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Paul Bigland

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Paul Bigland

Tag Archives: Photography

16th April picture of the day…

16 Sunday Apr 2023

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

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Calder Valley, Musings, Photography, Picture of the day, West Yorkshire

Today’s been a mixed one here at Bigland towers. After yesterday’s unplanned adventures we’ve stuck very much to home. The slowly improving weather and lack of rain presented me with the opportunity to get out into the garden, tidy up and pot/repot more plants. I’ve now a haul of yellow Irises ready to go to a new home with the friends of Mytholmroyd station. Ironic really as my original specimens were rescued from canal dredging and bank rebuilding in…Mytholmroyd! The Irises have spread like wildfire over the past few years so I’m more than happy to pass some on as I reorganise the front garden. I’m also amassing a collection of Lupins as the original I put in the garden a decade ago has proved to be be rather invasive and in need of dividing. Add in this years bumper crop of herb seedlings and in a couple of years I could open a garden centre!

This afternoon the focus switched to shopping. The pair of us headed out to a couple of local Indian supermarkets to stock up on ingredients we were running low on, slab of tins of chopped tomatoes being one as we go through them like a dose of salts! Red lentils are another. Part of the reason for our expedition was the feast we’re preparing for Dawn’s work gathering next week. Sadly, I can’t make it as I’ve got to be elsewhere but I enjoy the cooking – even if I don’t get to see people enjoying the end result. Mind you, I’m cooking on a scale that means there’ll be plenty to go in our freezer as well as to feed other folks.

Now the day’s moving on and the two of us have decided to have a relaxing evening. Tonight we’re eating some of Dee’s fabulous home-made lasagne on a bed of salad leaves whilst we watch some entertaining but lightweight spy/action nonsense on TV. We’ve chosen ‘Operation Fortune: Ruse De Guerre’ on Amazon Prime. Directed by Guy Richie, it stars Jason Statham and Hugh Grant along with many other names, providing some good action sequences and quite a few laughs. Hugh Grant as an arms dealer is particularly good. So, whilst we enjoy that I’ll leave you with today’s picture which comes from yesterdays trip out to Oxenhope and Haworth. On the way back we took the road along the Northern edge of the Calder valley which offers some fantastic views. This shot was taken high above Mytholmroyd looking South-West.

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

Thank you!

A fun Friday in’t Calder valley…

14 Friday Apr 2023

Posted by Paul Bigland in Calder Valley, Community rail, Community Rail Network, Food and drink, Musings, Mytholmroyd, Photography, Railways, West Yorkshire

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Community rail, Community Rail Network, Food and drink, Musings, Mytholmroyd, Photography, West Yorkshire

Today’s certainly been a sociable one and very much a game of two halves – and that included the weather. This morning we awoke to what threatened to be makings of a sunny say, even though temperatures were sub-par with frost on the ground. My optimism rose with the sun, even if the temperatures didn’t. Dawn had to leave for an appointment over in Ossett whilst I stayed indoors wading through emails and paperwork, planning next week (which is looking rather diverse, providing different blogs from different locations). The pair of us arranged to rendezvous over in Mytholmroyd at lunchtime with me letting the train take the strain.

It was a great plan until it came time for me to leave the house. That’s when I realised the weather had turned to ratshit again and my plans to get pictures along the line were a wash-out. Mind you, poor Mytholmroyd’s used to washouts as its recent history of flooding attests to. The reason the pair of us were visiting was the AGM of the friends of Mytholmroyd station which was being held in a church hall adjacent to the station. Like many buildings in the village it’s been underwater several times as it sits next to the Cragg Brook which has regularly burst its banks to flood the town when the nearby Calder’s done the same. Now, some very expensive flood defenses protect the town, so although the weather was miserable we weren’t worried about being deluged.

The AGM turned out to be a great event. Dee and I have known the group for a long time and have made some great personal friends. Their meetings – which whilst they get the business done – are also social events. The food’s pretty good too! We were treated to home-made tray-baked steak pie (with a cheese version for veggies) along with peas, gravy and mint sauce – the classic pie and peas!

Suitably stuffed the attendees got down to business. Just under 30 people attended which included representatives from train company Northern, the new Community Rail Partnership which covers the whole of the Calder valley line and my wife representing Community Rail Network. Me? I was there to record the event and muck in any way I can. It was a very positive event despite the problems the rail industry’s facing at the moment. There’s lots of things to look forward to with the rail network in the Calder valley which is seeing an increase in passenger numbers with more to come as the place increases its profile as a tourist attraction and as an important diversionary route during the trans-pennine route upgrade.

To add to the calorie intake we were treated to home-made cake as a thank-you to Sue Mitchell who was standing down after many years from her role as Secretary of the group. Not that she’ll be retiring completely. Her partner Geoff was reelected as Chair! Here’s a few pictures from the event.

Meetings don’t have to be miserable. Geoff Mitchel (standing) talked about events whilst Richard Isaacs from Northern (behind the laptop) kept this part of the meeting in order.
Retiring Secretary Sue Mitchell was presented with gift vouchers and a gorgeous home-baked cake which was divvied up between attendees.
Pie and peas, coffee and cake, positive actions and laughter – what more do you need to be persuaded to join active community groups like this?

Meeting over Dee acted as a taxi to drop people off and keep them dry before the pair of us headed home for part two of the day. Having spent a couple of hours working it was time to head up to our local pub (The Big 6) to join friends for the Friday quiz. Admittedly, choosing to walk there probably wasn’t the wisest move as the rain was still pelting down but hey – at least we got in the steps!

Sadly, our regular quizmaster Mel wasn’t able to make it so the job of reading out the quiz questions fell to me by popular demand. My accent-neutral enunciated tones weren’t as much fun as Mel’s broad Lancashire but I got the job done. Dawn doesn’t normally manage to make or Friday gathering due to work commitments so today was a bonus as not only was Dee there but the rest of the ‘5 from the 6’ were too – which gave us chance to talk about our next joint adventure to Istanbul in three weeks time.

Now the pair of us are back at home having a relaxing night in. Tomorrow’s going to be another busy day but we both have hopes that Sunday many finally live up to its reputation as the day of rest – we’ll see. So, I’ll end today’s blog with a cartoon from the Pub Paper that I read the two quizzes from tonight. It seems rather appropriate…

Oh, before I go, I should mention that next weekend Mytholmroyd is hosting a very unique and very local event. The World dock pudding championships. Never heard of dock pudding? No, neither had I until I moved here. Sadly, we have an appointment elsewhere which means we might struggle to attend, but I’m determined to do so one year…

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

Thank you!

12th April picture of the day…

12 Wednesday Apr 2023

Posted by Paul Bigland in Musings, Photography, Picture of the day, Sowerby Bridge, West Yorkshire

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Musings, Photography, Picture of the day, Sowerby Bridge, West Yorkshire

Another less than vintage day here in the Calder valley as the weather forecast wasn’t far wrong. Whilst last night’s high winds had dropped by this morning the rain returned, making this a rather wet Wednesday. As if that wasn’t enough to lower one’s mood I ended up in a frustrating fight with technology for several hours. I’d planned to update my eBay account to reflect the new postal rates but the site kept crashing which was rather annoying. Undeterred, I started consolidating 2023s pictures from various hard-drives only to find one decided to play-up by refusing to copy over large folders. I ended up needing to leave my machine running and go for a walk whilst it huffed and puffed but at least that way I got some exercise – even if it was in the rain. I suspect I’m going to have to invest in a new portable hard-drive although I rarely need to use them nowadays except for extra storage and as a back-up whilst I’m travelling – although cloud-based services offer enough space to do that now – as long as you have an internet connection, which is where the hard-drives still come in useful.

Come late afternoon I decided ‘bugger this for a lark’ and retreated to the kitchen to knock up this evenings meal. I made a Chana Masala from scratch. Cooking is one of my therapies and today that was needed! There’s plenty left over for portions to be frozen for another day, although we did polish off the last of the chapattis – something else to add to the shopping list. Much as I like preparing Indian meals from scratch I’m quite happy to buy ready-made Chapattis!

As for tomorrow, another day struggling with technology beckons I reckon – and yet more indifferent weather. Still, as always – there’s plenty to do. Now, what picture can I entertain you with today? I’ve not been out with the camera for a few days now because of time limitations and the weather, but I did come across this with the camerphone the other day when I was walking along the canal. Here’s when you only have a narrowboat but want to channel your inner Viking…

Storage is always at a premium on narrowboats but these boxes with solar-panel roofs are a nifty way of solving the problem – and decorative too!

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

Thank you!

11th April picture of the day…

11 Tuesday Apr 2023

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

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

There’s not much of a blog from me today. Not that there’s nothing to say, rather that there’s too much and I’m not in the mood for polemics. Much of my day has been spent catching up on bits of work and planning my diary, a task made slightly harder when a a press lunch invite is sent out (so entered into the diary) only for it to be cancelled without reason just a few hours later. Ho hum!

My morning was spent glued to my desk, which wasn’t much of a hardship as the weather here in the Pennines has been pretty miserable with lots of cloud, temperatures way short of double-figures and buckets of rain. I did venture out this afternoon as I needed to drop a parcel off at the Post Office in Sowerby Bridge and pick up a few bits of shopping, but it wasn’t much fun walking back along the canal as the rain decided to follow me. Even the dog walkers I passed looked like they’d rather be somewhere else. I know the feeling!

This evening the rain appears to have stopped, but only because the winds sprung up. The forecast suggests we’re in for another wet and blustery day tomorrow so it looks like another day working from home is the best plan. No matter, I’ve got plenty to be getting on with…

With the weather being so miserable I’ve opted for a more colourful picture today so here’s one from the archives. I didn’t really make it to a beach on my recent Asia travels, unless you count stopping off to admire one whilst waiting for a bus on Penang Island. In retrospect I wish I’d had some beach time, but it wasn’t to be. Here’s a beach I used to frequent on a regular basis but I haven’t been back for 20 years now and I doubt it looks this empty anymore. This is the long beach at Arambol, North Goa, India seen on the 31st January 2000.

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

Thank you!

10th April picture of the day…

10 Monday Apr 2023

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

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Musings, Photography, Picture of the day, West Yorkshire

Don’t you just love Bank Holidays? Today’s was very traditional in that it was a complete washout. Yesterday was iffy but Easter Monday here in the Calder Valley was awful. Whilst the morning seemed fair to middling the afternoon was one of persistent rain and gloomy light levels that made you think you were in Winter, not Spring. There was no chance of getting out for a decent walk without getting soaked so the pair of us stuck to the indoors until the afternoon when meagre sunshine broke through the storms long enough to allow us to nip out to do some food shopping. Please Sir – can I go back to Asia?

Now it’s late evening and the only solace has been food. I knocked up a stir-fry earlier using some of the leftover Duck from yesterday which has been followed by Dawn’s superb ginger puddings.

I’m looking forward to normal service being resumed tomorrow as I’ve lots of things I want to get done. I’ve never been a great fan of the Easter bank holiday. I was always happiest when I was working across them and earning the money to spend when no-one’s charging premium prices and the kids are back at School! Still, there’s lots of things to look forward to in the next couple of months and my May Diary is packed to say the least. In the meantime, expect a few blogs from here and there as I stretch my legs around the UK on assignment for various clients.

With the weather being so crap today I’ve been limited in what pictures I can take, so today’s another foodie shot. Ginger pudding and cream anyone?

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

Thank you!

9th April picture of the day…

09 Sunday Apr 2023

Posted by Paul Bigland in Food and drink, Huddersfield, Musings, Photography, Picture of the day, West Yorkshire

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Food and drink, Musings, Photography, Picture of the day, Travel, West Yorkshire

Today’s been one of those rare days that has absolutely nothing to do with railways. Instead it’s been all about the holiday – and food…

Dawn’s been a busy Easter bunny over the past couple of days, cooking up an absolute storm as we’ve spent to day with her parents over in Huddersfield, having prepared a festive feast for the four of us. I played my part as kitchen assistant and chief washer-up, but the lions share of the work’s been done by Dee. We’ve eschewed the traditional Easter fayre of lamb and went for pork and duck instead. But even that wasn’t particularly traditional as the Duck was served cold or in a stir-fry medley mixed with Hoisin sauce. So, for the past few days our cottage has been filed with the most delicious smells as the pork was prepared in a slow-cooker and the duck in the oven.

The idea was to get as much prepared at home before we ferried the food (and ourselves) over to Dee’s parents where everything was assembled in their kitchen. Oh, I forgot to mention the home-made gravy with apples, Shallots, Dijon mustard, celeriac, white wine, chicken stock and honey garlic and Thyme. Then there was the pork crackling, made from the fat off the joint and crisped to perfection at home. Plus – as a dessert – sticky Ginger puddings with a ginger wine and brandy sauce…

Feeling hungry yet?

In preparation for such a repast the two of us stretched our legs and burned off a few calories by wandering around a local beauty spot. Beaumont Park is on the edge of the valley looking out towards Castle Hill and a place called Armitage Bridge. It was the nearest I got to a railway today as there’s an impressive viaduct below which allows Penistone line services to cross the gap.

Now, having stuffed ourselves, we’re back at home. The surplus food’s stashed away. It’ll feed us for the next few days, allowing us to concentrate on other holiday activities. We’d planned to have a long walk tomorrow but the forecast isn’t looking like the weather’s going to play ball. Even so – tomorrow’s a day for just the two of us. We’ll get out somewhere – we just don’t know where yet. Meanwhile, i’ll leave you with today’s picture, which is one of the views from Beaumont Park. I must come back with the proper camera one day…

With Castle Hill in the background, the Honley viaduct on the Penistone line dominates this view from Beaumont Park.

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

Thank you!

Stalybridge rebuilt…

08 Saturday Apr 2023

Posted by Paul Bigland in Photography, Rail electrification, Rail Investment, Railways, Travel

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Photography, Rail electrification, Rail Investment, Railways, Travel

On Friday I paid a visit to Stalybridge station to see the result of the engineering blockade that had transformed the stations Western junction. This is been totally remodelled and resignalled. The resignalling has extended to the Eastern side of the station although the track layout here remains unchanged. As well as track and signals a large number of overhead electrification masts and portals have appeared, although there’s still many more to be installed at further weekend engineering possessions before the wires can be extended.

Here’s a selection of pictures showing how the place looks now.

Looking West to Stalybridge Junction from the end of platform 3. This junction was remodelled as recently as 2011. This time some of the switches have been removed and replaced with a flat crossing (just out of sight around the curve). The formations been expanded by the removal of the old ATO oil siding in the far left, which has allowed tracks to be slewed. The remodelling appears to remove conflicts and certainly allows for faster line speeds across the junction.
Bi-mode 769424 pulls into the bay platform 5 with a Southport-Stalybridge service.
185151 approaches platform 3 working 2E73, the 1158 Manchester Piccadilly to Huddersfield.
185151 sits waiting time in platform 3. The newly installed portals are very much in evidence.
802208 approaches from the East whilst working 9M10, the 1006 Newcastle to Liverpool Lime Street. The new portals have usurped the signal gantry that was installed (at great expense) at this location in 2012.
And there it was – gone! The substantial signal gantry that was installed as part of the original Trans-Pennine electrification scheme but (apparently) was now in the way of the revised scheme for some reason. It’s no wonder many rail improvements cost so much money when plans constantly change and investment like this is wasted. It’s seen here in 2016.
New signalling and OLE masts that have been installed at the East end of the station between platforms 3 and 4.
Looking East along platforms 5 and 4 with new masts and portals in place where the former through tracks were situated.
Looking along the railway viaducts by Waterloo Road. The bracket where the 2012 signal gantry was fixed to the side of the piers remains.
185107 calls at platform 4 outside the famous buffet bar whilst working 1K23, the 1354 Liverpool Lime Street to Hull.

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

Thank you!

5th April picture of the day…

05 Wednesday Apr 2023

Posted by Paul Bigland in Calder Valley, Musings, Photography, Picture of the day, Railways, TPE, West Yorkshire

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Calder Valley, Musings, Photography, Picture of the day, Railways, Travel, West Yorkshire

Yesterday we had wall-to-wall sunshine, today we’ve had wall-to-wall rain! It’s been a thoroughly miserable one here in the Calder valley. Half the time you couldn’t even see the valley tops. Still, I had plenty to keep me at home today so the my time wasn’t wasted. I managed to finish editing all my pictures from last weeks trips to Nottingham and the various HS2 sites – as well as yesterday’s jaunt over to Manchester and Stalybridge. I’ve also made a serious dent in some paperwork as well as getting another selection of recent eBay sales off to the successful bidders. So, all in all – not a bad day. The eBay sales involved a trip down to the post office in Sowerby Bridge so I still managed to get in my daily constitutional, even if I was looking rather soggy by the time I returned. I’m missing the warm rain of SE-Asia!

Another day working from home beckons tomorrow as I’ve a load more stuff to stick on eBay as well as adjusting the postage rates for the previous batch of stuff that remains unsold. It’s a chore but it has to be done. Hopefully, by Friday I’ll be free to sally forth once more…

Yesterday’s pictures can have been divided between several galleries. There’s Northern rail services here, Trans-Pennine services here and infrastructure and engineering pictures here.

Now, having cooked a meal for the pair of us (Dee’s still slaving away over her keyboard downstairs. The end of the financial year’s a mad time for her work, which involves long hours) it’s time for me to switch off at least. Therefore I’ll leave you with today’s picture which features on of the current crop of Trans-Pennine express services diverted via the Calder Valley. The Diggle route via Stalybridge reopens on the 7th April so these trains will revert to their normal paths during the week until the next blockade takes place. I’ll bring you pictures of the rebuilt Stalybridge station just as soon as I can.

TPE’s Hitachi built unit 802209 speeds through the classic old station at Hebden Bridge with 1P32, the 1543 Newcastle to Liverpool Lime Street, making an interesting contrast from the staple diet of Northern DMUs which work the line.

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

Thank you!

4th April video of the day…

04 Tuesday Apr 2023

Posted by Paul Bigland in Manchester, Photography, Picture of the day, Railways, Travel, West Yorkshire

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Manchester, Photography, Picture of the day, Railways, Travel

Only a short blog from me today, but I hope you enjoy it. Today was another one of those that didn’t quite go to plan as I was busy slaving away in the office this morning then thought ‘bugger it, this weather is too good to waste’ so I packed my kit and headed over to Manchester via the Calder Valley to catch some of the last Stalybridge blockade diverts and also visit Stalybridge itself – which was a bit of a time-consuming faff on rail replacement buses. On the bright side I got to see parts of Manchester I’ve never seen before – and some that I never want to see again!

I’ll write more about this at a later date. But the most surreal part of the trip was when I stopped off at Todmorden on the return. As I wandered along the Leeds bound platform I heard a quacking noise from the other side of the platform fence. When I looked I realised I was being accosted by two ducks. Said ducks then stuck to me like glue all the way along to the end of the platform. They wouldn’t leave me alone and even started pecking at my boots through the fence. I get the impression that some kind soul has been feeding them and now any passenger is seen as a meal ticket! In all my time travelling the railways I’ve never seen anything like it! So, here’s a short video of my two feathered assailants…

If you ever go to Tod’ – take food!

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

Thank you!

3rd April picture of the day…

03 Monday Apr 2023

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

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Musings, Photography, Picture of the day, West Yorkshire

Today’s been one of those ‘dolly mixture’ sort of days where I’ve been doing allsorts (you’re mixing your sweetie metaphors: Ed). I’ve had a full calendar trying to catch up on work after having been away, so I’ve a large inbox of picture editing to clear. Then there’s been the usual paperwork to sort out – plus the fact I had a visit booked to an Osteopath for a check-up. I did manage to add a load of the High Speed 2 pictures I’ve taken to my Zenfolio website which you can find here.

I’m pleased to report that the Osteopath was very impressed with my old bones and their skeletal alignment so gave me a clean bill of health. Well, after freeing some tension in my neck with an armlock and a resounding ‘crack’ – but apart from that ‘dem bones’ is doing fine. The appointment was over in Lindley which is a lovely suburb of Huddersfield. I’m assuming it’s a village that’s been subsumed by an expanding town back in Victorian times, but it retains it’s own charm and a range of shops, cafe’s and pubs that give it a distinctive feel – as you’ll see in today’s picture. Dawn’s been visiting the same Osteopath for a little while to try and sort out a couple of niggles she has and it was Dee’s suggestion that I get myself checked out after the problem I had whilst I was away. Carrying a camera bag that often weighs 12-13 kilos or more can play havoc with your muscles – as I’ve found out a couple of times in my career.

Appointments over we called into a local garden-centre to restock out collection of herbs. The winter hadn’t been kind to some of our long-established plants as we lost the Rosemary and Thyme – although I’m happy to say the Parsley and Sage survived, so we’re halfway to a song there! Having bough what we needed and acquired a load more compost I spent a couple of hours in the garden on our return. It was an ideal afternoon for it. We’ve had a lot of sunshine today and you can feel the heat returning as the year rolls on. So, all in all – it’s not been a bad day.

Now it’s time to enjoy the evening before another busy day tomorrow but before I go I’ll leave you with today’s picture. There’s a lovely old (Edwardian) clocktower in Lindley. I feel it has a faint Germanic air, what do you think?

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

Thank you!

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