I’ve lived in Britain my whole 46.8 years and it amazes me that there are still people who somehow believe that our month of June is somehow high summer. There are sound climatic reasons why this is not the case, it’s called the ‘European Monsoon’ or ‘Return of the Westerlies’. Look it up. The Westerlies sure bloody returned today I can tell you.
Mytholmroyd lies about a mile downstream from Hebden Bridge and was devastated by the 26th December flood, being inundated with over seven feet (more than two meters) of water. The hole in the line of buildings to the left was formerly a travel agency but collapsed into the river that day. I find it sad that in the line of shops behind there are still signs up saying ‘reopening 4th January after Christmas’ and the like. Still, it looked sylvan enough today, though what the guy is doing in the river, I have no idea.
Middleham, North Yorkshire, is famous for two things: firstly being the former estate of King Richard III (‘my horse, my horse, my kingdom for a horse’ etc), secondly being the north of England’s premier racehorse training centre. Which facts mean it’s very medievally pretty and it basically smells of manure. Liked the churchyard though. It’s been a while since this blog did some good cemetery.
Earlyish start in Manchester for all of us… The third shot in nine days to be taken from more or less the same spot (along with this one and this one) — all within a few yards of each other, anyway.
Gibson Mill, buried in the heart of the woods of Hardcastle Crags about 2.5 miles from Hebden Bridge town centre, has in its time been a mill, a roller-disco (honestly) and, now, the visitor centre for this National Trust property. This is something of a stock Hebden Bridge shot, but one that has as yet been unseen on this blog. (And seeing as I’m still trying to avoid repetition after 1,740 days, I guess that means it will now be unseen in the future. So make the most of it.)
A nice, sunny Sunday, which I saw nothing of, being confined at home grading assignments and wondering (among other things) what I was going to offer for today’s shot. But I did not give up; as night fell I got this shot of the tenement-style housing across the way. Why this line of top-and-bottom housing (the upper levels will be a different house from the lower, facing the street behind) is named for Gustave Eiffel I have no idea, probably it was all being built around the same time as that tower in Paris and so someone paid tribute.
A later ramble through Manchester city centre than yesterday. This shot could be sharper but I still like it, particularly as, when you look closely, you see there are two pairs of hands there, texting away.
Another shot of Manchester architecture, this time a more significant building despite its unassuming appearance. This is the former office of the great Factory Records, founded by the late Tony Wilson and which gave the world Joy Division, the Happy Mondays and the Haçienda nightclub amongst others. Although actually they only moved to this building relatively late in the label’s existence (if you have seen the movie Twenty Four Hour Party People this will be the scene of the (probably mythical) moment when Rob Gretton attacks Wilson over the cost of the table at which they’re having their meeting). As you can see it will soon be overshadowed by whatever is being built on the site of the old BBC building behind.
Incidentally, and one for the anoraks, this shot is taken at the same time as yesterday’s (allowing for the rounding to the nearest 5 minutes which I always do). This is the 13th time in the 1,736 days when there have been two consecutive shots at the same time. The nearest I’ve come to three in a row remains 20th – 22nd November 2011 (9:55am, 9:50 and 9:50).
Manchester city centre, like all big city centres, is now substantially formed of anonymous glass buildings like these, the coating probably not doing much for the insulation, but look at the lovely reflection effect it gives. I like taking pictures of buildings though I am sure all would be better composed if I had a hundred-foot tall crane to lift me up and get the perspective right.
Another day in London, ostensibly to work (well, I did have one meeting), but mainly to fuel my social life. I took the opportunity this afternoon to wander along the Thames and do the tourist thing, and here’s one of its most recognisable buildings — surely everyone in the world could put a location to this shot. These Italians were chilling out by the river, along with thousands of other people.
Being 42 