Indian summer at India House?

As we look down on a sunny day at the entrance to India House apartments on Whitworth Street, is it fair to say have been experiencing an Indian summer this month? Certainly some lovely sunny days here in the north-west with an October crispness. And the local weather forecasters are predicting more on the way.

The term Indian summer is used both sides of the pond but has different origins. The correct usage is when the weather is sunny and 21°C (70°F) or above, after there has been a sharp frost. This is a period normally associated with late October to mid November, although most of us actually use the expression Indian summer for any warm spell from late September onwards.  

In 2011 we had a record breaking spell with temperatures of 26°C in the last week of September but, alas, not in 2012 - although I can't complain about some wonderful days in the past month...

I read this week that globally September 2012 was the warmest on record and, with governments STILL failing to act effectively or quickly enough on climate change (despite my having been campaigning and talking about it for 30 years now and of course other green groups and campaigners for even longer!), quaint phrases like Indian summer will be consigned to history as the planet experiences ever more extreme ranges of weather, with massive consequences everywhere...

I recommend that everyone from crazed climate change sceptics in government down to us mere plebians should heed, read, follow and act upon the wisdom of George Monbiot on this topic. Twitter @GeorgeMonbiot and: www.monbiot.com

Well into Wellington boots...

Arthur Wellesley was the first Duke of Wellington and the man who popularised the Wellington boot. He asked his shoemaker, Hoby of St. James's Street London, to modify the 18th-century hessian boot so that it would be hard-wearing for battle and comfortable for the evening. 

So it came to pass that in the early 19th century it was mostly worn by the British aristocrats to run around in outdoors, killing animals and birds as they went.

For most of the 20th century the Wellington boot came in a bog standard black, and then by the 1980s was also manufactured in green - albeit for those in the country who considered themselves part of the barbaric hunting, shooting and fishing brigade. They were then adopted by townies too, grateful for an alternative to black Wellingtons.

Red and blue wellies were options for tiny tots, certainly by the 1990s if not earlier, adorned with Thomas the Tank Engine, Postman Pat, Paddington Bear and other giants of children's literary world. Then, when festival-going become a trend rather than just the passion it had previously been, a whole host of fashionistas were to be seen backstage and in other privileged parts of muddy festival fields...wearing Wellingtons. And wellies in an array of exciting patterns colours and designs which transformed the market. 

A company which delights in selling modern day fashion and practical Wellingtons, with both sole and soul is Brantano. They've shoes for all the family but their Wellingtons are traditional, sturdy and practical (in black or green) for gardening or muddy family walks.

Brantano's wider investment in the fashion shoe stakes can be seen in their range of autumn and winter shoe trends which I've been looking at. The blue wedge is especially eye catching.

In the past week I have noticed a lot of Wellington wearers, especially among students, (yes, even on days it's not wet). Women with style and some great looking wellies, it has to be said. They have become a daily, all-weather option of 21st century footwear.

Rural Thursdays: Elementary, my dear Ramsdell ...

I passed Ramsdell Hall for the first time back in frosty February and posted details of its origins then, and the loose connection with Sherlock Holmes ;-) click that link to see the contrast... 

Last week we were back on the Trent and Mersey Canal near Congleton and it was showing off its seasonal colours... Linked to the Rural Thursday blog.

ABC Wednesday: N is for North & normal service

Grimm Up North was a performance at the nineteen thirties' era venue The Dancehouse and part of the Grimmfest horror film festival which took place last week.  

Normal service was then resumed at The Dancehouse (which is also home to the Northern ballet) with nature cameraman Doug Allan: Life Behind the Lens: Adventures, encounters and insights from the award winning cameraman whose TV credits include the epic wildlife series: "Blue Planet", "Planet Earth", "Life", "Human Planet", "Ocean Giants" and "Frozen Planet". 

Dance is a regular occurence here too but comedy also features heavily. Next up in October are comedians Tim Key and Mark Thomas, then one of my heroes on 16th and 17th November, the wonderful John Shuttleworth. ("A National Institution...the 42nd Best Reason to Love Britain"  - Sunday Telegraph). www.shuttleworths.co.uk  And check out his homage to Manchester "You're like Manchester (you've got Strangeways)" and more on YouTube.

Linked to ABC Wednesday.

"God is a Manc" (so was Anthony Burgess) @McrLitFest

The Manchester Literature Festival started on 8th October and runs through to 23rd October. It includes the Blog North Awards on Wednesday 17th, for which Mancunian Wave was commended this year (thanks for all your support): www.blognorthawards.com/the-shortlist
There are many diverse festival events with details at: www.manchesterliteraturefestival.co.uk 

Anthony Burgess' A Clockwork Orange was published 50 years ago and is still a worrying read, depicting as it does a future, violent, dystopian and dysfunctional Britain. The photo above depicting the well known Clockwork Orange icon was taken outside the International Anthony Burgess Foundation on Cambridge Street. A lecture commemorating this was given, and a plaque unveiled, last Wednesday.

I haven't read much Burgess but recommend his less well known short story The Muse.

God is a Manc is a witty work by Mike Garry from the 2009 Mcr Lit Festival at:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=L61okbUrdg0 

Linking today to the Our World Tuesday blog. Other good news is that the City Daily Portal is back, at a new location and address, of: www.citydailyphoto.org .

Monday Murals: Ciao Bella on Portland Street

I am not sure if today's post strictly constitutes a mural or not? Building work is going on on the corner of the Portland Street and Charlotte Street block. 

I have noticed ever more these days that instead of scaffolding protected by plastic sheets, technological advances have led to giant photo montage reproductions of the actual building being renovated underneath. 

Shop signs are then mounted on top, as we have here with the Ciao Bella and Ocean restaurants. This also goes around the corner where there is a giant advertising hoarding mounted on top of the mural, which is a shame. There is a frame on the front too if you look closely, so I fear this too may be ruined by adverts... I wonder how long the work will take?

Linked to Monday Murals at the Oakland Daily Photo blog.

Southmill Street vista

This view from Southmill Street, onto an autumnal Albert Square, gives a taste of late 19th, late 20th and early 21st century Mancunian architecture.

Linking with Weekly Top Shot, over in the Pacific North-West, at: www.theviewfromrighthere.com/blog/?p=8286

Weekend Reflections: Dunham Massey swamp

The turning trees reflect in the waterlogged fields in an inspiring circular walk we took last Sunday afternoon at Dunham Massey. More Weekend Reflections.

Skywatch Friday: A walk in the Goyt Valley

With the wonderful sunshine in the past week or two, you simply have to head for the hills, where you only have to point your camera to capture some early autumn atmosphere. This is a walk in the Goyt Valley in East Cheshire. 

Have a look at this week's other Skywatch Friday posts.

Rural Thursdays: Bridge water, Bridgewater canal

Soft early autumn reflections on the Bridgewater canal between Stockton Heath and Moore, with a distant pink jacketed jogger adding some unnatural colour to the scene.

Linked to the Rural Thursday blog.