Cripes. Can it get any more English? Midsummer’s Day, the weather wasn’t great, but then again it wasn’t terrible either (certainly better than three years ago today, and its aftermath); in all, a good day was had. I have no idea how this match turned out by the way — I was just passing.
The pigeon/duck conflict is one of the great unseen wars. Where the river comes through the town, where waterfowl meets urban scavenger, the two species battle for the prime pickings from the humans. The pigeons sent an emissary to demand more territory, but the ducks, insistent that they were there first, just ain’t talking.
It’s the midsummer weekend, but right now the weather isn’t so as you’d realise this. If it were midsummer weather these benches would be packed, but it’s chill and rather grey so only Paddy braves the pub forecourt, and that’s only because he needs a cigarette.
Unfrequented alleys in Manchester city centre are typically called “Back Something Street”. Back Turner Street is right in the city centre but looks little changed from decades ago. In fact Clare has just stared at this photo for a while before saying ‘is that 1920s America or something?’. Which was the kind of vibe I was seeking with this shot, so I’ll take that.
A metaphor for my own day working at home? As it took this mollusc ninety minutes to cross the doorstep this morning, perhaps.
The evenings are just so long at the moment, at this latitude — the sun still comfortably high enough in the sky to give the flare to the left, even at 7.30. Plenty of light, I like it. I wish it was like this all year but I guess the axial tilt problem will always remain insoluble.
Amazingly we managed to get money off the university this year to have an end-of-year dinner. Why this particular stone started shedding blood for the first time in my 10 years there, I have no idea. Dan (left, student) and Gary (right, colleague) wait to place our order in the highly distinctive surroundings of the old vault — check out those safety deposit boxes — in the former bank building which now houses Jamie’s Italian in Manchester (its second appearance on the blog, after this one 15 months ago).
A highly unexciting day, in all senses including photographically. But exploiting the back of the coffee machine may have given some surrealist quality to my creative efforts this afternoon.
Pictured atop what used to be the Hole in the Wall pub — which has been under renovation for months now (as this photo, taken in early April 2014, proves). Why the builders felt the need to do it, no idea — ask them. Not an exciting shot but then again I have no plans to have an exciting weekend, time at home, doing nothing, is required.
The university bridge over Oxford Road is considered iconic (if only because it has the words ‘University of Manchester’ plastered on it in big letters on the far side of this shot). It’s also rather dingy — see this picture, for example. Anyway, it’s going soon, being demolished, and this week Oxford Road has been closed while they prepare for the big removal. It’s so much better to have a university campus without a big fat A road running through the middle of it. Would that it were like this the whole time.
