Thursday 28th August 2025, 10.20am (day 5,117)

Thursday market manoeuvers. “I know it’s in here somewhere — I just have to move a few things around to find it…”

Thursday market manoeuvers. “I know it’s in here somewhere — I just have to move a few things around to find it…”

5.15pm on day 5,115 and it’s the start of the 15th year of the blog. All of which is numerologically pleasing but has nothing to do with the shot, and the shot has nothing to do with my birthday as such. As the stormtrooper helmet was there, it got worn by Mark, at least for a short time. Tony looks on in his usual measured fashion.

This was the product of less than an hour’s labour in the garden this morning, and there’s plenty more still up there. I know, global warming, climate change and all that, but I doubt a medieval peasant farmer would have complained about the weather round here in 2025. This has been, without a doubt, the most productive year since we acquired the allotment, thus in more than 20 years.
As it is my birthday tomorrow, with this picture I also reach 14 full years of photographs that document my doings on a daily basis. Meaning, as of today, this blog encompasses exactly one quarter of my life. There have been some times when I have felt the creativity waning, not just on particular, less interesting days but in a broader sense. But there were times like that back in 2014, or 2020, or whatever, just as there sometimes still are now. For now, I will do my best to keep it up.

Possibly she has known this guy for years and considers this just normal behaviour. Possibly they met last week in the gym and their Sunday in Bradford city centre is a first date. Possibly I should stop speculating about the lives of total strangers, but let me retain my little entertainments here and there.

I’ve done quite a few ‘football landscapes’ over the years but never a cricket one. Not that I’ve changed my sporting allegiance — this was just seen in passing. While I was on my way to a football match, in fact. Oxenhope would make a picturesque backdrop for just about any sport, though.

Another week that I am glad to get to the end of. There seem to be a lot of these lately, at least where work is concerned. No matter, it’s Friday evening, and there was some half-decent music down in town courtesy of this gentleman and his relatively portable retro equipment.

I have a feeling this billboard, found under the arch that takes the railway over Princess Street in Manchester city centre, has been subverted before. I don’t see how this can be anything other than guerilla advertising; it’s certainly a valid point.

A day riddled with negativity in at least two ways, each related to totally different aspects of my life. I was glad when 20/8/25 was over, but it lasted until later than most of my days do at this time. Negativity doesn’t do much for creativity, so here’s a picture of a car park. But I suppose I like the redness and seeming randomness of the pillars, and it’s the second-latest shot of 2025 so far (beaten only by the turtle on Ascension Island in April).