Today, 10th October 2017, is the 26th anniversary of my coming to Yorkshire to stay for a short while, and never leaving. But here’s a picture from my workplace in Lancashire: a better attempt than the rather boring shot from last week I think.
Pretty much everything on the railways heading north out of London passes through Doncaster, which remains a major passenger rail interchange and has these immense goods yards too; one of the few remaining places on the UK rail network where you do get a sense of what a lot of it probably looked like sixty years ago. Taken from inside the train as it departed platform 8 and returned me home after my short and ultimately pointless trip to London (thank you, Mr Putin).
Second day in a row to somehow be connected to fast food. But hey, that was my weekend, whether at Bamber Bridge (as yesterday) or in the nation’s capital (as today)…
The tour of English football competitions continues: number 8, the FA Trophy, at Bamber Bridge FC v Brighouse Town FC, Bamber Bridge lying just south of Preston in Lancashire. A grim day of weather, which this picture encapsulates — but, I must also add, an excellent day out, entertaining game of almost wholly non-cynical football, welcoming stadium… a fine cocktail to celebrate Non-League Day and all the roots that keep the sport I love going in this country. 4-2 to Bamber Bridge in the end. Maybe some of these fans got their food before the second half, too.
One of those days when the sun just comes up at the right time, two minutes before the train arrives to take me to Manchester.
I have never noticed before taking this picture what a masterly piece of architecture the National Graphene Institute is. The crane you see in this picture is not a reflection. In fact, it stands behind the building, which is therefore translucent in its upper portion. Graphene was discovered by Andre Geim here at Manchester by how it adhered to pieces of sticky tape used to clean graphite, and look — here are those pieces, lined up, black, translucent — just like graphene. It’s brilliant, actually.
The light over landscapes can be capricious so by no means do they always look the same, but nevertheless there is a certain permanence about them. Cloudscapes, on the other hand, are totally transient. This beauty, which formed itself over southern Sweden today as I made my way home, will never be seen again… except here.
This really was the view from my place of work this morning, with my University of Tromsø colleagues having installed us in a cabin on the coast of Ringvassøy for a couple of days. Call it luck if you like, but I’m not a complete idiot — I have generally managed to set up my life in certain ways so I do end up spending time in places like this. Mind you, the guy shown here gets to work here every day. To me, he’s the lucky one.
“Come on a walk after work” my colleagues said, and it would, indeed, have been great, had any of them had the slightest idea where the paths were…. Still, at least there were some good photo opportunities.
The island of Ringvassøy lies north of Tromsø and now takes the record for the northernmost photo on this blog, and the northernmost place I have ever been, at approximately 69º 55′ N. The mountains look like I imagine Mordor might. It’s a place, northern Norway — that’s for sure.
More football; in case you hadn’t realised I am going for it this season when it comes to experiencing different competitions. Seventh match of the season, seventh competition — today, the Norwegian Eliteserien (top division) and the world’s northernmost top-flight football club, Tromsø IL. Although there is a danger they will not be top-flight next year as they are struggling against relegation; however, today’s 2-1 win over southern softies Lillestrøm cannot have harmed their chances. Here, the ultras arrive for the game. The woman in front is sort of in the way of the shot, but she’s carrying her scarf so what the hell.
Being 42 