Monday 25th September 2017, 2.05pm (day 2,223)
We’re all working away in a hole one way or another. Question is, I guess, can we make the most of our time in there?
Being 42
Life, one day at a time
Category Archives: Urban scene
St. Malo
Wednesday 20th September 2017, 2.40pm (day 2,218)
St Malo is on the northern coast of France, close to where the coast of Brittany takes a turn to the north and becomes Normandy. The old town is behind a complete ring of 17th century fortifications built to defend against the nasty English and Dutch. The tidal range here is extensive, some 45 feet between high tide and low; the broad beach you see here is completely covered by several feet of water twice a day.
The liquid nitrogen arrives
Thursday 14th September 2017, 8.05am (day 2,212)
However you make ‘miracle substance’ graphene, or go about making it into things once you’ve got it, you clearly need a lot of liquid nitrogen to do it with…. Early morning delivery here at the National Graphene Institute, from the big tanker out of shot to the right. And yes, I was on campus by just after 8am. How keen of me.
Storm on Portland Street
Monday 11th September 2017, 9.30am (day 2,209)
My walk to work this morning took twice as long as usual due to having to take shelter twice from vicious bouts of rain. I’m inside here (in Caffe Nero as it happens, and yes, I had bought a cup of tea), hence the reflections in the coat of the woman on the left. Inside was the place to be at this time, I can assure you, and I’m sure these two would agree with me.
Alley off Trafalgar Street, Brighton
Sunday 10th September 2017, 10.40am (day 2,208)
I do like side streets. Particularly in an attractive place like Brighton, where the graffiti artists have talent and vision, on a relatively sunny morning.
Top entrance, Nutclough Mill
Thursday 7th September 2017, 12.20am (day 2,205)
Once again, not an exciting shot, but Thursday was not an exciting day. Indeed, so uneventful was it that this is in fact a mild curiosity, a shot taken just after midnight on what therefore still amounts to the day before. Still counts though, making this the second-earliest shot ever on the blog: only the one in Bergen on 27/9/14 (12.10am) beats it.
Summer no more
Tuesday 5th September 2017, 11.45am (day 2,203)
Joe and his fellow 14-year-olds returned to school. I returned to Manchester. It threw it down. There went the summer…. This picture is dull, I know. But it’s meant to be.
View from the ‘Saluki’
Sunday 20th August 2017, 10.15am (day 2,187)
The ‘Saluki’ is the name Amtrak give to the 8.15am service that runs the length of the state of Illinois, from Chicago down to Carbondale in the south. I am reliably informed that this gas station sits in Gilman, Illinois, where for no particular reason — Amtrak trains often seem to stop for no particular reason — we halted for a moment or two on this Sunday morning.
Are there maybe too many wires in this shot? Are the perpendiculars not quite what they could be? Yes to both, but I still quite like this shot. Gives my day an ‘on the road’ feeling. Have you worked out why I’m in southern Illinois yet? Well, I’m sure you will do so tomorrow.
The forgotten footbridge, Manchester Victoria
Thursday 17th August 2017, 8.50am (day 2,184)
Whatever has happened down the years to the configuration of Manchester Victoria station, this footbridge is definitely less used than it must once have been. The only time it’s really worth using it is if you’re sat at the back of the 8:05 from Hebden Bridge, which stops on platform 6 and the principal footbridge gets clogged up with the contents of the full train, this one is slightly nearer. But hey, it’s got an interesting view.
