Category Archives: West Yorkshire

22nd November picture of the day…

22 Friday Nov 2024

Posted by in Derbyshire, Musings, Photography, Picture of the day, West Yorkshire

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Well, that wasn’t quite the start to the weekend I was hoping for! Since my outing on Tuesday I’ve been pretty much confined to barracks for various reasons, one of which was the fact I’d a final round of judging to complete for next years Community Rail Awards. Of course, since Tuesday we’ve had almost wall to wall sunshine up here in West Yorkshire and surrounding counties, which has been rather frustrating, especially as the snow as pretty much stuck around in many areas, but that’s life. Then, yesterday we found out that Dawn’s father wasn’t feeling very well. As John’s coming up to his 90th birthday you can imagine everyone’s concern. So, yesterday we ended up dropping everything at short-notice to head over to Huddersfield in order to be with her mum and dad and offer our support. We’d only been with them on Wednesday evening as I’d cooked us all a coq-au-vin for our weekly evening meal get-together (another reason why I’ve not been out much) and John had seemed fine then. Thankfully, it seems that I’d not poisoned my father-in-law and his current hors de combat is due to a virus and not my cooking! Dawn’s remained over at her parents whilst I’ve returned to Bigland Towers in order to be around for other duties.

Right now – I’m going nowhere until things are resolved. Plus, there’s another storm on the way – which might prove to interesting – although I’m struggling to take a storm called ‘Bert’ seriously right now. Whatever else ‘Bert’ might bring it’s seeing an end to the freezing weather we’ve had, which is no bad thing.

So, what’s next? I’m not entirely sure to be honest. I’ve plenty to keep me occupied with at home for this weekend, especially as it looks like I’ll be spending most of it on my own. Next week? well, that’s another matter. In the meantime I’ll leave you with today’s picture which was taken on my visit to the Hope valley on Tuesday.

A snow-covered Back Tor seen from near Edale station on Tuesday. Traversing that ridge is one of our favourite walks, but not in weather like this!

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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/

Or – you can now buy me a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/paulbigland68312

19th October picture of the day…

19 Saturday Oct 2024

Posted by in Musings, Photography, Picture of the day, Wales, West Yorkshire

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We’ve both decided it feels rather strange being back here at Bigland Towers. We weren’t away long – just 4 nights – but the pace of life on the peninsula was very different and I have to say we rather liked it. One of the things we’ve noticed since we’ve been back is the amount of traffic on the roads and numbers of cars clogging the streets. Life feels much more frenetic here. Of course, it’s not all bad. I can walk to the local supermarket (and my local pub). Plus, we have superfast broadband rather than steam-powered internet, but there was something special about having so many beaches close to hand. Coastal views give you a very different perspective and feel compared to being landlocked.

That said, we’ve made the most of a day which has proved to be sunny and mild. I’ve managed to catch up on some work and plans for the week (thank you superfast broadband!), we’ve picked up shopping to make some excellent meals – and we’ve dropped off supplies to Dee’s parents. Now it’s time to relax with a movie and enjoy a meal of spicy prawns with chorizo and garlic bread.

I’ll leave you with today’s picture which was taken on the Afon estuary outside Portmeirion when the tide had turned. Much as I like this neck of the woods you don’t get this in the Pennines.

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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/

Or – you can now buy me a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/paulbigland68312

11th October picture of the day…

11 Friday Oct 2024

Posted by in Musings, Photography, Picture of the day, Transport, West Yorkshire

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We’re winding down to the weekend here in Bigland Towers after a week that’s seen us both busy – and even at the same event for a change. Today’s been one where I’ve been housebound in order to catch up with picture editing and writing for a living in order to clear the decks for next week as the pair of us will be having a few days R&R in Wales, basing ourselves on the Lleyn peninsula. Mind you, getting out from home wasn’t that easy today as the contractors who’ve been resurfacing the road outside the cottage have been on the final stretch, laying the topcoat of tarmac and then sealing it with the company’s ‘special ingredient’ which adds durability and waterproofing. Well, that’s what one of the workers whom I had a long conversation told me when I nipped out to get pictures of their activities. To be honest, the folks who’ve been doing the work have been very good and very flexible. They know closing the road and getting people to move their cars can be an issue for some people. But hey, let’s keep this in perspective. We get a brand-new, pothole free road that will last for years at the end of it, so what’s the problem? No pain, no gain as they old saying goes (and this was hardly painful, merely mildly inconvenient). Plus, from a selfish perspective – I got to get some interesting pictures and learned something – and all I had to do was step outside my front door.

Still, more of that when I’ve the pictures downloaded and edited. Right now we’re about to call it a day, having nipped out to see if we can see the ‘Northern lights’. Sadly, there’s no light-show here in Halifax tonight – at least not at 23:00 anyway. Instead, I’ll leave you with a different sky. This was the sunset I saw from a beach on Viti Levu, Fiji, on the 9th March 1999…

I wonder if we’ll get anything to compete with this in Wales next week?

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Or – you can now buy me a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/paulbigland68312

Men at work.

02 Wednesday Oct 2024

Posted by in Musings, Photography, Photojournalism, West Yorkshire

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Here’s a slightly different blog today. These past few days the road outside the cottages and the rest of the street is being resurfaced. We’re not talking endlessly filling in potholes here, we’re talking proper resurfacing where the tarmac is being stripped back to the cobbles – where they still exist – or the surface beneath them. It’s a major operation as I reckon there’s about a mile of roadway that’s being done. Needless to say, I’ve been distracted by the work as it’s fascinating to watch. Here’s a few pictures.

The planing machine at work, stripping back the old tarmac.
How it looks from the cottage
Within a few hours of stripping back the old tarmac these guys were busy laying the base for the new road surface
A complex but well done job, especially on a road that keeps changing shape…

Of course, we could have complained about the ‘inconvenience’ of having to move cars, the noise etc, only none of us did. Instead the workers were offered tea and biscuits by people! It can’t be an easy job as the workers are constantly on the move, and whilst many of them are young (ish) there was one chap who’s 75 and still working. I won’t be around to see how far they get tomorrow as I’m working away, but I’ll get some more shots before they go – and hopefully get a personal story or two.

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/

Or – you can now buy me a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/paulbigland68312

28th September picture of the day…

28 Saturday Sep 2024

Posted by in Photography, Picture of the day, Railways, West Yorkshire

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Bloody weather – you just can’t trust it! This morning we had wall to wall sunshine here in the Pennines. It was one of those crisp days where visibility was excellent due to a lack of haze. As we had to nip over the the Colne valley next door to pay a visit to the Bolster Moor farm shop and call in at Dawn’s parent I thought I might have the chance to get some decent pictures. Train services were running normally through the valley rather then being truncated due to the route upgrade work. Even freight services were running. So, whilst Dee was helping her parents sort out some household bills I wandered out from Crosland Moor to a spot high above Milnesbridge with an excellent view of the railway viaduct that traverses the village.

All was good, until the particular train I was interested as due – a Liverpool to Drax power station train of biomass wood pellets. At that point the weather decided not to play ball and the clouds appeared. Thankfully, they were more of the light, wispy kind rather than the ones that look like they could herald the arrival of the apocalypse, but they were just as annoying! As usual with sods law – just as soon as the train had passed, so did the clouds! Ah well. The day didn’t get any better weather-wise. This evening the apocalyptic variety put in an appearance, along with yet more heavy showers – as if we haven’t had enough rain this month…

Anyway, here’s the picture I did manage to capture.

GBRf’s loco no 66729 heads across the viaduct at Milnesbridge with 6E09, the 0720 Liverpool Biomass Terminal to Drax power station loaded biomass.

The weather forecast for the beginning of next week is looking just as sodden around the country as today. Looks like Monday’s going to be a good day to sit at home writing. Tomorrow? Well, maybe just a short trip out somewhere to see something special…

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/

Or – you can now buy me a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/paulbigland68312

27th September picture of the day…

27 Friday Sep 2024

Posted by in Photography, Railways, Trans-Pennine Route Upgrade, TRU, West Yorkshire

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Today would’ve justified a rolling blog but it wasn’t to be as I was moving around too much and at short notice. I’d intended staying at home but the weather picked up and Dawn had an appointment over in Marsden, so I thought ‘why not’? and hitched a lift over to the Colne valley where I could catch a train Eastwards to have a look at progress on the Trans-Pennine Route Upgrade (TRU) around Deighton. There’s some major civil engineering going on here to allow four-tracking to be reinstated and the station to be relocated.

However, it’s not a place with a great reputation. A legal friend of mine has always been grateful to the area as it’s provided him with plenty of work. To put it another way, it’s (allegedly) so rough even the XL bully’s walk round in twos! But I couldn’t resist the opportunity to get the shot below.

Here’s the view from a local (renewed) footbridge to the West of Deighton looking back to the station. The embankment around the station’s gradually being stripped back to make room for the relocated platforms which will be on the Slow lines, whilst the first part of the new alignments been laid – even though the short length of track’s completely isolated from the current running lines.

To give a bit of perspective, here’s a shot without the zoom.

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/

Or – you can now buy me a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/paulbigland68312

15th September picture(s) of the day…

15 Sunday Sep 2024

Posted by in Food and drink, Musings, Photography, Railways, West Yorkshire

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We’ve had a home-based day today here at Bigland Towers, partly due to the weather (it’s rained most of the day until the evening) but partly because we’ve both had stuff to do. Whilst I’ve been kept occupied picture editing and type-swiping upstairs Dawn’s been busy downstairs exercising both her body and her cooking skills!

So, here’s pictures from both our activities.

Hello stranger! Class 195s are rare visitors to Huddersfield but because of the Calder valley line being closed whilst the railway bridge over the M62 at Castleton’s being replaced, the units are finding gainful employment on other routes. Here’s 195007 at Huddersfield on Friday, before working 2W24, the 1835 to Leeds.
Meanwhile, here’s one of the three dishes Dawn’s prepares today. Gluten-free apple pie. What a shame this photo’s not ‘scratch and sniff’!

Oh, whilst I’m on the theme of food and drink, here’s a rather special collaborative offering the was available in my local pub tonight.

A collaboration between Phoenix brewery in Heywood and Riverhead in Marsden this strong (6%) ale is apparently based on the famous ‘Wobbly Bob’. It’s a limited edition, so if you find it – enjoy!

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/

Or – you can now buy me a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/paulbigland68312

14th September picture of the day…

14 Saturday Sep 2024

Posted by in Calder Valley, Musings, Photography, Picture of the day, West Yorkshire

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We’ve had a home-based day here at Bigland Towers. Mainly because of unpredictable weather and too much to do – so it’s sometimes nice to refocus occasionally. Instead of scurrying around the country (don’t worry, there’s lots of that to come) the pair of us have been homebirds. Dawn’s been happy to potter around the house whilst I’ve been making the most of the good weather to finish a project on the cottage. Well, outside the cottage anyway. We have a cobbled entry that runs along the back of the row of cottages we live in. Picturesque it may be (when its not adorned with washing lines) but the problem is the cobbles soon get weed-strewn and slippery in winter. This summer I decided to fix that so I’ve been busy cementing in between said cobbles to prevent the weeds taking hold and give me a break from endless weeding. It’s taken a while due to the weather, but I managed to finish the work today. Now my OCD kicks in as I spend the next few weeks cleaning off the slightest excess mortar from the cobbles with stiff brushes!

Job done the two of us headed out on a food shopping spree. The freezer has been run-down somewhat this past week or so, which warrants a cooking spree. The weather here in the Calder Valley’s predicted to be wet tomorrow, so whilst I’m busy type-swiping and picture editing for a living Dee will be cooking up a (vegetarian) storm. I’ll be barred from the kitchen whilst she does (except to muck in doing the washing up) but I have my own recipes planned for weekdays.

No doubt there’ll be plenty of food pictures to post soon. In the meantime. I’ll leave you with today’s, which was taken on my walk home down the hill from my evening constitutional and quick visit to our local pub.

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/

Or – you can now buy me a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/paulbigland68312

12th September picture(s) of the day…

12 Thursday Sep 2024

Posted by in Photography, Picture of the day, Pubs, Railways, Travel, West Yorkshire

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Bloody hell, who turned the temperature down! Today’s felt more like October than September. This morning we woke up to temperatures in low single figures. I guess an Indian summer’s out of the question then? To top it all we’ve had weather conditions that have veered from the sublime to the bleeding ridiculous!

Much of my day has been spent type-swiping for a living, writing the second part of my round Britain odyssey for RAIL magazine, so the weather was moot. I was tucked up in the warm and dry here at Bigland Towers. It was only when I ventured out for my daily constitutional that I realised the weather forecast was about as accurate and reliable as Donald Trump. I’d not bothered taking an umbrella with me – which was a big mistake as these are the sort of weather conditions I encountered atop the valley.

This afternoon Dawn had an appointment over in Marsden in the Colne valley so I went with her, riding shotgun and taking the opportunity to get a few shots around the station.

Marsden station when an afternoon Manchester – York service calls…

That job done I popped into the revamped Riverhead brewery Tap for a pint whilst waiting.

Afterwards we spent the evening at Dawns parents where we prepared fish in vermouth* along with a vegetable medley. Simple (ish) but very tasty. Now the pair of us are back home. Bugger waiting until October – the heating’s been turned of for half an hour. I may not be a pensioner yet – or have to worry about winter fuel allowances, but there comes a point at which I’m not prepared to sit and type with blue fingers!

*like the sound of the recipe? Let me know and I’ll pass it on….

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/

Or – you can now buy me a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/paulbigland68312

8th September picture of the day…

08 Sunday Sep 2024

Posted by in Calder Valley, Musings, Photography, Picture of the day, West Yorkshire

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I felt sorry for the Rushbearers this morning. After having topped up the deficit to my sleep bank these past couple of days I was in the office at 8am – even though it’s a Sunday. The lack of light due to the gloomy skies outside would have convinced me that it was before dawn. Then the heavens opened – and stayed open for quite some time. I’d planned to do some work outside the cottage but there was no chance of that. Instead, most of the day’s been taken up stuck in the office, editing hundreds of the pictures I’ve taken over the past week. There’s far too many to post links to individual galleries, so here’s one to the ‘recent’ section of my website which will show you which galleries have been updated.

Finally, the rain eased but the clouds never released their grip on the valley. By this evening I was goggle-eyed so I sought refuge in cooking a new Indian vegetarian recipe, then getting out for a walk and a quick pint in my local – hence today’s picture.

Tomorrow’s the start of another week. Whilst Monday may be more of the same, on Tuesday I’ll be doing something completely different and a first for me. Watch this space…

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/

Or – you can now buy me a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/paulbigland68312