20th February picture of the day…

20 Saturday Feb 2021

Posted by Paul Bigland in Architecture, Musings, Picture of the day, Scotland, Travel

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Architecture, Musings, Picture of the day, Scotland, Travel

Apologies for the lack of blogging these past few days but I’ve simply not found the time to do any! Instead, I’ve been scribbling for a living, writing my latest article for RAIL magazine which will be appearing sometime in the next few weeks. The article’s not on my usual subjects but about a mental health and crisis charity based at Huddersfield station. I’ll say more bout that when it’s published.

Besides scribbling I’ve continued scanning old slides and finished off yet another album. The last one contained a plethora of pictures from around the UK taken in 2000-2001 which has provided me with a rich back-catalogue for picture of the day, as will the next one in the queue. The latest album goes further back in time – to 1993-94. It starts off in India, then back to the UK before moving on the Denmark, then Bali, Indonesia. There’s some wonderful memories locked into these images but also sad feelings because so many pictures feature Lynn, who died 8 years ago now, in 2013. Even so, it’s lovely to look back and remember, especially now that my wings are clipped by Covid and our virtual ‘house-arrest’! At least I have the pictures to remind me what the wider world looks like – as well as give me inspiration for places I want to return to when lockdown is finally released and life starts to return to normal. In the meantime, I’ll keep occupied and wait for my turn to be vaccinated. I’m not one of these people worried about possible side-effects of the vaccines. They’re mild compared to the possible side-effect of catching Covid: Death.

You may be wondering why this blog’s appeared so early in the day. Well, today’s my mother-in-Law’s 80th birthday so Dawn and I are cooking a meal for Norah and John. We’ve been in a bubble with them since lockdown began and – as Norah can’t have a party or celebrate such a landmark birthday in the way we’d like, we’ve arranged something a little more intimate – along with a little surprise…

Norah’s birthday means I won’t be around until late, so – without further ado, here’s the picture of the day.

I took this shot in Glasgow on the 21st March 2001 when I was on tour to get pictures for a forthcoming Lonely Planet guide to Scotland. This is the magnificent University of Glasgow building at Gilmorehill in the city’s West End. Built in 1870 it was designed in the Gothic revival style by George Gilbert Scott (who also designed St Pancras Station in London) with other features such as the spire to the belltower added by his son Oldrid in 1887.

You’ll be able to find this and many more pictures from Scotland (and elsewhere in the UK) in this gallery on my Zenfolio website after tomorrow. You can even buy copies.

I’ll be back to blogging tomorrow as I’ve a host of things to write about. I’m hoping to (finally) produce my much-delayed blog on progress with building the new HS2 high-speed railway…

I’ve a favour to ask…
If you enjoy reading this blog, 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 to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site – and right now (because of Covid), us freelances need all the help that we can get. Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website – https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/

Thank you!

16th February picture of the day…

16 Tuesday Feb 2021

Posted by Paul Bigland in Architecture, London, Musings, Photography, Picture of the day, Travel

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Architecture, London, Musings, Photography, Picture of the day, Travel

Life today could best be described as ‘plodding’. That doesn’t mean it’s been a bad day – far from it but excitement and surprise don’t really feature much in these Groundhog Days. Instead there’s slow progress in this, that and the other, but nothing that inspires or really makes the heart sing. Still, I shouldn’t complain as our cage is gilded compared to many and there’s no shortage of (repetitive) things to do. Funny old world though, isn’t it? Who would have thought that one day we’d all be looking forward to the day we can go to a clinic to get a jab and it would be a highlight of your year and news of its reception something you’d proudly share with friends on social media?

So, anyway – here’s the picture of the day to brighten things up. It’s taken from the latest batch of slides scans. This particular image was shot on the 5th March 2001 and shows the wonderful exterior of the Natural History Museum in South Kensington, London. I have a passion for architecture and architectural photography, although this was one of a series from a list of pictures wanted for a Lonely Planet guide to London.

Built in the 1870s in the Romanesque style the exterior makes wide use of architectural terracotta tiles which helped protect the building from the city’s polluted atmosphere. They also make it gorgeous to look at and feature many relief sculptures of flora and fauna to add to the attractions. As usual, you’ll be able to find the full selection of pictures from London in this gallery on my Zenfolio website.

Thank you!

15th February picture of the day…

15 Monday Feb 2021

Posted by Paul Bigland in Engineering, London, Photography, Picture of the day

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Engineering, London, Musings, Photography, Picture of the day, Travel

Wow! After such a long spell of absolutely perishing weather we’ve actually had a day where the temperature made it into double figures at the right end of the thermometer! Being able to walk without being swaddled in scarves, hats and gloves made an extremely pleasant change – as did the fact the heavy rain we’d had the other day had washed almost all of the snow away and the day stayed dry. One was almost tempted to believe Spring may be on the way but it’s going to take more than one day of mild weather to convince me of that. Even so, I’m beginning to think it might be time to fettle the front garden and clear up the garden bench in the hope that we can spend less time cooped up indoors…

Still, whilst we are, I have plenty to keep me occupied. I’ve a stack of articles to write and pictures to scan. One of the latest batch forms today’s picture. I took this shot of the Albert Bridge in London on the 14th January 2001 which was a crisp clear winter’s day with some glorious low winter sunshine. The Albert Bridge is of a rather unique design, although it’s been modified a couple of times since it opened in 1873. Along with Tower Bridge to the East it shares the distinction of being one of only two Thames road bridges that have never been replaced.

Seen here from the North Bank of the Thames, the slender Albert Bridge is an attractive and graceful structure.

When I’ve finished editing the newest scans from London later this week you’ll be able to find them in this gallery on my Zenfolio picture library website.

Thank you!

14th February picture of the day…

14 Sunday Feb 2021

Posted by Paul Bigland in Picture of the day, West Yorkshire

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Picture of the day, West Yorkshire

Another very short blog from me today as it’s Valentine’s day and time to be concentrating on other things. Dawn and I have had a lovely, relaxed time and made the most of it with food, fun, laughter and even a bit of walking as the sub-zero temperatures are finally taking their leave. OK, the rain’s arrived and we got a bit wet, but what the hell – it’s better than freezing!

Today’s picture was taken yesterday. The pair of us headed over to the Bolster Moor farm shop to pick up supplies for today’s meal. On the way back Dee spotted this critter foraging for food in a field by the side of the road so we pulled up and spent half an hour watching this beautiful Barn Owl’s aerobatics.

We often hear Owls in the woods surrounding our house but never get to see them, so spotting one out in the open like this was really exciting. Thankfully, I’d packed the camera in the car ‘just in case’…

Thank you!

13th February picture of the day…

13 Saturday Feb 2021

Posted by Paul Bigland in London, Picture of the day, Travel

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London, Photography, Picture of the day, Travel

Sorry folks, it’s been an odd day so there’s no preamble (or ramble) from me today. There’s just a picture instead. This is one from the latest batch of slide scans. I took it on the 15th December 2000 from Greenwich Park in London, looking across to the burgeoning blocks of Canary Wharf where the new city was rising. Strange to think how confident and outward looking the UK seemed in those days – long before the introspection and madness of Brexit.

Thank you!

12th February picture of the day…

12 Friday Feb 2021

Posted by Paul Bigland in Musings, Photography, Picture of the day, Wales

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Musings, Photography, Picture of the day, Travel, Wales

Well, what can I say about today that doesn’t read like a teenagers diary (got up, had breakfast etc)? It’s been bloody cold, there’s still snow on the ground and I’ve performed many of the same actions that I’ve performed most days for the past few months. Yep, it’s just another lockdown ‘Groundhog Day’. The only difference being the other members of our bubble (Dawn’s parents) popped over as John wanted to replace an element in our cooker. Like many ‘simple’ jobs, it proved to be anything but – especially as John’s 86 and was doing the sort of job a lot of far younger (and less fit) guys would struggle with! Aided and abetted by his wife Norah they go the job done but we did feel guilty for letting them choosing this way to repay us for the help we’ve been happy to give them.

Meanwhile, Dee and I cracked on with day jobs. Part of mine has provided the picture of the day. I took this shot in Beaumaris, Anglesey on the 26th October 2000. I was touring parts of North Wales at the time ticking off pictures from a shot-list for a forthcoming Lonely Planet guide to Wales. Many of the shots I took were used although this one wasn’t but it still remains a favourite. Partially because I have family connections with the town, but also because I love the light.

Looking down the pier at Beaumaris across the Menai strait to Snowdonia.

Thank you!

11th February picture of the day…

11 Thursday Feb 2021

Posted by Paul Bigland in Architecture, Musings, Photography, Picture of the day, Southport

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Musings, Photography, Picture of the day, Southport, Travel

I had a day off (of sorts) yesterday. Well, from blogging anyway. The pair of us were up early as the both of us had work to do in Huddersfield. Dee was at the Community Rail Network office whilst I had a fascinating couple of hours with a charity (Platform 1) who’re also based at the railway station. I won’t go into too much detail now as my article will be appearing in a future edition of RAIL magazine – but it won’t be about trains. Charities like Platform 1 have really stepped up to the plate to provide services to some of the most vulnerable in society during the pandemic. Their work’s invaluable at the best of times, but these are the worst of times.

Back at home in the warm (remember, I’m not used to spending January/February in the UK) I spent the afternoon writing up my notes and continuing to scan old slides – a process I’ve continued today as I’m back in the bosom of the Calder Valley with nowhere else to go! Well, in the real world anyway. Picture-wise I’ve been to Merseyside, Denmark, Essex, Sussex, back in London – then Greece – in my own personal time-machine which has transported me back to the year 2000.

This has given me a huge range of images to choose from for the picture of the day, which has been a difficult choice. In the end, I plumped for this. Of all the places, I’ve gone back to the town I grew up in, but that’s because the picture’s worthwhile. I took this shot on the 15th April 2000 whilst visiting my family. This is the old Southport pier being demolished.

But, fear not. It was being demolished in order to be rebuilt. The original 1860 iron structure was rotten after 140 years of being exposed to the elements – and the sea. Yes, I know the old jokes about the sea never coming in at Southport, but it does – honest! Once upon a time you could catch steamships from the end of the 1000m long structure (the 2nd longest pier in the UK) to resorts on the North Wales coast. Nowadays it’s a lot quieter, but it still provides some wonderful views along the coast. If you want to see some more pictures of the pier during and after rebuilding, you can find them here.

Thank you!

9th February picture of the day…

09 Tuesday Feb 2021

Posted by Paul Bigland in Photography, Picture of the day

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Musings, Photography, Picture of the day, Travel

We’re well and truly back in ‘Groundhog Day’ mode this week with freezing weather, icy winds and snow showers throughout the day that just make you want to stay indoors, keep warm and wait for the world to reopen – which (apart from a foray to get some shopping and a bit of exercise) was pretty much what I did. Most of my time’s been spent scanning dozens more old pictures whilst catching up on other work projects for the future. My office was cozy and the pictures I was dealing with took me to all sorts of exotic locations, which made up for some of the stir-craziness. I’ve not had chance to edit them yet, that’ll be done over the next few days, but I have selected one as the picture of the day, just to remind you that there is a wider world out there and winter’s just a season.

I took this shot of Rosthwaite and the Borrowdale fells in the Lake District on the 16th June 2000. A group of us had driven up from London for a long weekend in the lakes and our timing couldn’t have been better as the weather was superb.

I’ve a mixture of pictures from India, Denmark and the UK to add to my website this week, but when the English ones are done you’ll be able to find them in this gallery.

Thank you!

8th February picture of the day…

08 Monday Feb 2021

Posted by Paul Bigland in India, Musings, Photography, Picture of the day, Travel

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India, Musings, Photography, Picture of the day, Travel

We’ve had another perishing day here in West Yorkshire, with temperatures that never got above freezing, coupled with biting winds and snow flurries throughout the day. Fortunately, the worst snow fell on the hilltops above us, so we’ve remained pretty much unscathed.

The week’s not started off in great fashion as we had to take Jet, our cat back to the vets for a check-up and found he needed antibiotics for a mouth infection. The boy old boy’s been through the mill over the past week, so we could have done without that – but hey ho…

On our return we both decided ‘sod it’ and took time out for a drive out in the snow for a change of routine and scenery, anything the break up the monotony of yet another ‘Groundhog Day’. Venturing up to Mount Tabor we caught the full force of a snowstorm blowing in, which was quite spectacular as the road started disappearing in minutes. Fortunately is soon blew itself out so we ventured further afield to the opposite side of the Calder valley up above Rishworth to areas we hadn’t explored before, then joined the A58 Rochdale road to venture across the border into Lancashire at Littleborough before swinging East to come home. We didn’t leave the car at any point so we didn’t feel bad about bending the lockdown rules slightly. Besides, it was great for our sanity to be able to see something and somewhere outside of the everyday routine.

The weather forecast is predicting more snow over the next few days. We’ll have to see how that goes as we’re both meant to be working in Huddersfield on Wednesday. Time (and the weather) will tell…

Back at the ranch we we grateful to be in the warm and I continued with sorting through old slides, which has provided me with the picture of the day – one of the latest batch from India. It’s also a reminder that – despite whatever problems we’re experiencing, others have life harder. I took this shot in Ahmedabad, the capital of the Indian state of Gujarat on the 21st February 2000. Ahmedabad was an Indian version of Manchester 60 years ago with the city skyline dominated by factory chimneys. At one time I counted almost 50 of them from the roof of my hotel, although by 2000 this number was in decline. The cotton trade and other heavy industries meant that there was a lot of demand for goods to be carted around the city and human muscle-power moved a lot of it as men, women and children pulled hand-carts like this through the traffic-clogged and polluted streets.

You’ll be able to find the full selection of Indian pictures in this gallery on my website. The latest batch include an Indian wedding as well as more shots from Ahmedabad. I’ve only a few dozen more to add, then we move on to a selection from somewhere very different to India. Denmark!

Thank you!

7th February picture of the day…

07 Sunday Feb 2021

Posted by Paul Bigland in Musings, Picture of the day, Travel

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India, Musings, Photography, Picture of the day, Travel

There’s an old Jethro Tull song about ‘a cold wind to Valhalla’ – and that’s certainly how it’s felt today. The weather’s been perishing. We’ve escaped the latest snowfall where we are, but only by about 100 metres as you can see the tops of the valley around us capped in white. Despite this I was determined to get out and make up for my lack of exercise yesterday – and so I did – because it may have been bloody cold but that meant there was no rain. Instead we had desultory attempts at snow that were easily brushed aside.

My perishing perambulations took me down into Sowerby Bridge to pick up some shopping before returning to ‘chill’ in my office and sort out some more old slide scans, hence the latest picture of the day. After suffering what’s been very much a monochrome world here’s something very different. I took this picture at the ‘flea market’ in Anjuna, Goa, India on the 2nd February 2000.

Here’s a tribal family selling home-made clothing of the sort that catches many a European’s eye. They’ll happily sport such attire around India, but you just know it gets consigned to the back of the wardrobe (or charity shop) when they get home! No matter, it provided a steady income for these Indian families and helped keep some old crafts alive.

I always enjoyed the flea market at Anjuna as it was such a fantastic place to people watch. You can find more pictures from the market in this gallery.

Thank you!

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