Tag Archives: Picture of the day

When the wind blows…

04 Saturday Oct 2025

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

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We’ve spent our day here in West Yorkshire being battered by ‘storm Amy’, the latest weather front to pass through and cause chaos as it brought torrential rain and heavy winds that ripped small branches off the trees opposite the cottage. Not that the conditions affected us that much as we had no plans to do anything other than stay at home – which we did!

Whilst the rain battered on the windows the pair of kept occupied with various work tasks as both of us had stuff to catch up on. I’ve still got a backlog of pictures to edit and caption before next week, whilst Dawn’s keen to get on top of her work before the two of us head off to Nottingham for the Community Rail Network conference.

Eventually, the storm abated long enough for me to get out for a walk and do some shopping in order to cook this evening. I fancied trying a different Indian recipe, so after scouring various cookbooks I plumped for a North Indian dish – chicken in a cashew nut sauce. Our extensive spice collection meant the only things I needed to buy was chicken from Tesco and fresh coriander from our local Asian supermarket. As I feel in the mood I also bought bunches of Methi (Fenugreek leaves) to use in another recipe.

Here’s a few phone pictures of my day.

Walking back from shopping I stopped off on the promenade to watch the weather. I love a good storm and as I was wearing full waterproofs I wasn’t too perturbed watching the latest rain front approach along the Calder valley.
Dropping down from the promenade I walked through Scarr woods which were showing the effects of the storm. Even though, it was a lovely, peaceful place to walk.
The ingredients for tonight’s meal – bar a bit of plain yoghurt…

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

1st October picture(s) of the day…

01 Wednesday Oct 2025

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

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October’s got off to a slow start, mainly because I’ve spent most of the day glued to a computer screen as I continue to clear the backlog of picture editing, along with associated paperwork. My optimism that I’d broken the back of editing all my Portugal pictures turned out to be misplaced. As I integrated all the edited and captioned pictures back into the main database I realised just how many pictures from the Douro valley and elsewhere I’d skipped. They’ve now joined the queue to be dealt with by the end of the week.

I did manage to get out for my daily constitutional by wandering down the valley into Sowerby Bridge in order to pick up some shopping, the first time I’ve visited the town since we’ve got back. Sadly, despite the opening of the refurbished market square the rest of the place seems to remain in decline. The number of vacant shops has increased, another pub appears to have closed (the ‘Sore Bee’. That’s two going now as the ‘Loose Goose’ is to be converted into HMOs, a laundrette and office space) and the canal remains closed to traffic due to low water levels. In fact, the Rochdale canal resembles more of a flowerbed with a water feature than a canal! Here’s a few camera-phone pictures from my excursion.

Oh, to be back in Portugal…

The Rochdale canal looking towards Tuel Lane lock. It’s haighly unusual to see it like this so late in the years, although this section being closed to navigation is becoming more frequent due to lack of rainfall.
In contrast to the canal the River Calder has obviously been high in recent weeks – hence this old tree stuck on the weir, which is a recent addition. I wonder how long it’ll remain stuck there?
One thing we’ve seen in abundance this year has been fruits and berries. We’ve had a cracking blackberry season and acorns aplenty. This bush in the centre of town is showing the same spirit.

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 September picture of the day…

30 Tuesday Sep 2025

Posted by in Musings, Photography, Picture of the day, Portugal, Railways

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Another month draws to a close…

I’ve rather enjoyed September. Admittedly, spending half of it in Portugal helped! Talking of which, I’ve broken the back of editing pictures from our tour. You can find the majority of them in these two galleries;

Portugal: Travel

Portugal: Railways

Plus, there’s a few others that you’ll find in the ships and shipping gallery.

Picture editing has consumed most of these past few days as I’ve been busy getting stuff out to clients whilst updating my Zenfolio website – and discussing a future project that will utilise some of the library pictures that I’ve been adding to it. Now, the pressure’s off a little so I may be able to have a day out this week, depending on how much I get done tomorrow as I prepare for a busy week next week. I’ll be in Nottingham for the Community Rail Network conference, then heading to Swindon for another job with the PWI when the focus will be on overhead electrification instead of track. I only hope that the weather Gods smile on us again. Whatever, my camera’s certainly going to be kept busy!

In the meantime, here’s today’s picture, which is from Portugal. Regular readers of this blog will know I have many interests, including railways – and architecture. Sometimes they combine, like this;

This is the magnificent concourse of São Bento (Saint Benedict in English) railway station in Porto. Construction started in 1904 and faced many challenges over the years before it was completed. It was designed by Porto architect José Marques da Silva. It’s famous for the murals, which represent moments in the country’s history and depict rural scenes showing the people of various regions. In the late afternoons this area is packed with tourists on guided tours who’re there to admire these glorious murals and learn about the history. There’s not many railway stations around the world that are on tourist maps like this!

You can find many more pictures of São Bento if you click on the link I posted earlier in this blog.

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

27th September picture of the day…

27 Saturday Sep 2025

Posted by in Photography, Picture of the day, Railways, Transport for Wales (TfW), Wales

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It’s the weekend, but there’s no rest for the wicked. Well maybe just a little bit as I could have a lie-in this morning! The rest was short-lived as (after the past couple of days work) I’ve an even bigger queue of pictures to edit, so much of the day’s been dedicated to doing just that.

I did tear myself away from my computer long enough to get my daily steps in, first by a trip to do some shopping (and a swift pint in my local) before returning home to collect Dawn so the pair of us could get out to stretch our legs and enjoy the local woodlands now the autumn’s hear – although the vast carpet of fallen acorns does make it fell like you’re walking on marbles sometimes, especially on slopes.

Now we’re having a quiet night at home. We’ve eaten home-made chicken curry from the freezer so no elaborate cooking was required, which has allowed us to relax. Now, whilst Dee’s watching ‘strictly’ on TV I’m back to editing pictures. Not exactly the ‘rock and roll’ lifestyle, but it works for us!

Today’s picture? It’s from my trip to South Wales. The evening light’s been spectacular, as this shot shows as the evening sunlight glints off the side of one of Stadler’s new Class 756s, throwing into stark relief the outline of the engine compartment compared to the rest of the train.

I’ll be adding more pictures to different galleries on my Zenfolio website 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 Sunday Aug 2025

Posted by in Photography, Picture of the day, Railways, Trans-Pennine Route Upgrade, TRU, West Yorkshire

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Finally, after what’s been an incredibly dry spell, we’ve had rain this weekend. It’s nowhere near enough to fill the reservoirs (that will take months), but the showers have been heavy enough to make a difference to gardens and soak the ground enough so that the water doesn’t just run off the baked earth.

Admittedly, these downpours have made photography more challenging. I’d half-hoped to nip out yesterday to get shots of the first day of Huddersfield blockade diversions, but the weather was so gloomy and wet I gave up on the idea. Today was meant to be better. Plus, there were several engineers trains booked to run via the Calder valley from work around Mossley in the Colne valley. Dawn wasn’t feeling 100% so decided to concentrate on packing for Portugal, which gave me the time to nip out on my own and head the Hebden Bridge in the hope of getting some decent shots. Of course, the weather had other ideas. Shooting engineers trains is a hit and miss affair. The chances of them running to time are minimal, so you really are in the lap of the Gods – and today they were laughing at me! Each time one of the services I was waiting to photograph was due the heavens opened. Today’s picture tells the tale…

5 minutes before 66541 arrived the sun was shining and conditions were perfect. Then we had a cloudburst which sent me scurrying for the shelter of the station canopy. This was the result, the loco steams in the rain as it heads from Mossley to Doncaster with a train full of spent ballast from track renewals.

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

22nd August picture of the day…

22 Friday Aug 2025

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

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Here we are at the end of another working week with the August bank holiday looming. It’s been an odd week here at Bigland Towers, the classic curate’s egg. I’ve enjoyed getting out and about to see the latest High Speed 2 railway construction milestone in Birmingham (a full blog and pictures to follow shortly). The weather’s been rather indifferent and the nights are certainly drawing in, heralding next month’s change of season. I’d have liked to have got out more but there’s been a lot to do at home, partly because Dawn’s had a tough week so I’ve been on hand to offer tea and sympathy. Oh, and breakfast lunch and dinner as required!

On the bright side, I’ve also booked a fortnight in Portugal for the pair of us, starting in the first week of September. This will see us exploring the Algarve, Lisbon, Porto and the Douro valley, travelling by train. We’re both really excited about the trip, we just need to bottom out a few details – like where we’re actually going to stay! That will be one of the tasks this weekend as we’re not planning to go far over the bank holiday – although there will be some walking involved – somewhere.

Right now it’s time to sign off and relax. I’ll leave you with today’s picture, which is one I’ve been meaning to use for a few days. I have a 105mm micro lens which really doesn’t see much use nowadays (I’m hoping to put that right in Portugal), but I couldn’t resist digging it out when I saw this opportunity last week.

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 Monday Aug 2025

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

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Well, we finally made it to the Southport flower show yesterday. The antibiotics I’d been prescribed had reduced the swelling of my hand enough that I could use my camera again without problems, which was a relief. Plus, the weather was back to wall to wall sunshine. Dawn drove us over to Southport on roads that were busy, but idiot free – even the M62 was behaving itself.

We didn’t attempt to park near Victoria Park, the venue for the flower show. Instead we left the car up on the Marine Drive and enjoyed a walk along the seafront – which had the dual benefit of gaining us exercise and saving us over 6 quid in parking fees! I’d not been to the flower show since I was a teenager, some half a century ago – so I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. Gone are the old staples, horse-jumping, the White Helmets motorcycle display team and the Red Arrows. In their place were falconry and canine display teams, alpacas and a few ponies – which made for a lot less noisier day! Despite it being the last day of the show, the place seemed packed. Lots of people were towing collapsible trollies they’d brought in order to cart away plants that were being sold off at the end of the day, which made navigating your way through the crowds a bit of a trip hazard, but also added to the atmosphere with people towing all sorts of exotic blooms or bushes along behind them.

One of the marquees we particularly enjoyed was the themed flower displays as many of them were very creative. Today’s picture is of one favourite. See if you can guess what it is…

Having walked miles around the show in the blazing sum we headed off to join my sister and her partner (along with her daughter’s family) in the tranquil setting of his garden for a few drinks and a catch-up, rounding off what had been a lovely day.

Now it’s a new week. The weather back here in West Yorkshire’s been dull and cloudy, such a contrast to Sunday. As the two of us have been working from home it’s not been an issue. However, tomorrow morning I’ll be in Birmingham on a press visit to one of the High Speed 2 railway construction sites. After that I’ll be spending the rest of the day exploring lines around the black country before heading home, so expect a rolling blog documenting the day. Until then, goodnight…

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

1st August picture of the day…

01 Friday Aug 2025

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

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Here we are in a new month with time seeming to fly. August already? Sheesh!

I’ve had a quiet start to the month after expending a lot of energy (and shoe leather) yesterday, traipsing around Sheffield, then attending the opening of the ‘greatest gathering’ in Derby. As a consequence, much of my time’s been spent with my feet up as I edit the hundreds of pictures I’ve taken.

I’ve already started a new gallery on my Zenfolio website which is dedicated to to the greatest gathering. Here’s a link. I’ll be adding more pictures tomorrow, along with shots from Sheffield. Here’s a sample.

Don’t let the number fool you! This is LMS ‘Jubilee’ No 45699 ‘Galatea’ (built at Crewe works in 1936) masquerading as another (long scrapped) member of the class, 45627 ‘Sierra Leone’.

OK, that’s all for tonight folks, I’ll be blogging at greater length 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

30th July picture of the day…

30 Wednesday Jul 2025

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

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I’m slowly getting my mojo back. Today’s been a good day where I’ve felt I’ve actually achieved a few things and have lots to look forward to. Admittedly, not everything on my list was ticked off, but many of the major things were. That’s the problem with a long list! I’m reminded of an old boss from the days when I worked in Housing in East London. He used to say ‘if it’s an urgent file, leave it on my chair’. Within 6 months he had a second chair, one for him and one for the ‘urgent’ files! I’m not that bad (just don’t ask about my email inbox).

Having been busy at home all day I did manage to get out for a stroll this afternoon. All the shit and hassle recently has meant I’ve been lax at this – which has had an impact on how I feel. This week I’ve been determined to up the ante and hit as many targets as possible. Having picked up some shopping and nipped into my local pub for a ‘swifty’ my walk home took me past a superb crop of Blackberries which I couldn’t resist returning to pick. I’ve never known such a bumper crop this early in the season – especially as we’ve had such a dry year.

Tomorrow I’ll be up early to head down to Derby via Sheffield. Expect a rolling blog with lots of pictures – including previews of the biggest event that’s been organised to celebrate Railway 200.

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 July picture of the day…

29 Tuesday Jul 2025

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

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I’m sorry I’ve been absent for so long but the pair of us have had a rather shitty time this past week. I won’t go into details other than to say the worst is over and we’re gradually bouncing back. On the bright side, we’ll now have more time to devote to the things in life we both want to do and enjoy. In my case that means getting back to travelling and blogging, so expect a renewed stream of rolling blogs from my travels as well as wry and/or splenetic observations on the state of UK politics.

Oh, then there’s the weather. My absence has coincided with a change in the weather. We’ve actually had a few much-needed rainy days here in the Pennines, although it doesn’t seem to have made much difference to the levels in local reservoirs, which remain perilously low. I’ve visited some recently and have a new reservoir blog in the pipeline – if you’ll pardon the pun.

On Thursday I’ll be heading to Derby, so expect a rolling blog and preview pictures of a very important event in the railway calendar to help celebrate the 200th anniversary of Britain (and the world’s) railways.

Anyways, it’s good to be back. I’ll see you at greater length tomorrow. In the meantime, here’s today’s picture which is of a lovely meal Dawn rustled up using steak from the excellent Bolster Moor Farm shop. We both love Thai food – and this fiery Thai beef salad is a favourite.

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