Tag Archives: The USA

Unbelievable…

06 Wednesday Nov 2024

Posted by in Climate Change, Musings, Politics, The USA

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This morning I woke up to the news that the convicted felon and rapist Donald Trump has managed to persuade over 50% of American voters to elect him the 45th President of the United States of America.

Or, to put it another way – we’re all fucked.

Because this is not just about America. Not at all. This is about the most powerful country on the planet falling into the hands of an imbecile, a narcissist opportunist who doesn’t believe in democracy, or climate change, or any of the values that are the glue holding the world together. Only himself and his cronies.

We’re all in for a dark few years. Oh, Trump will only be around for four years. It’s the blink of an eye in many ways, but the damage that he can do in that time is incalculable. The only winners in this are the billionaires and dictators like Putin. The people who’re increasingly setting the agenda and paying the piper – only in the end the money will be taken from all of ordinary mortals, as it always is.

There’s fools in this country (like Farage) who’ll be cock-a-hoop at the news. The right-wingers and supposed nationalists who are dumb enough to believe Trump is someone the UKs ‘friend’ when the opposite is true. There’s going to be some very hard lessons being learned over the next four years.

I fear for Ukraine right now. Putin will be breaking open the champagne in the Kremlin. Trump was his investment, the best President his money could buy. The EU needs to get it’s act together now and realise that NATOs biggest member is about to become a sleeping partner. Europe can no longer rely on the US for its defense against Putin’s warmongering and expansion. I hate to say this, but Europe needs to re-arm because there’s a very real danger that if Putin wins in Ukraine, he won’t stop there – as he’s made clear. NATO (and that means us, the UK) could well be in a shooting war with Russia before Trump is gone.

But this isn’t just about America, or Europe. It’s about the whole planet.

Climate change is out of control. Politicians made a commitment to limit global warming to an increase of 1.5degrees. We’re nowhere near hitting that. The current projections are that by the end of the century temperatures will have increased by 3.1 degrees. Most people have no idea how disastrous that will be – for everyone living on this rock floating in space. No-one is going to be immune. With a climate-change denier in office for four more years the chances of getting on track are the worst kind of net zero, so go see places like the Maldives (or, ironically, places like Clacton) now, because they won’t be there when your grandchildren become grandparents.

The world has just become a very much darker and depressing place…

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

The politics blog…

05 Tuesday Nov 2024

Posted by in Donald Trump, Kemi Badenoch, Musings, Politics, The USA

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I’ve not really commented on politics much recently. That’s mainly for two reasons. One is that since Labour won the general election we’ve had a tsunami of speculation and hyperventilation over what Labour are (or aren’t) doing and I’d rather wait and see the reality. Most of the commentary has been utter dross. Even once respectable news sources like the BBC have indulged in (non)stories that in a more reasoned age wouldn’t even have seen the light of day. Then there’s the increasingly down-market Telegraph newspaper, which is sinking to new levels of batshittery daily. It feels like it’s trying to out red-top the red-tops nowadays. Adding to the problem has been the decline of Twitter. Until Musk bought it and bastardised it in his own egotistical image it was a pretty good place to find political comment, from all sides. Now Musk has turned it into a right-wing cesspit where you can’t trust anything as, anything goes as long as it’s right-wing and designed to fulfill his and Donald Trump’s interests.

Which brings me rather neatly on to the American elections, where voting is taking place now. From a European perspective it’s difficult to understand how America has got itself in such a mess politically that the choice is between a convicted felon, rapist and dayglo pile of incoherent word-soup – and an ordinary person. Yet a large chunk of the American population (whichever way it goes tomorrow) see Donald Trump as ‘normal’, like him and will vote for him in their millions.

Thankfully, Europe (well, most of it) saw through demagogues like Trump years ago, back in the 1940s. one of ours ended up committing suicide in a bunker whilst the other ended up hanging from a lamp post, but not before Hitler and Mussolini had caused the death of millions. Do we as a species ever learn? Sadly not it seems. Whilst Labour have come to power and are gradually (and fitfully) getting to grips with 14 years of Tory misrule, we still have people in the UK who idolise the likes of the ‘fagash Fuhrer’ Nigel Farage (who’s yet again abandoned his Clacton voters to brown-nose Trump in America).

Still, it’s not all bad if you like a political joke – which is what the Tory party seem intent on becoming. The Tories have just elected Kemi Badenoch as their new leader. Well when I say ‘the’ Tories – only 1/3 of their remaining MPs backed her, the turnout in the membership election was less than 73% and of those Badenoch won by 56.5% compared to Jenrick’s 43.5%. Not exactly what you’d call a ringing endorsement, is it? Badenoch’s first interview as leader was with the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg who’s known for giving Tories an easy ride. Despite that, it didn’t go well. Badenoch came across as arrogant, graceless and with no sign of having learned a single thing from the Tories election defeat.

Then she went on to choose her shadow cabinet (shouldn’t that be shallow cabinet? Ed), most of which have been announced today. Admittedly, after their electoral decimation the talent pool has become a puddle, plus many experienced Tory MPs are keeping their powder dry so that they’re not tainted by Badenoch’s failure when it happens and can step into the breech. So, who did she choose? The one that’s outstanding for me is ‘Penfold’, sorry Mark Francois, the MP (although why is a mystery) for Rayleigh and Wickford, a man whose ego is in reverse proportion to his stature. One of the pro-Brexit fanatics and trouble-makers of the ‘European Research Group’ Badenoch has appointed this former member of the TA as….Shadow Defence Minister!

The reaction on social media has been swift – and merciless!

As you can imagine, there’s many many more like that.

Badenoch’s claims that this is the Tory party learning and listening after its humiliating defeat is looking hollower by the day – and she’s not even been Leader for a week! I can’t help wondering how soon the first rejection letters from MPs are going to be going in to the 1922 Committee. On the bright side, the numbers of letters required to trigger a leadership election has increased from 13 to 40. As the Tories are reduced to 121 MPs that means Badenoch may be around long enough to cause some real credibility problems.

The champagne corks must be popping in No 10!

Let’s hope that the rest of us moderate, sensible people will be able to raise a toast to American President Kamala Harris on Thursday, closing the door on a political shit-show that includes not just Trump, but Putin…

God (of your choice, or none) bless America!

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 of the day…

01 Tuesday Oct 2024

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

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Whilst there’s not been the deluge that we had yesterday the weather here in the Costa del Calder is hardly balmy, more like barmy if I’m honest! Still, it hasn’t got in my way as I’ve been tied to a hot computer for most of it, picture editing and/or writing. One of my tasks has been to gradually rationalise the number of picture galleries on my Zenfolio website as I drag some back for their archive status to merge them with others. Here’s an example – USA railway images. If you enjoy the New York subway you might like some of the shots it contains. Today’s picture is a sample. Here’s a 2007 image which can’t be captured today.

A Line 7 train calls at the elevated (split level) station at Queensboro Plaza on the 7th April 2007, with the Queensborough bridge in the background. Due to redevelopment in the area this shot’s no longer possible. I went back in 2018 to try and recreate it but the car park I’d climbed up to the top floor of had disappeared.

I’ve dozens more galleries I’ll be amalgamating but it’s going to take some time. The end result will be a more streamlined website where it’s easier to find pictures by country, category or event.

Tomorrow’s meant to be another iffy day weather-wise. it seems October’s continuing where September left off so I’ll be spending another day working from Bigland Towers. Of course, that doesn’t mean I won’t come up with an interesting picture of the day – just don’t ask me what it’ll be yet!

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

16th April picture of the day…

16 Tuesday Apr 2024

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

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I know April is renowned as the month of showers, but this is getting beyond a joke! It’s been more like four seasons in one day here in the Calder valley. After yesterday’s little jaunt I had a full diary for working from home, which was just as well as low temperatures and a chilly wind really didn’t encourage one to venture far. That said, when the sun did break through the skittish clouds you could feel the warmth there, it’s just that it was fighting a losing battle with the elements. As the pair of us had a productive and profitable morning we’d arranged to go for a walk just after lunch but the weather had other ideas! One minute there was glorious sunshine streaming through the windows, the next they were being assailed by hailstones! Thankfully, our walk was merely postponed rather than rained off. Conditions soon changed, allowing us to venture out to complete a two-hour circuit which also encompassed a bit of shopping. All the while I kept a wary eye on the skies as we could see storm clouds dropping heavy rain all around us. Fortunately, they kept away from our little patch right up to the last moment, allowing us to make it in the front door before the next onslaught. One of the beauties of living where we are is that when we’re out walking locally we’ve panoramic views around all points of the compass, which gives us time to run for cover if needed.

We survived, but I worry that some of my poor plants may have taken a battering from the weather. Ironic really as only the other day my mother-in-law was telling me I’d planted stuff out too early. So, that’s me for another ticking off then!

Tomorrow the weather may stay dry – although temperatures will be anything but balmy. We’ll be lucky to escape a frost tonight. I’ve some more paperwork to do tomorrow, but if we get the sunshine levels predicted I may venture out with the camera whilst I can. If nothing else, the cherry blossom’s putting on a wonderful display right now and worth pointing a camera at. Although it’ll struggle to match this famous display which forms today’s picture. I took this shot in Washington DC, a city famous for its cherry blossom. Here’s how it looked on the 3rd April 2007.

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

7th August picture of the day…

07 Saturday Aug 2021

Posted by in Musings, Picture of the day, The USA, Trams, Travel

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Saturday’s been another quiet day here in the Calder Valley, mainly because the weather’s not been up to much and Dawn’s been out with a friend, so I’ve been left to my own (electronic) devices for the day. I’d toyed with the idea of going for a long walk but the fact I’d have been soaked in the process put a damper on that idea. Instead I found myself passing time scanning yet more old slides, editing pictures and carrying out household chores, which kept me occupied until the rain decided to give us all a break, allowing me to venture out to enjoy a walk down into Sowerby Bridge, potter along the Rochdale canal, then climb the hill to home. Normally Sowerby Bridge would be busy with day-trippers and other tourists this time of year but the town was surprisingly quiet. Covid’s still having an impact as sensible people are being cautious at the moment. That said, I walked past our local narrowboat hire company (Shire Cruisers) only to find their basin completely empty as all their boats are out on hire. After the awful time they must have had in 2020 this was a sight for sore eyes. I must admit to a flash of jealousy. A group of friends and I hired one of their boats back in 2006 and had a fabulous time cruising from Sowerby Bridge up to the Leeds and Liverpool canal and across the Pennines towards Blackburn. I’ve always harbored an ambition to own a narrowboat and seriously considered buying one a few years ago, but plans got put on hold because of ‘events’ on the UK political scene. Maybe one day…

Having avoided the temptation to stop for a pint in Sowerby I dodged the rain on the way home and called in at a local hostelry just down the road called the Wainhouse Tavern. It was never my local pub, that was a place called The Big 6, but the 6 has been sold and legal bureaucracy over the transfer of ownership has meant it’s remained closed despite the lifting of lockdown, so the Wainhouse has become a sort of surrogate where I know I may be able to see a few familiar faces and have a chat and a joke. After months and months of lockdowns and as a freelance who can lead a fairly solitary and nomadic existence that’s lovely to be able to do now and again.

I didn’t linger longer than a couple of pints and now I’m back home at Bigland Towers sorting out a few more bits whilst Dawn (who’s returned from Holmfirth) cooks her amazing Spanish Prawns dish, so there’s just enough time left for me to post the picture of the day, which ia another old slide from my latest batch of pictures from the USA.

I took this picture in San Francisco, California on the 26th October 1990 as one of the iconic cable cars was being rotated on a turntable at the end of the line. I must admit to loving the old San Fran cable cars, they’re such a great way to travel and the folks who staffed them were brilliant as they were such wise-crackers and naturals with people, locals and tourists alike.

I rather fell in love with the city when I was there, although, bizarrely I’ve never been back since – despite having visited the USA many times afterwards. I’ve always promised myself – ‘one day’. Mind you, with the way Covid’s clipped my wings I’d settle for travelling anywhere outside this Sceptic Isle right now! I can’t wait for the world to start opening up again…

I’ve a favour to ask…
If you enjoy reading this blog, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course (although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab!), but the revenue from them helps to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site – and right now (because of Covid), us freelances need all the help that we can get. Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website –  https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/

Thank you!

1st August picture of the day…

01 Sunday Aug 2021

Posted by in Engineering, Musings, Photography, Picture of the day, The USA

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It’s been a lazy Sunday here at Bigland Towers. The pair of us (well, the three of us really, as Jet our cat was in no rush to do anything either) had a slow morning drinking coffee, catching up on the news and watching the world go by. The only thing missing was having a Sunday newspaper spread out on the bed, but those days are long gone. I can’t think of the last time I bought one. Partly because there’s no local newsagent for miles, but also because the world’s moved online and I can pick and choose from loads of different news sources now. The difficulty is finding a reliable one! Talking of which, I was planning to dissect Simon Jenkin’s latest fact-free rant about HS2 in Saturday’s Guardian, but that can wait until another day. It’ll have exactly the same effect as all his other rants going back a decade. In other words, Zilch. Instead, I spent a couple of hours researching, reading through the minutes of last months Transport Select Committee meeting which heard from Birmingham’s Mayor, Andy Street and also HS2’s CEO, Mark Thurston. When you read their words verbatim it becomes obvious just how lazy the media reporting of their words was. I’ll be including excerpts when I fillet Jenkins rant.

The afternoon was far less lazy. Dawn went into ‘Domestic Goddess mode and spent several hours in the kitchen, experimenting with cake-baking recipes in order to perfect a cake for a friend’s wedding whilst I retreated to the office to sort out more old pictures. I have to admit the smells coming from the kitchen were divine. Dee’s a brilliant cook and really enjoys baking. It’s not something I’ve ever got into personally, my forte is more Asian and starters and main course dishes rather than sweets and desserts.

The day wasn’t all about food, we did both manage to get out for a stroll, even if it wasn’t far, just through our local woods along the promenade overlooking the Calder valley and thence around Savile Park, but it was good to be able to feel virtuous by hitting our daily exercise marks.

Now we’re home for another quiet evening, but as it’s going to be a busy week that’s hardly a problem. So, I’m going to leave you with today’s picture which is taken from another of the batch of old slides taken in the USA back in 1990. No animals today, this is very much a man-made structure. I took this shot of Big Creek bridge on State Highway 1 on the California coast on the 25th October 1990.

Opened in 1938, this graceful bridge is a 589 feet long, 24 feet wide open spandrel, concrete deck arch structure designed by Christian Theophil Gutleben. Each span is 178 feet wide and 65 feet above ground level. It’s quite an impressive sight when you first glimpse it as you approach along the coast from the South, but then the California coast road is a lovely route with several similar structures. There parking places at either end so that you can stop, admire the bridge, sea or cliffs and take photographs.

I’ve a favour to ask…
If you enjoy reading this blog, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course (although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab!), but the revenue from them helps to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site – and right now (because of the impact Covid has had), us freelances need all the help that we can get. Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website –  https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/

Thank you!

31st July picture of the day…

31 Saturday Jul 2021

Posted by in Flora and Fauna, Musings, Picture of the day, The USA, Travel

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Gordon Bennett – it’s almost August! I’m struggling to understand how the year’s managed to fly by so quickly. It is said by some that as you get older time does seem to do that. I’m now finding myself in agreement with that view. Today’s not been the most exciting one at Bigland Towers, unless you count the cat losing one of his last two teeth! The old boy was going to the vets today for a check-up and have his bloods done. Just as we were about to load him into his basket Dawn discovered one of his two front bottom fangs (all he’s got left) had dropped out and was stuck to his fur! It caused us a few palpitations en-route to the vets as we had visions of another large dental bill. The vet was less worried than us and explained that this was normal in old cats. Their bodies reject their teeth, dissolving them until they fall out. Jet was actually fine and there was no need for any dental work, which was a huge relief. Mind you, the bill for the blood tests and treatments still came to £180!

Having dropped the moggie back at home we decided to get out for a bit and go for a drive, visiting local places we’ve not seen for ages due to Covid. It turned into a bit of a random trip as we kept getting detoured through dodging tractors on the narrow country roads. In the end we decided to ‘go with the flow’ and see where we ended up – which was high above Mytholmroyd where we stopped to admire the view from the one bit of road where it was safe to stop without worrying about getting mown down by farm machinery! The road led us to Hebden Bridge but we didn’t stop as the place was packed. Instead we doubled back along the valley bottom and called in at one of our locals, the Moorcock Inn for a quick drink before food shopping and home. It may be Saturday night, but we’re happy to have a quiet one at home with good food, a drink and a film on TV. Not exactly the ‘rock and roll’ but far more relaxing!

So, what’s the picture of the day? I’d been wondering that myself but I’ve plumped for one of the latest batch of slides in the queue for scanning. I took this shot on the 25th October 1990. Four of us had pitched up on the West Coast of the USA for a touring holiday. Having hired a car in LA we drove up the coast to San Francisco. It was a brilliant trip and on the way we stopped at the wharf in Monterey, California which was teeming with pelicans, either roosting on roofs, or perched on poles like this one. It beat seagulls, that’s for sure…

I’ve a favour to ask…
If you enjoy reading this blog, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course (although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab!), but the revenue from them helps to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site – and right now (because of Covid), us freelances need all the help that we can get. Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website –  https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/

Thank you!

8th March picture of the day…

08 Monday Mar 2021

Posted by in Musings, Picture of the day, The USA, Travel

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The week’s got off to a mundane start with no excitements or surprises, but after the ‘fun’ of last week that’s really no bad thing. The weather’s been mixed, with temperatures remaining stick in single figures so spring still seems some way off but the lighter nights are certainly welcomes, as was a few hours of sunshine which really brightened the place up. The forecast for the rest of the week isn’t looking much better so I’m assuming I’ll be spending most of my time office-bound, which is no bad thing. At least I’ve plenty of exotic pictures to look at.

One bright spot in the day was taking our moggie (Jet) for a check-up at the vets and hearing that he’s in no immediate danger. OK, he’s nineteen and a half, and he has long-term kidney problems, but considering we thought we were going to lose the old boy last week this is actually a result! Hopefully he’ll be here to get under our feet (and set traps for me at the top of the stairs) for some time yet…

My latest batch of slide scans has provided me today’s picture of the day, which features what’s probably the planet’s most famous hole in the ground. I took this shot at the Grand Canyon, Arizona, USA on the 3rd November 1990. Four of us were touring the West Coast together and we stopped on night at the Canyon so that we could see what it looked like at sunrise. We weren’t disappointed.

Once I’ve got all the pictures scanned I’ll set up a USA travel gallery on my Zenfolio website as I realise I only have one for rail pictures – which is an odd omission as I have travel shots from 3 previous visits to the States. Ho hum!

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If you enjoy reading this blog, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course (although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab!), but the revenue from them helps to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site – and right now (because of Covid), us freelances need all the help that we can get. Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website –  https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/

Thank you!

8th November picture of the day…

08 Sunday Nov 2020

Posted by in Musings, Picture of the day, Politics, Railways, The USA, Travel

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Sunday already? Woo hoo!

I’m saying that because looking forward to the next week as by Friday Dawn and I come out of social-isolation and get to stare at and share more than four walls. Neither of us felt that it was likely we’d contracted Covid because of the contact Dawn had, but what we weren’t willing to do was put others at risk. It’s a sentiment that’s obviously been unfashionable in some circles, but all we can say is we’ve done our bit.

The feeling of isolation was doubled today by the fact the Calder Valley’s been covered in fog for the duration. Visibility’s been down to 2-3 hundred metres at best. So, the pair of us have been feeling like we’re living up in the clouds whilst keeping occupied pottering around in our gilded cage. Dee’s been busy being a domestic goddess whilst I’ve kept myself occupied blogging and eBaying…

Still, talking of ‘gilded cages’, has anyone seen any sense, contrition or humility (fat chance) coming from the Ex-President of the United States yet? No. Me neither. It looks like he’s going to spend his remaining days playing golf at taxpayers expense until he’s finally kicked out of the place. I mean, seriously – the man’s just lost the election and what’s he been doing since? Ignoring the result to spend the past two days on a golf course! Surely, even some of the people who voted for him might just be starting to think “well, this is a bit weird”, but maybe I’m being too charitable. Actually, after everything I’ve seem of Trump’s voters and staffers I’m sure I am.

Talking of Washington, here’s another picture of the day that I stumbled on whilst researching others. It rather fits the current theme of events. I took this at Chinatown station on the Washington metro on the 3rd April 2007.

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If you enjoy reading this blog, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course (although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab!), but the revenue from them helps to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site – and right now (because of Covid), us freelances need all the help that we can get. Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website –  https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/

Thank you!

7th November picture of the day…

07 Saturday Nov 2020

Posted by in Musings, Photography, Picture of the day, The USA, Travel

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Finally, after the political shitshows and shambles of the past few years, we actually have something to celebrate. The orange cry-baby who’s inhabited the White House since 2016 has finally got his comeuppance thanks to the American voters. Oh, I know it’s not the end of the story, but it is (hopefully) the beginning of the end for populist politics and the poisonous ‘alt-right’ who have done so much to make this a less pleasant planet to live on (as if we’ve an option to go anywhere else).

Yes, I know the fat lady hasn’t sung yet, but the numbers show that we know exactly what she will when she does. Trump’s finished.

Watching his presidency unravel through the day has kept me going as the weather here in the Calder valley’s been miserable. We’ve had fog blocking us in all day, so much so I’ve forgotten what the other side of the valley looks like! Mind you, it’s not as if I can go anywhere at the moment anyway, so I’ve not been too concerned. Instead, I’ve concentrated on those mundane little chores that can actually be quite therapeutic, like chopping back the front garden ready for winter. I’ve always enjoyed gardening and would love to have the size of garden that I had in London, but that’s not on the cards right now, so I content myself with what we have. On the bright side – it doesn’t take all day to chop back! Whilst I’ve been busy pottering Dawn’s been busy in the kitchen as we’ve had a delivery from Sainsbury’s. This is the first time we’ve ever indulged in getting groceries delivered so I can imagine some folks will be thinking ‘what’s the fuss’? But for us it’s a novel experience. Now we’ve stocked up with edible goodies Dee’s busy making her brilliant Bakewell Tart whilst I’m finishing off research for a blog – and toasting the fact Trump’s toast – which brings me on to the picture of the day. This seemed rather appropriate. I took it in Washington DC on the 3rd April 2007 in the midst of the cherry blossom season. Washington looks stunning at that time of year. Let this be a metaphor for the (re)blossoming of democracy in the USA now that Trump and his cohorts have been defeated at the ballot box.

I’ve a favour to ask…
If you enjoy reading this blog, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course (although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab!), but the revenue from them helps to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site – and right now (because of Covid), us freelances need all the help that we can get. Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website –  https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/Thank you