Tag Archives: 53

Christmas card session (still in bed)

Sunday 11th December 2022, 9.40am (day 4,126)

Xmas card session, 11/12/22

There won’t be much excitement or variety in my life in the run-up to Christmas — but nor do I really care about this. In the undertaking of her annual task (for which I internally thank her) of sorting out our Christmas cards, Clare makes another step towards catching up Joe in the ‘all-time appearance record’ on this blog; this is her 140th pic, with Joe presently on 146. Another shot with daringly off-vertical verticals, but then again I was still in bed too.

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Action at Ilkley

Saturday 10th December 2022, 4.15pm (day 4,125)

Ilkley Town, 10/12/22

This time of the year the sun is mostly gone by about 3.45pm and in low light — which includes floodlighting — my camera isn’t going to get any sharp action shots, certainly of football but to be honest even people jogging past the lens will be somewhat blurred. But I think I get away with this one – the impression is of action, the blurring does not really matter. The game was at Ilkley Town FC, the blue-and-yellow blurs scored two late goals to triumph over visitors AFC Blackpool 2-1.

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The lights on Spring Gardens

Friday 9th December 2022, 3.30pm (day 4,124)

Spring Gardens lights, 9/12/22

In case you hadn’t noticed, it’s coming up to Christmas. Manchester city centre gets frantic at this time of year and in recent times I have done my best to avoid it: in fact I only have one more day there scheduled for 2022. The proprietors of this posh store on Spring Gardens (where all the stores are posh: next door is Vivienne Westwood) go for it every year to this extent; this year there’s the added layer of statement, that energy bills are just something other people have to worry about. But it does look pretty: even with the back of a ‘No Entry’ sign in the way.

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Rochdale station sunset

Thursday 8th December 2022, 3.25pm (day 4,123)

Rochdale station sunset, 8/12/22

Had things turned out differently I might have been in the Balkans today, but even though they did not, I am not bothered by this — which would not have been the case ten years ago. I guess I am more attuned to the enjoyment that can be had from the local area these days. Yes, even Rochdale railway station — like the rest of the region, bathed in cold but magnificent weather.

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Frosty morning

Wednesday 7th December 2022, 9.00am (day 4,122)

Frosty morning view, 7/12/22

A cold day today. Of course, ‘cold’ by British standards is not cold by, say, Canadian or central European standards, but we notice it in our own way. Look, someone in Royd Terrace has even lit a fire.

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Leaving Victoria, early

Tuesday 6th December 2022, 7.40am (day 4,121)

Leaving Victoria early, 6/12/22

Decided I’d probably better put in an appearance in Manchester, but at this time of year it’s still barely sunrise when the 06:55 (constantly late-running) finally makes it there. I am pleased with this shot simply because it’s one of those that turned out just how I wanted it to when I pressed the shutter. I know the verticals are out of true, but that’s deliberate.

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Ducks are for life

Monday 5th December 2022, 11.50am (day 4,120)

Ducks message, 5/12/22

In an ideal world, this message would end, “…. and not just for Christmas”, but sadly it does not. Then again, it’s been up for several months now, waiting only for an otherwise opportunity-light day of photography for its chance to be shared with you, my faithful readers. So this is not the seasonal reference it may seem.

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Caravan of the season

Sunday 4th December 2022, 4.00pm (day 4,119)

Caravan and rubble, 4/12/22

Wow, that’s bleak. Let’s put that into the Great Caravan Sites of Yorkshire, along with that one in Oakworth.

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In the Turls Green pub, Bradford

Saturday 3rd December 2022, 1.40pm (day 4,118)

Bradford Wetherspoons, 3/12/22

One of those where the guy’s profile caught my eye, and the rest of the shot was whatever came into view as I caputred it.

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World’s steepest street? (candidate)

Friday 2nd December 2022, 2.45pm (day 4,117)

Marlborough Street, 2/12/22

When I was in Dunedin, New Zealand, almost ten years ago, I saw a street, Baldwin Street, that claims it is the ‘World’s Steepest Street’. And it certainly was very steep, particularly at one end. However, taken as a whole, the gradient of the street from start to finish cannot have been a great deal more, and was possibly less, than Marlborough Street in Hebden Bridge, which I walk down (never up…) on occasion and can attest to the fact that it is very steep indeed. I have tried now and then to get a photo that really captures the gradient but before this one have never been happy enough to post one, however, today’s can make it. I do feel that the Guinness Book of Records people should really come and settle the question. Hebden Bridge or Dunedin? I pose the challenge. (I’m sure you know of a steeper one in Italy, say, but let me dream.)

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