Tag Archives: Picture of the day

16th September picture of the day…

16 Saturday Sep 2023

Posted by in Brazil, Musings, Photography, Picture of the day, Railways, Travel

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The (alleged) old Chinese curse ‘may you live interesting times’ springs to mind right now. Having returned from Thursday’s national rail awards I’m finding life odd to say the least. Seeing so many familiar faces at the NRA was lovely – as was having time to chat – even though time flew by all too quickly and I didn’t get to talk to half the people I’d have liked to. Plus, the awards felt very much like the end of an era with Nigel Harris retiring, plus other changes that are going on I’m not going to reveal here. The railway ‘Oscars’ felt different this year because the rail industry is in a mess. Not one of it’s own making to be fair, the railways are just another victim of an utterly incompetent Government that hasn’t got a clue what it’s doing – about anything. Forget re-arranging the deckchairs on the Titanic, with this lot you can add musical deckchairs as Ministers constantly change their minds depending on which loon – Sorry, ‘think tank’ or special advisor has got their ear. The sooner we have a general election and this miserable lot are put out of their misery the better. Sadly, the mess we’re in isn’t all down to the Tories. There’s a sickness throughout the UK body politic which means we’re ill-served by the political classes as they just can’t be honest with people – hence Labour’s insistence that you can actually polish a turd and they can make Brexit ‘work’. Oh, and don’t even get me started on the ‘green’ party – a collection of Nimbys who seem to spend most of their time opposing solutions to climate change (solar farms, nuclear power, HS2) as they know they can posture all they like as they’ll never hold power. I should mention that the Scottish greens are an exception to this. They’re a separate party who’re pragmatic, positive and not in thrall to Nimbyism the way their cousins South of the border are. In a lot of ways I’d be quite tempted to move North of the border as Scotland seems to be so more progressive than England. Shame about the weather tho’…

Looking around it’s hard to remain positive about the future of this septic Isle as honesty and realism in politics is about as rare as rocking-horse shit right now. Meanwhile, as many folk who tear themselves away from gawping at TV screens may have noticed, we’re having some really weird weather due to climate change. But what are we doing about it as a nation? Answers on a postcard please…

You may have got the impression that I’m feeling rather cynical at the moment. In which case all I can say is – damned right! I’m normally a glass half-full sort of guy but right now it’s difficult to maintain that perspective. Hopefully, my equilibrium will be restored soon. Whatever, it’s time to think about my own future in a changing world.

Whilst I ponder I’ll leave you with today’s picture. I’ve updated my Zenfolio website with a host of different pictures taken over the last couple of weeks. Follow this link to see which galleries they’re in. Now, what to choose? OK, how about this…

Although I was away for the first couple of months of this year the one thing I didn’t manage was any beach time. I need to put that right on my next trip. Here’s a beach on a very special island few people will have set foot on due to its isolated location. This is Baia do Sancho on the island of Fernando de Noronha off the coast of Brazil, seen on the 19th August 2002.

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

11th September picture of the day…

11 Monday Sep 2023

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

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There’s only a short blog from me today. It’s late and I’ve had a long day glued to the computer editing pictures which have now appeared on my Zenfolio picture website. As usual, they’re spread around various galleries which are dedicated to particular train companies, aspects of the railways – or other interests. There’s still more pictures to edit but the majority have been uploaded. You can find them in these galleries;

Greater Anglia

Govia/Thameslink

Infrastructure and engineering

East Midlands Railway

Social issues

UK travel photography

Odds and sods

Another of today’s chores was to package and parcel the latest eBay sales of old railway slides and memorabilia and get them down to to post office for dispatch to the lucky winners. There’s still plenty of items on offer (I’ve just started another 5 day sale now) so if you want to browse what’s for sale, click on this link.

I’m having break from the office tomorrow so expect a rolling (ish) blog, although I can’t tell you where I’ll be going as I don’t know myself yet! It depends on the weather and what’s happening.

In the meantime, I’ll leave you with a taster from my new travel pictures. This one’s of Saffron Walden in Essex. It’s a delightful little market town that couldn’t be more different in character and design than West Yorkshire…

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

10th September picture of the day…

10 Sunday Sep 2023

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

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We’ve had a mixed weekend here back at Bigland Towers. Much of the time’s been taken up with catching up on daily chores that have been neglected after a week away. The one item missing from our accommodation was a washing machine, so ours has been working overtime to process a weeks work of dirty clothing. Thankfully, the sunny weather continued over Saturday, which was probably the hottest day we’ve had here in the Calder Valley this year. The pair of us were too busy to venture far but we did manage a wander into Sowerby Bridge to pick up some shopping, stop for a quick drink, then wander back along the canal. I even managed to nip out for a few games of pool and catch-up with friends before returning to evening cooking duty when I experimented with a new Thai recipe.

Today’s been in similar vein with the exception that Dee’s been out most of the day at a relaxation and meditation course whilst I’ve stayed at home to wade through more washing and get stuck into editing the hundreds of pictures I took whilst we were away but which haven’t (yet) made it onto my Zenfolio website. I’m making good progress and many of them will appear by tomorrow.

I still managed to get my daily constitutional in and 12.5k steps but it was a close run thing as the weather really has turned the afternoon. I’d hung around until late in the afternoon before getting out and just managed to dodge a heavy shower. That said, we’ve escaped the storms that seem to have hit to the North and South of us. all we’ve had is a few mild rumbles of thunder, but (disappointingly) no lightning – otherwise I’d have had the camera out as I love a good storm. Today’s picture is an illustration of all the weather offered us, hardly dramatic compared to some pictures I’ve seen.

Here comes the rain again…

Now I’m typing this listening to more distant rumbles of thunder as storms are moving through our area this evening but they’re still failing on the pyrotechnic front. Tomorrow’s going to be another day stuck at home as I’ve a load of eBay sales to dispatch, pictures to edit and stuff to sort out for later in the week. It’s the National Rail Awards on Thursday, so it’s time to dust off the Tuxedo…

See you tomorrow!

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

31st August picture of the day…

31 Thursday Aug 2023

Posted by in Aircraft, Cambridgeshire, Photography, Picture of the day, Travel

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The last blog of August’s only a short one as the pair of us are preparing for a few days away in Cambridgeshire starting tomorrow which means there’ll be a series of blogs and pictures from a different neck of the woods for a while. Dawn found an interesting opportunity at some new lodges where the price was just too good to resist, so we’re heading down there with her parents for a few days R&R in the hope we might actually get some summer weather. The place we’re staying at is just 30 mins away from the Imperial War Museum at Duxford which Dee’s dad (who did his national service in the RAF) has always wanted to explore. We went once to see the recreation of a WW2 ‘big wing’ which brought 22 Spitfire aircraft together but we’ve never explored the museum building or static aircraft exhibits so we thought. it’s time we did. Mind you, I’m the only one who knows Cambridgeshire, for the Platt family it’s pretty much virgin territory, so I’m going to be wearing a tour guide’s hat for the next week as I show them around the likes of Cambridge and Ely.

I’ll be having one day off to do some railway stuff which will give me another opportunity for blogging as I explore, although I’ve no firm plans for where I’m going yet, that depends on a client’s shot list arriving in my inbox tomorrow.

Right now it’s time to go. I’ve got stuff to prepare and a cottage to sort out for the folks who’ll be looking after it whilst we’re away. I’ll leave you with an image from the last time we visited Duxford. The chance to see so many vintage Spitfires is a rare one, but in 2015…

10 of the 22 Spitfires in flight at Duxford in September 2015. If you’ve any interest in planes powered by Rolls-Royce Merlin engines you can just imagine how this sounded.

You can see some more pictures of the aircraft we saw at Duxford here.

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

30th August picture of the day…

30 Wednesday Aug 2023

Posted by in India, Photography, Picture of the day, Travel

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Not quite the sort of day I’d hoped for here at Bigland Towers, but I know Dawn feels exactly the same because poor Dee’s spent most of the curled up in bed as she’s been struck down by a migraine. Enter ‘nurse Paul’ stage left to try and persuade that sleep is the best thing and I’ll take care of the rest. I’ve not suffered from migraines since I was a teenager so I really count myself lucky – especially when I can see the effect they have on Dee. I really feel for her – especially when they’re as bad as this one, which is (thankfully) a rare occurrence but shit when it happens.

This means much of my day’s been spent in the office opposite the bedroom so I’m close at hand. That’s not been a problem as I’ve lots to do and the day’s been productive as I’ve all the archive pictures I’d mentioned edited and up on my Zenfolio website. You can find them here.

Tempting as it is – I’m not going to get into a political spleen-venting, despite there being so, so much to rant about right now. Rishi flying from London to Norwich by helicopter (don’t get me started). Nigel Farage advising his slack-jawed supporters how to avoid inheritance tax? Former Tory leader Ian Duncan Smith from the party of ‘law and order’ endorsing vigilantes smashing ULEZ cameras? The list is endless. This country’s becoming beyond parody. Still, in a couple of days I’ll be able to take a step back from the madness – sort of – to take a break in Cambridgeshire and act as guide for Dawn and her parents in a part of the country none of them know. I’ll still blog, but my spleen will be restrained – honest!

For now I’ll leave you with today’s picture. Well, when I think what it is – because right now I’ve no idea which one to use *quickly rummages through the files*. Ah, how about this? One of today’s tasks was to look up hotel recommendations for friends who’re off to India in December. I mentioned that when you’re staying in Delhi a hotel with a rooftop restaurant is ideal. This is the place I’ve recommended, in the Paharganj area. I’ve stayed there many a time. On this particular occasion back on the 7th December 2010 I was in the city arranging an interview with the head of the Delhi Metro Corporation whilst also proofreading a friends book. IIRC it was Michael Williams first ‘on the slow train’ series.

You can find many more pictures of that trips Indian adventures here. It’s a shame I wasn’t blogging then as they were very interesting times! Hopefully, I’ll be out in that neck of the woods soon – ish!

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

29th August picture(s) of the day…

29 Tuesday Aug 2023

Posted by in British Railways (BR), East-West rail, Hs2, Photography, Picture of the day, Rail Investment

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There’s a short blog from me I’ve been up to my neck in archive pictures for most of the day. Not because I’d planned it that way but because I had a rather unusual request which involved digging through various hard-drives to find pictures of a particular event going back 20 years, which took a fair bit of digging. I haven’t looked at one of the hard drives for several years so I was relieved to find what I was looking for – and more! I rediscovered some pictures I’d filed away and thought were lost which would have been frustrating as they’re of historic interest now. To be honest, it was a good day for being stuck in the office as we had another morning of torrential rain. I had to walk into Sowerby Bridge for an appointment and ended up wearing my full set of waterproofs to do so – not something I expected to be doing at the end of August!

I’ll be spending much of tomorrow to complete the exercise and also to add some more of the pictures I’ve discovered to my Zenfolio website, starting with images from what’s now the new East-West rail link. I visited the line in 2011 when the idea was still being considered and long before construction actually started. Here’s one such shot taken at a location that’s unrecognisable today – and not just because of E-W rail, but also HS2.

This is Calvert in Buckinghamshire. Looking West towards L&NE junction and the single line to Bicester beyond. A spur runs off to the left towards Calvert and the old Great Central line. Only one thing in this shot remains intact (but not for long) which is the road overbridge in the distance. This picture was taken on the 11th August 2011 from the Addison Rd overbridge, which has also disappeared although it’s replacement has yet to open.

Here’s the same view almost exactly a decade later on the 23rd June 2021

The tall piling rig is standing where High Speed 2 will pass from Left to Right, underneath the reopened E-W rail link, the trackbed of which is being raised to almost the level of the old overbridge beyond. Meanwhile, the land to the right of the picture is being transformed as it’s the site of the HS2 Infrastructure Maintenance Depot (IMD) and sidings.

Here’s a more recent picture. I can’t do an exact comparison as Addison Rd is still closed. But here’s how the area looked on the 1st August this year.

Taken from further East, this is the new Addison Rd bridge under construction. The E-W trackbed has been widened on the Northern side to accomodate the tracks which will lead into the IMD.

How things change in 12 years! You can find more E-W rail construction pictures here. It’s the place you’ll be able to find the 2011 pictures too when I’ve had chance to add them tomorrow.

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

26th August picture(s) of the day…

26 Saturday Aug 2023

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

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Vegetarians may want to skip this blog…

We’ve had another quiet Saturday here at Bigland Towers, partly because we’re preparing for a lot of adventures in September. Well, that and the fact the weather’s been shocking. August? It feels more like Autumn. Today the mercury’s struggled to get over the mid teens, making it one of the coldest Augusts for many years. Before the climate-change denialists start rubbing their hands in glee can I point out that weather isn’t the same as climate (especially global climate) – a distinction lost on these people. Look at charts of average temperatures and the picture becomes all to real – and all to frightening.

We had brunch with Dawn’s parents over in at a farm shop near Huddersfield, which led to a classic moment. Norah sometimes forgets history. John and Norah are 88 and 82, during a conversation Norah asked ‘what was it like for you growing up during the war love’? The Scouser in me immediately kicked in and said ‘which war, the Boer war’? I couldn’t help but laugh at the idea Norah had me pegged as older than her and John. That reminds me, maybe I should put in a bulk order for anti-wrinkle cream. Or maybe just keep a portrait in the attic…

After brunch the pair of us ventured into Halifax to do some clothes shopping. Well, I should clarify. Dawn was doing some clothes shopping yet I still came back with some new schmutter due to Dee ‘suggesting’ I needed some new polo tops. Who was I to argue?

Afterwards we popped into our local pub (The big 6) for a drink and a giggle with friends and locals – and dogs! The pub’s always been very dog friendly and the attentions and actions of the local pooches can be just as entertain as some of the human visitors.

Another source of entertainment was the weather I mentioned earlier as we were prevented from venturing out earlier due to thunderstorms and torrential rain. We thought July was a washout but August’s giving it a run for its money. On the bright side, clinging to the side of the Calder valley as we do – we get a grandstand view of the storms approaching and the rain blanking out Sowerby Bridge before it hits us. It’s rare that the rain sneaks up on us here.

Walking back from the pub to skies like this…

Now we’re having a quiet night at home. Dee’s busy in the kitchen (it’s her turn and her choice) preparing steak in peppercorn sauce with garlic mushrooms, potatoes and green beans. We eat steak once in a blue moon but today Dee decided today was the day – and it was delicious! Having eaten our fill the local foxes will be dining on the fat.

At the and of next week we’ll be leaving the life of domestic behind as we’ll both be on the road so I’ll be bringing you a variety of blogs from different parts of the UK. In the meantime (wherever you are in the UK) enjoy the last bank holiday of the year. To my other readers spread around the world – don’t worry – you’re not missing much!

This brings me on to today’s other picture which was taken at Sheffield station the other day. Sadly, not all wildlife is railway savvy, especially birdlife. Peasants being particularly dumb but pigeons aren’t far behind. Still, the pigeon/train interface often provides lunch for other animals. In this scenario it was a case of fine dining for crows…

‘Fancy a takeaway’?

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

23rd August picture of the day…

23 Wednesday Aug 2023

Posted by in Derbyshire, Photography, Picture of the day, Railways, Travel

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No late trains for me today. In fact no trains at all – unless you count pictures. Much of my day’s been spent editing yesterday’s images which you can find divided between the following galleries;

Railway Stations

Merseyrail

Transport for Wales

Northern

As well as the pictures I’ve relisted railway memorabilia and old slides on eBay which you can find here. I’ll add some new bits before the weekend but tomorrow I’ll be back out on the railways, ending up in Sheffield in the afternoon to discuss his forthcoming trip to India, a country I’ve spent rather a lot of time exploring in the past. There’s several places I want to have a look at tomorrow but my itinerary very much depends on the weather which isn’t looking great, especially out East so I may be visiting a few locations where sunny weather would actually be a handicap. Whatever I get up to I’ll be rolling blogging throughout the day.

In the meantime, here’s a picture from one of the locations I’ve been looking at. It’s 9 years since I was last taking pictures here and the railway scene’s changed quite a bit. This is a town where the railroad literally does run through the middle of the house. Well, town anyway. This is Belper, Derbyshire where the coming of the Midland Railway in 1840 split the town in two with this deep cutting.

On the 4th July 2014 a Northbound East Midlands Train to Sheffield passes a loaded coal train heading South. Once the lifeblood of freight on the old Midland Railway, you won’t see many coal trains thundering through Belper nowadays. In fact, looking at the timings for tomorrow (Thursday) I can’t find a single one. The Meridians are living on borrowed time too as they’re due to be replaced by new Hitachi built trains over the next couple of years.

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

20th August picture of the day…

20 Sunday Aug 2023

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

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The pair of us have had a weekend at home here at Bigland Towers but it could hardly be described as a relaxing ‘feet up in front of the telly’ kind of weekend as both of us have kept busy. Dawn’s been on a mission. Having borrowed a carpet cleaner from her parents (think of a Dyson, in that it looks similar, weighs about the same – but works) Dee’s been methodically going from room to room, washing each carpet. The cottage is only small but these things still take time. Whilst Dawn’s been occupied thus I’ve kept out of the way and worked in the garden or on the outside of the house. For once the weather’s been conducive to such activities – despite the tail the end of storm ‘Betty’ which brough gusting winds to the Pennines. I’ve managed to fill several bin-bags with plant based detritus, including the trimmings off a Jasmine plant which was blocking a lot of light from the front of the cottage. The only problem was as soon as I saw how much extra light was coming in through the windows I also realised how dirty they were! Cooking when the kitchen is stacked full of exercise weights and office equipment was fun but I still managed to rustle up a typical Indonesian Nasi Goreng which has kept us going over the weekend.

Today’s been occupied finishing off the chores from yesterday, with one major difference. Dee wanted to watch the football world cup match between England and Spain whilst she was working. This involved plugging herself into the commentary via her phone whilst having the video on her iPad. Me? I was outside up a ladder cleaning windows, which was quite amusing as the expletives and exhortations coming from inside the house made me think Dee had suddenly contracted Tourettes!

Now it’s Sunday night, the carpets are drying and the cottage is slowly coming back together ready for another working week. The kitchen’s no longer an obstacle course and all the rubbish has been taken to our local recycling centre so it’s time to relax. The only thing left for me to do is post a picture of the day but as the camera’s been tucked away all weekend, the question is what to choose from the archives. How about this one which is completely random and not related to anything I’ve been talking about?

I’ve been crap at finishing scanning all my old slides this year because other things (modern life, mostly) have got in the way. Well, that and trying to earn a crust. But, I have a stack of already scanned slides I’ve just never got around to editing and sticking on my Zenfolio site. This is one, from February 1998, taken just after sunrise at the ghats in Varanasi, India.

A Brahmin (an upper caste Hindu – evidenced by the sacred thread he wears) gets his head shaved by a barber at the ghats in Varanasi.

Tomorrow’s the start of another busy week (as if this weekend wasn’t active enough) so expect pictures from one or two locations around the UK that I’ve not covered recently…

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

18th August picture of the day…

18 Friday Aug 2023

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

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I think the expression’s meant to be ‘thank God it’s Friday’, although it’s not really one that’s in a Freelance’s lexicon – and especially not if you work in the rail industry! Hence it being nearly 9 o’ clock on a Friday and I’m still editing pictures and sending them off to magazines. There’s no time to go to the pub tonight, but I’m also trying to be good after having had a week that’s been less than abstemious due to various events. That said, looking at the bin fire that’s the UK economy and stock market this week I should be reaching for the Brandy. We have a Government that’s more interested in fighting culture wars and posturing on pubs opening early so that folk can watch football rather than deal with anything important. You know – like the economy? The Tories feel very Romanesque right now. It’s all about bread and circuses.

Still, today’s not been a bad day to be stuck at home working. The weather’s been dull, cold and wet. I went out earlier and noticed that one of our neighbours had lit their coal fire. Yep – in the middle of August! Temperatures are hovering around 15 degrees here in the Pennines right now, which is hardly summer temperatures, but it’s not exactly Iceland either. With conditions not being that of a classic English summer keeping busy seems to be the only sensible thing to do. Who wants to leave a hostage to fortune by booking to go to any outdoor events when so many have been cancelled this year?

Right, time to go. This was always going to be a short blog but one batch of Wetransfer files are now winging their way to a client so it’s time to send a last one before I can call it at day. I’ll leave you with a picture of the day which is one from the series of images I took at the new Siemens train factory at Goole yesterday. Whilst the first London Underground trains to be built on the site won’t happen until March next year there’s a lot of work going on in one of the buildings where components for various trains (and not just Siemens products) are being overhauled.

Here are traction motors that power Eurostar trains being refurbished in a brand new on-site facility, although the company who’re doing the work have moved to Goole from Leeds – and expanded in the process…

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