Tag Archives: West Yorkshire

Let it snow…

05 Sunday Jan 2025

Posted by in Musings, Photography, Weather, West Yorkshire

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The snow that had been predicted to fall yesterday arrived with a vengeance overnight. When we opened the bedroom blinds this morning we were treated to the sight of a white-out. The whole valley had disappeared under a blanket of snow which left the world eerily quiet as hardly anything motorised could move.

Later, having fortified myself with coffee I ventured out with the camera to get a few pictures. Firstly, I checked the depth of the snow on our front garden wall.

13cm. But in many places the snow had drifted and was even deeper, getting up to 20cm.

Whilst Dawn stayed in the warm I went for a wander around where we lived before the snow dropped off the trees. We’re surrounded by woodland, which makes for lovely pictures in these conditions. Here’s a selection…

It’s a brave (or stupid) motorist who ventures out in these conditions. Our road became a reserve for walkers rather than cars. All you had to watch out for was snow bombs as the tree branches shed their loads.
Local footpaths became the reserve of foxes and badgers, the only ones who left tracks.
Looking down a cold Calder valley towards Sowerby Bridge which is hidden in the murk in the valley below.
Looking up at the Wainhouse Tower past telephone lines which have quadrupled in prominence due to the snow clinging to them. Telegraph poles and wires in the air is still very much a thing in this neck of the woods.
The walk to our local pub (The Big 6) is up this cobbled road called Wakefield Gate. Today it was reserved for walkers as it was too steep and slippery for vehicles. This featured in the opening credits for the TV series ‘Gentlemen Jack’. I’d hoped to have got some evening shots here but the snow turned to rain.

The pair of us did venture out into the valley bottom for a stroll along the canal to Sowerby Bridge in the early afternoon but by then temperatures had risen enough that we had persistent rain which was gradually turning the snow into slush. I’d half-hoped to be able to get some pictures of local trains in the snow, but conditions were so bad all rail services through the Calder Valley were suspended, so there was nothing left to do but go for a pint and a warm in the Hogshead Brew House before slipping and sliding our way uphill to home. Water was running down the roads in torrents as the rain continued to melt the snow, making it an ‘interesting’ walk to say the least. Thankfully, there were few cars on the roads, which were a far safer place to walk than the slush-covered, treacherous pavements. Even so, we were soaked by the time we got home. The forecast had been for more heavy snow, but here, the difference in height by a few meters and temperature by one degree can make all the difference – which makes predicting the weather so difficult. I wouldn’t be the least surprised to find that snow’s falling just another 100-150 meters above where we live.

Now it’s time for a quiet night in. Dawn’s cooking a veggie Sunday dinner whilst I’m writing this. After which, it’s time to sort out and book for our next adventure, to somewhere far more exotic – and warm. Watch this space…

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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/

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4th January picture(s) of the day…

04 Saturday Jan 2025

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

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Today’s been a hanging around sort of day, but not in a bad way. We were up early as Dee had some shopping to do for her parents before the pair of us headed over the their home in Huddersfield where I whiled away a few hours editing more old pictures whilst Dawn went off too to do ‘girly’ things, like get her nails done. Afterwards, the four of us went out for lunch. We’d originally planned to head over the Pennines to Delph where there’s a lovey pub we frequent, but with the weather forecast warning of the potential for lots of snow arriving we hedged our bets and went somewhere more local. The weather has already been unkind to the area with the trans-pennine railway through the Colne valley closed due to flooding, so the last thing we wanted to do was get stranded.

We’d eaten at the nearby Olive Branch Inn (just outside Slaithwaite, on the Manchester Rd) for the first time just a few weeks ago and really enjoyed the food, so decided a revisit was on the cards. Having booked a table for 14:30 you can imagine our surprise to find we were the only customers in what’s normally a busy place. The young lady serving us said they’d had several cancellations due to people being put off by the threat of snow. Good for us, not so good for the restaurant. So, we had an excellent meal and the kitchen’s undivided attention!

Both Dawn and I opted for the same meal we’d had during our last visit – beef cheeks. It’s not a dish we’d seen before but the Olive Branch does it superbly. The meat is melt-in the mouth delicious! We’d certainly recommend it.

Beef cheek cooked for 4 hours, with button mushrooms, bacon, shallots and red wine sauce, served with creamy mash and brocolli.

Suitably stuffed and with one eye on the weather we dropped John and Norah back at their house before heading home ourselves. Now we’re relaxing in the warm (it’s Baltic outside), waiting to see what the weather may bring. The forecast keeps changing. Snow was meant to arrive around 21:00, now it’s 23:00. Here in the Pennines we’re meant to be getting between 20-40cm of the stuff, which is why we didn’t want to get caught earlier. Some of the cobbled hills around where we live are bad enough in the wet, add snow and ice and they can be lethal.

Still, I’ve had chance to add dozens of pictures to my Zenfolio website, including this one from a private visit to Toton depot in 2012.

In 2012 DB Schenker had started a ‘Super 60’ scheme, which involved rebuilding long-stored Class 60 locomotives, this included engines, traction motors, bogies, control gear, cabs and electrical systems. 60020 was one of the first batch. It’s seen here on the 7th September 2012, sat inside the depot waiting it’s turn for the work to begin.

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7th December picture of the day…

07 Saturday Dec 2024

Posted by in Huddersfield, Musings, Photography

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Apologies for absence these past couple of days but it’s been a busy time due to the fact that on Thursday my father-in-law had his 90th birthday. So, on Thursday the Platt family had a gathering to celebrate. Thankfully, John had bounced back from having had the lurgi just the week before, showing that he’s incredibly resilient from someone of an age where many people expect you to be a gibbering wreck that spends all their time sat in front of the TV. That’s never been John’s route. He’s probably more active and fitter than many men 20 years younger – as you’ll see later…

The full Platt family (and me, as an honorary member) went out for a meal at the Manor House in Lindley, on the edge of Huddersfield and I have to say, the food didn’t disappoint. Dawn had taken me there several years ago for my birthday so we knew what to expect, whilst the rest of the family had never visited. The food, service and ambience were all top notch. As both Dawn and I enjoy cooking we sometimes find eating out a disappointment as we know we can cook just as well, if not better. But the Manor House is in a different league.

Friday saw me working from home as the weather’s been bloody awful and it’s not been any better today as we’ve caught the end of storm Darragh. High winds had already caused chaos in the area, bringing down a huge tree in our local woods on Thursday night, but today I had to venture over to Huddersfield for the annual Honley male voice choir Xmas concert. Dawn had driven over earlier in the day so I elected to get the train. I thought I’d be clever and go from Sowerby Bridge to Dewsbury, then catch a Trans-Pennine Express service into Huddersfield in order to get a view of progress on the Trans-Pennine Route Upgrade (TRU). I didn’t need to be at the concert until 15:00 and left in plenty of time, so what could possibly go wrong? Bloody trees down on the line, that’s what…

My 10 minute connection at Dewsbury turned into a 55 minute fester. The only small mercy was the opportunity to have a swift pint in the West Riding refreshment room on the station. Thankfully, I made it to the Lawrence Batley theatre in Huddersfield with just a couple of minutes to spare before the concert started and took my seat with Dawn and her mum. Remember I said my FiL isn’t one for vegetating in front of the TV? Not at all, instead – he was singing in the choir he’s been a member of for 38 years! So, today’s picture is of the concert. John is on the bottom row, second from the left.

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Or – you can now buy me a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/paulbigland68312

23rd November picture of the day…

23 Saturday Nov 2024

Posted by in Climate Change, Indonesia, Photography, Picture of the day, Travel, Weather, West Yorkshire

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What a change in the weather! When I opened the bedroom window blinds around 08:00 all I could see was oppressive skies and an inch or two of new snow. The latter was welcome, the dim light wasn’t as I’d half-hoped to be able to get out with the camera. It wasn’t to be. By the time I’d breakfasted, checked in with Dawn and perused the daily (depressing) news the rain had started to arrive. The only sensible choice was to stay at home, catch up on some work and wait for the day to unfold.

Unfold it did. Rain replaced snow. Over the course of a few hours all the snow was washed away. which then left us with another problem. Flooding. The Calder valley’s become renowned for such events and the local authorities issued several warnings, from Todmorden to Luddenden Foot. Thankfully the high water levels haven’t proved to be a major problem.

None of this stopped me getting my daily constitutional and the opportunity to call into my local for a pint. But, as I’ve said previously. If we flood – high as we are above the valley floor – then the world’s in a whole new level of hurt! Looking at the forecast there’s not going to be a bright side tomorrow. Well, weather-wise anyway. On another front I expect to have Dawn home tomorrow, so things are looking up.

With not having got out with the camera today I’ve been wondering about what today’s picture choice will be. As the weather’s been so dismal I’ve decided to delve into the archives to find this. Frankly? I’d be quite happy to escape from the world as it is in 2024 to return here.

Here’s the beautiful and isolated small island of Kanawa, which is off the island of Flores, Indonesia. The picture was taken in September 1998 when we spent a week staying here. There’s several stories I can tell about those backpacking days. One is that you learned never to order breakfast until you saw what the first longboat of the day from Flores was carrying. One day I’ll tell you what happened when someone ordered chicken…

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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 November picture of the day…

22 Friday Nov 2024

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

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Well, that wasn’t quite the start to the weekend I was hoping for! Since my outing on Tuesday I’ve been pretty much confined to barracks for various reasons, one of which was the fact I’d a final round of judging to complete for next years Community Rail Awards. Of course, since Tuesday we’ve had almost wall to wall sunshine up here in West Yorkshire and surrounding counties, which has been rather frustrating, especially as the snow as pretty much stuck around in many areas, but that’s life. Then, yesterday we found out that Dawn’s father wasn’t feeling very well. As John’s coming up to his 90th birthday you can imagine everyone’s concern. So, yesterday we ended up dropping everything at short-notice to head over to Huddersfield in order to be with her mum and dad and offer our support. We’d only been with them on Wednesday evening as I’d cooked us all a coq-au-vin for our weekly evening meal get-together (another reason why I’ve not been out much) and John had seemed fine then. Thankfully, it seems that I’d not poisoned my father-in-law and his current hors de combat is due to a virus and not my cooking! Dawn’s remained over at her parents whilst I’ve returned to Bigland Towers in order to be around for other duties.

Right now – I’m going nowhere until things are resolved. Plus, there’s another storm on the way – which might prove to interesting – although I’m struggling to take a storm called ‘Bert’ seriously right now. Whatever else ‘Bert’ might bring it’s seeing an end to the freezing weather we’ve had, which is no bad thing.

So, what’s next? I’m not entirely sure to be honest. I’ve plenty to keep me occupied with at home for this weekend, especially as it looks like I’ll be spending most of it on my own. Next week? well, that’s another matter. In the meantime I’ll leave you with today’s picture which was taken on my visit to the Hope valley on Tuesday.

A snow-covered Back Tor seen from near Edale station on Tuesday. Traversing that ridge is one of our favourite walks, but not in weather like this!

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Or – you can now buy me a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/paulbigland68312

Chasing the weather…

19 Tuesday Nov 2024

Posted by in Calder Valley, Photography, Railways, Travel, Weather

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Having woken up to wall-to-wall snow this morning I dropped everything to head out with the camera. After all, it’s not that often we get such conditions and the snow often disappears in the blink of an eye. Today was no different. The ideal conditions are when the snow clings to trees and bushes but the weather warmed quickly and the snow was already dropping before I left so there was no time to waste.

Having walked down to Sowerby Bridge I caught a train to Todmorden where the railway’s surrounded by high hills – ideal for photography. Here’s a small selection. I’ll add details tomorrow…

Having got the images I wanted I caught a train into Manchester with the intention of heading back via the nearby Colne valley, but Dawn had mentioned that Derbyshire had accrued a lot of snow, so my plans changed and I ended up at Edale instead. The Hope valley didn’t disappoint, although the trees were already bereft of snow.

Normally I’d be taking photos of atop Mam Tor and the ridge, but not today! It was bleedin’ Baltic out there!

Sorry for the lack of details but it’s been a long day. I’ve walked nearly 15 miles to get these pictures and I’ve another busy day tomorrow, so now it’s time to relax.

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

19th October picture of the day…

19 Saturday Oct 2024

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

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We’ve both decided it feels rather strange being back here at Bigland Towers. We weren’t away long – just 4 nights – but the pace of life on the peninsula was very different and I have to say we rather liked it. One of the things we’ve noticed since we’ve been back is the amount of traffic on the roads and numbers of cars clogging the streets. Life feels much more frenetic here. Of course, it’s not all bad. I can walk to the local supermarket (and my local pub). Plus, we have superfast broadband rather than steam-powered internet, but there was something special about having so many beaches close to hand. Coastal views give you a very different perspective and feel compared to being landlocked.

That said, we’ve made the most of a day which has proved to be sunny and mild. I’ve managed to catch up on some work and plans for the week (thank you superfast broadband!), we’ve picked up shopping to make some excellent meals – and we’ve dropped off supplies to Dee’s parents. Now it’s time to relax with a movie and enjoy a meal of spicy prawns with chorizo and garlic bread.

I’ll leave you with today’s picture which was taken on the Afon estuary outside Portmeirion when the tide had turned. Much as I like this neck of the woods you don’t get this in the Pennines.

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Or – you can now buy me a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/paulbigland68312

11th October picture of the day…

11 Friday Oct 2024

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

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We’re winding down to the weekend here in Bigland Towers after a week that’s seen us both busy – and even at the same event for a change. Today’s been one where I’ve been housebound in order to catch up with picture editing and writing for a living in order to clear the decks for next week as the pair of us will be having a few days R&R in Wales, basing ourselves on the Lleyn peninsula. Mind you, getting out from home wasn’t that easy today as the contractors who’ve been resurfacing the road outside the cottage have been on the final stretch, laying the topcoat of tarmac and then sealing it with the company’s ‘special ingredient’ which adds durability and waterproofing. Well, that’s what one of the workers whom I had a long conversation told me when I nipped out to get pictures of their activities. To be honest, the folks who’ve been doing the work have been very good and very flexible. They know closing the road and getting people to move their cars can be an issue for some people. But hey, let’s keep this in perspective. We get a brand-new, pothole free road that will last for years at the end of it, so what’s the problem? No pain, no gain as they old saying goes (and this was hardly painful, merely mildly inconvenient). Plus, from a selfish perspective – I got to get some interesting pictures and learned something – and all I had to do was step outside my front door.

Still, more of that when I’ve the pictures downloaded and edited. Right now we’re about to call it a day, having nipped out to see if we can see the ‘Northern lights’. Sadly, there’s no light-show here in Halifax tonight – at least not at 23:00 anyway. Instead, I’ll leave you with a different sky. This was the sunset I saw from a beach on Viti Levu, Fiji, on the 9th March 1999…

I wonder if we’ll get anything to compete with this in Wales next 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

Men at work.

02 Wednesday Oct 2024

Posted by in Musings, Photography, Photojournalism, West Yorkshire

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Here’s a slightly different blog today. These past few days the road outside the cottages and the rest of the street is being resurfaced. We’re not talking endlessly filling in potholes here, we’re talking proper resurfacing where the tarmac is being stripped back to the cobbles – where they still exist – or the surface beneath them. It’s a major operation as I reckon there’s about a mile of roadway that’s being done. Needless to say, I’ve been distracted by the work as it’s fascinating to watch. Here’s a few pictures.

The planing machine at work, stripping back the old tarmac.
How it looks from the cottage
Within a few hours of stripping back the old tarmac these guys were busy laying the base for the new road surface
A complex but well done job, especially on a road that keeps changing shape…

Of course, we could have complained about the ‘inconvenience’ of having to move cars, the noise etc, only none of us did. Instead the workers were offered tea and biscuits by people! It can’t be an easy job as the workers are constantly on the move, and whilst many of them are young (ish) there was one chap who’s 75 and still working. I won’t be around to see how far they get tomorrow as I’m working away, but I’ll get some more shots before they go – and hopefully get a personal story or two.

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

28th September picture of the day…

28 Saturday Sep 2024

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

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Bloody weather – you just can’t trust it! This morning we had wall to wall sunshine here in the Pennines. It was one of those crisp days where visibility was excellent due to a lack of haze. As we had to nip over the the Colne valley next door to pay a visit to the Bolster Moor farm shop and call in at Dawn’s parent I thought I might have the chance to get some decent pictures. Train services were running normally through the valley rather then being truncated due to the route upgrade work. Even freight services were running. So, whilst Dee was helping her parents sort out some household bills I wandered out from Crosland Moor to a spot high above Milnesbridge with an excellent view of the railway viaduct that traverses the village.

All was good, until the particular train I was interested as due – a Liverpool to Drax power station train of biomass wood pellets. At that point the weather decided not to play ball and the clouds appeared. Thankfully, they were more of the light, wispy kind rather than the ones that look like they could herald the arrival of the apocalypse, but they were just as annoying! As usual with sods law – just as soon as the train had passed, so did the clouds! Ah well. The day didn’t get any better weather-wise. This evening the apocalyptic variety put in an appearance, along with yet more heavy showers – as if we haven’t had enough rain this month…

Anyway, here’s the picture I did manage to capture.

GBRf’s loco no 66729 heads across the viaduct at Milnesbridge with 6E09, the 0720 Liverpool Biomass Terminal to Drax power station loaded biomass.

The weather forecast for the beginning of next week is looking just as sodden around the country as today. Looks like Monday’s going to be a good day to sit at home writing. Tomorrow? Well, maybe just a short trip out somewhere to see something special…

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