Sotrondog

I was out exploring Eckington Bluebell Woods at the weekend and came across the rather interesting "Seldom seen Engine House" deep in the woodlands. However just a few yards away from the engine house, we came across an old concrete ruin inset into a small hill just off a footpath. Atop of the hill, there are a couple of holes in the exposed concrete roof, and if you dip down the side, you can access the entrance. Probably the sort of place that should be bordered up, but isn't. There are 2 rooms, both now a dumping ground for rubbish. Does anybody know what this used to be? I presume it was some kind of storage house or something connected to the old colliery.

Thank you for getting back to me both by email and PM. I've got more than enough to consider now. If this doesn't lead to anything it's also good to know who is out there!

I'm not just talking bog standard shots either - I am looking for some original approaches and artistic flair, such as HDR for example. If anybody has any good contacts, do let me know! Thanks!

Does anybody know why The Manor House closed? Does anybody know who the chef was, and where they went? I'm so gutted that this place closed. It really was a hidden gem - to find food of that calibre in this area, was really something special. My wife and I used to go there for every special occasion, anniversaries, valentine's etc. And without any notice, in early 2008, the place closed. It since re-opened as a flippin' tapas bar :-( Why that place hadn't made a name for itself on the local culinary map escapes me. It was miles better than the overhyped and overpriced Old Vicarage. A real shame. I've felt a bit lost without it.

Thanks for the link by the way - some interesting stuff there!

I have a page on my design website (below), as it is a service I offer, but I do plan on putting a separate website together that's just focussing on my artwork. http://www.idfp.co.uk/illustration.html

Avatar 10/10. Simply stunning - but has to be the 3D version! The impact of the 3D exceeded all my expectations... it felt like I was watching the future of cinema!!

Don't worry, I don't work for them either! I've been using Apple Macs for a good 15 years, and until discovering NDTec via my employer, I always used to go to Gordon Harwoods in Alfreton. They were good, but just too damn far away!

I have been doing family history research recently, and found that my great grandfather used to work as head sales person for Walker and Hall, I think from the 20s right up to the late 50s/early 60s. The building he worked inwas the original Electro Works. The local history section of Sheffield Library have a wealth of information about the company and catalogues of their products etc. All very fascinating finding out about this, although I'm still trying to find a photograph of him, and nobody in my family seem to have one!

I work as a graphic designer and also do part-time freelance design work. However one area I'd like to do more of is book cover design - but without much worth showing for it, I'm not sure what to do or where to start. Would I just approach publishers in the hope that on the strength of my general design work and of the few covers I've done, might put me on their list? That leads me to my second point, which is illustration. Before getting into digital design, my roots were in drawing/illustration and cartoons. I have had comic artwork included in 2 internationally published books, but haven't done much professional work in this field, only some illustrations for an independently produced children's book. I've got to that stage where I feel I want to go back to my roots a bit and get back into it. particularly the cartoon side of things. The problem is, where to start and who to approach. Any comments, suggestions or ideas would be very much appreciated. Thanks!

I started my own business in 1998, after learning I was about to be made redundant from my first job. Having only been there a year, I didn't have the experience employers were wanting, so I went self-employed (as a graphic designer) and learnt the hard way! I still continue to be self employed, but on a part-time basis outside of my day job - which is also graphic design!

I think these days, the Apple Store is more interested in hooking the iPod generation and sales as its name suggests, rather than repairs.

I've been using NDTec for several years, and can confirm you get a fantastic, personal service. Good Apple Mac support (by humans, not robots!) is hard to come by, and to get such a quick and reliable service is something of a rarity these days. They moved to the city centre last year, which is really convenient for me.