Boring pictures after the lock down …. no. 14.... California

Now, I thought we had done with the series Boring pictures after the lockdown, afterall in most places things are beginning to edge back to what they were, but Robert has confounded that idea.*

And that is partly because he was looking for the most boring scene, on the most boring of nights, and because in California, like other states in the USA, lock down can still be very real.

The original brief was that the picture should be by you and be boring.

And Robert who once lived in Chorlton but now resides in Ventura, near Los Angeles has delivered with  this one of his backyard, adding "Boring scene at night".

Location; Robert's back yard

Pictures; Robert's back yard, Ventura, California, from the collection of Robert Levy

*Boring pictures after the lockdown, https://chorltonhistory.blogspot.com/search/label/Boring%20pictures%20after%20the%20lockdown

Boring pictures after the lock down …. no. 13 .... Rohina's garden

Now, with family in Leicester, I don't want to rain on any one's parade who is looking forward to splashing the cash, walking the walk or just pretending lockdown never happened.

But I am told to be prepared for more "spikes" and possibly more local shutdowns across the country.

So, with that in mind Rohina's pictures of her back garden maybe what we will all have to go back too.

All of which may mean reappraising the news  the new series, Boring pictures after the lock down.*

We shall see.

In the meantime the invitation still stands for  everyone who is out and about to offer up their own photograph.

The only qualifications are that it should be by you and be boring.

Leaving me just to say .... and this is a personal observation, I like Rohina's garden, and find it far from boring.

Location; Rohina's garden








Pictures; Rohina's garden, from the collection of Rohina Ghafoor


*Boring pictures after the lock down, https://chorltonhistory.blogspot.com/search/label/Boring%20pictures%20after%20the%20lockdown

Boring pictures after the lock down …. no. 11 .... Tony’s garden

So, as we edge to a relaxation of lock down, the new series is launched.

Boring pictures after the lock down, invites everyone who is out and about to offer up their own photograph. *

The only qualifications are that it should be by you and be boring.

And by any standards, this one from Tony Goulding ranks as boring. 

To underline this he wrote, “Hi Andrew, I am attaching a picture as an entry in your above series.

It is of the sorry state of my little patch of garden which as you can see I have sadly, largely, neglected for 3-4 months and is now reverting to nature!"

Location; Tony’s garden

Pictures; Tony’s garden, from the collection of Tony Goulding

*Boring pictures after the lock down, https://chorltonhistory.blogspot.com/search/label/Boring%20pictures%20after%20the%20lockdown

Surprising item in the Rec area …….. on a wet Tuesday morning

Now I can’t quite make up my mind if these pictures are boring enough to make their way in the Boring picture series or are the sort that on a slow news day in August would hit the headlines.

Because there was once that time of the year known as the silly season, when with many people on holiday the normal reports of wars, Cabinet reshuffles, and earthquakes faded from the front pages of the newspapers.

In their place, came stories of “man bites dog”, “the 2.15 from Manchester Piccadilly to Glossop delayed by ten minutes”,  and “the hairpin lost 40 years ago at Gretna Green ceremony, found by an American tourist from Delaware”.

Of course, it is July and the silly season hasn’t officially started so I am guess they will fall between boring and pretty boring.

But there you are ………. A bit of a tree has fallen across the northern path, and the play areas remain in lock down.

Suggested captions for either image should be posted before 5 pm and posted in a sensible place.

Location; the Rec, Beech Road

Pictures; the Rec, 2020, from the collection of Andrew Simpson

Boring pictures after lockdown, https://chorltonhistory.blogspot.com/2020/06/boring-pictures-after-lock-down-no-11.html

Pictures after the lock down …. no. 10.... the 3½ from Lymm

Now, here I have to say that while Andy’s collection of Lymm pubs appear in the new series which is entitled Boring pictures after the lock down, none of the four are boring.*

That said they fit nicely into a group of stories focusing on how we move out of lockdown into something new.

The four are the Saracens Head, Paddock Lane, Warburton, the Jolly Thesher, Higher Lane, Lymm, the ex Dog Beer House, Mill Lane, Heatleyand George & Dragon, Mill Lane, Heatley, and the Dog Beer House, Mill Lane, Heatley, which sadly is no more…… hence the ½

But I have left out the ex Dog Beer House, partly because it will not be one you can visit later in the year, and also because it is now a private house.

And I know I could have delved into the history of all four, but that too I shall leave for those who want the back story before visiting the three.

All of which just leaves me to invite everyone who is out and about to offer up their own photograph.

The only qualifications are that it should be by you and be boring.


Location; Lymm

Pictures; the 3½ from Lymm, 2020, from the collection of Andy Robertson

*Boring pictures after the lockdown, https://chorltonhistory.blogspot.com/search/label/Boring%20pictures%20after%20the%20lockdown

Boring pictures after the lock down …. no. 9.... "He went that way"

So, now that the end of lock down is upon us, here is the new series

Boring pictures after the lock down, invites everyone who is out and about to offer up their own photograph. *

The only qualifications are that it should be by you and be boring.

And here I have cheated, because Lind'a picture which she entitled "He went that way", she admits was

"Seen on my first short walk since 21st March".

Location; Chorlton

Picture; "He went that way", 2020, from the collection of Linda Rigby

*Boring pictures after the lockdown, https://chorltonhistory.blogspot.com/search/label/Boring%20pictures%20after%20the%20lockdown

Boring pictures after the lock down …. no. 8.... California

So, as we edge to a relaxation of lock down, the new series is launched.

Boring pictures after the lock down, invites everyone who is out and about to offer up their own photograph. *

The only qualifications are that it should be by you and be boring.

And Robert who once lived in Chorlton but now resides in Ventura, near Los Angeles offered up this one of his backyard, adding "I’m going to need to work on this one. I’ve never gone out to take deliberately boring photos. It is a challenge though . I love the concept.
That one is from inside our back yard .I took it last week".

Location; Robert's back yard

Pictures; Robert's back yard, Ventura, California, from the collection of Robert Levy

*Boring pictures after the lockdown, https://chorltonhistory.blogspot.com/search/label/Boring%20pictures%20after%20the%20lockdown

Boring pictures after the lock down …. no. 7.... pebbles, more pebbles and even more pebbles ..... Deal

So, as we edge to a relaxation of lock down, the new series is launched.

Boring pictures after the lock down, invites everyone who is out and about to offer up their own photograph. *

The only qualifications are that it should be by you and be boring.

And I think Colin and Elizabeth hit the brief ............not only have they managed to get three very boring pictures, but they caught the beech at a moment of supreme self distancing, with not a visitor to be seen.

The added bonus was a bit of Colin's thumb and the club house.

To which I have included this exciting piece of information from the Guide to Deal Beach.

 "The long pebble beach at Deal is punctuated by the pier which dates back to the 1950s. 

Whilst it might not be the most attractive pier it is long and features a cafe and fishing decks at the end.

The beach at Deal is an interesting spot for a stroll. Some way to the south of the pier fishing boats are pulled up on the beach and a little further along is Deal Castle.

Backing on to the charming historic town of Deal there are no shortage of amenities".**


Location; Deal

Pictures; Pebbles at Deal and a clubhouse, 2020, from the collection of Elizabeth and Colin Fitzpatrick

*Boring pictures after the lockdown, https://chorltonhistory.blogspot.com/search/label/Boring%20pictures%20after%20the%20lockdown

**Deal Beach, https://www.thebeachguide.co.uk/south-east-england/kent/deal.htm

Boring pictures after the lock down …. no. 6.... waiting for someone to pass ..... Somerset

So, now that the end of lock down is upon us, here is the the new series

Boring pictures after the lock down, invites everyone who is out and about to offer up their own photograph. *

The only qualifications are that it should be by you and be boring.

Location;on a road in Somerset

Picture; our Theresa's road from the collection of Theresa Simpson Hall

*Boring pictures after the lockdown, https://chorltonhistory.blogspot.com/search/label/Boring%20pictures%20after%20the%20lockdown

Boring pictures after the lock down …. no. 5 .... empty streets and bedding plants ......... Barcelona

Now that lock down has been relaxed, the 2 meters distance has shrunk and you can again visit Primax and Top Shop, the new series is launched.

Boring pictures after the lock down, invites everyone who is out and about to offer up their own photograph.

The only qualifications are that it should be by you, and be boring.*

And this is Barcelona, taken by Lyn who told me, tells "Out and about near home, with two sights unusual for Barcelona: a normally busy street with no traffic, and a colourful display of bedding plants".

Location; Barcelona

Pictures; Barcelona, 2020, from the collection of Lyn Shepherd

*Boring pictures after the lockdown, https://chorltonhistory.blogspot.com/search/label/Boring%20pictures%20after%20the%20lockdown

Boring pictures after the lock down …. no. 4 .... the Rec receives visitors

Now that lock down has been relaxed, the 2 meters distance has shrunk and you can again visit Primax and Top Shop, the new series is launched.

Boring pictures after the lock down, invites everyone who is out and about to offer up their own photograph.*

The only qualifications are that it should be by you, and be boring.

So, this was the Rec on Beech Road on Sunday.

To be accurate the the recreation ground had already begun to host casual callers, who sat by the tables or engaged in a little football and basket ball.

But the weekend saw the first sustained occupation of the play area.

Location; The Rec

Pictures; the Rec, Sunday June 21st, 2020, from the collection of Andrew Simpson 

*Boring pictures after the lockdown, https://chorltonhistory.blogspot.com/search/label/Boring%20pictures%20after%20the%20lockdown

Boring pictures after the lockdown …. no. 3 .... two from Portugal

Now that lockdown has been relaxed, the 2 meters distance might shrink and you can again visit Primax and Top Shop, the new series is launched.

Boring pictures after the lockdown, invites everyone who is out and about to offer up their own photograph.*

The only qualifications are that it should be by you, and be boring.

And quick out of the tracks came Mário, who sent two, adding "Andrew, two pictures to choose: one, from my balcony in Canidelo, Gaia, Portugal, 21st of  June: a lonely elder on cane in his balcony looking down at a post-lockdown closed cafeteria; the other, in the City Park of Porto, 20th: no-access tape round a patch of green under Wisteria".

And unable to decide which to post I decided on both.

Which just leaves everyone else to take part.


Contributions can be sent to me on facebook or twitter, or as a reply to this blog story on any of the social media sites you come across it.

Location; Porto


Pictures; in the City Park of Porto, 20th: no-access tape round a patch of green under Wisteria and the balcony in Canidelo, Gaia, 2020, from the collection of Mário Ricca

*Boring pictures after the lockdown, https://chorltonhistory.blogspot.com/search/label/Boring%20pictures%20after%20the%20lockdown

Boring pictures after the lockdown …. no. 2 .... the playground

Now that lockdown has been relaxed, the 2 meters distance might shrink and you can again visit Primax and Top Shop, the new series is launched.

Ottawa, 2020

Boring pictures after the lockdown, invites everyone who is out and about to offer up their own photograph.  The only qualifications are that it should be by you, and be boring.**

Contributions can be sent to me on facebook or twitter, or as a reply to this blog story on any of the social media sites you come across it.

Location; Ottawa


Pictures; children's play ground, empty with caution tape still on, Saturday, June 20, 2020, from the collection of Lori Oschefski

*Boring pictures after the lockdown, https://chorltonhistory.blogspot.com/search/label/Boring%20pictures%20after%20the%20lockdown

Boring pictures after the lockdown …. no. 1 .... getting out on to Beech Road

Now through the months of lockdown the series Boring pictures on a moment of self-isolation ....., proved a success.*

Starting with a view from our back bedroom, there were contributions from other bits of Chorlton, as well as Italy, Spain, Poland, Ontario, Didsbury and Pennsylvania, along with Eltham, Weston-Super-Mare, Porto, and a little place south of Buxton.

So now that lockdown has been relaxed, the 2 meters distance might shrink and you can again visit Primax and Top Shop, the new series is launched.

Boring pictures after the lockdown, invites everyone who is out and about to offer up their own photograph.  The only qualifications are that it should be by you, and be boring.**

And for those who mutter …but this isn’t history as we know it ….. you’d be right, but as my pal Eric always says, “history is just what you want it to be, no more no less”.***

Contributions can be sent to me on facebook or twitter, or as a reply to this blog story on any of the social media sites you come across it.

Location; Beech Road


Pictures; early morning on Beech Road, Saturday, June 20, 2020, from the collection of Andrew Simpson


*Boring pictures from a backroom, on a moment of self-isolation ..... https://chorltonhistory.blogspot.com/search/label/Boring%20pictures%20from%20a%20backroom

**Boring pictures after the lockdown, https://chorltonhistory.blogspot.com/search/label/Boring%20pictures%20after%20the%20lockdown

***Apologies to Dr. McCoy and Mr. Spock, The Devil in the Dark, Star Trek, Season 1, Episode 25, March 9, 1967 and also to Humpty Dumpty and Lewis Carroll in Alice Through the Looking Glass, 1871