Wednesday 18th February 2026, 4.30pm (day 5,291)
Brrrr! It’s cold outside. Get that fire lit!
First flames
Being 42
Life, one day at a time
Tag Archives: 56
Quantum proposition
Monday 16th February 2026, 9.15am (day 5,289)
Whomever stencilled this on Cross Street, Manchester, is obviously referring to the Many Worlds Interpretation of quantum theory — the idea that whenever a decision is taken, both possibilities play out, and so all possible worlds exist as parallel universes. Which is all very well but if, somewhere, I am the King of Norway — or banged up in a concentration camp for some perceived felony or other — or having great sex with Natalie Portman on a regular basis — the “I” that exists in this reality still had to go to work on this Monday morning. Another proposition then — it is what it is.
In the dry dock, a wave
Sunday 15th February 2026, 3.35pm (day 5,288)
Couldn’t decide between two pictures today and went with this one largely to avoid having two pictures in the same weekend taken in the cinema. But this one will do. It has been a while since something has used the dry dock in Hebden town centre, but this barge obliged today while also being quite well-decorated, although what a tsunami has to do with the water on a canal does pass me by. Wishful thinking perhaps?
Out on a walk
Saturday 14th February 2026, 10.50am (day 5,287)
After dull weather for what seems like the whole year, at least in Yorkshire, the forecast relented and a Saturday walk in the sunshine duly transpired. I am pleased with this shot; the positioning seems just right and she does make quite a nice shape. The walk was quite good too (but more details are still to be posted on the County Tops blog — bear with me).
Harvey Keitel (kinda)
Friday 13th February 2026, 9.40pm (day 5,286)
Today it was either Harvey Keitel or an avocado. I asked the wife. She said, she liked the avocado, but, Harvey Keitel. So here you are. (You know the movie, right?)
Jack
Thursday 12th February, 6.00pm (day 5,285)
Hello, friend. The bloody thing is that today was another wake. Too many, too fast.
Dead in the water
Wednesday 11th February 2026, 11.35am (day 5,284)
I don’t think the police will be called for this one, although somewhere there may well be a small person distraught over the loss of their soulmate and demanding major investigations. To those who want to know, then, this morning it was in the Hebden Water, just upstream from the weir by the White Lion. If retrieved and given some tumble dryer attention there might even be a reunion.
Back to China(town)
Tuesday 10th February 2026, 9.50am (day 5,283)
I didn’t go on from Dubai to China — this is Manchester. The lanterns have all appeared since I was last there a week ago, so get to make their regular appearance on the blog: I think most Februaries have featured them in some form.
Al Fardan Exchange metro
Monday 9th February 2026, 11.30am (day 5,282)
Another one where the verticals are doing a lot of the work. He looked pretty keen to get on the train that was coming: so was I, as it was the first leg (well, second, if I include the five-minute walk there from the hotel) of my journey home. I might be back next year… I might not. I probably wouldn’t come to Dubai on my own account but it’s not a bad place I suppose.
The boxers
Saturday 7th February 2026, 8.00am (day 5,280)
Not necessarily the kind of thing one expects to see on opening the curtains in the morning, but I guess that’s what happens when one’s room overlooks the gym of the hotel next door. This is the first time boxing has been depicted on the blog actually in progress, but the tags allow me to connect this with a group of Albanians seen some 12½ years ago…. whither them I wonder?
Being 42 