Because I can't afford to be financially punished in that way, and neither can most of the other bus passengers who will be affected by this.

We will be hit, but the bus companies will barely notice.
So, my question is - where do I send my taxi receipts, and how soon will that money reach my bank account?

That would be nice to have, but we're lucky to get a rise that matches inflation.
So, in order for your members to get a massive pay rise, the people who rely on those services to get to work, to attend hospital appointments, to go shopping, and to live their lives, are being hit hard in the wallet.

And I still have to find that money for the rest of the month.
Or, to put it another way, at minimum wage, that is an hours wage to get to work, and another to get home again.
And why?
Oh yeah, for the second inflation-busting wage rise in 3 years.

@unitetheunion.bsky.social
Buses in Manchester are on strike for the next 4 days.
It is going to cost me between £12 and £13 to get to work each day, and the same to get back home again.
£100 extra to get to work for 4 days - that is my entire transport budget for the month.

madCam

I think, rather childishly, that 69 posts is a good place to end my BlueSky trial.
It's not for me, but if you want to see more, try out my website at madcam.co.uk, and I am the Fediverse at @madcam.social.teamb.space (or social.teamb.space/@madcam )

3 members of a band on a stage. On the left is a man with short, brown, spiky hair, wearing a sleeveless denim jacket over a black hoodie and blue jeans, and playing a grey and black electric guitar. In the middle is a woman with her hair cut in a brassy bob, wearing a grey woollen scarf over a strappy brown top that reveals her midriff and a pair of blue jeans, playing a yellow-ish electric guitar and singing in to a microphone on a stand in front of her. On the right is a man with shaggy brown hair, wearing a black leather jacket over a green t-shirt and blue jeans, playing a brown and white bass guitar. Racks of amplifiers line the black walls behind them, with a brown acoustic guitar casually leaning against one of the amps.

Photo of the Day 8th May 2025.
 
Greg (guitar), Lennie Butler (guitar/vocals) and Will Thompson (bass) of the band Sandbox, on stage at The Roadhouse, Manchester, 12th March 2006.
 
#Manchester #TheRoadhouse #Sandbox #ManchesterBands #ManchesterMusic #LiveMusic #BandPhotography

2 members of a band performing on a stage. On the left is a man with short dark hair under a grey baseball cap, wearing a dark blue shirt, and playing a gold-coloured electric guitar. He is glowering at the microphone on a stand in front of him. On the right of the frame is a man with short brown hair and a thin beard, wearing a blue t-shirt and grey grousers, with a brown bass guitar attached to a black shoulder harness. Black walls fill the rest of the frame.

Photo of the Day 7th May 2025.
 
Mike Sumner (guitar/vocals) and Jamie Brewster (bass) of Liverpool-based band Ji at a gig at ZanziBar, Liverpool, 20th June 2002.
 
#Liverpool #ZanziBar #ji #MikeSumner #guitar #JamieBrewster #bass #LiverpoolBands #ManchesterMusic #LiveMusic #BandPhotography

2 members of a band performing on stage. On the left is a man with short blond hair, wearing a blue, short sleeved shirt with white flecks, and white shorts, playing a brown acoustic guitar, with a tan guitar strap slung over his left shoulder. On the right is a man with short dark hair and a straggly beard, wearing a black polo shirt and light brown trousers, playing a pale-coloured bass guitar. Tan sheets of cloth with ornate black decorations cover sections of the black walls in the background.

Photo of the Day 6th May 2025.
 
Nick Ducket (acoustic guitar) and Greg Macoy (bass) on stage at The Star And Garter, Manchester, 28th June 2001.
 
#Manchester #StarAndGarter #Milk #NickDuckett #acoustic #guitar #GregMacoy #bass #LiverpoolBands #ManchesterMusic #LiveMusic #BandPhotography

5 members of a band on stage. On the left is a man with long hair, wearing a black t-shirt, and playing an electric guitar. To his right and slightly obscuring him is a man with shoulder-length hair, wearing a sleeveless jacket and blue scarf, with his right arm raised in the air and a microphone held in his left hand, which he is singing in to. In the centre of the image is a man with short blond hair teased up into a single spike, wearing a black sleeveless t-shirt, and playing a electric guitar which is being swung around with reckless abandon. Behind him, almost hidden away, is a man wearing a sleeveless black t-shirt, sitting behind a drum kit. On the right is a man with long, dark hair, wearing a leather jacket over a black t-shirt, and with a large cross on a chain around his neck, playing an inverted bass guitar in a left-handed position. He is singing into a microphone on a stand in front of him. The heads of people in the crowd fill the foreground, with a black backdrop with the white text "Fozzy" stretched between 2 stacks of amplifiers in the background, with bright purple, red, and orange stage lights attached to the black roof above them. The whole scene has a purple cast from these lights.

Photo of the Day 5th May 2017.
 
Christopher Irvine, better known as wrestler Chris Jericho, and his band Fozzy, at a gig at Club Academy, Manchester, 1st November 2017.
 
#Manchester #ClubAcademy #Fozzy #ChrisJericho #AmericanBands #ManchesterMusic #LiveMusic #bandPhotography

A woman standing on a stage, with long dark hair draped around her shoulders, with a brown vest top and a blue pair of jeans, playing a brown acoustic guitar and singing into a microphone on a stand in front of her. Black walls fill the background.

On This Day 4th May 2003.
 
Cath Henderson, Singer-Songwriter from Liverpool (and sister of Nick Henderson from Milk), playing an acoustic set at Jabez Clegg, Manchester, 4th May 2003.
 
#Manchester #JabezClegg #CathHenderson #LiverpoolBands #ManchesterMusic #LiveMusic #BandPhotography

Close-up shot of a man with mid-length dark hair and wearing a light-coloured shirt, playing a bass guitar. A long exposure and a snap zoom means he appears twice in the photos, bathed in blue light, the second time appearing far away. On the left of the frame, another member of the band is playing an electric guitar, illuminated by a purple light. Streaks of blue and purple light flood the top half of the image.

Photo of the Day 4th May 2025.
 
Jake Roos, bassist with Los Angeles-based Four Star Mary (and also drummer for support band Fatally Yours!), on stage at Carling Academy 2, Liverpool, 12th March 2008.
 
#Liverpool #Academy2 #FourStarMary #LABands #LiverpoolMusic #LiveMusic #BandPhotography

Two members of a rock band performing on a stage. On the left is a woman with long dark hair with a woven yellow hair band, wearing a white dress with a red and black floral pattern, and playing a red electric guitar. On the right is a man with mid-length shaggy hair, wearing a black shirt over a blue t-shirt, and dark coloured trousers, playing a black electric bass guitar. They are standing facing each other, and their heads are slightly bowed. A pair of microphone stands are in front of them in the foreground, while a glossy black metal pole holds up the ceiling immediately behind them. Amplifiers line black walls in the background.

Photo of the Day 3rd May 2025.
 
Juanita Stein (guitar, vocals) and Brendan Picchio (bass) of the Australian band Howling Bells, at The Roadhouse, Manchester, 21st May 2006.
 
#Manchester #TheRoadhouse #HowlingBells #JuanitaStein #AustralianBands #ManchesterMusic #LiveMusic #BandPhotography

Going Down The Rabbit Hole I got up at 5 this morning, so I could do some writing before leaving for work at 7. *sigh* Yeah, about that…

I got up at 5 this morning, so I could do some writing before leaving for work at 7.
*sigh*
Yeah, about that...

madcam.co.uk/blog/2025/05...

A man with mid-length dark hair, wearing a black t-shirt with a square, black and white sunburst logo in the middle, and a blue pair of jeans, playing a red and black electric guitar. He is leaning back slightly, looking down at his guitar with a slightly aggressive look on his face. A camera flash has frozen him in place, with a long exposure creating movement, as well as blue or purple secondary images creating haloes of light. An orange and black amplifier is behind him in the right of the frame, with a red and chrome drum kit on the left, with black walls and ceiling beyond that.

Photo of the Day 2nd May 2025.

Sean, guitarist with The idiot Rate, at Birmingham Academy, 21st January 2007.

#Birmingham #Academy #TheIdiotRate #LiverpoolBands #BirminghamMusic #LiveMusic #BandPhotography

2 members of a band performing on stage. On the left is a woman with shoulder-length red hair, wearing a green shirt and a blue pair of jeans, playing a cream-coloured electric guitar. A tall microphone stand is in front of her. On the right is a man with brown shaggy hair, wearing a green t-shirt and blue jeans, playing a black and white bass guitar, facing off to the left of the frame. A collection of black amplifiers litters the stage behind them, with 2 glazed, brown wooden doors on the right of the frame. A heavily gilded mirror hangs on the green wall under a pair of white lampshades on the left of the frame. Green walls and ceiling fill the rest of the frame.

Photo of the Day 1st May 2025.
 
Lennie Butler (guitar/vocals) and Will Thompson (bass) of the band Sandbox at The Rampant Lion, Manchester, 18th March 2006.
 
#Manchester #RampantLion #Sandbox #LennieButler #WillThompson #guitar #bass #ManchesterBands #ManchesterMusic #LiveMusic #BandPhotography

Low angle shot of a man with curly black hair and goatee beard, wearing a black tank-top and a blue pair of jeans with black boots, playing a black and amber wood electric guitar. A brown and black amplifier is on the floor behind him. He is casting a big shadow on the blue wall and white ceiling.

Photo of the Day 30th April 2025.
 
The guitarist from Chester-based band Tzuka at the Royal Mail Club, Chester, 21st September 2004.
 
#Chester #RMC #RoyalMailClub #Tzuka #ChesterBands #ChesterMusic #LiveMusic #BandPhotography

A shirtless man with dark hair and wearing a blue pair of jeans, sitting behind a black and chrome drumkit. Hisa arms are slightly raised as he plays his instrument, slightly leaning back, his head turned slightly to his left with his eyes closed. Black walls fill the background.

Photo of the Day 29th April 2025.
 
Chris Bundie, drummer with The Short-Cuts, at The Star And Garter, Manchester, 25th May 2002.
 
#Manchester #StarAndGarter #TheShortCuts #ChrisBundie #drums #NorthwichBands #ManchesterMusic #LiveMusic #BandPhotography

A man with long brown hair flowing over his shoulders, and a Cavalier-style moustache and goatee beard, wearing a brown flower-print shirt and a blue pair of jeans with black and grey trainers, playing a black electric guitar. There are grey and black amplifiers on upturned red crates behind him, with black walls and ceiling beyond that.

Photo of the Day 28th April 2025.
 
Tom Knott, guitarist with Manchester band Rocketfield, on stage at The Roadhouse, Manchester. 29th January 2001.
 
#Manchester #TheRoadhouse #RocketField #TomKnott #guitar #ManchesterBands #ManchesterMusic #LiveMusic #BandPhotography

A man with short black hair, wearing a black t-shirt bearing a large, square, white and black logo, and a pair of blue jeans, playing a white, electric bass guitar. He is bent over, leaning to his left. A flash from the camera has frozen him in place, while a long exposure and a snap zoom has left an orange aura on the left of the frame, and streaks of yellow and purple light on the right. An orange pole with several faces on it, painted and glazed to look almost organic, stands behind him, while the bands drummer can be seen in the bottom right of the frame. Dark walls and ceiling fill the rest of the frame.

Photo of the Day 27th April 2025.

Mike Prosser, bassist with Liverpool-based band The Idiot Rate, performing at Satans Hollow, Manchester, 5th March 2007.

#Manchester #SatansHollow #TheIdiotRate #MikeProsser #bass #LiverpoolBands #ManchesterMusic #LiveMusic #BandPhotography

A woman with dark, chin-length hair cut in a shaggy bob, wearing a brown tank-top and denim skirt, playing an acoustic guitar, and singing into a microphone on a stand in front of her. A long exposure has been used, her right hand a blur as she strums her guitar, while the stage light cast an orange hue over everything. Dark walls and ceiling fill the background.

Photo of the Day 26th April 2025.
 
Lennie Butler, singer with Manchester band Sandbox, on stage at Night & Day, Manchester, 5th October 2005.
 
#Manchester #NightAndDay #Sandbox #LennieButler #guitar #ManchesterBands #ManchesterMusic #LiveMusic #BandPhotography

A man standing on a stage, singing into a microphone on a stand in front of him. The photo is taken with a long exposure, with stage lights flooding various parts of the frame with different vivid colours, including green on his t-shirt and face and the microphone, blue on his jacket, and red on his back and hair. Black walls fill the background.

Photo of the Day 25th April 2025.
 
Ben Singleton, lead singer and guitarist with Liverpool-based band Atonal, on stage at The Masque, Liverpool, 28th August 2003.
 
#Liverpool #TheMasque #Atonal #BenSingleton #Guitar #LiverpoolBands #LiverpoolMusic #LiveMusic #BandPhotography

Greg Macoy (guitar, vocals), Nick Duckett (guitar, vocals), Sam Walkerdine (drums, vocals), and Nick Henderson (bass, vocals)

Four members of a band performing on a dark, atmospherically lit stage. On the left is a man wearing a black knitted hat, a white jumper, and dark trousers, playing a black and white electric guitar. In the middle is a man with long, wavy blond hair, wearing a black jumper and dark trousers, playing a brown electric guitar. Behind him is a wan with short dark hair, wearing a white t-shirt and sitting behind a black drum kit. On the right is a man with long, straggly blond hair, wearing a dark t-shirt and blue jeans, and playing a black and brown electric bass guitar. Black curtains fill the background, behind black and grey amplifiers. A long exposure has been used, with movement of heads, arms, and instruments being visible.

Photo of the Day 24th April 2025.
 
All 4 members of the band Milk on stage at Jabez Clegg, Manchester, 11th January 2005.
 
#Manchester #JabezClegg #Milk #GregMacoy #NickDuckett #SamWalkerdine #NickHenderson #guitar #drums #bass #LiverpoolBands #ManchesterMusic #LiveMusic #BandPhotography

A man on stage wearing a black stetson, a red shirt with an orange flowery print, and a dark-coloured pair of trousers, playing a grey and white electric guitar with the letters "ZU" marked out in tape and a red square logo of a white stick figure holding a guitar with it's left hand raised in the air. A beam of blue light shines down behind him, illuminating the rear of the stage, diffused through a cloud of smoke.

Photo of the Day 23rd April 2025.

Michael "Zu" Zufelt, lead guitarist of Four Star Mary, doing his thing at Carling Academy 2, Liverpool, 12th March 2008.

#Liverpool #CarlingAcademy #FourStarMary #MichaelZufelt #Zu #guitar #LABands #LiverpoolMusic #LiveMusic #BandPhotography

Two men standing on a stage, performing as part of a band. On the left is a man with a shaven head, wearing a grey and black striped, long sleeved t-shirt with a grey cravat round his neck, holding a microphone in his left hand and holding on to the mic stand with his right hand. On the right is a man with shaggy dark hair and a lightly-stubbly beard, wearing a green tweed jacket over a black shirt and a grey neckerchief, singing into a microphone on a stand in front of him. Black walls and ceiling fill the frame behind them.

Photo of the Day 22nd April 2025.
 
Brothers Paul and Adam Kelbie, lead singers of Essex-based band Original Cast (and my cousins) at a gig at Zanzi Bar, Liverpool, 22nd April 2006.
 
#Liverpool #ZanziBar #OriginalCast #AdamKelbie #PaulKelbie #EssexBands #LiverpoolMusic #LiveMusic #BandPhotography

A man with long, black hair, wearing a red, roll-neck top and a blue pair of jeans, playing a red and black electric guitar and singing into a microphone on a stand. A grey and black amplifier can be see behind him on the left, and a pair of guitars are leaning against the red wall on the right. Red walls and black ceiling fill the rest of the frame.

Bonus Photo of the Day 21st April 2025.

Head Of John at The Barfly, Liverpool, 16th February 2003.

#Liverpool #Barfly #HeadOfJohn #LiverpoolBands #LiverpoolMusic #LiveMusic #BandPhotography

Two men sitting on stools, performing as part of a band on a stage. On the left is a man with shaggy dark hair, wearing a black shirt and black jeans, and playing a dark brown acoustic guitar, with a microphone on a stand in front of him. On the right is a mans with short blond hair, wearing a black corduroy cap, a black leather jacket over a dark red shirt with white and orange flecks, and a blue pair of jeans. He is singing into a microphone on a stand in front of his face. Behind them, black cloths cover brown brick walls, , with thick, dark brown wooden joists holding up the ceiling. A thick, tubular, black ventilation duct runs the width of the frame right at the top.

Photo of the Day 21st April 2025.

Jealous performing an acoustic set at a Manchester Records showcase night at Jabez Clegg, Manchester, 10th August 2025.

2 photos behind the link.
madcam.co.uk/blog/2025/04... #JabezClegg #Jealous #ManchesterBands #ManchesterMusic #LiveMusic #BandPhotography

A man with short dark hair and wearing a black t-shirt and a blue pair of jeans, and playing a metallic-grey and white electric guitar. A black guitar strap, covered in grey tape, is attached to the top and bottom of the guitar, and slung over his left shoulder. He is looking down at his instrument, his mouth slightly agape. A brown, orange, and yellow pillar, looking almost organic, is behind his left arm, stretching from top to bottom of the frame. Dark walls and ceiling fill the rest of the frame, with green stagelights and yellow room lights visible here and there.

On This Day 20th April 2003.

The guitarist from Gravity Switch on stage at Satans Hollow, Manchester, 20th April 2003.

#Manchester #SatansHollow #GravitySwitch #ManchesterMusic #LiveMusic #BandPhotography

Close-up side view of the head of a man with dark hair, singing in to a microphone in front of his face. A long exposure has been used, along with a snap zoom out, so although his face fills the frame, there are secondary images around the edges of some of the other members of the band. The whole frame has a green tinge from the stage lights, with streaks of green, purple, and blue light throughout.

Photo of the Day 20th April 2025.

The singer from Gecko, a Manchester-based band, on stage at Jabez Clegg, Manchester, 10th August 2007.

2 photos behind the link.
madcam.co.uk/blog/2025/04...

#Manchester #JabezClegg #Gecko #ManchesterBands #ManchesterMusic #LiveMusic #BandPhotography