“Bzzzt. Frpppp. Bzzt. Calling Purple Leader. Calling Purple Leader. We seem to have been captured by the humans, after a disastrous miscalculation of scale.”
“This is Purple Leader. I think I can get my pseudopod in place, and flip the ship over. Then they’ll be sorry…… Ah, sod it. What does ‘£1.00 each’ mean anyway?”
Specifically, the one connecting the vast conference space at the Celtic Manor with the equally vast lobby and vast spread of guest rooms. Did I mention it was a vast place?
I over-exposed this one when I took it, but then I just ran with it, there are some nice shapes and lines here. I like the way his legs have almost disappeared.
The view from my room this morning. That’s the Bristol Channel over there. Not the most exciting photo I know, but at least it captures a mood.
I would like to point out that except for — and perhaps because of — a brief flirtation between the ages of about 17 and 20, I have no interest in this game, pastime, sport, good walk spoiled, whatever. I just happened to pass this scene today. Although it’s quite a distinctive golf course — on these greens, the 2010 Ryder Cup was played out. There’s something kinda melancholy about it I think…. and I like the colours, the bright green contrasted against the grey of the woods, with the flag and magpie each being a part of the one in the other, like an (unequal) yin and yang. Which has nothing to do with golf, but hey.
I wasn’t taking a photo of this guy, but just of the scene. He then stopped walking, turned straight into the shot and lit his cigarette. Sometimes it just works out.
Crap news about the floods in Cumbria which have left several places I am quite fond of under considerable amounts of water, including Carlisle (featured on this blog only just over two weeks ago), Lancaster and various chunks of the Lake District. Unbelievable amounts of rain fell, around twelve inches in 24 hours in some places.
Meanwhile, a little further south, it’s been a bit wet but that’s all. In fact today in Manchester was rather pleasant. The Chinese arch makes its third, and most golden, appearance on the blog.
Coming to the end of a long (for me) period of time spent entirely at home. Let’s enjoy the kitchen while I’m still around. This stuff takes an hour to make and costs about three pounds for a year’s supply — and is the best goddamn piccalilli I’ve ever had.
Michael Dean, drummer of New Model Army, goes for it during tonight’s set at the Academy… It would be lovely to be able to get close-up shots at gigs with all the sweat and energy of a rock band but my days of mixing it in the moshpit have passed, sorry. Not a bad shot for someone standing more meekly nearer the back, with a long zoom, however.
Unusual atmospheric conditions in Manchester this morning: a weird dryness in the air; a bluish tint to the sky; and a glowing yellow orb up there, delivering a slightly warming light in a strangely nostalgic reminder of times past.
I do sometimes still end up doing work in this place. I wonder whether the government think it is ‘productive’…
Being 42 