Saturday 4th September 2021, 11.35am (day 3,663)

Helium is abundant in the universe but not on Earth, as it’s so light, and unreactive, that all it wants to do is escape back into space. I guess this shop has just discovered this fact of chemistry.
Helium is abundant in the universe but not on Earth, as it’s so light, and unreactive, that all it wants to do is escape back into space. I guess this shop has just discovered this fact of chemistry.
It’s that time of year again. It crossed my mind today that it’s now twenty years since I first graduated, in July 1997. Gosh…
2016’s last day was an enjoyable and sociable one, but these balloons were as near as I got to what might be called a ‘party’. But either way — hope you had a good evening, and a good 2016 as well. Personally, mine’s been up and down, and there hasn’t really been a ‘big event’ (like Kilimanjaro in 2015 or Australia 2013) to inspire me behind the camera. There are possibilities emerging for 2017 though. Favourite photo of the year? Probably the proud-looking frog in our garden on 30th June, because of its willingness to pose while I maneuvered the lens two inches from its nose. Happy New Year.
Why were there a dozen burst balloons on our bathroom floor this morning? I could tell you, but then I’d have to, well, you know.
Noted local burlesque performer Liberty Belle here prepares to run through her balloon act in the rehearsal studio over the road. OK, so it’s a blonde in her underwear, but I’m still claiming it’s art. Or life. Or whatever.
This marquee sits outside my building at uni, where thousands of people currently wander around looking half-lost and half-excited. Whatever was going on in here yesterday, though, it’s moved on, though no one has yet thought to clear up the balloons.
Walking back to the station I followed this lady for ages and tried to get several photos – I like this one in particular because of the woman on the left ignoring the whole spectacle (and the photographer). I must have followed her for five minutes and in all that time saw nothing but these feet.
It’s as well these things are appearing in my life as subjects because this is the longest run I’ve had all blog of pictures just in Hebden Bridge (home) or Manchester (work). Today was the 20th in a row in just these two locations. I’m off to the Lake District tomorrow though, then Denmark for 5 days on Wednesday.
Joe was born at 2.41pm, 4th March 2003. Happy birthday to him. Twenty minutes after this photo was taken (the balloons whipping around in a squally, damp wind), we had a bunch of other 8- and 9-year-olds swarming around the place – which was a good reminder of why we’ve still only had the one child. (I joke, I joke.)