Tuesday 7th November 2017, 1.55pm (day 2,266)
How many IT helpdesks round the world look like this, I wonder? Still, they did help. On an iatrogenic problem, though.
Being 42
Life, one day at a time
Category Archives: Stranger
Workshop, ECIL 2017
Tuesday 19th September 2017, 6.00pm (day 2,217)
All the travel hassle did eventually get me to the destination, namely the 2017 European Conference on Information Literacy (ECIL). In the past this has been responsible for the appearance of Dubrovnik, Tallinn and Prague on the blog; this year we are in St. Malo, France, a beautiful town, of which a picture will appear at some point I am sure. But for now, some work. I am the keynote speaker this year so I’d better show willing.
Jazzmen
Saturday 26th August 2017, 4.10pm (day 2,193)
Happy birthday to me — fortysomething again. I’m sure if you have been following this blog long enough you know the exact figure. With me being on my own in Urbana this week it was never going to be the most sociable anniversary but I did my best back at the Sweetcorn Festival’s second day. The New Orleans jazz band were the best feature. Another talent I wish I had — I seem to recall some forty years ago playing the clarinet in the school orchestra and so maybe I should reword that, ‘another talent I regret losing’. Still, perhaps I’ve picked up others along the way. Onward, onward with my 49th year on the planet. Whoops, there you go — I gave it away.
The owner of the ‘Iron Post’
Friday 25th August 2017, 10.20pm (day 2,192)
The Iron Post is a pub in Urbana. Many years ago — well, twelve anyway (in 2005) — this place saved our bacon on the 4th July when it was the only pub in the city that was open for food and drink. I also remember being here in 2006 and talking to this guy — he had a beard then — on the day that the state of Illinois passed the ordinance which forbade smoking inside any public building. It’s safe to say he wasn’t happy. He won’t remember me, but when I returned this evening for a beer and saw him sat in the far corner of the bar doing his books, or whatever it is, I recognised him.
And so ends the sixth full year of this blog. I set out to do one — I’ve done six. I may as well keep going, there are still things in the world worth depicting. Are you sticking with me? Good, let’s do some more.
Rolling up
Friday 18th August 2017, 9.15am (day 2,185)
Well, I assume he’s rolling a cigarette, but perhaps he might just be playing a tune on the world’s smallest harmonica.
Last day in Manchester for a fortnight, anyway. If things work out — I have, let’s say, a logistically complex next 72 hours, but the payoff will be good if it does…
Before the match
Tuesday 15th August 2017, 7.20pm (day 2,182)
“Come to the football, son,” he said. “All the glamour and excitement of FC Halifax Town v Dover Athletic, playing out before your eyes. That’ll be better than a night on those silly video games, won’t it?”
I hope they both stayed until the end, anyway. 0-0 after 86 minutes: final score 2-1 to Dover. Enjoyable in the end but perhaps not for Halifax Town fans.
Out for a drink
Monday 7th August 2017, 3.30pm (day 2,174)
Returned to work today — albeit at home. Too long a day to spend entirely in the house sorting out a pile of email and draft student work however, so popped out for a drink in the afternoon, which is when I saw these two, doing the same thing and seemingly happy about it. (Was tough to get the camera focused on her face as opposed to the drinking straw, mind you.)
Tired
Monday 17th July 2017, 3.35pm (day 2,153)
It’s actually not a bad place to catch forty winks, the train home — I manage it frequently. Like these two gentlemen, I am tired…. but have now just three days left before my summer break.
Evening in Argyle Square
Sunday 2nd July 2017, 6.40pm (day 2,138)
Still in London, and back in the usual haunt of Argyle Square, home of the cheaper hotels around King’s Cross. And a nice place to chill out on a sunny evening, as it was. Like the textures on this shot, and the colours.
Sat in row B
Sunday 11th June 2017, 4.55pm (day 2,117)
I can’t have been getting outside much lately, for this is the sixth consecutive interior shot, and usually exteriors easily outnumber them. This afternoon’s entertainment at the Picture House: Alien: The Latest Franchise (OK, maybe it’s not actually called that); not bad I suppose but these are starting to get like the Nightmare on Elm Street series, let’s just crank out the xenomorph goo again and not worry whether anyone notices the lack of plot or character. Passes the time on a Sunday afternoon I suppose.
Being 42 