Typical! Just as we’re packing up to return home tomorrow, the weather picks up! Friday started optimistically enough. The skies were cloudy but the weather was dry, so I headed out with the camera in the hope of photographing some different railfreight flows. I should’ve know better! Almost as soon as I got to my favoured location atop a bridge overlooking Hall Royd junction the rain and sleet started. I managed a couple of shots, including this one of a Liverpool Docks to Drax power station loaded biomass train before the light was so low and the rain so miserable that I gave up.
Despite the weather I was determined to have a wander and at least get my daily steps in – even if photography was a bust. It was a shame as there’s some really interesting backstreets and odd buildings I’d like to photograph. West Yorkshire’s blessed with many odd-shaped dwelling which follow strange footprints so have weird shapes. God know how you fit furniture in rooms that mirror New York’s famous ‘flatiron’ building.
Finally defeated, I called in for a pint and a warm in what’s become our local pub here, the ‘Alehouse’. I enjoyed a pleasant interlude chatting to staff and customers alike about local life and international politics. As you can imagine, Donald Trump’s latest mad utterances and disrespect of British army service men and women who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan was causing a lot of anger.
Back ‘home’ I took time off before Dawn finished work, when the two of us wandered back into town to reprise our great Thai meal at the Three Wise Monkeys. We’d enjoyed the fish dishes we’d had so much that we ordered exactly the same again, only this time accompanied by deliciously crisp stir-fry veg in a delicious sauce.
Suitably stuffed, we stopped for one last drink at the Alehouse before returning home, where our feline charge ‘Luna’ decided to have a mad half-hour, zooming around the place like she’d discovered a secret stash of catnip!
Today’s been our last full day, so the weather’s taunted us with the promise of better things – if only we could stay. We’ve made the most of it by walking into town to hit the market, which has become a firm favorite. Whilst the indoor section remains unchanged Saturday’s the day the outdoor section changes from bric-a-brac to food, with a wide range of fruit and veg, artisan breads and cakes and other edible delights on offer.
We stocked up on a host of things, including excellent home-made sausages from Fieldings butchers.
After the market, Dawn wanted to check out a spiritual shop, so whilst she did that I had one last chance to explore with the camera as the sun played across the town, creating interesting opportunities with shadows and light.
We’ll miss Todmorden. We’ve both seen it in a new light after spending so much time here. It’s a town with a lot to offer and it’s in a great location at the junction of two valleys surrounded by some great hill walks. But, as we only live up the road, we’ll certainly be coming here more often in the future.
Of course, we’ll also miss the feline person we came here to look after – ‘Luna’, who’s proved to be a delightful charge.
I’ve a small favour to ask…
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Cheers,
Paul
Paul Bigland 