Friday 28 February 2014

Skywatch Friday: Speeding through south-western suburbs


A moving sky, viewed from a tram. I snapped the sky silhouetted by trees on Tuesday evening - the sky was so rich with colour that I couldn't resist- and I quite like the abstract effect my phone-camera captured.  Have a look at this week's other Skywatch posts.

In town tonight- a great free event for the Save Ancoats Dispensary campaign at Hallé St. Peter's. Live entertainment including the Chinese Lion Dance; Manchester Senior Choir Golden Voices; performance by Brighter Sound; and graduates from the Royal Northern College of Music will perform a variety of pieces making the link to Ancoats Hospital.



"Established in 1828 the Ancoats Dispensary moved twice before finding its home in 1869 at 94 Mill Street Ancoats, Manchester.  In October 2011 the Victorian Society listed The Dispensary as one of the 10 most at risk buildings in England and Wales."


Thursday 27 February 2014

Winter walk by the Bridgewater near Dunham


A tranquil walk along the canal towpath last Saturday soothed the mind, especially with some overdue sunshine to warm us through. 

We have devised a gentle looped walk that starts in Dunham Forest, goes through the golf course, over the fields and through Dunham Massey. Past the house and stables there and out through the woods, up onto the canal, then into Dunham Town (which in reality is barely a village let alone a town). Back into Dunham Massey then returning to the golf course. The walk's well under two hours long (about 5 miles?) and it is an uplifting start to the day.  

Many species can be spotted, which include rabbits, deer, dogs, dog walkers, golfers, joggers, groundstaff, gardeners, church goers, cyclists, canal and farming folk...

Taking part today in Rurality Blog Hop number 52.



Wednesday 26 February 2014

"G" is for Gulliver's travails... @Gulliversmcr


A pub and a music venue on Oldham Street, Gullivers is a JW Lees pub which hosts an eclectic range of musicians, across all genres: 1960's, rock and roll, garage, punk, psychedelia, new wave, alt rock, Ska... 


Mancunian Wave is taking part in ABC Wednesday.


Tuesday 25 February 2014

Why should your injury matter?


We welcome a guest blogger today- Lee Kirton 

I have been living in Manchester all my life and know a few people who have had accidents. But then I was with my friend and she slipped in a shop. I could never have imagined the stress and ordeal my friends told me about until I saw what my friend went through during recovery. 

A few months passed and it got me thinking that if you are the innocent party, why shouldn't you have the right to claim? My friend was off work for a long time. (Not everyone is lucky enough to get paid out of work), so it affected her more than expected.  We decided to look up where we could go for advice and found there wasn't a lot of information out there apart from The Citizens Advice Bureau looked the most reputable as a first point of call. 

I now feel quite passionate about this subject as I have had a personal experience of seeing my friend in such a sad situation, because she didn't ask for this to happen and became a burden on her everyday life. When I became to tell people about her accident, I put a few questions together that when I have spoken about it, came up in conversation:

What recovery did she have to go through?
She suffered a fracture in her leg, a dislocated shoulder and heavy bruising.

How did it happen?
She slipped on a wet floor in a store.

How long was her recovery?
She is still going through recovery as we speak. She looked into getting help with her a no win no fee claim with Tyler's Solicitors based in Greater Manchester. I helped her find it as she was showing me pictures of were in her leg was fractured. 

What advice did she receive?
I was pleasantly surprised that the solicitors had years of experience with slips and falls. They where jargon free. I think my friend just wanted to do what was right. She had told me the story time and time again. 

What I think bothered her and myself eventually was her countless trips to the hospital and doctors. She couldn't drive so if it wasn't a bus, it was a taxi. The solicitor said that that medical costs including travel where recoverable. The process so far has been fuss-free. Apart from initial paperwork documenting the accident process and legal terms, it is in the hands of the solicitors now.

Did they tell her how long she would have to wait to receive compensation?
Apparently every claim is different, but the solicitor said she has a good chance of winning. The claim may settle outside court which can reduce the process. They showed her how much she could be awarded in damages and costs with a rather playful personal compensation injury calculator on Tyler’s Solicitors website. (Even if you haven’t got an injury it is a cool calculator for injuries.)

Is there always someone to blame?
I would like to say yes in this case, someone is injured. Luckily my friend had her mother with her, she had to give a witness statement, but what if you’re the only one around when the accident occurs? Questions and answers start to occur, the solicitors where so professional and made us feel at ease. (I thought it would be quite intimidating at first).  This is for solicitors to investigate when talking to you about your claim.

From the research I have carried out, I found some terrible facts from the HSE report Slips and trips are responsible for, on average:
·             over a third of all reported major injuries
·             20% of over-3-day injuries to employees
·             2 fatalities per year
·             50% of all reported accidents to members of the public that happen in workplaces
·             cost to employers £512 million per year (lost production and other costs)
·             cost to health service £133 million per year
·             incalculable human cost
·             more major injuries in manufacturing and in the service sectors than any other cause.

As the saying goes, “where there's blame, there's a claim”.

I know the phrase is cliché but it’s true. Luckily my friend is alive and well and has only endured a minor accident. But this is the summary I have concluded to. If it’s a small injury that was unforeseen then without compensation the recovery of even a small accident can leave you out of pocket.



Monday 24 February 2014

Monday Murals: Manchester Pullman advert


An old advertisement hoarding at grimy Victoria station. I would guess it dates from the mid to late 1980s,  with a nod still further back in time to a golden age of 1930's steam trains. And with a fax number, how quaint! The 061 area code became 0161 in April 1995 evidently.

I am glad I took the photo when I did as I fear it won't survive the current renovation work at the station...

As you would expect, the Manchester Executive Railway Company has been documented by train aficionados, have a look at the train in 1990 and the crest

Linked to Monday Mural at the Oakland Daily Photo blog.


Sunday 23 February 2014

Sunday, Sunday at Altrincham Market


Altrincham Market is good for fresh food produce and household goods on certain weekdays. But on Sundays, it is great for those of us unable to get there on weekdays, with a range of specialist markets

The first Sunday each month is a Home, House and Garden Market - furnishing for home, furniture, plants, bulbs and flowers;

Second Sundays sees the Farmers', Producers' and Makers' Market - fresh and prepared food from the best of the north west regional farmers and producers;

On the third Sunday is Vintage Fashion and Vintage Furniture Market - vintage, upcycled, recycled, reclaimed, re-covered, re-made, re-modelled, as photographed above on 16 February;

The fourth Sunday each month sees a Craft and Hand Made Market - jewellery, craft, handmade objects to wear and for your home, cards, gifts, prints and art.


I wonder what happens when there are five Sundays in a month...?


Taking part for the first time in Sundays In My City.

Saturday 22 February 2014

Friday 21 February 2014

Skywatch Friday: In the pink of the morning


Yes the sky really was these colours-that's what I snapped and how it looked. It's another Saturday sunrise in north Cheshire. The colours remind me of the 1985 classic Cocteau Twins' equally atmospheric track Pink, Orange, Red. Both the photo and the track leave me with a lump in my throat and a tear in my eye... Click to see today's other Skywatch Friday posts.

Two free Manchester events this weekend which sound fun (thanks for reminders from Emerald e-magazine) are:

Saturday 22 Feb., 6.00-10.00 p.m. 
Beehive Mill, Jersey Street, M4
Decades of subcultures, from mods to beatniks, inform this exhibition and fashion show. The show, 1978, is a journey though Manchester’s cultural aesthetic, curated by local art students as part of Manchester Fashion Week’s pre-launch series


Sunday 23 Feb., 2.00-4.00 p.m. 
MadLab, Edge Street, M4
Manchester Girl Geeks’ Show and Tell party, a regular get together for women in science and technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) to share their passions and interests. 



Thursday 20 February 2014

Rivington Pigeon Tower



Rivington Pigeon Tower was built up in the hills above Bolton by local lad William Lever (1851-1925) who is better known as the philanthropist Lord Leverhulme. This was built in the early 20th century with three levels. The top storey was to enable William's wife to have a good view when she and her friends did their sewing- it's alright for some! The lower two levels housed ornamental doves and pigeons.


Taking part in Rurality Blog Hop number 51...


Wednesday 19 February 2014

“F” is for Fugitive Air, Of Montreal at Gorilla


Of Montreal are from Athens, Georgia and play live in Manchester at Gorilla tonight

Fugitive Air is a favourite track of mine from Of Montreal, and their 2010 album False Priest (red album cover above) is pretty good too. The artwork for their albums is very intense and trippy-and 12 inch vinyl versions of the albums (do they exist?) would be worth buying to frame as art.

With 12 albums recorded since the late 1990s- the most recent being 2013’s Lousy with Sylvianbriar -the prolific band who are hard to define are worth checking out. Rock, psychedelia, afro-beat, folk, funk?... See their YouTube channel.


Taking part in ABC Wednesday.

Tuesday 18 February 2014

Blossoming brickwork up on The Downs #citydailyphoto


Intricate brickwork forms a backdrop for some blossoming signs of spring, here on The Downs in Altrincham. Sadly there was less blossom on the tree when I took this photo on Sunday than there was on the previous Sunday. Another storm casualty... 


Monday 17 February 2014

Monday Mural: Mangle Street Tankpetrol


A really clever mural using just white paint, by Mancunian artist Tankpetrol on Mangle Street, M1. It was painted last autumn on a back wall of the Roadhouse club & live music venue that commissioned it.  it's a shame that someone has added gold graffiti to the left side.

Street art apart, Mangle Street hasn't changed much in decades- it's a product of city centre industrial backstreets. Here's a photo of it in 1980.

Taking part in Monday Mural.


Sunday 16 February 2014

Where am I? Who am I? Manchester & Lancs Family History Society


When browsing through unused photos on my camera yesterday I couldn't recall where I had taken this.  I thought maybe it was around Blackfriars' Bridge? No. I had to look up Clayton House online before I realised it was in Piccadilly Gardens. 

Built in 1907, I wonder how many other locals would recognise the building- it's a dangerous game to play looking up from the mayhem of Piccadilly Gardens- you are liable to get run down by cars, buses, pedestrians or trams. 

The Manchester and Lancashire Family History Society are based here. Founded 50 years ago in 1964 they are now one of the largest family history societies in the world.


Saturday 15 February 2014

Weekend Reflections: Manchester Wheel from over the wall


A new location for the Manchester Wheel- Piccadilly Gardens is where it was re-assembled late last December. This is a reflection snap of it which includes a tram carriage's yellow inside, and looking over the top of Manchester's dire "Berlin Wall"- (a concrete slab you can see at the bottom of the photo).

Taking part in this week's Weekend Reflections.


Friday 14 February 2014

Skywatch Friday, wishing under a rainbow


A rainbow to end this stormy week in the north-west. 

Click to see today's other Skywatch Friday posts.

Thursday 13 February 2014

After the storm...



It was scary out there yesterday-  80 mph winds, horizontal rain, trees falling. I had to swerve to avoid some fallen firs last night. The trees in the garden, including a 200 year old oak, were swaying violently as I lost sight of them at dusk.  

It seemed quieter this morning as I snapped this on my phone on the way to catch a tram, but the city centre is full of emergency sirens and weather-related disruptions. Far more dramatic readers' photos than mine have been compiled by the Manchester Evening News.




Wednesday 12 February 2014

ABC Wednesday: "E" is for elegance in St Ann's Square


Another fine example of Georgian architecture, in harsh winter light. It looks it to me as if it were from Manchester's Hapsburg Empire days ;-) whereas in fact St. Ann's Square started life as Acres Field in the 13th century.

For the history of the ever-elegant square (elegant, that is, but with one or two fast food exceptions) I point you to some good photos and information at Manchester History Net.

Taking part in ABC Wednesday.

Tuesday 11 February 2014

How do you remake a film that never existed? #HikerMeat


There is a wonderful exhibition on at present at the Cornerhouse. Jamie Shovlin’s Hiker Meat is an imaginary 1970s exploitation film that has been “re-made”. I find it hard to explain but it’s worth going along to see the original script, props, costumes etc. The film is set in a US summer camp in the 1970s and the exhibition also contains footage, out-cuts and film posters. There’s even a lot of detail on the soundtrack which was performed by a Berlin-based West German multi-international experimental jazz group, called Lusthaust.



I had to stop myself several times to realise this was all the product of artistic imagination, even down to the Italian director Jesus Rinzoli. However, a Jamie Shovlin film has come out of this project, called Rough Cut which explores the re-making of the film that never was…

“Shovlin collaborated with writer Mike Harte (whose name is an anagram of ‘Hiker Meat’) and composer Euan Rodger to produce a full screenplay and soundtrack for the film, before creating a prototype in 2009 by collaging over 1500 found film clips. The beginning and end sections of this prototype, and a Hiker Meat trailer, have now been recreated shot-by-shot, during filming in the English Lake District in June.”
Taking part in Our World Tuesday


Monday 10 February 2014

Monday Mural: To Russia with love #SSHHI #TRWL


Not actually a mural as such, but I like these posters from the current series of events in Manchester which support Russia's LGBT community.  I played around with the President Putin poster to create my own mural- feel free to share! Taking part in Monday Mural.

The events, which run during the Sochi Winter Olympics started with Friday's demonstration in Manchester, where thousands gathered as the Sochi Winter Olympics opening ceremony started. See the report and great photography from Friday night's demo here and here.

Pride House Manchester hosts a series of events from 7 – 23 February to stand against the Russia’s anti-gay legislations and show solidarity with LGBT athletes across the world.

As part of the global Pride House International initiative, Manchester’s ‘festival hub’ is Taurus bar and restaurant, located on Canal Street in the heart of Manchester’s gay village. The village venue helped to host the Pride House Manchester Opening on Friday (7 February) featuring a Same Sex Hand Holding Initiative (SSHHI), where the organisation and its supporters circled the gay village hand-in-hand to send an extremely poignant message to those in Sochi.

A range of other Manchester-based venues will also help play host to the diverse events programme for the sixteen day extravaganza. This includes ‘To Russia With Love’ (#TRWL), a series of political plays taking place at the Contact Theatre as well as ‘A Question of (LGBT) Sport’, Russian tea parties, and the ‘Pride House Manchester Big Debate’.

Lou Englefield, Director of Pride House Manchester said: "Following the ban on a Pride House in Sochi, Manchester has joined a global movement of 'remote' Pride Houses through which LGBT participation in sport can be recognised. LGBT people are athletes, coaches, administrators and fans. We want to celebrate our participation in the Olympic and Paralympic Games whilst showing solidarity with Russia's LGBT community."

Jackie Crozier, Project Manager of Pride House Manchester said: “This is a pivotal time for LGBT rights – as daily examples of progression and acceptance are being met with instances of disgusting hate crimes, fear and homophobia across the globe. Manchester has never been one to shy away from speaking out to support its LGBT communities, and in fact all minorities, and therefore it comes as no surprise that our ‘Pride House’ is hosting one of the most extensive events schedules globally.”

For more information on what else will be going on during Pride House Manchester – visit www.pridehousemcr.com. Alternatively, search ‘Pride House Manchester’ on Facebook or follow the organisation on Twitter @PrideHouseMCR


Sunday 9 February 2014

Rowing on the Lune- Lune antics or lunatics?



It's a bright winter's day and there are 44 miles of the River Lune to row along, should you be motivated enough to do so...


Saturday 8 February 2014

Fireside weekend reflections at the Oxnoble pub @TheOxnoble


Thursday night was as foul as you might fear for February. With the rain lashing down hour after hour it was nice to be in the dry and warmth of the Oxnoble pub, sitting near the range with its roaring fire. 

This pub opened in 1804 and is named after a type of potato - due to the pub’s location at Potato Wharf in Castlefield. Although I do not know why its external pub sign features a painting of a cow or bull - did someone paint the wrong ox?

Update:
 Feb 7
The Ox branding was done in the early nineties, we've recently gone back to 'The Oxnoble' (just getting rid of all old signs!)

Taking part in this week's Weekend Reflections.


Friday 7 February 2014

UCU, EIS and UNISON unite #solidarity


A snapshot of the passing demonstration in Manchester yesterday, when several hundred striking Higher Education sector workers from UNISON, UCU, Unite and EIS unions took part in a demonstration and strike action.

UNISON states that Higher Education workers have endured a 13% drop in pay over the past five years…

“The walkout follows the decision by universities to effectively shut down talks and forcibly impose a miserly 1% pay offer, condemning workers to a fifth straight year of real-term falling wages. In contrast, the pay bill for Vice-Chancellors, excluding bonuses and pensions, has risen by 5% since 2007/08. Caterers, cleaners, security guards and student support staff [were] among those workers taking strike action, following previous walkouts on 31 October and 3 December last year”.



Thursday 6 February 2014

The boat that beamed...


On the Lancaster Canal a ¼ mile from the coast, we saw this cheerful looking boat, with a grinning fender and dangly earrings too. I'm not so sure about its name though- "Nauti-lass", a pun that's dire even by my low standards.

Taking part in Rurality blog hop.

Wednesday 5 February 2014

"D" is for dark Deli days and nights @thelittledelico


The Little Deli Company is thriving on Stamford Park Road seven days a week - and with a goodly supply of logs for winter fires stacked outside. 

"Two friends with a large appetite for life concerned with the lack of quality, freshness and offer available in national supermarkets, along with the ethics of supermarket supply, decided to do something about it...The Little Deli Company was born!"


Mancunian Wave is taking part in ABC Wednesday.




Tuesday 4 February 2014

A tipple at Tib Street Tavern


 A typical Manchester city centre building above the Tib Street Tavern which opened in 2012. The simple symmetry and gentle arches of the window architecture here always makes me feel elated when I look up (and that's before I step inside for a tipple at the tavern).

Taking part in Our World Tuesday.

Monday 3 February 2014

Monday Mural: Zombie Shack @ZombieShackMCR



The entrance to Zombie Shack under the Oxford Road railway tracks. A commendable blend of Pacific tiki bamboo style, 19th century industry and a 2014 vibe. All washed down with a cocktail menu which could well take you to some far away places... Taking part in Monday Murals.


Sunday 2 February 2014

Lunar or Chinese New Year; a night on the (China) town


The Year of the Horse beckons but Chinatown in Manchester is always bright and buzzing in the evening. I think it looks pretty much like this all year round. 

There are Chinese themed events and music at the nearby Manchester City Art Gallery today and a pop-up arts and crafts fair at the Yang Sing restaurant. And the wonderful annual Dragon Parade is this afternoon - see you there!




Saturday 1 February 2014

City Daily Photo Theme Day - "Entry" at Victoria Baths


The entry to Manchester's Victoria Baths in Chorlton-on-Medlock remains intact, thanks to charitable restoration funding. Here we have the original entry, turnstiles and ticket booth, from both sides; the ticket seller's perspective and that of those about to bathe.

Entry to Manchester's water palace in 1906, when it was "the most splendid municipal bathing institution in the country" would have set you back but a few pennies, and given you entry to segregated swimming baths, Turkish baths and laundry facilities. The public and Olympian swimmers splashed around in the same water. These days, while restoration continues to the baths, there are regular events, vintage fairs, concerts and weddings held here. (I first featured the baths on this blog last May).

Taking part in February's City Daily Photo Blog theme day topic, which is Entry.

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