Category Archives: Urban scene

Jul 04 2015
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Daily Post, Urban scene

Senate House (the Ministry of Truth)

Friday 3rd July 2015, 3.55pm (day 1,408)

Senate House, 3/7/15

Manchester yesterday was the exception — I’m back in London. This is Senate House, which contains the administrative offices and the main library of London’s university colleges. It was finished in 1937 and was one of the tallest buildings in the city at that time. In WW2 it was occupied by the Ministry of Information, and George Orwell’s wife Eileen worked there in the censorship department, thus inspiring the physical description of the Ministry of Truth in Nineteen Eighty-Four. It was also a key location in John Wyndham’s The Day of the Triffids.

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Jul 02 2015
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Urban scene

….and then the rain

Thursday 2nd July 2015, 4.00pm (day 1,407)

Rainy Manchester, 2/7/15

Hot and sunny in London yesterday it may have been, but in Manchester this afternoon it was neither of these things, particularly not when I had to walk all the way along Oxford Road getting soaked. At least this girl had an umbrella, even if, like me, she was otherwise dressed for rather nicer conditions.

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Jul 01 2015
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Daily Post, 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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Jun 30 2015
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Daily Post, Urban scene

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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Jun 28 2015
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Daily Post, Urban scene

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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Jun 22 2015
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Daily Post, Hebden Bridge, Urban scene

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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Jun 18 2015
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Daily Post, Urban scene

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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Jun 13 2015
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Daily Post, Hebden Bridge, Urban scene

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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Jun 12 2015
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Daily Post, Urban scene

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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Jun 10 2015
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Daily Post, Hebden Bridge, Urban scene

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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