Did nothing except trug into campus by the usual routes, do my thing, and trug home again. The usual routes take me through Chinatown, of which Manchester has a large example, the third biggest in Europe if you believe the hype. And I do — it is hard not to, bearing in mind the ethnic composition of my classes at the present time.
It’s been over a month since I categorised a post as ‘Landscape’, which may suggest I’ve not been getting out much, but I did find an excuse to hang out in Rochdale on this pleasant, bright evening. As might be obvious, this is taken with a very long zoom, and I like the way the shot suggests a random collection of objects kind of poking out of various bits of land (note the antenna skulking around at the very back hoping nobody notices it). The tower on the right is not that of a church, but of Rochdale’s magnificent Town Hall. What the red-and-blue arrangement to the left is — you tell me.
Our Clare gets herself about the world entirely adequately on foot these days, meaning that I haven’t noticed any used of this bicycle for at least ten years, probably more. It still sits on our front doorstep though, being gradually colonised by grass and whatever strange growth is currently dying off on the other side of the fence. Perhaps, one day, it will move again — but I doubt this will be with anyone sitting on it.
Another lecture, only this time I am facing front instead of at the front. For several Mondays over the next few months I will be a student again: the subject, you can see for yourself. ‘Hogwarts’ is, in fact, the Historic Reading Room of the John Rylands Library; a spectacular setting for a class, and somehow appropriate (though this was opened in 1901 and is detinitely not a medieval construction). But by next time I hope they’ve turned the heating on. Mr Rylands himself, or his statue, at least, pokes up behind the screen.
This is definitely my street. You are just passing. I will allow you to take the photograph but after that I dismiss you totally.
Brighouse is modest enough, having never given anything of huge significance to the world (except what is reputed to be one of the world’s best brass bands). But it’s an OK place generally, and to look at. Magnificent? Well…. maybe, in a modest sort of way.
Those of us who drink in particular pubs regularly may or may not have A Spot. I wouldn’t say I do, even in the Railway. I have been found in most of its corners, at one time or another. But Tony is someone who has A Spot, and here he is, in it. If he sat somewhere else we might not recognise him.
For the first time since 13th December last year — I give a lecture in Manchester. Most of the recipients look happy enough at this point (perhaps because I wasn’t talking).
One of the rare cases where I tag a photo as ‘black and white‘ but not ‘monochrome‘. I like the generally muted tones of the shot but the high contrast of the dress makes it stand out. And not just for that reason, either. Whatever she’s getting ready for, I hope it’s important.
My mediocre kit is never going to take crystal clear photos in very low light, even if I do crank the ISO setting up to 1600 or whatever. But here, the lack of clarity is just the point. Surely the gentleman to the left is about to emerge from some horrible transformation and begin consuming human flesh. Although in the end, he recovered, and we all got on with watching the evening’s entertainment (Tom McRae, as it happened).
Being 42 