Blazed

Monday 31st January 2022, 3.15pm (day 3,812)

Tree communication, 31/1/22

Communicating by carving a message into a tree is known as ‘blazing’ — something I only found out immediately before posting this, thanks to the ever-fascinating Wikipedia. The most famous blazed tree is probably one in Queensland, where a message was left in 1861 for a party of explorers that was never found. I doubt this one, on the path from Hebden Bridge to Mytholmroyd, is as significant in historical terms, but obviously it meant something to someone at the time. And, thanks to this post, to me too, here and now.

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A walk in the woods

Sunday 30th January 2022, 12.05pm (day 3,811)

Clare, Bentley Priory, 30/1/22

This trip down to London also offered the chance to pick up a County Top (see the other blog); specifically Bushey Heath, the highest point in the historic county of Middlesex, swallowed up by London in 1965 although at least it still retains a county cricket team. It wasn’t major mountaineering, though. Clare here strolls through the woods near Bentley Priory (an ecclesiastical relic? no, a premium housing estate) in one of those shots that chews up the bandwidth thanks to all the foliage.

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God’s Own Junkyard

Saturday 29th January 2022, 11.20am (day 3,810)

God's Own Junkyard, 29/1/22

“God’s Own Junkyard” — and that’s its official name — is a bar/café in Walthamstow, London, but that doesn’t even begin to describe it. In fact it’s a museum of neon; what you see here is barely 1% of the whole stock. I wonder what their electricity bill is like.

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In First Class

Friday 28th January 2022, 5.20pm (day 3,809)

First class menu, 28/1/22

The first weekend away of the year. You can tell we’re in First Class because of the menu: stock up on the complimentary drinks and food, and the relatively small premium paid for these tickets is effectively refunded. Sometimes the food you want is even available.

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West Yorkshire’s biggest prong(s)

Thursday 27th January 2022, 1.30pm (day 3,808)

Emley Moor mast, 27/1/22

The Emley Moor TV transmitting station can be seen from almost everywhere in West Yorkshire, particularly anywhere even vaguely elevated: but then again, that’s the reason why it was built where it was. It’s still the tallest free-standing structure in Britain. Except that it has a companion at the moment; a temporary mast designed to take the load while repairs are conducted, apparently. Yes, I am frustrated by the electricity wires on this shot but this was another day with not much to see, so I’m taking what’s there.

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Geri’s birthday (the remnants)

Wednesday 26th January 2022, 7.45pm (day 3,807)

Geri birthday tea, 26/1/22

My friend Geri was one of the very first people to appear on this blog: that’s her in the foreground of the shot of Joe on day 9. In the intervening time she, like me and everyone else, has got ten years and nearly five months older, and in her case that has led, today, to a birthday with a 0 on the end — though I will spare her blushes by not specifying which one. We’re still in the same place, however: not just the same pub, but the same room. Happy birthday to her.

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At the station, late

Tuesday 25th January 2022, 6.10pm (day 3,806)

HB station, late, 25/1/22

Evening on Hebden Bridge station, platform 1. But am I leaving town, or coming back? That’s for me to know. Perhaps it is all the same thing in the end.

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On set

Monday 24th January 2022, 11.50am (day 3,805)

Filming Happy Valley, 24/1/22

I return here to a theme developed on Friday, but bear with me, it’s not an exciting time. Here we see the cones shamelessly deployed to ensure Sgt Cawood of Happy Valley always gets a parking space outside her house. I did wonder if they needed an extra for the role of “man with long coat and Brighton & Hove Albion shopping bag” but I don’t think that would have fitted the Yorkshire ambience, necessarily.

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Good food (and dogs)

Sunday 23rd January 2022, 4.00pm (day 3,804)

Sunday market stall, 23/1/22

The Sunday market in Hebden Bridge is a significant contributor to the fact that Sundays are probably the busiest day in town, at least, when it’s not raining. There are some varied combinations possible — like here, Italian food and the dog-related stall next door to one another.

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At Stoneclough

Saturday 22nd January 2022, 2.50pm (day 3,803)

Stoneclough, 22/1/22

OK, it’s a picture taken at the football again but it’s not of the football, this is a portrait of the gentleman on the right. With his shirt and tie, shooting stick, bag filled with something mysterious and impressive head of white hair, I guess I sort of aspire to be him in, say, twenty-five more years. Will this blog still be going in 2047? Will I? We don’t know either way, and I suppose that’s the point of life.

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