Jun 12 2026
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Daily Post, Interior

Foreign Flag

Thursday 11th June 2026, 5.30pm (day 5,404)

Albanian flag, 11/6/26

While I try to keep this blog non-political there need to be occasional exceptions, and this is one. With our local council, Calderdale, having been taken over by neo-fascists last month, they have declared that ‘foreign flags’ are not to be flown from council property. Thus, a flag that had flown for some time in Halifax in solidarity with Ukraine has been removed, for example.

I decided the other day, bollocks to that, and ordered a specifically foreign flag — that of Albania — that has arrived and will be flying from our house once the best way to sort this has been worked out (hence the canes) and, also, when it stops permanently raining. The flag is that of Albania by the way. Why? Because I like it. And it suits the wife.

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Jun 11 2026
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Daily Post, Hebden Bridge, Urban scene

Steamy lighting

Wednesday 10th June 2026, 7.15pm (day 5,403)

Lamp and steam, 10/6/26

One of those which may look as if I turned it monochrome, but I really didn’t. The light hits the… well, the lights, on the main road through town very well on evenings at this time of year. The steam is an added touch — though why we need this in mid-June, just ask the British climate gods, I guess.

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Jun 09 2026
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Daily Post, Family Member, Portrait

Clare’s immediate desire

Tuesday 9th June 2026, 10.50am (day 5,402)

Tea message, 9/6/26

So much so that, apparently, she had the sign ready beforehand. So it goes when we are both working at home on a given morning.

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Jun 09 2026
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Daily Post, Flora/Fauna

At work in the garden

Monday 8th June 2026, 5.35pm (day 5,401)

Bee on flower, 8/6/26

A somewhat unexpected spell of sunshine (of which June has so far seen very little) got both me and this little feller working up in the allotment for a while. It’s good to see the bees getting busy and I suppose the same is true of me as well.

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Jun 08 2026
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Daily Post, Interior

Fifteen two, fifteen four

Sunday 7th June 2026, 3.55pm (day 5,400)

Cribbage hand, 8/6/26

If you’ve no idea what the title of this post is referring to then obviously you do not play cribbage.  But you might be able to work it out. I get two for a pair as well. No, I am not playing solitaire — the wife has just slipped away for a moment. She won this particular game, 3-2 (we know each other’s strategies so well now that basically it all comes down to the luck of the deal — that’s my excuse anyway).

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Jun 07 2026
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Daily Post, Flora/Fauna

In the rushes

Saturday 6th June 2026, 2.15pm (day 5,399)

Mill pond rushes, 6/6/26

If I feel like reconnecting with nature I don’t have to go far. Over the road, into the woods and up to the old millpond usually is enough. There was a time a few years ago when this looked like it was drying up entirely, but its lower parts now seem to be developing into a natural swamp, and quite attractively.

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Jun 06 2026
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Daily Post, Interior

The writing of names

Friday 5th June 2026, 2.30pm (day 5,398)

Names and pens, 5/6/26

Attending a ‘Names Festival’, along with a grand total of fourteen other people, seemed a hassle-free way of bringing the working week to a close. These are all names, of the four others sat at my table: three in Chinese and one in Bengali. It was suggested I add my own name, but we just have that boring old single script to work with and it was written out on my name badge anyway so I kept myself an invisible presence, at least in terms of this particular, ephemeral document.

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Jun 05 2026
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Daily Post, Flora/Fauna

Leek sprouts, and grubby window

Thursday 4th June 2026, 5.05pm (day 5,397)

Leeks and grubby window, 4/6/26

It’s time these went into the garden, to be honest, but in the last few days the rain has come down and grubbing around in dirt is less appealing. A few days ago I noted there was not going to be much variety on here for a while, and so it has proven; a sixth post in the last seven from Hebden Bridge, and the third to have been taken in or from the house. You can tell it’s our place because of the grubby windows: and apparently they were cleaned on Monday.

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Jun 04 2026
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Daily Post, Family Member, Portrait

White Swan garden reflection

Wednesday 3rd June 2026, 3.30pm (day 5,396)

Swan garden reflection, 3/6/26

This is a self-portrait — logically I will be on it somewhere, and you may discern me under the red umbrella nearest to this shiny ball thing. I’m in the garden early — but then again I started work early (7:45) and sat upstairs marking for several hours. Semester 2 is now officially done, though, as far as I am concerned.

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Jun 03 2026
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Daily Post, Interior

The latest marketing slogan

Tuesday 2nd June 2026, 3.25pm (day 5,395)

Challenge accepted, 2/6/26

Actually, now I make this full-size I see the sticket is very difficult to read, but hey, this one was always more about the art than the aspiration. It says “Challenge Accepted”, by the way. The challenge we have at the moment is persuading the students (who as postgraduates are supposed to still be cranking it out) to stick around on campus, though at least these two have made it.

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