Tuesday 14th October 2025, 2.50pm (day 5,164)
A nice combination of shapes and textures on this one I think. Not that I am commenting on James’s texture. He’s just having a fag.
Outside the Sports & Social
Being 42
Life, one day at a time
Tag Archives: smoking
Studious contemplation
Tuesday 6th March 2025, 9.35am (day 5,003)
My last scheduled day of on-campus teaching in this academic year. Very few turned up, but that’s OK, it was an optional class. Hopefully they are all off in studious contemplation somewhere, like she seems to be: although quite probably she’s just checking social media while she has her fag.
A mask of smoke
Friday 16th August 2024, 6.35pm (day 4,740)
I used to smoke tobacco, but quit in 2008 (it remains the only one of my addictions which I can claim to have truly quit). Still, I couldn’t care less whether others still want to use the stuff, and it does sometimes look good. This is, of course, an optical illusion, but an effective one.
Doris disdains the cigarette
Monday 29th July 2024, 7.00pm (day 4,722)
Well, that’s what it looks like. In truth we were all, Doris the dog included, enjoying the sunshine; there’s not been that much of it to be seen in northern England this year so far but summer does appear to have broken out over the last few days, at least.
On Union Street
Friday 24th May 2024, 5.25pm (day 4,656)
I’m as satisfied with this portrait as I can be. Important elements come together: the woman walking past; his ankle (and what it implies); the just-lit cigarette.
Stan has a smoke
Monday 17th July 2023, 4.25pm (day 4,344)
After eleven different places in eleven days it’s time to spend some time at home again. I’m still not back to work though: that can wait another week or so. Stan generally agrees with this approach to life, I feel.
Geri, portrait
Thursday 18th May 2023, 5.35pm (day 4,284)
No comments to add to this one. Just a portrait of a friend.
Neighbour’s hands
Monday 10th October 2022, 1.05pm (day 4,064)
Another day when there wasn’t a great deal to do except spy on the neighbours: but I did like the shapes her hands were making.
Smoke break (early)
Wednesday 8th June 2022, 7.40am (day 3,940)
At the moment it’s a case of — do I sit at home all day working, or trug into Manchester and sit in my office all day? Well, at least going into Manchester gets me a bit more exercise. There always seems to be at least one person smoking outside this building on Booth Street in the city centre, no matter how early I pass by.
Friends reunited
Wednesday 21st July 2021, 4.20pm (day 3,618)
If you ask me, one of the most damaging consequences of The Great Fear is that it has driven a bulldozer through our close social bonds. It’s ripped apart international solidarity as well, taught us to fear the foreigner again, and that will ultimately kill far more than the virus, but I can’t do much about that right now. I can try to get together with mates more, though — and so today, Steve and Geri, both once regulars on here, make their first appearances on here for (shockingly) nearly three years. We’re all still here, at least.
Being 42 