‘Sand in Your Eye’

Thursday 9th October 2014, 9.15am (day 1,141)

Sand sculpture, 9/10/14

That is the name of this sculpture, currently residing in the courtyard of the town hall. There is a page about it here. It’s made of sand, and if you compare the photos on that web page with this one you can see that she has been revised (she is aging), and apparently will continue to be at points over the next few weeks. It’s a clever idea. Even if you can’t see it from most of the town.

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The reading room, Manchester Central library

Wednesday 8th October 2014, 12.40pm (day 1,140)

Reading room, 8/10/14

I was also here on Monday but blew my opportunity for a decent photo of it, so today gave me a second chance. Recently re-opened after what seems like years of renovation this is a classic, great, domed library reading room: too big, really, to get a photo of in its entirety, so today I tried a more intimate portrait. It’s great that I have had the chance to work in this excellent space this week, but then again, so has everyone else — for now, it’s open free to the public, you can just walk in. It’s called a public good, Mr. Cameron.

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Escalator, University precinct

Tuesday 7th October 2014, 9.50am (day 1,139)

Escalator, 7/10/14

Yesterday’s pic prefigured a day of truly foul weather, the worst in months. After trudging down — and later, back up — Oxford Road in the rain it was a relief to get inside, even if it was to the university’s mostly empty and sterile shopping precinct. Anything was preferable.

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Clouds come down the valley

Monday 6th October 2014, 6.30pm (day 1,138)

House view, 6/10/14

We’ve been blessed by good weather for some weeks but things appear to be on the turn. Awful weather this morning, though the afternoon was OK until sunset, pictured here from the back of the house and with some serious cropping to get rid of all that distracting town below — though the top of the Nutclough Mill tower sneaks unobtrusively in.

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The last apple

Sunday 5th October 2014, 2.35pm (day 1,137)

Last apple, 5/10/14

It’s still noticeably not autumn, at least, in terms of what weather we would normally expect. However, most of the produce is now gone from the garden. The leeks are still growing, and visible, out of focus, in the foreground of this shot; but the only other remaining thing is this one apple, not yet windblown and hiding in its own little corner, hoping we will not notice and pick it.

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Watching the 2:40 at Ascot

Saturday 4th October 2014, 2.45pm (day 1,136)

Watching the races, 4/10/14

Some pubs are football pubs but some devote their Saturday afternoons to the horse racing. We found ourselves in Keighley this afternoon and, after finishing our duties, as we do, gravitated to the nearest pub — with the bonus that this was about the first chance in my life that I had to sample the products of the Timothy Taylor brewery in the town of its origin. The Boltmakers’ Arms became the pub of choice — and very fine it was too.

 

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Rochdale Canal, near the Stubbing Wharf pub

Friday 3rd October 2014, 5.05pm (day 1,135)

Near Stubbing Wharf, 3/10/14

The weather was forecast to deteriorate today but it seemed alright to me. A very busy week comes to a close with a very pleasant evening.

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The dentist’s hands

Thursday 2nd October 2014, 4.20pm (day 1,134)

Dentist hands, 2/10/14

The biannual trip to the tooth doctor is usually good for a pic — if only because it’s a well-lit activity. This is at least the second time Joe has been pictured mid-examination and I think I got one of myself in once, too. The next visit is in March, if you notice this kind of thing.

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The George Kenyon Building (and another tree)

Wednesday 1st October 2014, 9.35am (day 1,133)

Kenyon building, 1/10/14

September was balmy and mild, though not necessarily graced by good light, at least, not where I have been for the last couple of weeks. The first morning of October made up for this, however. Yes, OK, it’s another ‘tree on campus’ shot, but autumn’s here, expect more of this kind of stuff.

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My courtyard, Ellen Wilkinson Building

Tuesday 30th September 2014, 12 noon (day 1,132)

EW courtyard, 30/9/14

This is ‘my’ courtyard because I never see anyone else in here. There are — and I know them all — three entrances into this courtyard, surrounded by the brown-grey concrete expanses of the Ellen Wilkinson building. One is a fire exit, one looks like it’s just a conduit for the trash and one is a gate that is always closed, but never locked. None are welcoming, so this place is always deserted. Fine by me… this is my space.

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