The last blog of August’s only a short one as the pair of us are preparing for a few days away in Cambridgeshire starting tomorrow which means there’ll be a series of blogs and pictures from a different neck of the woods for a while. Dawn found an interesting opportunity at some new lodges where the price was just too good to resist, so we’re heading down there with her parents for a few days R&R in the hope we might actually get some summer weather. The place we’re staying at is just 30 mins away from the Imperial War Museum at Duxford which Dee’s dad (who did his national service in the RAF) has always wanted to explore. We went once to see the recreation of a WW2 ‘big wing’ which brought 22 Spitfire aircraft together but we’ve never explored the museum building or static aircraft exhibits so we thought. it’s time we did. Mind you, I’m the only one who knows Cambridgeshire, for the Platt family it’s pretty much virgin territory, so I’m going to be wearing a tour guide’s hat for the next week as I show them around the likes of Cambridge and Ely.
I’ll be having one day off to do some railway stuff which will give me another opportunity for blogging as I explore, although I’ve no firm plans for where I’m going yet, that depends on a client’s shot list arriving in my inbox tomorrow.
Right now it’s time to go. I’ve got stuff to prepare and a cottage to sort out for the folks who’ll be looking after it whilst we’re away. I’ll leave you with an image from the last time we visited Duxford. The chance to see so many vintage Spitfires is a rare one, but in 2015…
10 of the 22 Spitfires in flight at Duxford in September 2015. If you’ve any interest in planes powered by Rolls-Royce Merlin engines you can just imagine how this sounded.
You can see some more pictures of the aircraft we saw at Duxford here.
I’ve a small favour to ask… If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website – https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/
Not quite the sort of day I’d hoped for here at Bigland Towers, but I know Dawn feels exactly the same because poor Dee’s spent most of the curled up in bed as she’s been struck down by a migraine. Enter ‘nurse Paul’ stage left to try and persuade that sleep is the best thing and I’ll take care of the rest. I’ve not suffered from migraines since I was a teenager so I really count myself lucky – especially when I can see the effect they have on Dee. I really feel for her – especially when they’re as bad as this one, which is (thankfully) a rare occurrence but shit when it happens.
This means much of my day’s been spent in the office opposite the bedroom so I’m close at hand. That’s not been a problem as I’ve lots to do and the day’s been productive as I’ve all the archive pictures I’d mentioned edited and up on my Zenfolio website. You can find them here.
Tempting as it is – I’m not going to get into a political spleen-venting, despite there being so, so much to rant about right now. Rishi flying from London to Norwich by helicopter (don’t get me started). Nigel Farage advising his slack-jawed supporters how to avoid inheritance tax? Former Tory leader Ian Duncan Smith from the party of ‘law and order’ endorsing vigilantes smashing ULEZ cameras? The list is endless. This country’s becoming beyond parody. Still, in a couple of days I’ll be able to take a step back from the madness – sort of – to take a break in Cambridgeshire and act as guide for Dawn and her parents in a part of the country none of them know. I’ll still blog, but my spleen will be restrained – honest!
For now I’ll leave you with today’s picture. Well, when I think what it is – because right now I’ve no idea which one to use *quickly rummages through the files*. Ah, how about this? One of today’s tasks was to look up hotel recommendations for friends who’re off to India in December. I mentioned that when you’re staying in Delhi a hotel with a rooftop restaurant is ideal. This is the place I’ve recommended, in the Paharganj area. I’ve stayed there many a time. On this particular occasion back on the 7th December 2010 I was in the city arranging an interview with the head of the Delhi Metro Corporation whilst also proofreading a friends book. IIRC it was Michael Williams first ‘on the slow train’ series.
You can find many more pictures of that trips Indian adventures here. It’s a shame I wasn’t blogging then as they were very interesting times! Hopefully, I’ll be out in that neck of the woods soon – ish!
I’ve a small favour to ask… If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website – https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/
There’s a short blog from me I’ve been up to my neck in archive pictures for most of the day. Not because I’d planned it that way but because I had a rather unusual request which involved digging through various hard-drives to find pictures of a particular event going back 20 years, which took a fair bit of digging. I haven’t looked at one of the hard drives for several years so I was relieved to find what I was looking for – and more! I rediscovered some pictures I’d filed away and thought were lost which would have been frustrating as they’re of historic interest now. To be honest, it was a good day for being stuck in the office as we had another morning of torrential rain. I had to walk into Sowerby Bridge for an appointment and ended up wearing my full set of waterproofs to do so – not something I expected to be doing at the end of August!
I’ll be spending much of tomorrow to complete the exercise and also to add some more of the pictures I’ve discovered to my Zenfolio website, starting with images from what’s now the new East-West rail link. I visited the line in 2011 when the idea was still being considered and long before construction actually started. Here’s one such shot taken at a location that’s unrecognisable today – and not just because of E-W rail, but also HS2.
This is Calvert in Buckinghamshire. Looking West towards L&NE junction and the single line to Bicester beyond. A spur runs off to the left towards Calvert and the old Great Central line. Only one thing in this shot remains intact (but not for long) which is the road overbridge in the distance. This picture was taken on the 11th August 2011 from the Addison Rd overbridge, which has also disappeared although it’s replacement has yet to open.
Here’s the same view almost exactly a decade later on the 23rd June 2021
The tall piling rig is standing where High Speed 2 will pass from Left to Right, underneath the reopened E-W rail link, the trackbed of which is being raised to almost the level of the old overbridge beyond. Meanwhile, the land to the right of the picture is being transformed as it’s the site of the HS2 Infrastructure Maintenance Depot (IMD) and sidings.
Here’s a more recent picture. I can’t do an exact comparison as Addison Rd is still closed. But here’s how the area looked on the 1st August this year.
Taken from further East, this is the new Addison Rd bridge under construction. The E-W trackbed has been widened on the Northern side to accomodate the tracks which will lead into the IMD.
How things change in 12 years! You can find more E-W rail construction pictures here. It’s the place you’ll be able to find the 2011 pictures too when I’ve had chance to add them tomorrow.
I’ve a small favour to ask… If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website – https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/
Excuse me? This is the August bank holiday, the only one actually in that season we in the UK regard as summer. So where’s the summer weather? In fact, where was the summer? OK, I shouldn’t complain too much as we’ve hardly had any rain at all here in the Calder valley today which goes against bank holiday traditions, but honestly – what a low key event. Admittedly, Dawn and I hadn’t got anything planned as we’ve got a busy September ahead. Even so, the idea of sitting out in the garden with a G&T whilst soaking up the sun wouldn’t have gone amiss.
Instead, the pair of us have spent much of the say slaving over keyboards. The other day I had a conversation via Twitter (Musk, you can do one – I refuse to call it X) about the state of some of the old BR built diesel trains and the amount of corrosion repairs many of them had undergone. Then I looked for the pictures I’d taken, realised they weren’t on my website so went hunting. It’s a long story that involves tales of why you should keep a central database and not lots of different folders – but I eventually found them.
The interior of one of the cars of 150257. Note the bottom of the steel skin of the car has been chopped off to deal with corrosion of the bodyshell ribs. The condition of the car frames due to water ingress condensation is also evident. You can find more pictures from here.
Whilst these shots were taken in November 2017 they’ve become rather topical as replacement of these train fleets is back on the agenda as Northern have expressed for expressions of interest in building new ones to replace them. And that’s part of a bigger story. These old diesel trains date from 1985-86. Due to government inertia and dither on electrifying more of the UKs rail network we’re sending far greener and more modern electric trains to the scrapyard – like the Government owned (it’s a long story) class 365s built a decade later in 1995. Meanwhile, we have even more modern electric trains – the class 379s built in 2010 which are stored with no prospects of working for the foreseeable future.
Now, you’d think that a Transport Minister who’s supposed to be thinking about such things may be exercising his mind to solve the problem? But no. Mark Harper is too busy fighting culture wars and proving just how unfit for the job he is – hence this utterly ridiculous tweet.
The Government doesn’t have the ‘legal power’ to stop it? Either this is a blatant lie (it is) or Harper hasn’t got a clue how UK democracy works (possible) or both (likely). Because the truth is the UK Parliament is sovereign and can make or change whatever laws it likes. And let’s not even get into the fact ULEZ was a Tory policy and one they’ve pinned on Sadiq Khan. Plus, there’s the fact most Londoners (who actually want to breather clean air) support ULEZ. So, you can see why the Dept of Transport is in a mess. It’s ‘led’ by a politician who’s a bit like a tortoise atop a fencepost.
OK, I’ve digressed from Bank holidays to a rant about useless politicians. Sorry (not sorry) about that. Anyway, I hope you’ve all enjoyed your day off – if you’ve had one…
I’ve a small favour to ask… If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website – https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/
We’ve had another quiet Saturday here at Bigland Towers, partly because we’re preparing for a lot of adventures in September. Well, that and the fact the weather’s been shocking. August? It feels more like Autumn. Today the mercury’s struggled to get over the mid teens, making it one of the coldest Augusts for many years. Before the climate-change denialists start rubbing their hands in glee can I point out that weather isn’t the same as climate (especially global climate) – a distinction lost on these people. Look at charts of average temperatures and the picture becomes all to real – and all to frightening.
We had brunch with Dawn’s parents over in at a farm shop near Huddersfield, which led to a classic moment. Norah sometimes forgets history. John and Norah are 88 and 82, during a conversation Norah asked ‘what was it like for you growing up during the war love’? The Scouser in me immediately kicked in and said ‘which war, the Boer war’? I couldn’t help but laugh at the idea Norah had me pegged as older than her and John. That reminds me, maybe I should put in a bulk order for anti-wrinkle cream. Or maybe just keep a portrait in the attic…
After brunch the pair of us ventured into Halifax to do some clothes shopping. Well, I should clarify. Dawn was doing some clothes shopping yet I still came back with some new schmutter due to Dee ‘suggesting’ I needed some new polo tops. Who was I to argue?
Afterwards we popped into our local pub (The big 6) for a drink and a giggle with friends and locals – and dogs! The pub’s always been very dog friendly and the attentions and actions of the local pooches can be just as entertain as some of the human visitors.
Another source of entertainment was the weather I mentioned earlier as we were prevented from venturing out earlier due to thunderstorms and torrential rain. We thought July was a washout but August’s giving it a run for its money. On the bright side, clinging to the side of the Calder valley as we do – we get a grandstand view of the storms approaching and the rain blanking out Sowerby Bridge before it hits us. It’s rare that the rain sneaks up on us here.
Walking back from the pub to skies like this…
Now we’re having a quiet night at home. Dee’s busy in the kitchen (it’s her turn and her choice) preparing steak in peppercorn sauce with garlic mushrooms, potatoes and green beans. We eat steak once in a blue moon but today Dee decided today was the day – and it was delicious! Having eaten our fill the local foxes will be dining on the fat.
At the and of next week we’ll be leaving the life of domestic behind as we’ll both be on the road so I’ll be bringing you a variety of blogs from different parts of the UK. In the meantime (wherever you are in the UK) enjoy the last bank holiday of the year. To my other readers spread around the world – don’t worry – you’re not missing much!
This brings me on to today’s other picture which was taken at Sheffield station the other day. Sadly, not all wildlife is railway savvy, especially birdlife. Peasants being particularly dumb but pigeons aren’t far behind. Still, the pigeon/train interface often provides lunch for other animals. In this scenario it was a case of fine dining for crows…
‘Fancy a takeaway’?
I’ve a small favour to ask… If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website – https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/
I’m out and about slightly later than planned as for once I didn’t wake up before the alarm clock although looking at the weather that’s probably saved me from a soaking! Having walked down to Sowerby Bridge station I’m now aboard Northern’s 07:59 to Leeds via Bradford. It’s a busy train carrying more than just the usual commuters. There are three young girls from Warrington in the opposite table bay loaded down with rucsacs and camping equipment who’re obviously on their way to a festival somewhere. Now, being an ‘old fogey’ expensive mudbaths listening to bands I’ve never heard of no longer appeal, so I’ve no idea which one it is they’re heading to. The girls have spent their time chatting/gossiping. I’ve not been paying any attention but I did hear the put down ‘she’s everybody’s ex, really’ which raised an internal chuckle. I don’t what weather they’re expecting where they’re going but looking at their footwear wellies may have been a better choice!
Now we’ve reversed at Bradford to make our way to Leeds under leaden skies. I’ll be blogging throughout the day so feel free to pop in later to see what I get up to…
Busy Leeds
10:30.
That was an interesting trip! At Leeds I realised the train I’d arrived on was a 6-car, not something we normally get on Calder valley services. Now I know why it was busy but not packed! Crossing the bridge to catch my next train I bumped into a friend from Sowerby Bridge. Ian Aberdeen was on a day out walking old railways on Derbys before meeting up with others for a beer later. We sat and chatted on the train to Sheffield. Sadly the Cross-country HST we’d hoped for had been replaced by a single 5-car Voyager, the palindromic 221122.
The set wasn’t as packed as I feared but we did have some ‘interesting’ fellow passengers. In the seat opposite me was a rotund elderly bloke wrapped up in a hoodie yet wearing shorts to display his leg tattoo’s. On one leg he had a Crusader Knight whilst on the other a sailor and a line of world war 1 British battleships. I’m taking a stab in the dark here but something makes me think he voted for Brexit and thinks the Tories aren’t nationalistic enough…
A few rows in front of him was another guy in a hoodie – only he was half the size. When the Conductor came to check tickets he gave her a stream of excuses sbout why he’d not got a ticket. Having established he’d be leaving the train at Sheffield she let him be.
Suitably triggered, the guy got out his phone and started recording himself talking – a torrent of verbal diarrhoea! I suspect he thought he was Russell Brand recording a podcast as his stream of consciousness contained familiar words and phrases ‘paradigm’, ‘patriarchy’ and trite phrases about technology, racism and capitalism. It was a masterclass in talking bollocks.
Thankfully both he and I left the train in Sheffield so I didn’t have to listen to any more of his diatribe. As I disembarked I wished the Conductor and her oppo’ an easier rest of their trip to Birmingham.
As I’d a few minutes to wait at Sheffield I hunted for suitable shots to take and found this. The very first of the BR built Class 150s, in between duties.
10:55.
Arriving at Dore and Totley at the same time as the sunshine I quickly got shots of the Hope valley line upgrade work. The second Hope valley track through the station has been laid but isn’t connected. The new platform’s really beginning to take shape now and the foundations of the footbridge that will connect it to the existing platform are in place.
11:50.
Time for a change of location and scenery. I’m now on the way to Belper via Derby. There’s been no direct trains from the Sheffield direction for many a year. No, the only trains that call at Belper are working the hourly service on the Matlock branch, which involves a change at Derby before doubling back.
15:00.
Apologies for the gap but I’ve been busy. I’ll add some camera pictures showing what I’ve been up to later. I caught the local EMR service from Derby to Belper without a problem There’s quite a change in trains on the route. Last time I was here to take pictures Matlock services were worked by single-car Class 153s (aka ‘Dogboxes’). now the trains are more modern two car Class 170s cascaded from West Midlands Trains that have the luxury of air-conditioning.
EMR has replaced their old BR built regional diesel train fleet of Class 153s and 156s with trains like this, the Class 170. Whilst they’ve received EMR livery the interiors are still pure West Midlands without USB or power sockets.
I don’t think this will be my last visit to Belper either. I’d forgotten just how many road overbridges there are here which present some interesting photographic possibilities, especially later in the day.
A Cross-Country Voyager speeds through Belper. The road along the top of the cutting is appropriately named ‘Midland View’. The bridge behind the train carries on of the main town centre shopping streets. You can view the station though the bridge.Looking North from the railway station where a series of streets traverse the railway.
Much as I’d liked to have hung around I retraced my steps to Derby. Now I’m on another tired East Midlands ‘Meridian’ (001 in fact) to get back to Sheffield in plenty of time to meet my old friend Merv…
I’ve a small favour to ask… If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website – https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/
No late trains for me today. In fact no trains at all – unless you count pictures. Much of my day’s been spent editing yesterday’s images which you can find divided between the following galleries;
As well as the pictures I’ve relisted railway memorabilia and old slides on eBay which you can find here. I’ll add some new bits before the weekend but tomorrow I’ll be back out on the railways, ending up in Sheffield in the afternoon to discuss his forthcoming trip to India, a country I’ve spent rather a lot of time exploring in the past. There’s several places I want to have a look at tomorrow but my itinerary very much depends on the weather which isn’t looking great, especially out East so I may be visiting a few locations where sunny weather would actually be a handicap. Whatever I get up to I’ll be rolling blogging throughout the day.
In the meantime, here’s a picture from one of the locations I’ve been looking at. It’s 9 years since I was last taking pictures here and the railway scene’s changed quite a bit. This is a town where the railroad literally does run through the middle of the house. Well, town anyway. This is Belper, Derbyshire where the coming of the Midland Railway in 1840 split the town in two with this deep cutting.
On the 4th July 2014 a Northbound East Midlands Train to Sheffield passes a loaded coal train heading South. Once the lifeblood of freight on the old Midland Railway, you won’t see many coal trains thundering through Belper nowadays. In fact, looking at the timings for tomorrow (Thursday) I can’t find a single one. The Meridians are living on borrowed time too as they’re due to be replaced by new Hitachi built trains over the next couple of years.
I’ve a small favour to ask… If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website – https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/
I’ve had an eventful day so far. Having been up early to finish penning my Blyth and Tyne article for RAIL magazine I had to walk down to our Doctors for an appointment. Whilst sitting in the waiting room idly scrolling through websites I found that – not only were the new Merseyrail trains running in passenger service on the Wirral to West Kirby, but one of the Vivarail ex-London transport trains was definitely running on the Borders line from Bidston to Wrexham. It seemed like too good a chance to miss…
Within 5 mins of leaving the Docs I was at the station and soon heading Westwards to Manchester Victoria where I had scant minutes to wait for a Trans-Pennine service onwards to Liverpool Lime St, working on the trains all the way thanks to their wifi (are you listening DfT?). Tempting as it was to join Merseyrail at Lime St I walked to Central instead as it gave me chance to buy a cheap supermarket butty rather than pay station prices. Plus I got more steps in!
First stop on Merseyrail was Bidston where I was just in time to snap one of the Transport for Wales Class 230s arriving from Wrexham four minutes late. I’m told timekeeping is a real issue with these sets, especially towards the end of their diagram when they’ve banked delays on each circuit.
Plodding onward to the lovely Art Deco station at Hoylake and finding a 777 was on the service behind I realised this wasn’t the best place for photography due to sun, heavy shadows and the waiting room canopy. I wanted shots of passengers with the train so I ended up catching it to West Kirby.
Day 2 of Class 777 passenger services on the Wirral, with obvious teething problems. Not in service?
There’s clearly teething problems introducing the sets. Not only is the set in use running late on each run from Liverpool but the destination blinds show “not in service”, much to passengers confusion! I let the 777 return to Liverpool and took a break to photograph some of the older units before catching up with set 004 on a return run at Meols where the same late running and PIS screen problems persisted.
17:15.
I’ve had another run on the 777 but this time I’ve had channce to chat to the crew. Late running is due to two sets of doors being locked out of use because the level boarding steps are stuck. Apparently, this *may* (but don’t quote me, I’m only the messenger) be due to the floor panels in the vestibules above flexing under weight. So it’s taking longer for passengers to embark/disembark, hence the late running. Whatever, this doesn’t detract from the overall quality of the trains which Pip Dunn and I reviewed in a recent RAIL article. Let’s face it, the 507s weren’t without issue when they were introduced and the fleet underwent a series of modifications during its lifetime.
Now I’m making my way back towards home, although I do have a stop off in mind on the way…
20:00.
Ever had one of those days? Again? After typing my last update I left the train at Conway Park so I could get a last shot of the 777 before adjourning to a fabulous old nautical pub near Hamilton Sq. Just as the train pulled out I thought ‘hang on, my pockets feel light’…
I’m wearing a Barbour fleece which is great apart from one thing. The pockets are as deep as the sinks in a Chiltern Railways Mk 3 coach loo. I’d managed to lose my phone on the train. Cursing under my breath I caught the next train to Hamilton Square so I could drown my sorrows if nothing else. As I passed through I told the barrier staff what I’d done. Straightaway Peter, the guy on the gateline made some phonecalls and established that a phone matching mine had just been handed in to the ticket office at James St. So, I caught the next train there with fingers crossed. Sure enough, George in the ticket office at James St had my phone. Some good Samaritan had found it and handed it in.
My faith in humanity restored I decided I’d had enough adventure for the day, but I did have a quick pint in the Crown Hotel outside Lime St just to unwind and indulge in some people – watching before heading home.
The ceiling in the Crown’s a sight to behold.
20:20.
I’ve been kicking my heels in Manchester Victoria for nearly an hour as my Leeds connection was cancelled – just to put the icing on the cake! Now I’m praying the 20:21 just *might* be on time…
20:25.
Yay! Homeward bound. This train’s on time and not too crowded so I’ve the luxury of a seat in a saloon. I’ve had an interesting if rushed day – and I’m still in possession of my phone (which is a bonus). I’ll add a few more pictures to the blog this evening just to round things off. Tomorrow will be a day for working from home without the pressure of jumping on and off trains. Instead I’ll be able to edit today’s pictures and get some filing done – as well as adding a few more items to eBay..
21:00.
Ho hum. We’re 20 mins late leaving Rochdale due to being stuck behind another service. This is really not turning out to be my day, but it is an all too typical day on the railways at the moment.
22:00.
Home at last! Now I’ve time to edit a few of today’s pictures for your delectation. Here’s a small selection.
One of Transport for Wales ex-London transport tube trains rebuilt from electric to diesel-power by Vivarail is seen at Bidston before working a Borders line service to Wrexham.
The old order at West Kirby. 1978 built 507011 arrives at the town having worked a service around the Liverpool loop and return.Ignore the PIS, 777004 was very much in service, having deposited me at Manor Rd on the Wirral line to West Kirby, where this picture was taken. More old electric trains, this time in the shape of former Thameslink units 319383 and 319386. Built by BR in 1988 these 4- car sets are living on borrowed time as they’re due to be replaced by ex-West Midlands 3-car Class 323s just as soon as the units are released from their time around Birmingham.
I’ve a small favour to ask… If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website – https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/
The pair of us have had a weekend at home here at Bigland Towers but it could hardly be described as a relaxing ‘feet up in front of the telly’ kind of weekend as both of us have kept busy. Dawn’s been on a mission. Having borrowed a carpet cleaner from her parents (think of a Dyson, in that it looks similar, weighs about the same – but works) Dee’s been methodically going from room to room, washing each carpet. The cottage is only small but these things still take time. Whilst Dawn’s been occupied thus I’ve kept out of the way and worked in the garden or on the outside of the house. For once the weather’s been conducive to such activities – despite the tail the end of storm ‘Betty’ which brough gusting winds to the Pennines. I’ve managed to fill several bin-bags with plant based detritus, including the trimmings off a Jasmine plant which was blocking a lot of light from the front of the cottage. The only problem was as soon as I saw how much extra light was coming in through the windows I also realised how dirty they were! Cooking when the kitchen is stacked full of exercise weights and office equipment was fun but I still managed to rustle up a typical Indonesian Nasi Goreng which has kept us going over the weekend.
Today’s been occupied finishing off the chores from yesterday, with one major difference. Dee wanted to watch the football world cup match between England and Spain whilst she was working. This involved plugging herself into the commentary via her phone whilst having the video on her iPad. Me? I was outside up a ladder cleaning windows, which was quite amusing as the expletives and exhortations coming from inside the house made me think Dee had suddenly contracted Tourettes!
Now it’s Sunday night, the carpets are drying and the cottage is slowly coming back together ready for another working week. The kitchen’s no longer an obstacle course and all the rubbish has been taken to our local recycling centre so it’s time to relax. The only thing left for me to do is post a picture of the day but as the camera’s been tucked away all weekend, the question is what to choose from the archives. How about this one which is completely random and not related to anything I’ve been talking about?
I’ve been crap at finishing scanning all my old slides this year because other things (modern life, mostly) have got in the way. Well, that and trying to earn a crust. But, I have a stack of already scanned slides I’ve just never got around to editing and sticking on my Zenfolio site. This is one, from February 1998, taken just after sunrise at the ghats in Varanasi, India.
A Brahmin (an upper caste Hindu – evidenced by the sacred thread he wears) gets his head shaved by a barber at the ghats in Varanasi.
Tomorrow’s the start of another busy week (as if this weekend wasn’t active enough) so expect pictures from one or two locations around the UK that I’ve not covered recently…
I’ve a small favour to ask… If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website – https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/
I think the expression’s meant to be ‘thank God it’s Friday’, although it’s not really one that’s in a Freelance’s lexicon – and especially not if you work in the rail industry! Hence it being nearly 9 o’ clock on a Friday and I’m still editing pictures and sending them off to magazines. There’s no time to go to the pub tonight, but I’m also trying to be good after having had a week that’s been less than abstemious due to various events. That said, looking at the bin fire that’s the UK economy and stock market this week I should be reaching for the Brandy. We have a Government that’s more interested in fighting culture wars and posturing on pubs opening early so that folk can watch football rather than deal with anything important. You know – like the economy? The Tories feel very Romanesque right now. It’s all about bread and circuses.
Still, today’s not been a bad day to be stuck at home working. The weather’s been dull, cold and wet. I went out earlier and noticed that one of our neighbours had lit their coal fire. Yep – in the middle of August! Temperatures are hovering around 15 degrees here in the Pennines right now, which is hardly summer temperatures, but it’s not exactly Iceland either. With conditions not being that of a classic English summer keeping busy seems to be the only sensible thing to do. Who wants to leave a hostage to fortune by booking to go to any outdoor events when so many have been cancelled this year?
Right, time to go. This was always going to be a short blog but one batch of Wetransfer files are now winging their way to a client so it’s time to send a last one before I can call it at day. I’ll leave you with a picture of the day which is one from the series of images I took at the new Siemens train factory at Goole yesterday. Whilst the first London Underground trains to be built on the site won’t happen until March next year there’s a lot of work going on in one of the buildings where components for various trains (and not just Siemens products) are being overhauled.
Here are traction motors that power Eurostar trains being refurbished in a brand new on-site facility, although the company who’re doing the work have moved to Goole from Leeds – and expanded in the process…
I’ve a small favour to ask… If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website – https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/
Paul Bigland 