The building where my office is located in Manchester (better than saying ‘where I work’… I work all over), is something of a concrete monstrosity, but it is wrapped around this nice courtyard with a highly concealed entrance, so no one ever goes there. But I have discovered it; it’s very nice, particularly at this time of year. I know it’s easy to overdo the ‘autumn leaves’ thing but it’s a good standby on days when there’s not much else to capture.
John Owens made his fortune in the early 1800s, it seems in two ways — first through cotton trading, and secondly by “keeping no company whatsoever” and spending every evening in, reading books (according to contemporary accounts). On his death, with no children — unsurprising, with those habits — he left a substantial sum of money towards the foundation of Owens College, now a part of the University of Manchester, and also made it a condition of his will that no student nor member of the faculty in that institution would ever have to “pass a religious test” to achieve their status. He might not have been much of a party animal, but at least he had a sensible lack of zealotry along with it.
…so not everyone is yet completely sure where they should be going for their 10:00 lecture. The girl with the umbrella was intently studying the campus map this morning.
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.
There is continued good weather, and flowers seemingly everywhere, a vast improvement over last summer. I seem to have started noticing flowers more since I began taking the photography more seriously. They are good subjects, individually or en masse. The other models here aren’t bad either.
Officially I’m still on sabbatical. So you didn’t see me. I wasn’t here today. Nor, really, is anybody else. This is of course the time of year we like the most.
Congratulations to the summer graduates of the UoM, who certainly had fair weather to mark their achievement, although I was not present at this (or any) ceremony this year. Most of my students graduate in December. The shot also gets in because of the mild comedy value, you see what I mean, I’m sure. Or maybe it’s the Watchmen reference. I love Watchmen.
Second day in a row in Manchester, that hasn’t happened since January. Familiar territory, but new in that I’ve never managed to catch anyone blowing their nose before. I didn’t set out to take such a shot; but that’s street photography for you. Taken on the steps of St. Peter’s, the University’s Catholic chaplaincy.
I went into Manchester today, but don’t tell anyone — officially I don’t go back to work there until early September. But there were reasons to go in today, which went beyond the desire to have the first Manchester photo on the blog since day 504 of the blog, 10th January, 159 days ago. This sculpture sits outside the university’s monumental Sackville Street building and pays homage to the local non-alcoholic beverage, Vimto, an anagram of, well, you can work it out.
If it wasn’t for that flash of green on the shot (behind the girl’s head) this one would be perfect…
Incidentally if all goes according to plan I am only going to be on the Manchester campus three more days until mid-June – tomorrow, Thursday and next Thursday. Travelling awaits…
Being 42 