Archive for August 2006
The bridge with no name…
August 30, 2006, 8:36 pmThe new bridge, the one currently with no name at the side of Manchester Piccadilly Station is really starting to come along. I inspected the structure for the first time yesterday. I guess the first thing everyone will notice is the sweeping arch and be in awe of it. For me, I was drawn straight away to the concrete abutment on the west side. It’s triangular - with the point on the bottom! What a great use of design by continuing the line of the arch into the foundations. The line of the downward thrust exerted by the arch will naturally follow directly along the skewed edge of the abutment into the ground. The builders have saved money because they have only needed to reinforce half the area they would have had to historically, and the city gets an interesting conversation piece (though i’m sure no-one will ever notice it!).
Brilliant idea. Forget the main bits of the bridge - metal arches are ten-a-penny, go and have a look at the abutments!!
—ikl | no comments
(posted in the Main Blog, Photo Album category)
Connections
August 30, 2006, 6:38 pmLuckily a car only has its MOT once a year. I’ve been on six trains today just to get to work and back home. The car passed the test in the end with seven advisory notices, six I knew about including the fact the catalytic converter is almost at the end of its life. However as it’s £350 for a new one - it can last a little longer. So my ongoing rolling program of minor repairs can continue ending up with the partial respray.
As for the train journey - is it just me or do fare dodgers stand out like a sort thumb? When the conductor in one train muttered the famous phrase “tickets please” two youths made a brisk bee-line to the other end of the train for the toilet. It was when they got to the other end that they realised what I already knew (because there are signs on the wall) the only toilet was at the other end behind the conductor. Check-Mate. How I chuckled watching them try to look casual whilst most certainly being concerned!
Back to normal tomorrow…
—ikl | no comments
(posted in the Main Blog category)
Stockport Town Hall
August 29, 2006, 8:21 pm
—ikl | no comments
(posted in the Photo Album category)
Curse Stone of Carlisle
August 28, 2006, 8:12 pmBetween Carlisle Castle and the museum in a subway is a large stone with a 16th century curse engraved into it… Some think it has cursed the city of Carlisle!
—ikl | 1 comment
(posted in the Photo Album category)
High Pike walk
August 28, 2006, 8:04 pmPhoto’s and a 360 degree panorama video from the walk on High Pike in Caldbeck, Cumbria.
(more…)
—ikl | no comments
(posted in the Photo Album, videos category)
IckleWEB on the BBC
August 25, 2006, 12:21 amIt seems IckleWEB has been one of the first three blogs to be linked to a new BBC blog based around Manchester. It sounds a rather interesting project, one which i’ll investigate a little more when I get back from my weekend away in Cumbria on Monday.
For any visitors directed from the site, my Manchester Architecture review and photo’s of Manchester Skylines may well be of most interest…
—ikl | no comments
(posted in the Main Blog category)
Welkin Mill
August 23, 2006, 9:11 pmThis was taken during the heatwave last month in a field somewhere between the M60 junction 27 at Portwood and 26 on the Crookilley Way. The Crookilley Brook is hidden by the trees.
—ikl | no comments
(posted in the Photo Album category)
Crookilley Brook
August 22, 2006, 10:12 pmLess than 2 or 3 minutes from the M60 inbetween junctions 26 and 25 is a forest with a brook running through it. Even though the motorway is so close it’s completely silent and somewhere you will be completely alone except for possibly bumping into the occasional bridge inspector. That being because there are no paths to this point, the closest path finished about half a mile back by the old Welkin Mill. It made me think just how many places we pass every day where no-one will ever venture. People should explore more…
—ikl | no comments
(posted in the Photo Album category)
Slum Landlord news
August 20, 2006, 8:28 pmToday was the first six monthly inspection of the house in Nottingham. It was still in pretty good order actually - I was surprised. There are a couple of things that were not as they were originally, some weeds in the back garden, a green stain on the old green living room carpet but all in all i’d say they’ve only lost about £60 of their initial deposit.
In other news, Tom Goode who lives next door has knocked down two of the manky rotten sheds in his back garden and put up a new one and a pergola trellis thing too. The white vans weren’t there either… Wonders will never cease!
I’m glad I don’t bother inspecting it more often… i’m absolutely exhausted after the 98 mile drive either way.
—ikl | no comments
(posted in the Main Blog category)
Chips with everything!!!
August 18, 2006, 8:11 pm…they were definitely better than the Portland Plaice but I don’t think they can beat the Battered Cod(s) in Manchester. Pisces chip restaurant & takeaway in Stockport was rather good and reasonably priced. A return visit shall be made.
For people requiring potato products during the day in Stockport… Pisces can be found around the side of Asda going up a hill towards the market halls… if you reach structure no.132, you’ve gone too far!!
—ikl | 1 comment
(posted in the Main Blog category)
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