Sunday 3rd November 2024, 5.00pm (day 4,819)

A typical Sunday afternoon scene in the Railway, Hebden Bridge. The crow is a bit of added Halloween ambience, but otherwise, we could be on any weekend in the year…. and this guy is here, every weekend.

A typical Sunday afternoon scene in the Railway, Hebden Bridge. The crow is a bit of added Halloween ambience, but otherwise, we could be on any weekend in the year…. and this guy is here, every weekend.

Where better to end a pleasant weekend than at the Railway’s Sunday afternoon karaoke? Well, OK, perhaps there are several places that are actually better, particularly when Rockin’ Rupert (that’s what he calls himself: it’s written on his hat) turns up, a man for whom the notions of melody, timing and key are just things other people worry about. But he brings props, one of which came out for this rendition of (it seemed to be) Singin’ in the Rain — get it?

I have been looking at this sign for some months now, but only today really understood the implications. I’ve seen dog ice cream for sale, and in the Arndale centre in Manchester there is now a whole stall selling little doggy cakes and pastries. But dog karaoke? Methinks we are starting to pamper our little pooches just that little bit too much. Although I doubt the singing would be appreciably worse.

It’s Sunday afternoon in the Railway. Meaning, it’s Karaoke Afternoon. This is a regular Sunday thing, like church. And the singing is no better. The arrival of the m.c. — here, about to start his set-up — is a sign to head to a different part of the building, out of earshot.