Blogs from Manchester, Greater Manchester, England, United Kingdom, Europe

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Europe » United Kingdom » England » Greater Manchester » Manchester August 24th 2018

This morning we drove over to Ashton (-under-Lyne) in the rain. We parked the car in the park and ride car park and then just sat wondering how we were going to get to the tram stop without getting soaked because it was absolutely chucking it down by this stage. So we sat ... and we sat ... and we even contemplated giving up on going into Manchester and returning to Stalybridge! Fortunately the rain let up and we were able to make our way across to the tram stop ... just in time to see a tram arrive and depart without us. The next tram was due in 10 minutes so that gave us plenty of time to work out how to buy our travel cards from the machine. At least here we can buy ... read more
Vintage sewing machine window display
Penny Pendo-bee-no
Mr Bee’nn

Europe » United Kingdom » England » Greater Manchester » Manchester August 23rd 2018

Kath and Albert have a full house. In addition to the pet budgie they have us staying with them and this morning the gerbils from next door were dropped off because the neighbours are going away for the Bank Holiday long weekend. Creating even more chaos was a builder in the entry hall busy replacing the front window. The window guy replaced the front door yesterday while we were out and about ... at the same time as the plumber was back with the spare parts to fix the boiler! We missed all the activity yesterday, but have offered to hang around the house today while the front window is out because Albert has to run Kath to the hospital where she has an appointment this afternoon to have a suspicious spot cut out of her ... read more
Man at work.

Europe » United Kingdom » England » Greater Manchester » Manchester August 20th 2018

On a day that had dawned grey and drizzly it was time to leave Shrewsbury and head back to Stalybridge. On the way to retrieve the car from the long stay car park we popped into a shop around in the Dogpole area of Shrewsbury to price some ‘Solar Pal’ novelty characters that we saw in the window of the local tattoo and body piercing parlour yesterday. You know, the silly toys that have a small solar panel so that they jiggle around when the sun (or artificial) light falls on it?Kerry is a big fan of these particular characters, and they weren’t very expensive, so we bought all three in the set for Kerry to put on her desk at work. I can’t name them here in the (albeit unlikely) event that Kerry actually reads ... read more

Europe » United Kingdom » England » Greater Manchester » Manchester August 14th 2018

This morning we headed towards Salford again, this time to visit the intu Trafford Centre which is the third largest shopping centre in the UK. We were sort of looking for some new waterproof walking shoes for me so had hoped to find a few of the outdoor stores represented here. Unfortunately, the only outdoor shop in the centre is The North Face and they didn’t have much in the way of footwear. We did, however, find something a bit more interesting than sandwiches for lunch sampling burritos today from Barburrito. The food court area had very subdued lighting and a blue, cloudy sky painted on the ceiling. It reminded us of being in a casino in Las Vegas more than in a shopping centre in England! Just to have some photos to post for the ... read more
Cloudy sky?
The dome from the inside
The Dolphin Fountain

Europe » United Kingdom » England » Greater Manchester » Manchester September 10th 2017

I woke up from my top bunk on the top floor (attic) of the Kendal hostel. I stripped the bedding for depositing in the communal laundry hamper (I'm getting the hang of hostel etiquette). I tried being quiet, so as not to disturb the other 12 bunkies, as I was the only one stirring. Most had a late night in the local pubs and taverns, so there was not much other stirring going on. Some did deserved to be awakened. £2 deposited in the honesty piggy bank got me a cereal, toast, yogurt, juice and coffee breakfast. The hostel matron (talkative and friendly), while preparing breakfast for an acting/arts group, also made me a much appreciated bacon and egg sandwich, plus a bonus banana smoothie/shake (a really good banana smoothie/shake). Outside the window was the usual,...intermittent ... read more
It's a Rainy Day.. It's a Picture

Europe » United Kingdom » England » Greater Manchester » Manchester August 28th 2017

I’d been promising to visit my Manchester friends the entire time I was in Spain, and I finally made it! It’s an unpopular opinion among Americans, but I didn’t really care about visiting Britain. The trip, though, did serve the dual purpose of seeing friends and leaving my heavier bag there to pick up on my way home 5 weeks later. How did my friends inaugurate me to England? We went for a “typical” English dinner of Indian food, of course! It was excellent! Then we went to a pub for drinks to continue our catch-up. I was only in-nation from Friday evening through Monday afternoon, but the guys were working Monday, so I really just had the weekend with them, and I only had Friday night and Monday in Manchester, because we were headed to ... read more
Conwy, Wales
Conwy, Wales
Conwy, Wales


Woolly says – With our time in Kidwelly at an end I had worked my paws to the bone in planning a bit or R and R, well I know that the women both love a bit of rum and raisin ice cream, although once suggested they seemed to spend a lot of time looking rather puzzled for some reason. With a few days before heading to our next place we ignored the ice cream ideas and thought to try a city that we have been into many many times but never actually seen. Woolly says – Manchester for us has also involved a flight to somewhere but the large city was bound to offer us a few days of entertainment and new experiences, we didn’t realise quite how new these experiences would turn out to ... read more
Planet the steam train
Part of the town hall
More tea Vicar!


Geo: 53.4648, -2.18558We leave Manchester under cold grey skies. The kind of weather that makes you wish you lived in sunnier climes. Traffic to the airport is heavy and slow. Cars filled with drivers whose faces convey a weary resignation. Bumper to bumper we weave our way along roads wet slicked and black. I sit silently waiting for Peters famously short patience to give out and some expletives to burst forth like a torrent. The traffic starts moving before his irritation threshold is breached and we arrive at the airport in reasonable time. Check in is quick and our fast pass means we skip the lines for security although Peters cabin bag is diverted (again) which turns out to be because of his watch strap?After a quick visit to duty free we head up to the ... read more
Aspire
Ghost cabin
Alone


Geo: 53.4648, -2.18558We leave Manchester under cold grey skies. The kind of weather that makes you wish you lived in sunnier climes. Traffic to the airport is heavy and slow. Cars filled with drivers whose faces convey a weary resignation. Bumper to bumper we weave our way along roads wet slicked and black. I sit silently waiting for Peters famously short patience to give out and some expletives to burst forth like a torrent. The traffic starts moving before his irritation threshold is breached and we arrive at the airport in reasonable time. Check in is quick and our fast pass means we skip the lines for security although Peters cabin bag is diverted (again) which turns out to be because of his watch strap?After a quick visit to duty free we head up to the ... read more
Aspire
Ghost cabin
Alone

Europe » United Kingdom » England » Greater Manchester » Manchester February 23rd 2017

Geo: 53.4807, -2.23451... read more




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