Category Archives: Out and about

Devastation

Early on Sunday morning Ridiculously early on Sunday morning, I walked into Newcastle. It’s pretty much a straight line and is quite a nice walk. Unusually, I had a camera with me, so I took some non mobile phone pictures. First, here’re a couple of crumbling Gateshead concrete.

140603 sunday morning 1

140603 sunday morning 2

140603 sunday morning 3

There are some slightly larger versions here. They’re cut-down from the originals, but still too large to add here. They seem to open ok with a phone, so I might try a higher resolution next time.

On crossing the Tyne, I couldn’t help but be surprised at the mess, the devastation, from the previous night’s revelry. The lack of people only made the scene seem even more surreal. I knew that end-of-the-world films tend to be shot early in the morning, but I now understand that costs can be further reduced by locating in party towns; there’s no need to import debris.

140603 sunday morning 4

140603 sunday morning 5

140603 sunday morning 6

140603 sunday morning 7

There’s always a seagull isn’t there.

 

 

Unfitness

I’ve just had my first bike ride in just over a year. Actually, my first off-road ride in four or five years. And I now fully appreciate how unfit I’ve become. That’s seriously unfit.

There are some positives though. Most importantly, I survived and didn’t resort to walking uphill. And my 21-year-old bike performed a lot better than the (twice the price) Kona. To be honest, even though everything had been checked, oiled and tightened, I’d expected something to fall off. The bike, that is.

Unfortunately, while the bike performs almost as well as it did 21 years ago, I don’t. I’m now going to have a soak in the bath and wash the insects off.

Benton Lane

I’ve been spending quite a lot of time at a bus stop on Benton Lane of late. It’s an average sort of bus stop, with a shelter and a timetable, but no litter bin. There’s one across the road though.

20140518-192653.jpg

The area around the bus stop’s nice; well, if you don’t look back towards Quorum, or across the road to the industrial park (but even that’s pretty well hidden by greenery.

I quite like the well-used-but-neglected-remoteness of the bus stop. Even the cracked concrete floor looks nice. And the grass and weeds growing between paving stones. I sat there for fifteen minutes this evening. In the sunshine. It was lovely.

20140518-193407.jpg

20140518-193420.jpg

In town today

In town today:
– a car on fire (well, newly extinguished)
– two arrests (possibly a driving offence and, separately, a shoplifter)
– embarrassing bodies filming
– a photo shoot near the castle
– an ex-wife

And I’m sure I’ve forgotten something (possibly an ex or two).

Zombie apocalypse

I live on a busy main road. It’s seldom quiet, usually only in extreme weather conditions.

Or during the occasional zombie apocalypse.

Or at some silly time on a Sunday morning.

20140427-070318.jpg

20140427-070329.jpg

20140427-070341.jpg

20140427-080606.jpg

20140427-080619.jpg

Pictures

With a little help from Messrs Innis & Gunn, I’ve been reorganising some stuff on the hard drive(s) this evening. While doing so, I came across some pictures taken by my second in command. Here’re a couple. While they might not look so great here, because I’ve reduced them massively in file size/resolution, I still like them.

140426 liver bird

I should say, that they’re not from the same location, but I may be stating the obvious.

140426 sage

And, from my second in command’s favourite pub.

140426 the bridge hotel

I love the reflections in the tables in that one; it probably looks better full size though.