Tag Archives: Picture of the day

23rd March picture of the day…

23 Thursday Mar 2023

Posted by in Politics, Travel, West Yorkshire, Photography, Merseyside, Picture of the day

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Today wasn’t a bad day to have been working from home as the weather’s been changeable to say the least – and not exactly balmy either. We’ve had shower after shower interspersed with heavy cloud, bright sunshine, rainbows and wind. I didn’t mind too much as I’d plenty to keep me occupied at home including editing all the pictures from the past few days. They’ve been captioned and placed in several different galleries on my Zenfolio website. If you’re a transport nerd I’ve pretty much covered all bases. You can find ships here. Aviation here and even some buses here. On the railway front there’s pictures of Trans-Pennine Express as well as Northern and Merseyrail. If freight services are your bag I’ve also added a few shots of loco-hauled GBRf trains. Right, everyone happy now?

Ah, that leaves me with one problem. What to choose as the picture of the day…

OK, there *is* one picture I’ve not added to anything yet. It’s one I took in New Brighton the other day and it’s of a pub sign that became rather famous due to the subject matter. Folk on Merseyside are well-known for humour and directness when it comes to politics. You can get into some great discussions on the latter on both sides of the Mersey (unless you venture into Tory Cheshire) where the heat of political discussion is almost always leavened with acerbic wit.

This particular establishment (formerly the James Atherton on Victoria Rd) decided to make their feelings known about Boris Johnson and Matt Hancock. Considering yesterday’s events when Johnson made an arrogant, unapologetic and entitled arse of himself in front of the Parliamentary Standards Committee this seems rather appropriate.

Some folk may be wondering why I’m referring to Merseysiders rather than ‘Scousers’. There’s a simple reason for that. ‘Scousers’ is a term that only applies to those born in Liverpool – not elsewhere on Merseyside. So, people from Birkenhead (the ‘wrong’ side of the Mersey) and satellite towns outside the city real Scousers call ‘Woolybacks’! I was born in the L9 district of Liverpool. Therefore, by an accident of birth (and a long story) that makes me a Scouser. ‘alright’!

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!

22nd March picture of the day…

22 Wednesday Mar 2023

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

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Today was one of those days that didn’t really go to plan because of the bane of the outdoor photographer’s life. The weather. It started well enough. I was working from home, wading through all the pictures I took on Merseyside yesterday whilst also dealing with emails and other correspondence. But I could see the weather was ideal for photography. Dawn was going into the Community Rail Network office in Huddersfield for a meeting with Network Rail and TPE so she suggested I might want a lift into town. It sounded like a good idea to me as I could get pictures of some of the Trans-Pennine Route Upgrade (TRU) work and diverted services for the the archive. I really should have checked the weather forecast first…

All was well until we got to Huddersfield, the weather looked cracking. Then I dug the camera out. Just as soon as I did dark clouds marched in from the West – bugger! Huddersfield station was quiet as only a few services were running (to Sheffield, Bradford Interchange, Marsden, Leeds and Hull) the busiest place was the station forecourt where fleets of coaches were ferrying people across the Pennines to Manchester. My plan was to hang around for half an hour before catching the first available train to Brighouse where I’d intended to get a series of lineside shots of the TPE services diverted via the Calder valley, only the bloody clouds followed me and the weather got gloomier – and wetter. I ended up retreating to the Market Tavern in order to have a pint and make a series of work phone calls to make something of the day whilst hoping the weather would clear again. It teased me a couple of times with brief flashes of sunshine, but then the rain arrived so I gave up and came home via a train to Sowerby Bridge before slogging up the hill to home and my desk. Ho hum!

Still, I did get the picture of the day at least. The friends of Brighouse station have done some fantastic work over recent years, transforming the station with plants and flowers. Now they’ve branched out and added a series of local history boards which tale the tale of the town and some of its inhabitants. One in particular caught my eye. Do you remember the old song about the man who broke the bank of Monte Carlo? Well, he was real – and he was local…

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!

20th March picture of the day…

20 Monday Mar 2023

Posted by in Flora and Fauna, Musings, Photography, Picture of the day, Politics

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Not a great start to the week this week. I’ve been pretty optimistic since my return from Asia but today (for a variety of reasons) that optimism evaporated. To be honest with the UK the way it is at the moment optimism is a bit of a slog. One only has to look at the mess the Government is making of the rail industry (and as a consequence – net zero) to see that. Add in the fact that once again bankers have been wankers and done their best to crash the global economy, plus a few issues closer to home and it’s hard to feel anything other than pessimism and ‘what am I doing here?’ It will pass. It always does, but there’s no denying the world’s in a mess right now and the UK feels like a failing country. Not that the Tories seem to care. They seem to have given up any real hope of winning the next election on the basis of any competency. Instead they’re cutting back spending to save money for election bribes whilst planning to fight their next campaign on ‘culture wars’ rather than anything tangible. Let’s face it, they’ve no claim to economic competence (Brexit, anyone?) and corruption has been rampant, so what else is left other than to sow more division with such nebulous crap as the ‘war on woke’ whilst at the same time trying to demonise trans people and their rights. It’s straight out of the American far-right playbook of course – hence the ridiculous huffing and puffing over drag acts being a ‘danger’ to children – as if no-one remembers watching mainstream TV in the 1970s where you had Danny la Rue and Stanley Baxter with their own shows, or the Two Ronnies and Les Dawson, and let’s not even mention pantomime. I have a feeling that the next election is going to be a very nasty and divisive affair with repercussions that will go on long after the result is declared.

I know, I’m a right ray of sunshine today, but this is my blog so my rules – and feelings!

Anyway, I’m hoping for a better day tomorrow. In the meantime, here’s today’s picture which adds a splash of much-needed colour to life. I spotted this plant in the gardens by the bay in Singapore but I’d no idea what it was. I’ve now been able to identify it as . Mussaenda erythrophylla, otherwise known as Ashanti blood.

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!

19th March picture(s) of the day…

19 Sunday Mar 2023

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

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Today’s been Mothers day so the focus has been on Dawn and her family as I lost both my parents many years ago, whilst Dee still has hers. This has meant Dawn’s spent much of the day in the kitchen cooking or preparing a range of dishes for us to take to her parents house in nearby Huddersfield for a special Mothers day meal.

To be honest, Dawn was so organised and efficient most of my contribution was relegated to doing the washing up and helping keep the kitchen tidy whilst Dee sorted out a shoulder of lamb that had been prepared in a slow cooker overnight, then got stuck into baking. As I was supernumerary, I retreated into my office to do some more picture editing and be on call when there was more washing up to be done. I have my uses!

Needless to say, the smells that wafted up from the kitchen were gorgeous. Cooking done and clothes changed we drove over to Dawn’s parents in order to prepare the final meal. Apart from a traffic jam at Ainley Top by the M62 where some poor bugger had broken down and caused a tailback the roads were surprisingly quiet. That said, judging by the amount of men I saw buying flowers yesterday I suspect most of West Yorkshire was doing similar things to us!

Both Norah and John were blown away by the meal. Dawn’s an excellent cook and always delivers something special. The lamb was falling off the bone delicious – as was the gravy which was thickened with liquidised veg (pre-cooked garlic, carrots and onions) that had been used in cooking the lamb. This made for a really rich gravy, full of body that was an ideal accompaniment to the meat. As a dessert we had Dee’s (gluten free) apple pie made with cinnamon and Sultanas.

Now the pair of us are back at home, getting ready to start a new week. So, today’s pictures are very much food based as I can’t resist showing off what we had. Back to the diet tomorrow then…!

Gluten free Apple pie, plus a small Rhubarb crumble for ourselves.
Slow cooked Lamb henry and all the trimmings
Happy mothers Day!
Gluten free apple pie…
The luscious apple pie filling…

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!

18th March picture of the day…

18 Saturday Mar 2023

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

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Today was hardly a shining example of the rock and roll lifestyle, but it’s been an enjoyable one nonetheless. Besides, I’m meant to be too old for that sort of thing nowadays, allegedly!

The pair of us enjoyed a relaxed Saturday morning drinking coffee and catching up with the world via social media. I can’t say that much of the news is wonderful or uplifting, there’s far too much trouble in the world for that, but I try to be optimistic. I’d have liked to have got out for a walk but the weather was determined to thwart my ambitions by constantly hurling showers in our direction, so I decided trying to finish off my picture editing was a better use of my time.

The pair of us did get out in the afternoon but only to do a car trip to various shops and supermarkets around the area to stock up on various staples and goodies in order to prepare a Mothers Day lunch for Dee’s mum tomorrow (Dad eats for free!). At least this trip took us out of the Colne valley as we visited the Bolster Moor farm shop in the nearby Colne valley to pick up some lamb. The drive was really enjoyable as cresting the summit between the two valleys offers some fantastic views which were made more spectacular by the various cloud fronts dumping pockets of rain hither and thither. Yorkshire’s brilliant at moody skies like this.

Now, back at home, Dawn’s been busy in the kitchen prepping food for tomorrow. I have to admit, I’m very lucky to have such a talented and enthusiastic cook for a wife – although I will be mucking in to help tomorrow to spread the load. Whilst Dee’s been busy in the kitchen I’ve been occupied in the office trying to get my final selection of Asia pictures captioned and on my website. I’m almost there. You can find new railway shots here, travel pictures here – and some shipping shots here.

Now it’s time for the two of us to come together for some quality time and relax, so I’ll leave you with today’s picture which gives you an idea of what the weather’s been like up here recently. Here’s looking across the Calder valley down to Sowerby Bridge.

It’s hard to believe February was unusually dry here. It seems the rain was waiting for me to get back!

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!

17th March picture of the day…

17 Friday Mar 2023

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

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Today’s ‘poets day’, an acronym I learned back in the 1980s when I joined the London Borough of Tower Hamlets as a Housing Officer. It stands for ‘Piss Off Early, Tomorrow’s Saturday’. Not all of us could of course, but if we could release colleagues who could, we would. Those days seem such a long time ago now, but the acronym’s stayed with me.

My (present) day’s been spent working from home whilst hosting my in-laws for a lunchtime coffee. We haven’t seen each other since I got back from Asia and they fancied a run over from Huddersfield so today seemed like a perfect opportunity. It was lovely to see them and it made a welcome break from staring at computer screens. Visit over, I spent another couple of hours working before thinking ‘bugger this, it’s Friday and the weather’s good, let’s get out’ – which is what I did by walking down into Sowerby Bridge before heading back up the hill to join up with old friends in the ‘Big 6’ in order to exercise our brains with the Friday quiz. After two months away it’s been lovely to catch up with people, although I’m not sure slipping back into that pub culture is a good or bad thing. It’s certainly a lot less international than my last ‘local’ in Georgetown – even if the seats are more comfortable!

Now I’m back at home, wrapping up the day whilst Dawn cooks up one of our favorite dishes, spicy Prawns with Garlic bread so I’m ended this blog now. Today’s picture is back to architecture and Merdeka 118, the new building that dominates Kuala Lumpur’s skyline.

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!

16th March picture of the day…

16 Thursday Mar 2023

Posted by in Flora and Fauna, Malaysia, Musings, Photography, Picture of the day, West Yorkshire

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The pair of us have had another busy day here at Bigland Towers. Dawn’s been slaving away in her home office downstairs, having her day packed with online meetings and vast amounts of paperwork and spreadsheets. Remember the concept of the ‘paperless office’? It never happened, but at least this houshold doesn’t generate anywhere near as much as we once did.

Whilst Dee was busy downstairs I’ve been kept busy upstairs. I’ve almost finished editing and captioning my Asia travel pictures. The latest batches can be found if you follow these links to either the rail or travel images. Out of the pair of use I was the luckier one as I was able to tear myself away from my desk for an hour late this afternoon in order to complet my daily walk which I combined with a visit to our local supermarket to post some mail. I even made a detour via our local pub, the ‘Big 6’ for a quick pint. We visit infrequently nowadays. This was my first time over the threshold since I got back from Asia. Appropriately, the beer I chose was a pint of Elland brewery’s ‘Tank Engine’, a zesty pale ale at 4.8%. After a few months away where the only beer that passed my lips was lager it was lovely to taste a proper pint of bitter – but just the one mind!

When I returned home Dee was still bashing the computer keys so I took over domestic chores including cooking. Well, reheating really. I didn’t have to prepare anything fresh. Instead, we’d taken one of Dee’s home-cooked prawn and chorizo risottos out of the freezer. They’re spicy, filling and delicious! Now it’s time to switch off and relax for the rest of the evening before another busy day tomorrow. Dawn’s in the CRN office tomorrow but I’ll be at my desk in order to finish off the last few Asia pics which will leave me free to focus on other jobs next week – and even get out with the camera to catch up on the UK rail scene – although I’m not sure where I’ll go yet. There’s plenty to look at West of here, so it all depends on the weather.

Now I’ll leave you with the picture of the day, which has nothing to do with architecture or trains for a change. This time it’s flowers. I’d no idea what this particular bloom was that I’d photographed in Kuala Lumpur but it’s been identified thanks to my old friend Peter Mugridge. Here’s Cheilocostus speciosus, or crêpe ginger.

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!

15th March picture of the day…

15 Wednesday Mar 2023

Posted by in Air Travel, Architecture, Musings, Photography, Picture of the day, Politics, Singapore

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It’s been another busy and varied day here at Bigland Towers, most of it spent holed up in my office, tying to clear-up a backlog of picture editing, paperwork and other administrative chores. I’d hoped I might have got out with the camera for a while, but it wasn’t to be. The weather’s improved slightly in that we’ve not had wall to wall rain but the low cloud and grey skies have hardly been conducive to slipping out. Instead I made the most of my desk time. I’ve almost cleared the picture editing/captioning backlog. You can find new additions from my Singapore sojourns on My Zenfolio website. The travel shots are here and the rail shots are here.

Of course, today was also budget day. I resisted the temptation to watch as I was working as I knew I’d only end up shouting at the TV at the sheer brass-neck of Hunt and Co claiming what a wonderful job they’re doing of running the economy and how the country’s safe in their hands. As soon as they have to claim the budget won’t just help the rich you know the opposite is true. Meanwhile, the OBR predicts the UK will avoid recession in 2023, but the economy will shrink by 0.2% and we’ll have the biggest fall in spending power for 70 years which makes Hunt’s budget look like little more than tinkering to shore up the Tory vote (hence the pension changes that benefit the rich), Some of the other stuff announced was so trivial and banal it gave the game away. Levelling up? Nah, we’ve ditched that idea by deferring building HS2 North of Birmingham for two years to ‘save’ money (although that’s been proven to be a lie by the leak of the Government’s own assessments) instead Hunt announced £200m this year to help local councils in England repair potholes. Well, that’ll really turn things around, won’t it? Honestly, talk about a Government without an ambition or vision – or contact with the real world! Oh, and don’t get me started on the freezing of the fuel duty escalator for the nth year in a row. That’ll cost £6bn this year and hardly help the government reach its net-zero target. It’s yet another populist measure that shows winning an election is all that matters. The environment (and the planet) be damned!

Meanwhile – in that real world – the banking sector is in danger of going into another meltdown. The collapse of America’s Silicon Valley Bank has been followed by a crisis at Credit Suisse which has spooked the global markets even more. The FTSE lost 3.83% of its value today, the biggest fall since the start of the Covid pandemic, wiping out all of 2023 gains to take us back to December 2022. The global economy – already rocked by the Ukraine war – could be entering even choppier waters and with the UK’s economy having so many underlying weaknesses (and an incompetent Government) we’re more susceptible than many. I genuinely hope I’m proved wrong on this one as I’m fed up of living in uncertain times.

All this has meant I’ve been in pensive mode today. Having returned from Asia I’ve tried to remain optimistic, but when I see the state of the UK it’s hard to maintain that sometimes. I visited one of our local supermarkets today to pick up some more shopping and the way prices have increased just in the two months I’ve been away was a shock. Inflation may be going down later this year, but does anyone seriously think that means prices are going to decline? When I look at the cost of living here compared to Malaysia and Thailand…

Anyway, I’ll try and find my optimism again soo. I’m sure it’s here somewhere…

In the meantime, here’s today’s picture – which is another from my Asia trip. Regular readers will know of my interest in and love of architecture. Whilst I was wandering around Singapore I spotted these old spiral staircase fire escapes. I love the style, shapes and colours so couldn’t resist grabbing a picture.

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!

14th March picture of the day…

14 Tuesday Mar 2023

Posted by in Musings, Photography, Picture of the day, Singapore, Travel

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Now I’m back in the UK I’m returning to the picture of the day format for daily blogs as life isn’t going to be quite as exciting or colourful here in dear old Blighty although I have do some interesting trips and visits planned over the next few months. Today wasn’t one of them! Dawn had to go into the Community Rail Network office in Huddersfield whilst I was half tempted to go for a wander with the camera as the weather this morning was gorgeous. It was one of those crisp sunny mornings that really make you want to enjoy the day, but the forecast showed that it wasn’t going to last. The forecast was spot on. By lunchtime heavy cloud had enveloped the valley, closely followed by heavy snow showers but the snow didn’t stick as the ground was so sodden.

Deciding I was going to be more productive at home I retreated to the office to continue paper shuffling and picture editing until late in the afternoon when I decided exercise was more important. Wrapping myself up in waterproofs I strolled down to Sowerby Bridge. I’d half a mind to try and get a few pictures of the Trans-Pennine Express services which are being diverted through the Calder Valley due to the engineering blockade at Stalybridge but the weather didn’t play ball. Mind you, the lateness of the day and the position of the sun (when it shone) didn’t help. Maybe tomorrow as I’m still readjusting to the UK weather after two months in Asia where it’s much more predictable – and a damned sight warmer!

Back home I knocked off early in order to take up cooking duties whilst Dawn was at work. We’d purchased all the ingredients for a Thai green curry, a dish we both really enjoy so I spent a happy hour chopping chicken and slicing veg before filling the kitchen with some delicious smells to welcome Dee when she walked in the door.

Now it’s time to wind down for the evening and leave you with today’s picture, which is another from my recent Asian travels. Singapore has some amazing architecture – old and new. This includes stations on their metro network, especially on some of the newer lines. They’re essays in glass and steel, but each one’s different. Here’s Stevens station on the Thompson-East Coast line which only opened in November 2022.

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 January picture of the day…

09 Monday Jan 2023

Posted by in Musings, Photography, Picture of the day, Religion, Singapore, Travel

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This is my penultimate blog from the UK for a while as I head off to Heathrow tomorrow morning before catching an evening flight to Singapore. Today’s been spent preparing, getting (nearly) all those last minute chores ticked off the list before completing my packing and picking up a few last minute odds and sods. Anything I’m missing now will be acquired in Asia – but not Singapore as that’s ‘chingy’ (not Changi, that’s the airport). Much as I enjoy Singapore it’s economy means prices are steep for that part of the world. Even so, I’m looking forward to getting back there, although from what I’m seeing of the weather I’d better keep hold of my brolly! I’m going to be swapping a cold, windy and wet climate for a humid and wet one – so a brolly is ideal – and it can double as a sun-shade.

I’m flying with Qatar Airways whom I’ve used before but not for some time. This morning was spent reserving my seats as well as securing my Singaporean e-pass. It’s great that so many of these formalities can be done online nowadays as it removes the need for a stamp in your passport – which is just as well in post-Brexit Britain as mine’s now filling up with EU stamps (*mutter, mutter – brexitshambles*)…

Qatar Airlines gave me a 25kg baggage allowance but I’m not expecting to use it. Compared to most people I travel light. Well, if you ignore the camera bag! I’ve filled out my case with plenty of clothes, many of which I’ll probably never wear much – if at all, but they’ll provide padding, especially on the return trip for the exotic prezzies I’ve promised to bring back for Dawn!

Packing’s certainly changed from my old backpacking days when your rucksack would be weighed down and bulked out with books, batteries, film canisters and tape cassettes. Now there’s far more room for other stuff but what a plethora of cables and chargers I carry instead! A Kindle’s replaced all the acreage of books and I wouldn’t really need that if it wasn’t for the fact I can’t edit pictures on a tablet, so I carry different devices for reading and working. Plus, I wouldn’t really want to risk taking an expensive laptop to a beach just so that I can read the latest potboiler.

Now it’s time to finish off the final bits and settle down for final night with Dee before the adventure begins tomorrow. I’ll be blogging en-route and have a several hour stopover in Doha which should allow me time to write. In the meantime, here’s today’s picture which is from a previous visit to Singapore. I’ll be staying in ‘little India’ which – as the name implies is the centre of the city’s Indian community. Here’s a typical Hindu celebration outside the Sri Mariamman temple on the 5th October 2009.

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!