Category Archives: Urban scene

Pioneer Village

Wednesday 19th June 2024, 8.10pm (day 4,682)

Pioneer Village, 19/6/24

‘Pioneer Village’ really is the name of this district, with the building on which the letters are sat being the Toronto Subway station of that name. But I doubt the pioneers, of whatever nation, who first explored the regions north of Lake Ontario quite anticipated their village would end up looking like this. Decent sunset, though.

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Another Toronto mural

Monday 17th June 2024, 5.25pm (day 4,680)

Church St mural, 17/6/24

I have mentioned before that there are many murals adorning the walls of buildings in Toronto, and this is at least the third to feature on here, mounting up at a rate of one per trip. I do hope this isn’t my last visit to the city — though we will see — should I return, though, there are plenty more to document yet.

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U of T campus — the nicer bit

Wednesday 12th June 2024, 12.05pm (day 4,675)

UoT library and bikes, 12/6/24

Bicycles two days in a row, but not deliberately — these conjunctions are going to happen every so often. As with my last visit to Toronto I’ve not been here to do the tourist sights though that may change for a bit over the coming weekend. This spot is tucked into the nicer section of the University of Toronto campus, the bit where it’s all trees, quadrangles and shady old buildings. (I, of course, work in one of the modern concretey bits.)

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Big Lego

Monday 10th June 2024, 10.15am (day 4,673)

Yonge St building site, 10/6/24

Toronto, like all cities, is unable to stop building and rebuilding itself. This particular site resides on Yonge Street. It’s nice to get the perpendiculars straight; something more achievable with an elevated vantage point, viz, my hotel room balcony, twenty floors up. And it does look like a big Lego set.

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Rain, is what it is

Tuesday 4th June 2024, 4.15pm (day 4,667)

Rain and road, 4/6/24

I still have one walk left to do in my Lake District project and today might have been a day to go — but no. Good weather in 2024 has been at a premium. And so, that particular milestone will have to wait another three weeks at least.

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One way traffic

Monday 3rd June 2024, 8.40am (day 4,666)

Mancunian way from above, 3/6/24

Staying over in the Premier Inn after last night’s gig provides the opportunity to observe the morning traffic on the Mancunian Way from fifteen floors up. Heading west seems to be the route of choice, but the one car going east has the preferable journey at the moment, if you ask me.

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Campus encampment

Wednesday 22nd May 2024, 3.40pm (day 4,654)

Campus encampment, 22/5/24

Having not been to campus since 5th April I decided I should show my face. Duly did so, and now won’t be back there until, probably, 26th June. Well, I am on study leave. Two things have emerged since my last visit: first, all the leaves on the trees, second, the encampment raised in protest against what is happening in Gaza. I assume the leaves will still be there in June. The tents, who knows?

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Windy – therefore, still here

Saturday 18th May 2024, 12.05pm (day 4,650)

Anemometer, 18/5/24

I was supposed to be flying out of St Helena today, but I, and the, roughly, 75 other people due to make this trip have been obliged to stay there for another 24 hours thanks to the fierce and gusty winds which were blowing over the island, despite it being otherwise a nice, sunny and quite warm day. Of the six flights I have now made to and from St Helena, two of them have been so delayed. Well, never mind, there are worse places to wait it out. The anemometer was spotted above the Castle in Jamestown, and seemed appropriate. The wonkiness of the background is not my error: much of St Helena actually does look so non-perpendicular.

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Outside Jamestown market

Tuesday 14th May 2024, 5.10pm (day 4,646)

Outside the market, 14/5/24

A few days to go on this trip to St Helena and work has definitely been keeping me busy. On the opposite side of the street I was sat there at just past clocking-off time, feeling very much like these guys. Yes, the butt bin to the right annoys me. But only slightly.

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Night on Napoleon Street

Monday 13th May 2024, 8.25pm (day 4,645)

Napoleon Street, night, 13/5/24

Jamestown isn’t usually the most rocking capital city on the planet — then again, neither was my last one, Windhoek, and Jamestown may well be the more lively of the two on a Saturday night. But not on a calm Monday evening. The lights climbing to the left are those of Jacob’s Ladder. Above, the moon.

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