Monday 25th April 2016, 1.10pm (day 1,705)

Another Monday spent at home working…. working… all work… all work and no play?

Another Monday spent at home working…. working… all work… all work and no play?

Although a chillier day today than it has been, I think we can still say that spring is here. Not sure whether these two were feeding themselves, or the ducks in the river below their feet (and cropped out of shot), but either way the title still applies. Why the black and white? Why not? Sometimes the colours just don’t work out so well.
Since the Boxing Day floods took out 95% of the town centre four months ago, five of Hebden Bridge’s pubs have reopened: the White Lion (which never shut), the Old Gate, the Crown, the Trades Club and the Fox and Goose. However, this leaves seven that remain closed: the White Swan, the Shoulder of Mutton, Nelson’s, the Sports & Social, Stubbing Wharf, the Albert and the one that I and many friends feel most keenly, the Railway. Martin and Shelley, pictured here, are members of the Railway diaspora, drinkers in exile (in this case in the Old Gate). Perhaps we will all return home some time soon but to be honest at the moment there is little sign of it.

Now here’s a back alley, discovered as I try ever more to hone the directness of my walking route through Manchester city centre on a given working day. I like the detail on this shot — lots of things to see, from bottom to top, but all epitomising the idea of an alley, a trench in the urban landscape.

I cannot think of anything much to say about this photo today, although I quite like it. Clare, sat by me at this point, says however that she likes ‘the pinks, the blues and the purples’, so now you know what she thinks, anyway.

“I ain’t no jackdaw. I ain’t got no stoopid hair in my beak. Want this bread? Come and get it, asshole.”

An unnecessarily tautological name for a drinking establishment, perhaps. Who cares on such an utterly beautiful day as today.
Another one of those exciting Mondays working at home, where I need to crank up the creativity not only to take the photo but also to think of a pithy commentary. Which, today, I can’t. Happy Mondays.

Far too lovely a morning to stay in. Fortunately we have these great pieces of countryside short walks from my house. Sping has not yet fully sprung, but it’s getting there.

Since being collectively taken out by the floods on 26th December, about two-thirds of Hebden Bridge town centre has reopened. There have been some subtle moves around, as well — like here, with the toy shop, Silly Billy’s, translocating to a new location on Old Gate and reopening in the last week or so. Playmobil Man serves as an advert to draw the punters in — let’s hope it does so.