Some pictures must be taken, some things must be blogged. Photography and pop culture.
I was walking down a street–Peter Street, to be precise, in this our city of Manchester–coming back from Castlefield (see my previous two posts) when I spotted this:
Impossible is, according to their description on Google “Whimsical nightspot with a theatre and gin bar, serving Asian street food–inspired pub grub”. As all similar places are now, it’s closed, because you know.
It’s funny and sad at the same time.
One day, this too shall pass.
Or I bloody hope so.
Hahahahahahahahahahah. Hahaha hahahahahaha hahahahahaha hahahaha hahahaha hahaha hahahahahaha hahahahahahah hahahah ahahahahahaha hahahahahah hahahaha ha haha hahahahahaha hahahahahahaha hahahaha hahahahah hahahahahahahahaha hahahahahahahah hahahaha hahahahahahaha hahahahaha hahahaha hahhahaha hahahahah hahah haha ha? Bahaha hahaha hahahaha hhahahahhhhhhh ha! Hahahaha? Hahahaha. Hah! HAH! HAHAH! HAHAHAHAH!!!
Seriously
Sign on the floor in the Arndale shopping centre in Manchester.
At the entrance to my local park where I spent so much walking this year.
Sign at the door to my launderette. It makes it very clear.
Sign on the side of Selfridges department store, a popular spot for sitting. I mean the side of the store is popular spot for sitting, not the actual store. So they put the sign there for people not to sit there.
Narrator’s voice: nevertheless, they still sat.
Sign on the Metrolink tram.
Construction site. The sign is also concealing a wheelbarrow, which was parked further up the road, after the yellow barriers in the distance. You know how I love my wheelbarrows. See what this virus is doing!
I think this may just be my most 2020 picture ever.
I like that it has rainbows on it. Very LGBT+ inclusive!
The vending machine is in Arndale shopping centre in Manchester.
British weather in normal times: run for cover.
British weather in coronavirus times: beautiful, sunny, not a cloud in sight.
What can you do?
I took a few pics of Manchester after lockdown while I was still going to work (I’m classed as a key worker).
Piccadilly Gardens:
Pigeons have now taken over the town (I’ve seen that happen before, albeit briefly), though I wonder how they’ll get fed, as with no people in town eating, there are no crumbs left for them.
Is there any better sign of the bleakness of the times we live in than a closed McDonald’s?
Market Street:
Written in chalk on the pavement:
Entrance to Arndale from Exchange Square.
Printworks–I’ve never seen it shut down in all the 17 years I’ve lived in Manchester.
Well, here’s your gloomscapes, the Universe whispers to which I respond: I did not want this! I only like it when it’s fictional! I only to like to imagine it!
I used to joke often about the upcoming end of the world, never did I imagine it would happen for real. In the future, we will talk about the before and after. Everyone will know someone who has lost someone to the virus.
How am I gonna be an optimist about this?
Bastille, Pompeii
The only way is to hope that the world will change for the better–and work towards it.
Results of panic buying in my local Tesco.
Above – the pasta shelf. Below – the toilet roll shelf.
I personally am not doing any stockpiling, because I live on my own and have no space anyway. I went to Tesco to do my usual weekly shopping. On the way, I saw a man in a balaclava riding a scooter, backpack on his back, with a shopping bag hanging in front of him. Well ain’t you a badass, I thought. James Bond could never!
Stay safe everyone!
Some Photoblog 