Category Archives: West Yorkshire

The Rover’s return…

12 Sunday May 2024

Posted by in Musings, Politics, Railways, West Yorkshire

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I’m having a quiet weekend here at Bigland Towers. Following all my travels earlier this week its lovely to be able to have the odd lie-in and not have to be constantly on the move. Plus, poor Dawn was struck down by the Lurgi whilst I was away so I’ve had to don my nurses uniform once more.

I’ve plenty to keep me occupied. I’ve 1000s of pictures to sift through and edit which is going to keep me busy for several days. Then there’s cooking, washing and all the other stuff needed to keep the place running whilst Dee recuperates. Oh, then there’s still keeping up walking over 12.5k steps a day.

Another thing that’s filled time is watching the latest political psychodrama involving Natalie Elphick, the Tory MP who’s defected to Labour. Many on the left and centre left are unhappy about this due to her history. But this is politics, and my view is that it’s been a clever move on Labour’s party due to the damage it’s doing to Sunak and the Tories. For every vote Labour *may* lose because of it, they’re likely to gain far more in swing seats which are the ones they need to win to form a Government. Mind you, watching the Tories losing it because of her defection is really rather delicious. By trying to smear her they’re proving how inept they are as these revelations and cover-ups happened when she was still a Tory MP!

This evening’s been spent cooking and listening to the thunderstorms that have arrived to put an end to the day after some glorious sunshine. Now it’s time to relax before another busy week. In the meantime, here’s a couple of pictures from the editing queue.

Siemens built RRX trains in the depot at Dortmund, seen during my press trip on Tuesday.
Not your usual view of the London Underground. Here’s Oxford Circus on the Northbound Victoria line.
Looking through the bridge beams at HS2’s Thame valley viaduct. Not a view many people will ever get to see…

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

Rolling blog. Homeward bound…

10 Friday May 2024

Posted by in London, Photography, Railways, Rolling blogs, Travel, West Yorkshire

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07:00.

My time away has come to an end. Today I head home for a while until the next adventure. But first I’ve got to get there. Thankfully, the main rail strikes are in abeyance today, but last minutes changes are still possible. Let’s see hoe things go. First off it to get across London to begin the journey North. Today I’m taking that trip via the Midland Main Line…

08:15.

The pair of us are now speeding up the Midland Main Line on a very empty (and very dirty) Meridian, the first of the class in fact. Talk about tired – the train that is – not me! This one has the new seat mocquette but the quality of the fitting leaves a lot to be desired. The carpets are still threadbare and the paintwork inside and out is in a terrible state.

Not exactly London’s busiest rail service…

11:45

I said goodbye to Hassard at Derby. He went off to his meeting whilst I stayed to make the most of the good weather to get some library shots before catching an onward service to Sheffield. Here’s a couple of camera pictures.

The Meridian I’m on now (set 13) is lucky for me as at least you can see out of the windows in this train. We weren’t so lucky in the last one…

Still, it’s swings and roundabouts. The wifi doesn’t work on this set – unlike the last one!

13:15.

Well, that was fun. I joined a 4-car Cross-Country Voyager bound for Edinburgh for the leg between Sheffield and Leeds. It was rammed! I was ‘lucky’ enough to find a space to stand opposite the disabled toilet in the rear car. It was taking a hammering due to the amount of drunks sat in the same vehicle (and others elsewhere). I have to give full credit to the Train Manager, despite the obstacle course he needed to navigate he still managed to make a full ticket check!

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

Rolling(ish) blog. Best laid plans…

22 Monday Apr 2024

Posted by in Manchester, Photography, Railways, Rolling blogs, Travel, West Yorkshire

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11:15.

I was full of good intentions today. Dawn’s away on Platt family duties down in Surrey whilst I’m at home in West Yorkshire, so the idea was I’d be up and out at ‘sparrow fart’ and exploring with the camera. Then, last thing last night, I saw the weather forecast and thought ‘uh-oh!’. Still, I set my alarm for 06:45 with the optimism that things might get better. Only my alarm didn’t go off. I was woken at 07:00 by a phone-call from Dawn, who’d been woken early by the sunlight streaming through her window. In contrast, I was woken up to this view from our bedroom window.

Sowerby Bridge, literally under a cloud…

Bugger! Why didn’t I go with Dee when I had the chance?

So, instead of being out and about I’m having a morning at home, catching up with some bits and picture editing. I was out yesterday when the weather was very different – as this shot from Todmorden shows. Blue skies and cherry blossom. What more could you want?

This afternoon I’m going to head over to Manchester regardless as I’ve arranged to meet up with an old friend (Hassard, who you’ll have seen mentioned in many previous blogs) who’s up her from London for work. Hopefully, I’ll be able to get a few useful pictures and find a few things to blog about. Feel free to pop back later to see what I get up to…

13:05.

Finally, I’m on my way. As you can see from this picture, the weather hasn’t improved here in the Calder Valley. The Wainhouse Tower in the background (we live just beneath it) is disappearing into the clouds. I can only hope traversing the Pennines does it’s usual trick to bring better weather.

14:10.

I stopped off at Todmorden en-route in order to grab something to eat before catching a different train. To be honest, ‘Tod’ as it’s known to locals, deserves a blog all of it’s own. It’s a curious little place full of contradictions that I haven’t got time to describe now. I nipped over to the market but as it’s Monday the only things that were open were the coffee shop and this little bar, which looks to have amazingly cheap prices. I’ll revisit soon.

The Market Tavern, inside Todmorden market hall.

Managing to source a sandwich from a local supermarket I made it back to the station in time to catch the 13:54 towards Manchester. It should have been working Headbolt Lane (Kirkby) to Blackburn was was terminated at Todmorden due to late running. Apparently, there’s been a bridge-strike somewhere which is causing quite a few delays.

This is a Class 150/156 lash-up. The Class 150 has been cascaded to Northern from another operator. You wouldn’t know unless you’re sharp-eyed as there’s one tell-tale in this picture.

16:10.

Sadly, the trick of crossing the Pennines into better weather has failed today. There’s rain-filled, leaden skies here too. Even so, I decided on a little side trip to visit a station I’ve been meaning to stop off at for years. Bromley Cross, on the line from Bolton to Blackburn. I’d have got there yesterday, but the train from Blackburn was rammed with pissed football supporters. Testosterone, Tribalism and alcohol’s a heady mix, so I decided to wait for another day. Unfortunately, that day’s been a rainy one!

As well as retaining one of its old station building Bromley Cross possesses one of the few working signalboxes in the North-West. Nowadays it’s kept to protect the station’s foot-crossing as there’s no footbridge.

21:20.

Homeward bound. Having returned to Manchester to meet up with Hassard the pair of us had a fun few hours catching up whilst sampling some of Manchester’s ale houses. Like this one in the Northern Quarter.

Now I’m heading back across the border into West Yorkshire to prepare for another adventure tomorrow. Hopefully, one where the weather plays ball…

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

Rolling blog. More TRU travels…

17 Wednesday Apr 2024

Posted by in Photography, Railways, Rolling blogs, Trans-Pennine Route Upgrade, Travel, West Yorkshire

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09:30.

Today we have blue skies and sunshine – and little threat of rain. So, having finished the paperwork that I needed to do I’m heading out with the camera to have a look at more progress on the Trans-Pennine Route upgrade. I’ll blog throughout the day (easier as I’m only going local) so feel free to see what I get up to and where. Right now it’s time to pack my kit and head down to Sowerby Bridge station…

11:35.

Having caught the train from Sowerby Bridge my first stop was at Mirfield where I had to change trains anyway. For once TRU work was in full swing during the day.  I’m assuming that’s because the work in question was sheet piling – which is an activity that’s best carried out during daylight hours if you want to be a good neighbour!

Mirfield piling work.

Right now I’m taking my ease at Ravensthorpe as there’s a couple of interesting train workings due – and I have time to admire TRU progress before strolling on to Dewsbury. Here’s how the site of the new Ravensthorpe station looks as more of the old embankment’s removed.

14:00.

Whilst it was sunny at Ravensthorpe the wind was less than kind. Whilst I was there an old chap turned up with his video camera and stepladder. Apparently, a steam train was due (I didn’t know as I don’t pay the preserved world much attention). He plonked himself in the worst possible location on the bridge, leaving the TRU staff having kittens as part of the road bridge is closed whilst the one lane open has a steady stream of HGVs coming on and off the TRU construction site. Having sympathy and understanding I  stayed out of the way, but even so one member of staff came and tried to persuade me what was a public right of way wasn’t. I gently stood my ground and pointed out that – as I was stood behind a lampost on a pavement if my safety was in danger they need to look at the quality of their HGV drivers rather than me!

(evening update)

On checking various websites I’ve found that Ravensthorpe Road and the bridge are indeed officially closed to traffic until June 10th, although pedestrians are allowed to cross for now. So, I’d advise any photographers to stay away from the area until then as there’s a lot of HGV traffic and there’s other locations that can be used in the meantime.

Still, I can sympathise with their concerns. I wouldn’t have dreamed of glueing myself to where ‘flat cap’ did and assured the chap I’d be out of his way soon. Here’s what I snapped whilst I was there.

The empty Preston – Lindsay oil tanks hauled by 70814 pass Thornhill LNW Junction at Ravensthorpe.
Rebuilt ‘West Country’ Pacific 34046 ‘Braunton’ working a Northwich – York charter.

Moving on I caught a train to Huddersfield to see how the ongoing roof removal’s impacted on the station.

Roof in retreat. The first few spans of the main trainshed roof have been removed at the West end of the station.

Having grabbed the shots I wanted I caught a train across the Pennines to the other part of the TRU work, where the overhead wires are now in place in Stalybridge. Here’s the view looking West towards Manchester.

Stalybridge looking East. This is as far as electrification will get for the foreseeable future as little work is taking place between Stalybridge and Huddersfield and there’s no timetable for the wires to be extended.

21:15.

I’m now home and it’s time to bring this blog to a close. By late afternoon the clouds closed in, leaving me playing ‘tig’ with the sunshine (and the rain). There seemed little point in battling out with the weather as it always wins! Instead I nipped into central Manchester to pick up some edible supplies from Chinatown before heading back home via busy rush-hour trains on the Calder valley.

Tomorrow’s another (different) day which will see me in DIY rather than photographic mode as we’re back to rainy days. Still, it’ll keep me out of trouble – and the wet!

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

16th April picture of the day…

16 Tuesday Apr 2024

Posted by in Flora and Fauna, Musings, Photography, Picture of the day, The USA, Travel, Weather, West Yorkshire

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I know April is renowned as the month of showers, but this is getting beyond a joke! It’s been more like four seasons in one day here in the Calder valley. After yesterday’s little jaunt I had a full diary for working from home, which was just as well as low temperatures and a chilly wind really didn’t encourage one to venture far. That said, when the sun did break through the skittish clouds you could feel the warmth there, it’s just that it was fighting a losing battle with the elements. As the pair of us had a productive and profitable morning we’d arranged to go for a walk just after lunch but the weather had other ideas! One minute there was glorious sunshine streaming through the windows, the next they were being assailed by hailstones! Thankfully, our walk was merely postponed rather than rained off. Conditions soon changed, allowing us to venture out to complete a two-hour circuit which also encompassed a bit of shopping. All the while I kept a wary eye on the skies as we could see storm clouds dropping heavy rain all around us. Fortunately, they kept away from our little patch right up to the last moment, allowing us to make it in the front door before the next onslaught. One of the beauties of living where we are is that when we’re out walking locally we’ve panoramic views around all points of the compass, which gives us time to run for cover if needed.

We survived, but I worry that some of my poor plants may have taken a battering from the weather. Ironic really as only the other day my mother-in-law was telling me I’d planted stuff out too early. So, that’s me for another ticking off then!

Tomorrow the weather may stay dry – although temperatures will be anything but balmy. We’ll be lucky to escape a frost tonight. I’ve some more paperwork to do tomorrow, but if we get the sunshine levels predicted I may venture out with the camera whilst I can. If nothing else, the cherry blossom’s putting on a wonderful display right now and worth pointing a camera at. Although it’ll struggle to match this famous display which forms today’s picture. I took this shot in Washington DC, a city famous for its cherry blossom. Here’s how it looked on the 3rd April 2007.

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 April picture of the day…

14 Sunday Apr 2024

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

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We’ve had another relaxed Sunday here at Bigland Towers, although it’s not been a day without either exercise or achievement. This morning Dawn was busy with her knitting needles, enjoying a productive hobby she’s rediscovered. Me? I was busy at an old hobby – gardening. All the bedding and other plants I’d purchased over the past week are now in situ in window boxes and flower beds at both front and back of the cottage. This afternoon we decided to continue the ‘feeling virtuous’ theme by going out for a walk in the country. Admittedly, it wasn’t as long as some but we did explore an area where we’d never walked before. Rather than staying local we drove over to Pecket Well to walk to a nearby waterfall at Lumb Hole. Considering how hilly this neck of the woods are there’s surprisingly few waterfalls so we were pleasantly surprised to find this one. It’s off the beaten track and not the easiest place to get to. The approach is down a bridleway that’s seen better days. The path’s badly eroded and overgrown. I doubt a horse has been down it for a very long time as even Shetland ponies would struggle to fit under the trees that have encroached along the route!

Still, it’s worth it when you get there…

Another bonus of the day was the fact it didn’t rain once – an event that’s as rare as rocking horse shit nowadays!

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

9th April picture of the day…

09 Tuesday Apr 2024

Posted by in Food and drink, Musings, Picture of the day, West Yorkshire

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Today’s been another miserable, wet and windy day here in the Pennines, so the pair of us have hardly left Bigland Towers. Both of us had work to occupy ourselves with so it was no loss. An unexpected reply from a client kept me occupied digging through my archives to find the pictures they were after, which kept me tied up long enough that I missed the window for getting out for a walk in the dry. I ended up donning full waterproofs to prevent me getting soaked as I did a circuit of our local woodlands, which are getting very soggy underfoot. Still, it could’ve been worse. I see other parts of the country have taken an even worse battering with Cornwall being badly hit and railways in Northumberland and Wales flooded or washed out.

There’s no sign of these conditions letting up either, which is bad news for farmers trying to cope with flooded fields in the sowing season. My recent travels have made me appreciate just how much of the countryside remains sodden after record rainfall. Hopefully, I’ll be able to get out with the camera later in the week if conditions improve. In the meantime, there’s always work to do at home – although some of it can be more of a pleasure than a chore. Like today’s picture. I haven’t posted one of these for a while but tonight I took over the kitchen from Dawn to assemble a spicy dish that’s become a staple dish for stocking up or freezer – Chana Masala. Here’s the raw ingredients, prepped and ready for cooking…

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

7th April picture(s) of the day…

07 Sunday Apr 2024

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

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We’ve had a fairly low-key weekend here at Bigland Towers, partly because of the weather but also because it’s good to take your foot off the pedal sometimes. On Saturday the pair of us headed over to Ossett as Dawn had an appointment. Me? I couldn’t resist the opportunity to visit the ‘Beer Huis’ which has an excellent selection of bottled beers from around Europe and the UK.

Afterwards we went out for lunch at a place we’d passed many times but never called in before. The Rams Head Inn at Denshaw, on Saddleworth Moor. Getting there was fun as the latest storm had kicked in and the winds were epic high up on the moors. But the Rams Head was cosy and the food very good. The menu wasn’t huge but all the better for it as what they had they did very well. For once the two of us plumped for the same thing, the home-made pie – which was excellent, as were the trimmings. It came with chips, a mixture of vegetables and gravy, but this was real gravy – not stuff made out of something from a jar. The pie was equally excellent, with no doubt that the pastry was home-made and the filling was full of meat. The staff were lovely too. If I had one complaint it’d be the fact they only had one real ale on (Tim Taylor’s ‘Landlord’). Even so, we’d certainly be visiting again.

Today (Sunday) we’ve been battered by the weather yet again – which is getting rather tedious. The land around here just can’t hold anymore water. Roads and footpaths are regularly becoming streams and the damage that’s causing is very visible – and not much fun to navigate. So, apart from a quick visit to the supermarket and me getting rained off during a walk we’ve both stayed busy at home. Dee’s been the hostess with the mostest – cooking up some fantastic veggie food whilst I’ve kept busy editing all the pictures I’ve taken over the past few days. Here’s one of them.

After 50 years of neglect and retraction the lineside lineside at Crow Nest Junction had become overgrown. Now, with electrification on the way the land inside the boundary fence has been cut back to prevent accidents in the future.

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

Trans-Pennine (TRU) changes in West Yorkshire. 3rd April 2024.

03 Wednesday Apr 2024

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

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Today I had a little job to do in Huddersfield, which I managed to combine with a look at some of the Trans-Pennine Route upgrade (TRU) work as well as a meander from Huddersfield to Dewsbury. To be honest, the weather wasn’t exactly promising. But tide and tide – or in this case a 10 day rail blockade wait for no-man! Huddersfield station was closed to all rail traffic so the first leg of my journey was by the dread rail replacement bus service. Only in this case it was rather easy. The buses left from right outside the station where there were plenty of staff on hand to point you to the right one. I caught a coach as far Deighton, the first stop up the line. This was no battered old vehicle, instead, Star of Batley provided a brand new Volvo. Shame there was only two of us passengers!

I’d come to Deighton as major work was underway to reprofile the railway embankment on the Northern side of the line. Deighton station’s going to be completely rebuilt as this section of line will regain four tracks. Here’s what I saw.

The Flannery machine in the foreground’s working on what will be the new Fast lines.
As you can see, there’s some serious earth-moving going on! Meanwhile, the workers behind the platform fence are cutting back the vegetation.
Looking East from the footpath down to the Huddersfield bound platform at Deighton. The arch was over the former Kirkburton branch which left the main line at this site. The branch closed to passenger traffic in 1930 and freight in 1965, although traffic ran for a mile along the branch to an ICI works until 1971. As I had time to kill before the bus arrived I ventured down a rubbish strewn path off the main road to check out this – the old seven arch Whitacre Mill viaduct.

Hopping aboard the following RRB an hour later I turned out to be the only passenger for the trip as far as Mirfield, travelling along a route that often followed the existing railway whilst passing the remains of many others.

Was it something I said?

This area was once rich in local lines all of which (apart from the Trans-Pennine route) are history. On the bright side, the journey did show me a few new photographic locations which I’ll do my best to exploit over the course of the year.

Rejoining the railway at Mirfield I had time to check-out progress around the station, which has seen more of the former platform 2 fall to bulldozers as the site’s slowly cleared to allow the new station and track layout to take shape.

Catching the next available train I moved up to Ravensthorpe, an area which is also undergoing major changes. The station here will be moved to the West of the existing junction to the site you see in this picture.

.GBRf’s 66769 hauls TRU engineers train 6G88, the 1353 from Heaton Lodge East Jn to Belmont Down Yard over Thornhill LNW Junction and the site of the new Ravensthorpe station.

Rather than wait for the next train I decided to stretch my legs and walk from Ravensthorpe to Dewsbury. It takes 45 minutes, but it’s hardly the most scenic of trips. This is not a rich area. It’s a mixture of old and new industrial sites, shops and homes. Like much of post-industrial West Yorkshire, it’s seen better days. There’s a distinct lack of civic pride all along the route, with litter-strewn streets, unkempt building and closed and empty shops.

Empty and disused shops on Calder Rd on the way from Ravensthorpe station.

Despite the roughness, you still come across some interesting architecture. This unusual building caught my eye. It’s part of Our Lady & St Paulinus church on the way into Dewsbury.

That was as good as it got! I took a detour off the main road down to the River Calder which I followed into town. Well, I say footpath. It was more of a linear rubbish dump and really quite depressing. Then again, you could say that it’s a good preparation for Dewsbury itself!

There was one ray of sunshine, although today wasn’t my day for sampling it. The excellent West Riding refreshment room on the railway station is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. It’s well worth a visit – even if you swerve the rest of the town and never leave the station. Although, if you did, you might be pleasantly surprised when visiting the old Calder and Hebble Navigation canal wharf in Savile town and the Leggers Inn. There’s also some good cycle routes on the old railway nearby which is part of the Spen Valley greenway.

Sadly, the weather closed in once I’d reached Dewsbury so there was little left for me to do but return home. However, this won’t be my last visit by any means. I’ll do regular (irregular) updates on the TRU work and nearby sites of interest as the work progresses.

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

Back from the Easter break…

01 Monday Apr 2024

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

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S’cuse the lack of blogging recently but I’ve taken time off over Easter to concentrate on other things. However, the break is almost over, so normal service is about to resume. The pair of us have stayed at home over the holiday. Partly because we’d only just got back from a few days in West Yorkshire, but also because getting away over Easter can be expensive and a pain in the arse! Instead, we stayed local, but we were hardly inactive as we’ve been out and about in our local area and indulged in some good food. On Friday, after Dee had finished sorting out the end of the financial year for her work the pair of us walked into Halifax in order to get some exercise and explore. Despite it being the holiday, the place wasn’t as busy as we’d expected, but this became a common theme through Easter. Saturday saw us pottering around at home before the pair of us got ‘dressed up’ for meal with my in-laws over in Honley, near Huddersfield. It’s a pretty little village with a variety of places to eat/drink. We’d booked early evening at Punch, a tapas bar we’ve frequented several times before as the food’s always good. The place was packed when we first got there but by 20:30 it was almost deserted, which really surprised us. Staff didn’t even bother resetting the tables as they had no second sitting booked. Is this a new phenomenon nowadays – people coming out earlier rather than later, then going home afterwards? We enjoyed our night regardless as the food was plentiful and tasty.

Yum! Prawns to the fore…

As the weather remained good on Sunday we decided to stretch ourselves physically by walking all the way from home to the Robin Hood pub in Cragg Vale, high above Mytholmroyd. Normally we’d eat there after our exertions (the food’s fab) but with it being Easter we decided to be flexible and take sandwiches instead.

The cosy bar…

It was a wise move as the restaurant area was busy as was the bar, with a constant stream of dog-walkers passing through. By the time we’d walked back along the canal and uphill our Fitbits told us we’d completed 33,000 plus steps (or over 15 miles).

Industrial heritage and ruins along the Rochdale canal at Luddenden Foot

Such a stroll meant we’d earned the lamb shanks Dawn had put in the slow-cooker before we left, which we enjoyed with a healthy selection of vegetables. Well, if you can’t have lamb at Easter…

Today the weather’s been typical for a bank holiday. Miserable! We’ve had rain and low temperatures for most of the day. You couldn’t even see the other side of the valley for most of it. So, our plans – which originally included various home and DIY tasks became more of a ‘duvet day’ – at least for the first part! Now, with the bank holiday almost over it’s time to prepare for another hectic week. I hope my readers who’re celebrating Easter have had an equally enjoyable time.

Next week sees me resume my travels around the rail network as there’s a lot to catch up on. A tak made easier by the fact the clocks have changed with the days getting longer. Expect a few more rolling blogs and pictures. But for now, good night!