but…

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Pup Social 3.2 happens in Birmingham, although this time it was in a different venue for various reasons… so, of course, this puppy HAD to go along as he was free to meet up with all my friends and to meet and make new friends *bounds round excited*

We arrived just after the start, due to some poor navigation from my owner who forgot to tell me which junction to turn off at *growls* before we went in, said “Hello” and got changed… Of course, after I got changed there was far more opportunities to say hello to people.

As the afternoon progressed, I found I was actually having more in-depth conversations with the likes of BossBear and a new puppy at his first pup event – Tommy from Sheffield. I also spent a bit of time chatting to members of the Pup Social Team and other puppies who I knew or recognised me at the event. In fact, a good part of the main part of the social was spent talking to pups rather than actually being a pup – but then, I’m more than happy to talk to people or to give advice based on my experiences of Pup Play.

I had some silly pup moments at the social … one was a quick photoshoot with Tommy which the photos can be found on the PupSocial Tumblr feed and at the end of that, someone brought in a video of 101 Dalmatians … so the photo opportunity had to be done
Spot and 101 Dalmatians
*wags*
I also was ‘caught’ being a mischievous puppy when I was showing how dexterous I can be, as I managed to tip all the treats out the treat box … unfortunately there was photographic evidence of this by the PupSocial Team *whimpers*

As the afternoon drew on, I realised it was actually time for food as it was later than I’d though! So myself and Huskin, Marbles, Frosty, Acey and a couple of others ordered some food for delivery to the venue (as the different venue allows us to stay right through the duration and allows food to be ordered in) and I ate and enjoyed that. After some more talking, it was time to be a puppy and I got fully kitted up and was then put in a puppy cage for a bit to chill and relax. The room was fairly dimly lit and peaceful, and so I dozed in and out of light sleep. Some people may think it odd to turn up to an event, but then find out I slept during some of it in a puppy cage – but for me it’s a chance to unwind and just chill out on in the safety of a puppy cage.

As the time had come for some of our friends to leave, I was let out the cage to say ‘bye’ to them, and then found myself speaking to more people about life and puppy play and me … then as the end of the night approached (about 1am GMT), it was soon time to head home as I had an early start on the Sunday. Then came the bombshell – the clocks went forwards *whimpers* which now meant I wouldn’t be getting home until about 3 / 3:30 am BST … and an early start to the Sunday … *puppy mistake*

As I said goodnight to people, I had another long chat with Tommy at the event and hopefully helped him out a bit! I may not have been a puppy in the full mischievous sense during this Pup Social, but I enjoyed the time talking to people, helping them and also learning and reflecting about me too!!

What an awesome venue to hold PupSocial in though!!! so much play space and so much to do … I hope they can hold it there again *wags*

*wags*
Spot

Pup Social 3.2 Pup Social 3.2 happens in Birmingham, although this time it was in a different venue for various reasons…
ot35 - log in moseley bog

ot35 - log in moseley bog by Johnny Wilson

#olympus    #trip 35    #lomography    #analogue    #birmingham    #moseley    #nature    #natural    #nature reserve    
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