Newly formed family

Saturday 5th September 2026, 1.50pm (day 5,490)

Down aisle with dog, 5/9/26

Congratulations to my cousin, Dave Hall, the good-looking chap on the right (but you knew that) whose marriage to Abby brings together a gaggle of existing offspring, including Padfoot the dog: he was dressed in his tux too (not very apparent here) but, no, was not up front for the whole ceremony. He came back down the aisle with them though, and was just as happy about the experience as everyone else.

In fact after this day I am starting to think that there haven’t been enough weddings depicted on this blog. Like all ceremonies and celebrations there are reasons we have developed the rituals and the whole day was certainly a good way of affirming a bonding of two things — families — that were not bonded before, and of publicly committing to it. I’m in.

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Diamond, dog

Friday 4th September 2026, 5.45pm (day 5,489)

Diamond, 4/9/26

Diamond is as much part of the Railway pack as anyone, whether human or canine. She’s getting old now, as you can tell, so is not out as often as she might be — something that will come to be the case for all of us, in time, I am sure.

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On Grosvenor Street

Thursday 3rd September 2026, 3.35pm (day 5,488)

Grosvenor Street, 3/9/26

She looks mildly disapproving, I think. But is the look for the pedestrian, or the photographer? Another one of the blue-themed pictures that have appeared over the last few days.

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Seeking the pattern

Wednesday 2nd September 2026, 1.45pm (day 5,487)

Student spreadsheet, 2/9/26

There are still students writing their dissertations and still some needing to battle through their data. I try to help. AI might be quicker but it will always be worse at discerning meaning than people are because it doesn’t understand the context and never will. Trust me.

Either way, the last two photos indicate that it really is time to leave the house.

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Cool blue with moon

Tuesday 1st September 2026, 9.15am (day 5,486)

Clouds and moon, 1/9/26

My September 2026 definitely didn’t open with a bang, and the subject matter of this shot reflects that. But the cool blue, plus the generally laid-back clouds and the moon — and who doesn’t like the moon? — together they make for as good a representation of the day as I otherwise managed to achieve with the camera.

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Gulls on the weir

Monday 31st August 2026, 11.05am (day 5,485)

Chester weir gulls, 31/8/26

Weirs are the creation of engineers, and this one, on the River Dee in Chester, is nearly a thousand years old, built by the Normans. On the downstream side, the tidal estuary begins. The main beneficiaries of this are those upstream who are thus defended from tidal flooding, and the local birdlife, who find in it a very convenient place to go fishing. The one at the top has just eaten, in fact, but is still hanging around for more.

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The Blue Pig’s blue pigs

Sunday 30th August 2026, 2.50pm (day 5,484)

Blue pigs, 30/8/26

It’s quite a while since I was last in the Blue Pig, a.k.a. Midgehole Working Man’s Club, which is partly because this is one of those drinking establishments that only opens by the grace of God, or more precisely one of a small group of volunteers. If you head up that way you just take your chances. If entry is achieved, though, one can investigate some of the many literal illustrations of the name that are collected inside: these are just three of a few dozen.

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Under cover

Saturday 29th August 2026, 11.50am (day 5,483)

Girl and brolly, 29/8/26

West Yorkshire is finally getting some rain. Although I’m not sure it was falling at the specific point this picture was taken — but what does she care? She has the shelter exactly as she wants it, and is quite comfortable, thank you very much.

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Shredded landscape

Friday 28th August 2026, 5.30pm (day 5,482)

Shredded paper, 28/8/26

Today was one of those days mentioned on Tuesday; inspiration had to be found from indoors. Fortunately the wife has recently engaged in one of her shredding binges. There is a whole landscape of information contained within half-a-dozen blue waste bags, ready to be recycled into…. well, toilet roll quite possibly. But not by us.

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Shoes are needed

Thursday 27th August 2026, 3.10pm (day 5,481)

Shoe store, 27/8/26

I don’t do “retail therapy”. I just needed a new pair of shoes. There’s a wedding coming up and certain standards are expected.

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