Category Archives: Urban scene

Horse Guards Parade

Tuesday 30th June 2015, 11.40am (day 1,405)

Horse Guards Parade, 30/6/15

This is pretty much the centre of the archaic, monolithic and largely closed institution that is the British state. Horse Guards Parade is virtually next door to 10 Downing Street, and Buckingham Palace is just a few hundred yards away. On this gravel the Queen Troops the Colour (whatever the hell that means) to celebrate her own “official birthday”. Until 1997 it was used as a car park, unbelievably, and the beach volleyball was played here in the 2012 Olympics.

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Midhope Street, Bloomsbury

Monday 29th June 2015, 10.35pm (day 1,404)

Midhope Street, 29/6/15

Down in London again, and this is just the first of a double visit this week. Four nights to be spent in the acre of hotels to the south of King’s Cross. A tiny hotel room, but a decent view, of tiny little Midhope Street, and the weather is glorious — you will see more of it tomorrow I’m sure.

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Trades Club tree

Sunday 28th June 2015, 10.25am (day 1,403)

Trades Club tree, 28/6/15

Hebden Bridge being the place it is, it has an Arts Festival. Arts Festivals being what they are, people are decorating trees. The Trades Club being what it is, here is its tree. QED.

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Evening view over Hebden Bridge

Monday 22nd June 2015, 7.30pm (day 1,397)

View from house, 22/6/15

Another day where the weather can politely be described as ‘mixed’. But at least this evening burst of sun brought dramatic light for a time.  Today brings to an end what has been (for me) a relatively long period at home, but the next ten days see me mostly elsewhere.

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Back Turner Street, Manchester

Thursday 18th June 2015, 9.50am (day 1,393)

Back Turner Street, 18/6/15

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.

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Scaffolding scarecrow

Saturday 13th June 2015, 12.40pm (day 1,388)

Scaffolding scarecrow, 13/6/15

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.

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Oxford Road, closed

Friday 12th June 2015, 8.55am (day 1,387)

Oxford Rd, closed, 12/6/15

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.

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Cutlery for sale

Wednesday 10th June 2015, 9.10am (day 1,385)

Cutlery, 10/6/15

Wednesday morning means the bric-a-brac market in Hebden Bridge. I stood by this ‘display’ (a pink storage box) long enough to get this single pic but at that point the stallholder, attracted by some logo I had on the random T-shirt I threw on that morning, started a conversation with me and I decided that if I took another one I would be expected to shell out on cutlery. We don’t need cutlery, so I moved on. I dunno, the thrills of a day working at home, huh.

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Alan, and flowers

Tuesday 9th June 2015, 9.40am (day 1,384)

Turing flowers, 9/6/15

This is Alan Turing’s second ‘personal’ appearance on the blog (the other being here) not to mention that of the building named after him at university. Members of my family haven’t appeared as often. Then again, I probably walk past Turing more often.

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The 8:34 to York departs on time

Friday 5th June 2015, 8.35am (day 1,380)

8:34 to York, 5/6/15 A day in Manchester, a day too far in the week if you ask me. But it was a glorious morning at Hebden Bridge station today.

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