Wednesday 30th October 2024, 3.35pm (day 4,815)
“But… I had nothing to do with all those emails! I told them I don’t know anything….!”
“Shaddup. When they come for us, you’re going first.”
Spam fritters on Death Row
Being 42
Life, one day at a time
Category Archives: Interior
Deep in the Barbican
Monday 28th October 2024, 1.30pm (day 4,813)
In the brilliant 1980s TV series Edge of Darkness (which I really must watch again some time), there is a scene in which the hero evades his pursuers by deliberately running into the Barbican Centre. It’s an in-joke, but it works: forty years on this is still a rather difficult building complex to find one’s way around. Even as I took this shot there were two young American tourist types stood to my right, debating just which of the concrete ramps and overpasses and underpasses they needed to try next. But what the hell — I still like the place, both to visit and to photograph, and it does give good statuary.
A little early, but so what
Wednesday 16th October 2024, 3.50pm (day 4,801)
I have put in plenty of hours already this week and there are still two long and busy days to come. So no, I don’t really care that I was in the White Swan before 4pm today. And, I’m sure, nor does the other guy.
Lecture in Hogwarts
Monday 30th September 2024, 2.00pm (day 4,785)
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.
The keynote gets ready
Thursday 19th September 2024, 10.45am (day 4,774)
Conferences are not the most exciting arena photographically, but at least this photo proves I am here to work — or at least, to listen to the outcomes of other people’s work.
Christmas — in September?
Saturday 14th September 2024, 2.05pm (day 4,769)
It is still September. It is still the first half of September. But the Gospel Oak pub, in Tipton, West Midlands, cares nothing for such pedantries. Here, it is Christmas already, so they can advertise their seasonal ‘wear a shite jumper’ dinners (starting November 11th, if you’re interested). There is something deeply depressing about this.
Jammin’
Monday 2nd September 2024, 7.50pm (day 4,757)
Four pounds of blackberries, all foraged from the roadsides within 200 yards of home, have just been combined with four pounds of sugar. Four pounds of sugar is a lot. But, an hour or so later, there were six jars of very nice jam ready to see us through the winter. Making jam may seem a terribly middle-class thing to do but it ain’t hard, y’know.
Post-movie
Friday 30th August 2024, 10.00pm (day 4,754)
I have several times tried to capture a version of this shot, but it’s never really worked before. I’m quite happy with this one, though. Most of the thirty or so people who were watching have already departed and yet still the credits roll, down to the stage where only the assistant catering key grip’s mother is still watching them. The movie? Trap — which, I suppose, was OK, at least for a while.
Retro but necessary
Tuesday 27th August 2024, 6.05pm (day 4,751)
This unashamedly retro object was one of my birthday presents. Why is such an anachronistic piece of kit being described as ‘necessary’? Because I still happen to have plenty of very good quality information stored in this particular medium; a good stock of compilation tapes, like any good 80s/90s boy. And the last cassette player I had access to disappeared with the recent scrapping of the Skoda Fabia I could hire from the local car club. But I still want to listen to My Stuff. And now, once again — at home, for the first time in years — I can.
Cake, one day early (or, 13 full years)
Sunday 25th August 2024, 1.40pm (day 4,749)
Today brings up 13 full years of my doing this blog (13 x 365 = 4,745, then add four February 29ths). As Clare (whose hands make a dynamic appearance to top right) is working on the day itself, tomorrow, we did my local birthday celebrations 24 hours early. Only one candle, but I’m sure most of us are well past the point in life where any more than this is either ostentatious or just depressing. Anyway… more age-related introspection tomorrow, no doubt.
Being 42 