tvordlj: (Sheep UK)
Haven't caught up on everyone's news yet. we've been busy and putting more miles on the car.

Saturday: attended a wedding vow renewal ceremony for friends of Graham's late brother. Back to the house after and i swear to God anyone that says Coronation Street is unrealistic hasn't been to a kitchen party in Swinton! This one woman could have been the pattern for Cilla who's ... well how would i describe her to the uninitiated? she's loud, brash, brassy, common as muck and overdone. This woman was a picture from her head to her shoes. Especially the shoes. They were white, with a beaded pattern all over them, well, just have a look. Her dress was tight, with a pattern straight out of the 60's, cleavage spilling out all over, tacky loud jewellry. Sorry i couldn't discreetly take a photo! Her boyfriend was loud, drunk and wearing a funny military style jacket over jeans and a shirt. Just like the loud and obnoxious Les on the Street. Anyway, there were more than a few examples of Street characters lol Anyway, we didn't stay that late and came back to the flat and relaxed for the evening, watched Doctor who and some other stuff.

Sunday: Took Graham's sister in law to the Trafford Center and Graham and i bought new sneakers.

Attempted to drive the hire car. Problem was we couldn't find a parking lot large enough that was empty so i could actually get out of second gear. Was odd shifting with the left hand but i would have been ok with more practice. I never did get out on the road though. The parking lot was unsatisfactory and i sat there contemplating the road and looked at Graham, He had his head in his hand and said you *aren't* going to go out on the road yet are you? Um. Guess not lol Actually i didn't feel confident enough anyway and because there was no place good enough to practice, i gave it up. At least i did have a few minutes go with the left gear shift but never made it on to the road. We drove around Salford taking photos of places that Graham's dad would recognize. I want to make him up a calendar for Christmas. Out to Chorlton after that to meet up with friends for a nice meal. One lady was from Seattle and it was the first time i'd met her after having chatted with her on the net for a few years though not for awhile recently. She had a cold though so wasn't feeling up to making an evening out of it.

Monday: Drove out of rainy Manchester and into the Sun of York**. Found an all day car park and walked into the beautiful city centre. We browsed a market, checked out a few goth type stores. One had tv and movie memorabilia but most of it was things like Tim Burton movies, horror movies, etc. Another had metal music and tshirts. York has a lot of unusual shops and also has a few lovely chocolatiers! Meant to get back to one of them but by teh end of the day my feet were too sore to walk around more. The new shoes were bothering my left foot! argh! Anyway, we met up with [livejournal.com profile] steer at the appointed time at the Last Drop Inn and then met up with [livejournal.com profile] sarcaustick and Ed and Kitty for a lovely Italian lunch. Really nice to meet up with Sarah finally! Kitty was charming and Ed was lovely! [livejournal.com profile] steer, Graham and i retired to the Three Legged Mare (refers to an old type of gallows) for another drink and then sadly parted ways. Graham and i walked to the railway museum but only because they have a big observation wheel there now that is staying there for 3 years. Norwich Union sponsors it. It's 6£ per adult and you go around 4 times plus another one as they load the car. Great views over York and the countryside around it.

We drove back to Mordor Manchester where there was a great dark cloud over it, as opposed to a blue sky on the other side of the M62 motorway. Apparently it rained most of the day in Manchester but we had a lovely sunny breezy day though it did rain a bit once when we were in the pub. We did however see a double rainbow as we came into the city but the photos didn't really come out too well.

One last photo from last week. I'll have my other photos uploaded when i go home but Here's us behind the bar at the Rovers!



**punny Shakespeare reference
tvordlj: (Sheep UK)
Well hello again. Jolly good to see you all.
I arrived in Manchester 30 hours after i woke up Monday morning and finally went to bed by hour 34 on Tuesday night. That's ok, i'm here now but i'll be a bit more prudent booking my tickets next time even if i have to pay some travel agent a fee to get what i want. Or better yet, i may just have to fly backwards and go through Montreal or Toronto where i might be able to fly straight into Manchester airport. We'll see.

anyhoooo...
Got a good night's rest and a slow morning yesterday, after which we took the bus to the shopping precinct which is a mall but not the big multi story type. All the shops are on one floor and there are a few market stalls. we picked up a new keyboard for gramie at one of them, for 5 pounds. Works great! Thinking we're going to get a reconditioned monitor too as this one is on it's last circuits. We picked up some groceries, including supplies to make cajun chicken which i'm making tonight, and maple curry pasta which i'm making tomorrow night for Graham's friend Malc. Have to make it vegetarian so am adding mushrooms and a tin of chick peas to the mix instead of the usual chicken.

Today we walked. Miles. Around Salford and into Manchester, over to the Ox pub by the Museum of Industry. I remembered it from a few years ago but it's gone all gastro and the menu was not only expensive but incomprehensibile as well. We had a drink and went to a Weatherspoon's gigantic Moon Under Water on Deansgate where the food is filling and cheap. That was a bit of a walk and then we walked back across the River Irwell and all the way back to his flat, stopping at the shops on the way to pick up a few forgotten items and some stuff for sandwiches for the bus on Saturday. Weather was spotty, there were a few little sun showers but the sun was out mostly and there was a brisk breeze. Still, i was pretty warm when we got home and my feet hurt. We're going to the Museum tomorrow to go inside and explore around it. The reason we did so much walking today was because i wanted to take some pictures around Salford in particular with the view to making a calendar of some of the older buildings for his dad for next Christmas. Locations he would know from where he grew up, worked or lived where possible, and familiar views.

London on the weekend where i shall hope to meet up with some of you Londoners at either the Hyde Park picnic or the Marborough Head if inclement weather. Thanks to [livejournal.com profile] zoo_music_girl for the invite and backup plan :) Other meets and greets arranged. what we do will depend on the weather but are hoping to fit in a walking tour on Monday morning. Mind you they usually go rain or shine.

Ok, [livejournal.com profile] gramie_dee has finished watching his tape of Lost so i guess it's his turn on the puter!

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