Category Archives: Portrait

Owter Zeds: 40th anniversary gig

Saturday 5th October 2024, 10.15pm (day 4,790)

Calling a band an ‘institution’ is something of a double-edged compliment, as it suggests they have been around a while — and the local Hebden Bridge institution that is (or are) the Owter Zeds were, indeed, celebrating their 40th anniversary at the Trades Club tonight, a gig I came all the way back from London to attend. And plenty of fun it was; if you like a bit of ska, you could do worse. The sax player gets on the blog for the second time, the first being over 10 years ago, when they were mere striplings of just 30 years’ experience.

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Tony, in his spot

Friday 27th September 2024, 6.30pm (day 4,782)

Tony, in his spot, 27/9/24

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.

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This year’s newbies

Thursday 26th September 2024, 12.40pm (day 4,781)

New students, 26/9/24

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).

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High-contrast gear

Wednesday 25th September 2024, 10.35am (day 4,780)

On King Street, 25/9/24

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.

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Gig crowd (or, the zombie apocalypse)

Tuesday 24th September 2024, 8.55pm (day 4,779)

Zombie crowd, 24/9/24

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).

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First photo from this trip to Berlin

Tuesday 17th September 2024, 4.55pm (day 4,772)

Second photo in a row of the next person along the platform, but this was an utterly random moment that could not be resisted. Somehow this bodes well for the rest of the week. The blog’s second, and my third, trip to Berlin.

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Bredbury station

Monday 16th September 2024, 9.45pm (day 4,771)

Bredbury station, 16/9/24

Am I pleased allowed to say someone is a nice shape, without this being a salacious observation? Because this person definitely is.

With this photo, Stockport, the 11th place I depicted on this blog back in October 2011, finally relinquishes its title as the most-ignored-place-since. The accolade now passes to Dunsop Bridge. I know you care about these things, as do I. Overall, 477 different locations have appeared on here — a neat near 1/10 ratio — and I’m sure you already care about the carefully-maintaned stats.

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Doug does Latics

Tuesday 10th September 2024, 6.55pm (day 4,765)

Doug at the 3 Pigeons, 10/9/24

An excuse to see friend Doug, and have him make his sixth appearance on the blog, provided by the fact that Oldham Athletic (known as the Latics) were playing in Halifax, and D. can be minded to raise it for the Latics now and again. The Three Pigeons lies between railway station and ground and is rather obligatory on such occasions (see also here, for instance, which I’m pretty sure is exactly the same table). I like this one thanks to the brightness of the guy behind, who interrupts the dark line of people quite agreeably. It finished 1-1, by the way.

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Meeting Joe halfway

Saturday 7th September 2024, 4.00pm (day 4,762)

Clare and Joe at Heaton Stannington, 7/9/24

With Joe now living in Dundee we have determined that Newcastle is the halfway point between us, geographically. Hence, this weekend, built around an evening out but also (it being me) a trip to a football match and a chance to laze around in the sunshine on the grassy acres of Heaton Stannington FC (a ground which thoroughly deserves the awards it has received for its beer, by the way).

Of course, the title of this blog has non-geographical implications too, as with all parents and their children. And if you saw pictures of me when I was Joe’s age (21) — this shot, particularly, is like looking at a magical mirror that projects one back in time. That’s me, in the summer of 1991, right there. Only with bigger feet.

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On Cross Street

Tuesday 3rd September 2024, 9.05am (day 4,758)

On Cross Street, 3/9/24

I like this photo, so am using it for today, though it’s one of those occasions where I can’t really think of anything much to say about it. We’ll just leave it as it is.

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