Rurality blog hop: Marple viaduct #citydailyphoto

The photo was taken standing on the Marple Aqueduct (built 1800) which carries the Peak Forest Canal 100 feet in the air over the River Goyt. It's just across from the 12 arched railway viaduct which was built in 1865 and is 125 feet high. Taking part in this week's Rurality Blog Hop.

ABC Wednesday: "G" is for graffiti ...

Graffiti under the Mancunian Way flyover. "No time to sit on the fence"- I kind of agree with what they are saying...

The Mancunian Way won an award from the British Concrete Society in 1968.

Linking up around the world again for another ABC Wednesday.

Looking down on the BBC... #citydailyphoto

Then there were none. The former BBC Building on Oxford Road has been demolished and all the rubble has been carted off to landfill. Just the footprint and memories remain. Work can now begin on the new office, hotel, apartments, shops and public performance space that I have heard are to be installed in its place...

Apologies for my lack of comments on City Daily Photo blogs in the past week- I was away enjoying the sunshine and lava landscapes of Lanzarote. Normal service is now resumed....

Monday Murals: Comrade Engels @print_and_paste

Print & Paste for February brings Frederick Engels back into the Manchester limelight that he once was such a major part of. It's the work of artist Stan Chow.

For those that don't know, Engels worked in his family's  mill in nearby Weaste and spent many years in Manchester, loving and working in the city, The slum back to back housing conditions of the industrial age, including the Little Ireland area of Manchester (where this mural stands) led to his writing The Condition of the Working-Class in England in 1844 and other works with Karl Marx. They worked together at Manchester Chetham's Library.

Visit other Monday Murals across the globe.

Revolt in Manchester, crises of capitalism

A colourful and eye-catching poster for what promises to be an interesting day of discussion and debate at Manchester University today (and in London on 3 March).

Manchester Market bookstall #citydailyphoto

Maybe there's not much chance of finding that book you are after here at the slightly chaotic Manchester Market bookstall in the city centre, but it's always hard to resist a rummage anyway.

King Street bankers #citydailyphoto

Back in 1846, this King Street building was the first branch of the Bank of England established outside of London. It was designed by Charles Robert Cockerell, whose great grandfather was Samuel Pepys.

An evening with a playwright #citydailyphoto

 

An evening with a playwright. I met up with Gail Louw and over dinner in Chinatown we covered many topics, including her award-winning plays. Gail was in Manchester for a week to research a possible film script she is toying with (but which is rather hush-hush at the moment...). 

After a career in academia Gail is now a full time playwright, with past productions titled Killing Faith, Two Sisters and Joe ho ho.

The second photo above features Gail (front row, black coat) in the 1970s with fellow students of the South African University of the Witwatersrand protesting against apartheid in the education system.

Gail's latest play Blonde Poison is being performed at the St James Theatre in Victoria, London on 22 February. It's also just been published by Oberon books. Based on the true story of a Jewish woman during World War ll who betrayed up to 3,000 fellow Jews, Gail’s powerful play examines the motivation of evil.

Virginia McKenna wrote a glowing review and What's On Stage said "Gail Louw has written, without doubt, one of the finest pieces of solo theatre ever to have been performed with her latest play, Blonde Poison."

"F" is for milk Floats' dawn chorus #citydailyphoto

Click around the world again with ABC Wednesday, this week starring the letter "F".

Milk floats from the diary used be a regular part of everyone's morning ritual. Growing up in the London suburbs in the 1970s I remember milkmen (and sometimes milkwomen) dropping off pints of milk and sometimes products such as yoghurts (which were considered quite exotic back then), on your doorstep. They would collect and reuse the empty glass milk bottles too.

Even in the Manchester suburbs in the 1980s and 1990s when I lived near a dairy, the sound of the battery powered floats all loading up and trundling off from the dairy at dawn, bottles rattling, was a daily dawn chorus.

These days, thanks to the all powerful monopoly of supermarket chains' reduced prices, most people buy their milk in plastic bottles at the store. But there are a few dairies still around, such as Creamline (above), who whirr around England making a distinctive sound before the rush hour begins. Check a 1970’s float in action.

Creamline are a local and independent company founded by the Roe family in 1945 who started by delivering around Worsley and Trafford Park. They now have a production and bottling plant in Eccles and deliver to homes and businesses across a vast region from Cheshire to the south Lakes.

Of course, there is also an argument for consuming soya milk instead of dairy milk, but that's another post for another time...

Cold and frosty morning #citydailyphoto

Can you tell what it is yet?

The answer is a car roof 

Blue Monday, Blue Refuge #citydailyphoto

I pass the Refuge Building many times a week and have become too blasé about its deep red brick beauty. So I thought I’d offer up a version in blue, and tie it in with one of Manchester’s longest surviving bands, New Order. 

Blue Monday was one of the iconic New Order tracks from the 1980s and is the biggest selling 12 inch record ever. There was an interesting article on the making of it in last Monday's Guardian.

It has been reissued and remixed many times all over the world. It is also said to have helped pave the way for the cyperpunk movement, as best exemplified in the popularity of The Matrix film. It was also covered by one of my favourite bands, Flunk (from Norway) and their version featured in the 2004 movie Walking Tall.

Flowers hanging on through the long winter

Last year's flowers in the walled garden at Chadkirk Country Estate on Vale Road near Romiley yesterday. Linking to Weekly Top Shot #70.

Overture in Orange #citydailyphoto

An unusual-coloured, orange narrowboat on the Bridgewater Canal near Dunham brightened up a muddy walk last weekend. 

Click to see the other Weekend Reflections from around the world. I am also linking to the intriguing sounding Orange You Glad it's Friday  meme, albeit a late entrance...

My monthly guest post for Smitten by Britain has been published, and is called Working for the BBC.

Skywatch Friday: Early morning Manchester... #citydailyphoto

Early morning Manchester, western winds blows in the air,  

The Palace Theatre is now undone, the all-night watchmen have had their fun.  
Sleeping cheaply on the midnight show, It's the same old ending-time to go. Get out.

It seems they cannot leave their dream,  there's something moving in the pavement steam, 
And the lamb lies down on Deansgate...

 (with apologies to P Gabriel...)

These fine, very early 20th century, Mancunian buildings witness the corridor of Whitworth Street heading towards yet another morning rush hour. More Skywatch Friday posts.

My monthly guest post for Smitten by Britain has just been published, and is called Working for the BBC.

#Valentine Hearts beat on Peter Street #citydailyphoto

If two hearts beat as one, do six beat as three? 

Happy St.Valentine's Day, especially to all of those without a valentine to rest their head upon. 

St Valentine is also the Patron Saint of beekeepers. The worker bee was adopted as a motif for Manchester during the Industrial Revolution, at a time when Manchester was taking a leading role in new forms of mass production. Seven bees are included in the crest of the city's arms which were granted to the Borough of Manchester in 1842.The bee denotes Mancunians' hard work during this era and Manchester being a hive of activity in the 19th century (Wikipedia).

ABC Wednesday: "E" is for Even the Stars (die) by I Am Kloot

Mancunians I Am Kloot play two nights at the Ritz this week on Thursday 14th and Friday 15th February. Their new album Let It All In, includes Even the Stars, Let Them All in, Shoeless, Some Better Day and Hold Back the Night. It's produced by Elbow's Guy Garvey.

Formed way back in 1999, they are a trio comprising of John Bramwell (guitar/vocals), Peter Jobson (bass) and Andy Hargreaves (drums).

Here's an interesting comment by a fan at their YouTube channel, which I can relate to:

"I want them to have world-wide success & yet I'll hate it if it happens. I want everyone to know & love them but if they do, I'll want them back to be loved by a few. The dilemma of the music fan."

Hooking up around the world again for another ABC Wednesday, where today we reach "E"...

Learning on the job with JSB

Photo of the shop window of Farrow and Ball, flying their colours on Deansgate. They have used JSB "to enable and sustain people and organisational performance."

With Britain heading for a triple dip recession times are tougher perhaps than ever before. Redundancies are commonplace, High Street names are falling weekly by the wayside.

If you work for a decent organisation then you have to count your blessings.  I was immensely fortunate, it transpires, to move from the private sector last year to a thriving Arts Centre and music conservatoire. Organisations like this focus on the people and their happiness and career development.

So it pays for all companies to invest a little time in improving their staffs' performance and satisfaction and it can be well worthwhile investing in consultancy companies to do so. JSB are learning and organisational development consultants. Since way back in 1980 they have offered training courses around the world, in areas such as employment law training, e-skills,  communications skills courses, personal development courses and much more.

It could be worth your employer seeing what they can do to improve the well being and output of the workforce. They deliver to over 100 clients each year including some well known global retail brands such as Lush, the now lamented HMV, Farrow and Ball, Karen Millen, Christian Louboutin, Primark, Clarins and Disney.

Monday Murals: Eyecatching, 2 sides of the same coin?

At first glance you may think you're seeing double, but they are are simply the same artist expressing themselves in similar style on both sides of this concrete block. 

Certainly it's eye-catching in more ways than one, and to my eyes it's slightly the stuff of nightmares. But each to their own, and if you like some more than others, the great thing with these murals on Stevenson Square is, just like the buses, there will be another one along in a minute (or a couple of months anyway...)

Linking. as I do most Mondays. to the California-hosted meme, Monday Murals. 

Chinese New Year 新年快樂 #citydailyphoto

The permanent Chinese dragon stands its corner on Nicholas Street. The year of the dragon has ended, and the year if the snake is upon us. No matterm as this dragon always does a passable impression of a snake in my view. Chinatown will be buzzing until the early hours...Happy New Year! 新年快樂

Chinatown- Gung Hay Fat Choy!

Early morning in Chinatown before the New Year celebrations begin in earnest this weekend. Manchester has the third largest Chinatown in Europe, after London and Paris  I posted about the wonderful Chinese arch back in May 2011.

Taking part in Weekly Top Shot #69.

Skywatch Friday:Room with a view, Heading North

A view from my bedroom, looking northwards to Manchester city centre (about eight miles away) and the hills and moors beyond. More Skywatch Friday posts.

Time too for some of the Swedish duo Vibrasphere's Heading North to get you into a chilled out weekend mood. 

Equipped for the great outdoors...

Regular readers of Mancunian Wave will know how I appreciate my weekend walks in the countryside, away from the strife of the office and the hustle and bustle of city centre life.

I was pleased to unwrap a pair of new walking boots under the Christmas tree six weeks ago and have been putting them through their paces ever since.  This winter's conditions have created a whole host of elements to test my boots underfoot: mud, ice and snow.

A company that has a wide range of country clothing and outdoor equipment is  Uttings Outdoor. As well as the expected items of walking boots and Wellington boots they stock navigational aids, solar items, rucksacks and tents. Trekking poles and even pop-up audio speakers too, which makes my mind boggle at the kind of high-tech camping and glamping and outdoors life that is available in 2013.who go out to so anyone who tries hunting or s

Maybe the countryside is noisier than I had thought...

Mancunian Wave is delighted to be taking part in the first Rurality Blog Hop.

ABC Wednesday: "D" is for the dawn of the day...

The past six weeks have seen me appreciating the weekend dawns in a way I never have before... The lateness of the dawn means I have often been out in the countryside of northern Cheshire by the time the sun is rising or has just risen. I cannot resist trying to capture the atmosphere of such a perfect start to a winter's day. Taking part in the "D" round of ABC Wednesday.

Last Saturday's Guardian had a great Locals Guide to Manchester.

Music for Health gigs, crossing cultures & the city #citydailyphoto

Photo of Deli Babies performing as part of the RNCM Music For Health project. Photo credit to Lime, an award-winning arts charity within the Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

There is an RNCM Music for Health concert on Thursday 7 February from 1 p.m to 1.30 p.m. at the Manchester Children’s Hospital atrium, followed by music on the wards.  Hong Kong Musician of the Year 2012 Yin Ng (promotional photo below) will be playing the wonderful Chinese traditional instrument - the Sheng. It's like a church organ and harmonica combined. He will be working with multi-instrumentalist Pete Moser on accordion, guitar and trumpet.

In the evening of Thursday 7 February Yin Ng, Pete Moser, Ben McCabe and Semay Wu are performing a Year of the Snake gig at the Chinese Arts Centre at 8 p.m. It'll be a fusion of Chinese music, jazz, beats and inspiring tunes. (Tickets £5).

Then on Friday 8 February at 8.30 p.m. there is a change of genres with a Music in Hospitals benefit gig upstairs at the Attic; above the Thirsty Scholar pub near Oxford Rd station and featuring Naymedici, Paper Town and Lazlo Baby (Tickets £5). 

You've got to love Lazlo Baby's Twitter feed blurb: "Lazlo Baby play gypsy, balkan and ska infected folk. From Marple, near Manchester. We are radiators not drainers."

Monday Murals: Where is Home? @print_and_paste

"Where is home?" is a very good metaphorical question, as we link with another Monday Murals meme. This billboard mural went up a month ago on Twelfth Night and has a fantasy, fairy tale quality to it. Hosted by Print and Paste, the artwork is is by local illustrator and Middleton tattoo artist, Hannah Mosley. It has just been replaced by a mural for February, which I will share with you another week.

Where would you say your home is? And what's your interpretation of the mural?

Mostly moss, Styalishly... #citydailyphoto

The conditions in Styal Woods often create a wonderful array of colour and textures, even on the bark of trees. Taking part in the Weekly Top Shot meme. Also, for the first time I'm linking to SOOC Sunday (Straight Out of the Camera).

A reminder that if you are a City Daily Photo blogger who also tweets tour posts then you can use the hashtag #citydailyphoto
     

Weekend Reflections: BEA Chinatown #citydailyphoto

I was wondering what the signage being erected on this new building in Chinatown the other week stood for. I was disappointed to learn that such a potentially interesting location and place is merely yet another bank- BEA is the Bank of East Asia. 

Click to see the other Weekend Reflections from around the world.

City Daily Photo Theme Day: Umbrellas #CityDailyPhoto

Taking part in this month's City Daily Photo Theme Day which is umbrellas. We head underneath the arches and under the umbrellas through one of the ginnels that run through  the city centre. I think these umbrellas were installed decades ago as a tongue-in-cheek reference to Manchester's unfair reputation as the Rainy City capital.

The truth is that there are at least eight British cities that are wetter, all of which are on the western side of these little islands. Swansea gets an average of 1361mm of rain a year; Londonderry 1122mm; Glasgow 1033mm; Plymouth 1009mm; Cardiff 981mm; Preston 970mm; Belfast 940; Bristol 894mm; and in ninth place comes Manchester with 856mm. 

Those were 2004 figures though and with 2012 being the wettest year on record in England, and no signs of British governments or the masses changing their lifestyles to prevent further climate change, I expect the millimetres to increase year by year... ;-(

If you tweet your daily photos don't forget to use the hashtag  #CityDailyPhoto