Plans to minimise my time in Manchester while on sabbatical have not been successful this week (or next). The weather turned during the day, as well, and it was quite cool and rainy by the evening. A pleasant morning on HB station though: just the latest in a number of occasions where the arrangement of fellow passengers on the platform has interested me.
The blossom came out in force over the hot Easter weekend…. and a good chunk of it came down again during the last couple of less clement days. This ephemerality is why people like the Japanese get all sentimental about it, I guess.
Blog-wise, it’s two months since I pulled duty on a 6.32 train out of Hebden Bridge — arrives Manchester about 7.10, like this morning, if it’s feeling energetic. The bloke in yellow is the owner of the fold-up bike on the other side of the shot: he looks the least keen of all of them, but then again he has his onward transport sorted.
Back to work properly, but still a relatively balmy vibe over Manchester thanks to continuing good weather (it’s on the change, though), and a general lack of people of the academic persuasion. Why black and white today? Why not? I haven’t posted in monochrome for a while.
Something to do on a Bank Holiday Monday. Thanks to all that Australia stuff, the Easter break had a tenuous and extended beginning this year — but today was its definite end. Back to work tomorrow.
This tulip is open and ready for business. Come and get it with those hairy stamens right now baby. Or so to speak.
Decided early on that today’s pic from the football was going to be a portrait, and in the end, the prize of being the model goes to Brighouse Town’s number 2, Rhys Jenkinson. He’s not looking stressed out at this point, nor should he seeing as this was towards the end of a comfortable 4-0 victory. Seeing as Brighouse should make the play-offs in their league this season, and I care about this, expect to see a couple more BTFC images before the next two weeks are out.
Was up early to catch a train for a Good Friday walk in the Lake District. Had stupendous weather and lots of nice photos from that will eventually appear on my other blog. But today’s picture isn’t from among them, because this one needs to be seen…. A deer, a very young stag (going on those first brave attempts at antlers), on the side road that parallels the canal for a little while, by the railway station. Astonishing sight so close to town, 6.35 in the morning or not. We both stood stock still for a while staring at each other and he decided he would let me get the camera out. Then he trotted off back down the road — I hope to safety.
Properly back home — this is the first Hebden Bridge pic in exactly a month. The Easter holidays have kicked in, it was a beautiful day, and like this horse, I was doing my best to relax into it all.
Back to the UK, and in Manchester, for the first time since 21st March. I had set an embargo on pictures of building sites in the city, but that doesn’t necessarily leave a lot to photograph: and this delicate crane did catch the eye this morning. It reminds me of the leg of some insect, or spider, reaching up to tap on the roof above.
Being 42 