Tag Archives: West Yorkshire

Time in the sun.

05 Thursday Sep 2019

Posted by in Pubs, Rail Investment, Railways, West Yorkshire

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(Updated 23:00)

I managed to escape from the office again today as I’d arranged to meet a fellow photographer who works in the rail industry to give him a guided tour of locations around Marsden on the Trans-pennine rail route through the Colne valley. I’d been meaning to update my library shots and get some pictures for a client from the area, so this was the perfect opportunity – especially as the sun Gods were smiling upon us.

Trevor and I met on the train at Huddersfield for a trip on a line that (as a man of Kent) he’d not travelled on for donkey’s years. Our first port of call was Marsden, the nearest station to the famous Standedge tunnels, where canal and rail occupy almost the same ground under the Pennines. It’s a fantastic photo location but one that will change dramatically over the next few years when the rail route is electrified.

The only downside nowadays is the monotony of the type of trains. Very little freight uses the route as it has such an intensive passenger service. This is Trans-Pennine Express’s core route. Northern Rail used to operate an hourly all-stations Huddersfield-Manchester service but it’s now operated by TPE. This means the line’s almost completely Class 185 operated which is why the introduction of the TPE’s loco-hauled sets is a welcome break from the monotony.

Having trudged up the incline to a spot above the tunnel entrance the sun smiled, and so did we, as we managed to get a range of pictures in decent weather. Here’s an example.

A TPE Class 185 heads East towards Marsden station which is around a quarter of a mile to the right of the picture. The bridge in the foreground’s an aqueduct which has been rebuilt and renewed by Network Rail. It’s been raised to give sufficient clearance to the overhead wires which are due in the next few years when the line between Leeds and Manchester’s electrified.
A zoomed-in shot from the same location, showing the aqueduct in greater detail. The formation to the right carried tracks through the original single track Standedge tunnels which were built in 1848 and 1871. The present double track rail tunnel was built in 1894. Just behind the train is the Huddersfield narrow canal, its tunnel was opened in 1811. You can learn more about these feats of engineering here. If you’re in the area, I’d recommend the tunnel café and the museum. Both are in the canal basin and a short walk from Marsden station.

Having exhausted the photographic possibilities we changed locations a couple of times to catch one of the new CAF built trains for Northern which was working empty stock from Preston to Huddersfield.

In doing so we missed one TPE’s new Nova 3 sets as we didn’t know the damned thing was running! Here’s the classic view we’d been heading for.

A Manchester bound TPE service approaches the Standedge tunnel. The canal museum and visitor centre I mentioned earlier is in the old transhipment shed to the right of the picture.

By that time the Pennine weather had changed from favourable to fearsome, with cold air and showers sweeping in from the West, so we adjourned to the Riverhead Brewery Tap pub in Marsden, which is a cracking place to stop for a pint before heading back East

Back in Huddersfield we connected with the loco-hauled TPE set we’d missed earlier. Well it would have been rude not to!

Trevor used it to get to Leeds before heading off to Keighley whilst I stayed on as far as York as I couldn’t resist the opportunity to get shots of the set under the magnificent station roof. Luckily, a late-running Siemens set allowed me some nice juxtaposition and a study in front ends.

All in all it’s not been a bad day and a lot less frustrating than yesterday. There’s some useful shots in the bank and for a client. I’ve had chance to explore locations I’ve not visited for a while and I’ve also been able to act as a tour guide for a friend. What more can you ask for?

Rolling blog: bunking off…

04 Wednesday Sep 2019

Posted by in Railways, Rolling blogs, West Yorkshire

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15:45

After two days in the office I’ve bunked off for a few hours. I needed to nip out for some shopping anyway but then I noticed that Northern Rail were running training runs on their new Class 195s between Bradford Interchange and Todmorden. As there’s also a fair bit of freight working today and we’ve got some very moody skies I thought I’d chance my arm and get a few pictures. The results will be in the lap of the Gods as there’s a fair chance heavy showers rather than sunshine will co-incide with the trains, but you never know!

I managed to stay dry walking down into Sowerby Bridge before catching a Northern 2-car 150/2 to Hebden Bridge working a Blackpool North service which is normally the exclusive preserve of their Class 158’s, which suggests that something’s gone pear-shaped with the fleet.

All the way to Blackpool on one of these? Nice…

15:55.

The law of Sod has come into play. No sooner had I landed at Hebden Bridge than I found today’s test runs had been cancelled for no explained reason. On the bright side, there’s still a couple of freight services running but I’m not in the best place for pictures. Ho hum…

16:45.

Well that was a bit of a waste of time! Not a single thing fell right. I ended up heading back to Sowerby Bridge and just for a moment I thought I might be able to grab a shot of ny departing train framed by a gorgeous rainbow – which promptly faded just as soon as the train departed! All that was left was the chance to get a shot of a biomass train heading for Drax power station – just as the next shower arrived! I’ll add a couple of pictures later, right now I’m going to salvage something from the day by getting some shopping and my daily 12,500 steps in…

21:13.

Time to wind things up. Part of me wishes I’d stayed in the office now and ploughed on with other stuff. But as the old saying goes “nothing ventured, nothing gained”. The weather and operations just didn’t fall right. still, here’s a couple of useful photo’s that salvaged the time.

I live the way the Knowsley to Wilton waste train snakes around the reverse curves at Sowerby Bridge. You need a freight train of this length otherwise the shot doesn’t work.
Ex- West Midlands Class 150105 pulls into the delightfully period station at Hebden Bridge with a service from Manchester Victoria to Leeds. Note that the unit carries the name ‘Bernie’ under the unit number. I’ve no idea why so I’m hoping a reader may be able to enlighten me.

Whilst I was unlucky with the weather, a friend further East wasn’t as conditions fell perfectly and Tony knew what he was doing to take advantage of them. He should be well pleased with this shot! I’m not jealous really, honest!

Right, I’m now back at home, editing pictures and watching the Tory party implode over Brexit whilst realising that they’ve elected a blustering clown as a Prime Minister. Tomorrow I’m hoping to have a day out with the camera and a colleague. Hopefully both trains and weather will play ball tomorrow…

I don’t like Mondays…

02 Monday Sep 2019

Posted by in Brexit, Musings, Politics, West Yorkshire

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Well, ones like this where the weather’s been miserable, I’ve been stuck at home collating vast numbers of pictures for a client and I’m watching my country slowly implode both economically and politically. Apart from that it’s been just fine!

Exciting as life is as a photographer, the wading through loads of library images to upload onto a client’s website is the least glamorous side of the job – even if it’s crucial. It’s monotonous and takes time as well as commands attention to detail. I suppose I should be grateful that the weather’s been so iffy so I’ve not been tempted to venture forth with the camera. The seasons really do feel like they’re starting to change up here in West Yorkshire. The nights are noticeably drawing in and the autumn chill is starting to creep in on the tail of shorter days.

My distraction would normally be to have the radio on, but the news bulletins are so depressing as they report on our increasingly dysfunctional Government and its suicide mission to deliver a ‘no deal’ Brexit, thus crippling the economy and trashing our reputation with the rest of the world – who already think we’re mad. That so many of my fellow countrymen think that Johnson’s threat to leave the EU without a deal is actually a threat the EU take seriously says a lot about the state of the UK nowadays. If someone’s holding a gun to their own head and threatening to pull the trigger anyone with an ounce of common-sense knows that there’s only going to be one result. Sadly, common-sense left these shores in 2016 and it looks like it has no intention of returning.

Meanwhile, the rest of us are caught up in this absolute farce as the Tory party morphs into the Brexit party, minus that lying, slimy toad Farage. Instead, they have their other poster boy, Boris – a man who’s relationship with the truth is just as divorced as Farage’s. This is not going to end well…

My only hope is that enough members of all political parties remember where they’ve left their backbones and put country before party. In the meantime, we’re in for a very rocky ride.

Right now, I have other considerations. I’ve finished uploading a batch of pictures to the client’s website and now my attention’s drawn to the delicious smells emanating from the kitchen where Dawn’s busy baking biscuits to take into the ACoRP staff meeting tomorrow. I may be gone some time…

Saturday bits and bobs.

31 Saturday Aug 2019

Posted by in Abandoned railways, Railways, West Yorkshire

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I’m having another rare day at home catching up on chores and a spot of picture editing, mostly of images that don’t fit the main gallery categories on my website and need a bit of research first. Some of these were taken earlier in the week around Mirfield in West Yorkshire. Like many people involved in railways I have a curiosity about the many lines that closed during my childhood or even before I was born. Yorkshire’s rich in such lines and Mirfield has quite a few remains. One I spotted was what’s left of the Spen valley line which lasted a little over 50 years, opening in 1900 and closing in November 1966 although it lost its passenger services as early as 1953. Built by the LNWR it ran from Heaton Lodge Junction through Heckmondwike and Cleckheaton to Farnley Junction and on into Leeds City station. You can find out more about it on this very good website, ‘Mirfield memories’. Here’s what I found.

The site of Battyeford station which was built straddling the Huddersfield Rd. This is the North side.
The view looking in the opposite direction to the first picture. Part of the viaduct remains as many of the arches are occupied by commercial premises.
The opposite end of the viaduct where the railway crossed the River Calder on a steel bridge. Behind me is the line from Huddersfield to Dewsbury which is still operational.
The Spen valley line came off to the left just on front of this Class 185 which is approaching Heaton Lodge Junction.

If you’re interested in abandoned or disused railways there’s a gallery dedicated to them on my Zenfolio website. You can find it by following this link.

I’d love to have more time to spend to explore West Yorkshire’s railway heritage, but there’s little time for that as most of my time’s taken up with the modern, growing railway rather than the remains of a contracting one. That said, Dawn and I are hoping to get out on the bikes to explore several that are close to us which have been converted into some excellent cycle-paths. I first got to know about several of them when I explored them by bike for an article in RAIL magazine. One of their writers and I were given a guided tour on Brompton bikes by a couple of Sustrans officers and I’ve always meant to revisit the places and infrastructure we saw. Some of the viaducts, tunnels and cuttings were really impressive, especially around Heckmondwike, Dewsbury and Queensbury. But as the year is rapidly moving on, that may have to wait until next year!

Rolling blog: London return…

29 Thursday Aug 2019

Posted by in London, New trains, Northern Rail, Rail Investment, Railways, Rolling blogs, Travel

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07:45.

Today’s start is a little earlier than yesterday. There’s been no trees down on the road either! Instead I’ve strolled the mile and a half into Halifax and caught Northern’s 08:42 to Leeds. I’m being spoiled today as it’s worked by a pair of 2 car 158s with my unit being one of the fully refurbished ones that has the new style seats and USB sockets – luxury!

The train’s surprisingly quiet but I’m not sure if this is due to the fact it’s still the holiday season or the fact we’ve a 25-50% increase in capacity compared to what we would have had 2-3 years ago. Thos who like to snipe at railways in the North (yes, you Andy Burnham) would do well to remember just how many new or cascaded vehicles Northern’s been able to add to its fleet over the past few years.

I’m en-route to Leeds as I’m returning to London for part of the day to finish a commission, meet up with a colleague and also bag a few more library shots before heading North again to hopefully catch up with another friend and colleague in York, so I’ve a busy schedule. Let’s see how the day goes…

10:25.

The 08:45 Leeds to Kings Cross Azuma is currently streaking across the Cambridgeshire fens at 123mph with me aboard. We’re 10 minutes late due to congestion at Doncaster earlier. Despite that, it’s been an excellent trip so far and the weather’s looking better than yesterday as there’s far less cloud around. I have to say, I really do like the performance of these Azuma’s. Not only to they go like stink but the ride is really good – especially when you’re sitting swiping at a laptop keyboard. My ‘spull chucker’ doesn’t get half the exercise it would if I was on a Mk3-4 set!

11:02.

After a really spirited run where our driver managed to claw a few minutes back we’re in the tunnels approaching Kings Cross. It’s time for me to leg it across London again..

13:15.

Having bitten the Buckinghan Palace cherry twice I made my circituitous way over to Liverpool St via walking to Charing Cross, train to London Bridge then a stroll across the river and through the city. The view across the Thames was worth it!

18:27.

I’m now North of Peterborough after a day which didn’t plan out quite as expected, but was fun nonetheless! After wandering over to Liverpool St I met up with an old friend who’d just flown back into the UK from Croatia via ‘London Saarfend’ airport. So, naturally I welcomed him back to the tin-pot dictatorship formerly known as the UK and we promptly drowned our sorrows in a local pub named after Lord Aberconway, the last Chairman of the Metropolitan Railway.

After a few beers we parted company and I retraced my way North much in the way that I did yesterday. So much so that I’m now on LNER’s 17:55 from Stevenage to Harrogate HST, and frankly, it’s a nightmare compared to the Azuma I came down on. It’s taken me twice as long to type this as the bloody thing’s performing like a yacht in a force 10. Trying to type is like playing darts, you hope to hit the relevant key but the chances are minimal.

22:59.

That’s the end of this rolling blog folks, I’m now back at home after a long but fun packed day. There’ll be no rolling blog tomorrow as I’m based at home, but expect a few pictures and commentary to appear. If I have time I’ll add some historical stuff too. G’night!

Rolling blog: A sunny Sunday in the Calder valley…

25 Sunday Aug 2019

Posted by in Calder Valley, Rail Investment, Railways, Rolling blogs, West Yorkshire

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14:30.

After yesterday’s fun afloat we’re very much back on terra firma today, ready to soak up the sunshine in the Calder Valley and stretch our legs by taking a stroll up to the Moorcock Inn on Norland moor.

I’ve spent most of the day catching up on editing pictures from the past few days travels and updating yesterday’s less then ‘rolling’ blog! Here’s a couple of examples of the shots I’ve already added to my Zenfolio website.

The new order at Newton Heath depot in Manchester. More and more of the CAF built Class 195s are entering service, although the driver training programme remains a challenge. In the background can be seen the steelwork for the new shed that will be dedicated to maintaining the CAF units.
The old order is beginning to disappear. Here’s Pacers 142036 and 142048 approaching Ashton Under Lyne whilst working a Manchester Victoria to Stalybridge service. This line’s been heavily rebuilt to cater for the (delayed) electrification. Much of the track’s been renewed and junctions replaced. In the background is one of the many bridges that have had to be rebuilt to provide sufficient clearance for the overhead wires.

20:30.

OK, not everything went to plan today. Both Dawn and I were so heavily caught up in chores that by the time we left the house there was no way we were going to make it up to the Moorcock. Instead, we had a leisurely walk down to the foot of the valley and strolled along the Calder and Hebble navigation (aka ‘the canal’) into Sowerby Bridge. The weather was absolutely stunning, the sort that you really don’t normally associate with Bank-Holiday’s in the UK. The ‘bridge’ was buzzing, the town’s blessed with a number of pubs with beer gardens and I suspect every one was full. Here’s a look at how it was down by the canal.


Network Rail begin consultations on expanding & electrifying Trans-Pennine rail

23 Friday Aug 2019

Posted by in Rail Investment, Railways, Trans-Pennine electrification, West Yorkshire

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Earlier this week Network Rail launched a consultation on its plans to expand and electrify the rail corridor between Huddersfield and Dewsbury in West Yorkshire as part of the £2.9bn Trans-Pennine electrification programme . You can find a link to the consultation here.

In the plans are proposals to increase tracks East from Huddersfield from two to four. Replace the flat junctions at Mirfield East and Thornhill LNW Jns with a grade seperated junction using either a flyover or dive under by Ravensthorpe station. As well as increasing track capacity, the line would be electrified all the way from Huddersfield to Leeds. Improvements would also be made to Huddersfield, Deighton, Mirfield and Ravensthorpe stations. The work would be carried out under a Transport and Works Act Order. Network Rail expect the application to be submitted to the Secretary of State for Transport in autumn 2020 with work beginning in 2021.

Here’s a look at some of the route in pictures, travelling from Huddersfield and heading East.

Looking East along the station throat at Huddersfield where the railway enters the town over a long viaduct which can accommodate four tracks as that’s what it’s carried on the past. There are proposals to increase the number of platforms at the station by building a new island platform on the site of the DMU stabling sidings. This shot was taken from the top of the old water tower (now ACoRP’s office) back in 2012.
The Preston Docks to Lindsay empty bitumen tank train approaching Mirfield in 2012. Just behind the end of the train is Heaton Lodge Junction where the line to Huddersfield swings to the left and the route to Brighouse diverges to the right. This junction is already grade-separated. As you can see, the formation used to be four-tracked. The fourth line was removed in 1986 when the junction was rationalised.
A shot taken in 2009, looking the other way from the previous image. A TPE service speeds past the site of the old Mirfield steam loco shed and rounds the curve to pass Mirfield station whilst a Westbound Northern service slows for signals as it will be overtaken by a Westbound TPE service at this point before crossing over to take the route to Brighouse. Four-tracking this section of line should remove these conflicts and speed up services as well as removing potentials for delays.
In 2014 a Leeds – Huddersfield service calls at the small wooden platform built on the Up Slow at Mirfield station. The width of the formation at this point is obvious. The tracks beyond at the Up and Down fast lines. Any train coming from the Up Healy Mills route has to use this line.
In 2012, a TPE service speeds West with Ravensthorpe station visible beyond the bridge. This is the site of the much-simplified Thornhill LNW junction which (nowadays) consists of one switch! The track the 185 occupies is bi-directional as it forms the Up Main from Dewsbury and also the Down L&Y which goes off to the right towards the former Healy Mills Marshalling yard. It’s this junction that Network Rail are proposing to replace with either a flyover or dive-under. The Calder Rd overbridge that can be seen in the background could present a challenge to building a flyover. It will be interesting to see what plans Network Rail come up with…
A 2009 view taken from the Calder Rd overbridge showing Ravensthorpe station with the former L&Y route via Healy Mills diverging to the right. The LNW route to Dewsbury and Leeds on the left was always two tracks. The L&Y used to be four. The area to the left of the railway station was the site of the hugevcoal powered Thornhill power power station that had extensive railway sidings. Now there’s a small combined cycle gas turbine power plant and industrial units.

I’ll be heading out to get some more pictures of the area shortly to detail other parts of the route and the challenges Network rail face. Deighton station is one of them. The present station was opened on the 26th April 1982 and consists of two wooden platforms built in a cutting on the site of the old four track formation. These will need to be demolished if the extra two tracks are to be reinstated.

When the lurgy strikes…

02 Friday Aug 2019

Posted by in Musings, West Yorkshire

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Today was meant to be a fun day but it’s fallen hostage to several things. Originally, a group of us were meant to be having a very pleasant evening catching-up on a steamship on the Weaver Navigation near the Anderton Lift in Cheshire. Sadly, the weather put paid to that as the torrential rain that’s caused havoc on the transport network and threatened to burst the Toddbrook reservoir dam and devastate the village of Whaley Bridge has also flooded the Weaver Navigation, so the boat trip was off. Instead, a few of us rail folk were going to meet up in Manchester and Tamworth before staying in Warrington overnight as we’ve not had a proper catch-up for months.

However, for me, the dreaded Lurgy had other plans.

This morning I woke up with a temperature accompanied by general aches pains and lassitude that informed me I’d come down with a virus. I doubt it’s much more serious than a cold, but the last thing I wanted to do today was spread the bloody thing to friends. Instead, I’ve had a (rare) day in bed catching up on sleep and some work. This included loading some of the pictures taken over the last couple of days to my Zenfolio website. You can find them here. There was one positive bit of news that buoyed my spirits this morning. The Tories lost the Brecon and Radnor by-election, which has cut Johnson’s Parliamentary majority to one! Well done to all the remain parties for working together! I see the Labour vote collapsed by 12.5%. One would hope the comrades would now wake up and smell the coffee as they’re heading the same way as the Tories. However, I doubt it as ‘Magic Grandad’ is useless and the Corbynistas spend most of their time forming their wagons into a circle around him to hurl insults at anyone who challenges their suicidal tactics of supporting both him and Brexit. It seems beyond their wit to realise that it’s actually floating voters you need to win a general election and spending all your time abusing them because of their lack of ideological purity is a spectacularly dumb idea.

I’ve got a very busy schedule next week as I’m finishing the ACoRP awards judging, then heading off to Ireland for a week to attend a friends wedding as their photographer. Dawn and I are taking the car over via the Holyhead ferry in order to explore Ireland for a few days before and after the main event. Both of us are really looking forward to it as (for me at least) it’ll be chance to catch up with friends and a chance for the pair of us to explore the beauty of the Irish Republic. Thanks to the antics of Boris Johnson and his inept Cabinet it’s going to be an expensive time now that they’ve tanked the pound and it’s perilously close to parity with the Euro. I also feel sorry for the residents of Whaley Bridge too. Not only have they been evacuated from their homes as the nearby dam is a natural disaster waiting to happen, they’ve had to put up with an unnatural one as our disaster of a Prime Minister has graced them with his presence today. Haven’t they suffered enough?

Whilst I’ve manfully struggled on with Lemsips and Kleenex, Dawn’s been shopping in Leeds for a dress to wear for next weeks wedding. At least she’s not had to suffer me sneezing all over her! Tomorrow, if the aches and fever subside, we have a barbecue to attend which is being hosted by our friend Tony of Phoenix Brewery fame. You can tell I’m not feeling 100% as I even turned down going to the Big 6 fun quiz tonight. Instead I’ve settled for a quiet night in with a bottle of beer, some crispy duck and Dawn and I curled up together watching films. That said, after all the travelling I’ve been doing and the nights away, what’s not to like?

 

Papers and pictures everywhere!

30 Tuesday Jul 2019

Posted by in Calder Valley, Musings, West Yorkshire

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13:45.

I’m having another rare day at home trying to keep on top of admin’ whilst not going stir crazy. The day’s been productive so far with several things ticked off the list and with more to come, plus another tranche of pictures added to my Zenfolio website which you can find here. Right now, I’ve nipped out to do some shopping and get some exercise whilst spending a moment enjoying the view across the valley whilst the sun shines and the thunderstorms build up. We’ve had one brief crack of thunder earlier but the skies are certainly changing now. A phalanx of dark clouds is moving in from the East, whilst the higher, lighter cloud is in full retreat whilst the sun’s caught (high up) between the warring factions. As if acting as an out-runner, the wind’s sprung up to ruffle the trees in Scarr woods.

Looking West towards Sowerby Bridge and on to Manchester

Looking the other way and the thunderstorms are gathering…

Then the skies got darker, and darker and…

21:15.

We’ve had quite a storm! The thunder and lightning passed over pretty quickly, but they left behind a series of heavy showers in their wake which have passed through in a succession for the rest of the day. I’m quite glad I’ve not had to go out tonight and I’m holed up in the dry as it’s a filthy night. It’s given me the excuse to catch up on more paperwork and prepare for another day out on the rails judging the ACoRP awards tomorrow – although I’m not sure how we’ll fare weather-wise. We’ve five stations to visit across the North-West and Cumbria tomorrow, so I expect to get soaked at some point!  It’s going to be a busy week as this will be my only one at home, the rest of the week’s taken up with judging and travelling. Not that I’m complaining you understand, we’ve got some fantastic stations and friends groups to visit. Here’s a look at one station from yesterday as an example. This is Bingley on the electrified Aire valley line from Leeds through to Skipton. It was built by the Midland railway in 1892 to replace the original station further East and it’s a fine example of the work of Charles Trubshaw, one of the Midland’s architects.

DG329693. 333011. Bingley. 29.7.19.crop

A Northern Class 333 EMU calls at Bingley on it’s way back to Leeds. 

DG329705. Station frontage. Bingley. 29.7.19.crop

The main station buildings at street level. Sadly, the classic glazed MR canopies that graced the building were hit by a bus many years ago and removed as a consequence. Both shops/offices that you can see here are currently vacant and available for letting. 

Thankfully the weather was a lot better yesterday and the local station friends were keen to show us what they’d been up to and what their future plans were. I can only hope we get some more good weather like this over the next few days, although I’m not holding my breath! I’ll be doing a rolling blog throughout the day (judging permitting) but don’t expect to learn too much about what the varied groups we visit have been up to. That will be saved for the ACoRP awards later in the year!

Right now it’s time to call it a day and get all my kit cleaned and charged up ready for a busy few days. See you tomorrow.

 

Sowerby sojourn.

20 Saturday Jul 2019

Posted by in Calder Valley, Food and drink, Musings, Sowerby Bridge, Travel, West Yorkshire

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Well, the apocalyptic weather forecasts of heavy rain were rather wide of the mark. Apart from a morning of drizzle, we’ve had a dry day. The skies are still threatening and from our bedroom window I’ve seen the odd shower across the valley but the wind’s so strong that nothing hangs around for very long. Because of this I’ve been able to take breaks from editing pictures and staring at screens to enjoy a couple of long walks through our local woods to get some exercise, burning off some calories before we go out for a meal with friends tonight.

Right now I’m taking a break on the promenade high above the valley to enjoy the views and watch the clouds roll by. I do enjoy coming up here because you can see for miles, as you can see from this picture looking down over Sowerby Bridge.

I can understand why the painter Ashley Jackson likes Yorkshire so much, the weather and the light’s constantly changing. Here’s the view nearby yesterday.

As I sit here now I can see sunlight and shadows constantly scudding across the fields, creating a myriad of patterns, most of which are gone in an instant.

It’s a glorious escape from the political insanity that’s engulfed us. But, like all escapes, it’s only temporary…

16:15.

I can’t believe it’s the same day! Right now I’m sunning myself in the front garden and getting a tan! The weather’s changed completely – as it so often does in this part of the world.

The wind’s still playing havoc with the plants, so I’ve had to repot a couple of the sunflowers to stop them blowing over, but it’s glorious to bask like a lizard for a little while before getting dressed up for dinner.