Denmark, Aarhus

There is a tourist attraction in Aarhus called ‘Den Gamle By’ or in English, The Old Town.
They have brought in and re-assembled old houses and workshops, even a brewery, from different towns across Denmark. They retain the crooked slant as the wooden beams warp.
You can wander through these buildings that have been restored to how they used to be 2, 3 or 4 hundred years ago.
Some of the people are dressed in the old style. Horse drawn carriages trundle heavily through the cobbled streets. Girls in old clothing and head scarves use brooms to sweep water along the gullies in the centre of the ally. Houses contain furniture and cutlery of owners from centuries ago. Boats are waiting forever on the dockside to be repaired by long gone craftsmen. Workshops are just as they were the day labourer finished his last shift.
There are stalls selling old style Danish food plus some inevitably selling tacky tourist junk.
Worryingly for me, there is a section showing much more recent history. They appear to think that 1967 is in the distant past and are displaying radiograms and Jimi Hendrix albums as if they were antiques! Well really!

Denmark, Aarhus

Pleasure boat harbour and hotel at Aarhus

Denmark, Aarhus

The big tree in my back garden

Denmark, Aarhus

Molestine, Aarhus centre. I stayed in the red house for a while. Best described as extremely quaint! Bathroom in a cupboard under the stairs, with a hole cut in the stairs for a window. Yes really. Bouncy floors. No door much higher than five foot. Of course I banged my head. Stairs up to the bedroom were the same as a climbing frame on the wall of a school gym. The owner is an excentric English musician who wont let you go without first sharing a bottle of beer. Not a problem!

Denmark, Aarhus

The Danes have as many rules as the Germans. It’s just that the Danes ignore theirs!
Cykler fjernes uden ansvar - Cycles removed without liability

Denmark, Aarhus

This canal runs through the centre of Aarhus. There are many cafes along the side and it gets quite busy, but this was taken early one Sunday morning. The cafe owners put out blankets in the evenings and customers wrap themselves up in them while drinking coffee.

Denmark, Aarhus

Aarhus centre

Denmark, Aarhus

Aarhus does have a long thin beach, bit chilly in October! You can see the port in the background.

Denmark, Aarhus

Aarhus harbour

Denmark, Aarhus, war ships

Old Danish war ships tied up and rusting in the harbour.

Denmark, Aarhus

Two chairs dragged out of Aarhus harbour, covered in limpits.

Denmark, Aarhus

The view by night from my apartment.

Denmark, Aarhus

the back garden

Denmark, Aarhus

The Bedroom

Denmark, Aarhus

The Lounge

Denmark, Aarhus

The lounge

Denmark, Aarhus

The lounge.

In case you're wondering, those things on the wall are just stuck on twigs.

Denmark, Aarhus

This is my block. Mine is second from the top, above the red car.

Denmark, Aarhus

My alarm clock!

Denmark, Aarhus

This is the road I live on, Stadion Alle. At the end on the road is the local church. I don’t need an alarm clock as the bells ring out at 7:00 every morning! At the other end of the road is the AGF football stadium. I can hear the roar of the crowd on match days

Denmark, Aarhus

In September 2007, I came to Denmark to work for Danske Bank.
The city is called Aarhus on Jutland, the Danish mainland.
This is Aarhus Cathedral in the city centre.

Farm Yard

Found these while out on my bike.

Manchester, The Station pub

The roof of The Station pub in Manchester Victoria. I messed with it, a bit.

Manchester, Queen Victoria

Queen Victoria sat quietly in Piccadilly, Manchester.

Ashton-under-Lyne, Tameside, The Station

The Station.
Once there was actually a railway station near by. Long gone now.

Ashton-under-Lyne, The Witchwood

My favourite booza. The Witchwood.
This pub, famous as a venue for small rock bands, was due to be demolished as it’s smack in the middle of a redevelopment area. A petition was raised to save it, which I duly signed, and it was saved. For now!
For a while it stood on it’s own in a desolate landscape of derelict shops and houses with smashed windows, with a rather hopeful ‘Open as usual’ sign on it.
Now it’s getting hidden again in a swarm of glittering new office buildings.
Hope the office staff are into Pink Floyd tribute bands!

Ashton-under-Lyne, Stamford Street Central

Some views around Ashton where I live.

Ashton-under-Lyne, crane

Ashton market burnt down, early morning, 25th May 2004
Cranes now move in to rebuild.

Cycling over the Pennines

Rocks high above Greenfield Reservoir

Left my old job as I’d the promise of a new contract, better paid. They broke their promise and I didn’t get the job. So now I’ve got plenty time go to cycling.
Great :-(

Oldham Parish Church

Looking to the skys by Oldham Parish Church

Oldham, Cheese stall

The Cheese stall in Oldham Market

Oldham, emu

Man riding Emu visits Oldham Market

Oldham, International market

Oldham Market on the International market day

Saddleworth Band contest on Whit Friday

Stall keeper on Whit Friday.

Saddleworth Band contest on Whit Friday

Young fellow enjoying a pint of Boddingtons.

Liverpool, Flanagans Apple

A visit to Liverpool is not complete without a visit to the Irish pub - Flangans Apple - on Mathew Street

Liverpool Pumphouse

A visit to Albert Dock is not complete without a visit to the Pumphouse.

Hartshead Pike

Hartshead Pike on the Pennine range. Built on the site used to warn England of invasion. A line of bon fires the length of the country would have been lit. The tower has been re-built several times. The last times were 1751 then this current tower in 1863.
It’s a stiff bike ride for me to get up to it. About three miles from my apartment, all up hill.

Lanzarote

Sculpture at Las Cuchuras beach

Lanzarote

Sculpture overlooking the beach at Las Cuchuras

Lanzarote

Sculpture by Cesar Manrique