Still raining, still dreaming, #JimiHendrix

Still raining, still dreaming is a track by Jimi Hendrix and appropriate for this very wet Sunday, as a sellotape/sticky tape statue of Jimi Hendrix stands outside Stockport cafe Seven Miles Out- where there is always an artistic event or three going on. By the time Word Art with Jess Green takes place this coming Wednesday, proper summer sunshine and weather is promised... 

Weekend Reflections: Apotheca

Wednesday night at Apotheca in the Northern Quarter. My glass is always half full, especially when taking poart in Weekend Reflections.

Spinning the angle

Spring in their step

The Spring Markets at St Ann's Square. If you ignore the junk food there are some rather creative craft stalls to focus on and a sizeable conservatory bar which I may have tried out by the time you read this. And for those that like to start their tippling straight from work (I'm only jealous), there's this fun packed end of the market.

"T" is for The Lost Gardens of ... Manchester

Greenery and mystery adorn the entrances to the City Art Gallery with deckchairs, vintage benches and shabby shrubbery all proclaiming the lost gardens of Manchester.

Inside and out the gallery celebrates 4 centuries of gardeming "...bountiful orchards of Shudehill from 1753, the palatial glasshouses and grounds of the Royal Botanical Gardens at Old Trafford and the Belle Vue Zoological gardens which were both at their peak in the mid Victorian era; all set against the historic architecture of the building to create stunning spaces for visitors to sit and enjoy".

Tying in today to "T" at ABC Wednesday.

Sign of the times: A tuppenny shampoo

A reminder of the past, on a Northern Quarter street.

Linking with this week's Signs, Signs blog.

Monday Murals. Eurocultured Festival ii

New Wakefield Street and a remaining mural from the old Eurocultured festivals which used to take place at this time of year. time for some updates along here I think. I liked the smoking chimney factory scene that is hidden within though. Taking part in Monday Murals.

The people united will never be defeated #PeoplesAssembly #AntiAusterityCuts

Organised by the Manchester People's Assembly, yesterday's demonstration in Piccadilly Gardens brought together thousands of local people opposed to the Tory cuts. Trade unionists, the Occupy movement, the homeless, disabled, health service users, students, environmental campaign groups, anti-nuclear groups, political parties. The angry and the caring of all ages were there to fight back against the next round of cuts.  

Inspiring talks and witty protest songs from people fighting the cuts, before a march in support of the homeless people's camp now set up in St. Ann's Square. 

Weekend Reflections: Castlefield in white

Following on from yesterday's blog post, the view from the Castlefield Hotel bar made for a tranquil scene, considering it's just off the city centre. All was quiet and much seemed monochrome. One for Weekend Reflections.

Skywatch Friday: Forward planning, rainbow over Castlefield

I was down at Castlefield hotel and the Y Club on Monday evening, seeking out a potential conference venue for the September 2016 European DX Council Conference, which I am hoping to host in Manchester with the British DX Club. While sampling their food and wine on what was a day of showers, sleet and sunshine, a rainbow appeared, arching gracefully over the whole Castlefield Arena. A lovely sight and maybe a good omen... Enjoy your Skywatch Friday.

Reusable tables of colour, thank you #ManchesterCityCouncil

I'm always quick to criticise parts of Manchester City Council but whoever is in charge of outdoor furniture today gets my plaudits. These bright and funky picnic tables do the city centre good service. Here they are after last weekend's food festival, before they reappear perhaps next week in the St Ann's Square Spring Markets, and then spend much of the summer in residence on Albert Square at the Jazz Festival, International Festival and other events. Great reusing MCC- more of this please!

ABC Wednesday: "S" is for Share in National Vegetarian Week #NVW2015

So, ABC Wednesday stops at "S" this week, and this National Vegetarian Week poster at Muse Cafe (I have always thought that is such a great name for the Manchester Museum cafe) advocates that we get together and share in this healthy, cruelty-free way of life.

For tips, Kate at the Veg Space blog is good, as are the Vegetarian Society in Altrincham.  

Eviction of the vulnerable by Manchester City Council

The homeless camp, set up a few weeks back, which I mentioned here, was being torn down this morning. A heavy police presence - almost as many police as there were homeless people, about 25, were on hand as council workers stole perfectly usable tents (these people's actual homes) and threw them onto this lorry, before disposing of them.

The homeless and their supporters seemed in stoical good cheer, singing protest songs as their homes, and safe community, compared to sleeping isolated around the city, was dismantled.

So where are the homeless people meant to sleep now, Manchester City Council? It is shameful that a Labour council should act in this way. They are responsible for the protection and safeguarding of the vulnerable in our city and yet they do this.

The government is responsible for the cuts and policies that have made over a million people in the UK need food banks. Policies and cuts which have increased stress and homelessness on the most vulnerable. The misery, the illness and the blood of those who have suffered or died as a consequence is on the hands of every Tory voter, be they the over-privileged 1% or the others that made up the mere 24% of the electorate who voted Tory, brainwashed by the Mail and Sun. 

Join us for anti-austerity demonstrations this week: on Wednesday at noon in Albert Square, Saturday at 10.00 a.m in Albert Square for a protest picnic followed at noon in Piccadilly Gardens for an anti-austerity demonstration.

Reporting this outrage today from a dis-United Kingdom to readers of Our World Tuesday.

Monday Mural: Map of the north

The wonderful map, (early 20 Century?) on the tiled wall at Victoria station depicting rail routes in the glorious north of England. Last week three workers were buffing up the black war memorial below it with what smelt like boot polish (which didn't make for an interesting enough photo). 

Trending this week on social media is the hashtag #ScotlandTakeUsWithYou , a only slightly tongue-in-cheek plea to Scotland from the north of England to create a new independent country when Scotland gains its independence from England- surely inevitable in the next few years now? And something I have mooted in jest and in seriousness for many years. 

Taking part with other street artist admirers at the Monday Mural.

Castlefield Food Fest

A sunny afternoon on the second of three days of the Castlefield Food Festival. An estimated 10,000 people will attend over the three days (today being the last day), There is the type of stalls you'd expect plus cookery demonstrations and live music. A craft stall or two as well and a camoiagn to improve the Castlefield basin area's facilities and reach. By the far the three best food stalls were a French boulangerie, a Greek baker plus a vegetarian artisan cheese seller. This wine caravan was the coolest looking.

It was fun but a shame that the area it's isn't still a Manchester beach as in 2011, 12 and 13. See three of my posts at this page.

I should have also gone to the Vegan Festival at Chorlton's Irish Centre yesterday but you can't do everything ;-)

Revolting students...

The Free Education MCR group began their anti-government demonstration at the Manchester Business School on Wednesday afternoon.It's an understandable protest at the government's unnecessary and reckless austerity cuts, and tuition fees. 

They state: The University of Manchester is in occupation. We are occupying because we know what five more years of a Tory government means. It means the hopes of millions of young people and workers shattered by cuts and privatisation. There is talk of another rise in tuition fees, funding apprenticeships through 24 cuts to further education, and scrapping the disabled students allowance once and for all. We know what the market does to education, and we know we need to fight it. We are occupying to reclaim space from the university’s corporate projects - and to use it to educate ourselves freely.

There is a major local anti-austerity demonstration in Manchester next Saturday 23 May from noon in Piccadilly Gardens. See you there!

Skywatch Friday: Deansgate from Grindsmith

Looking out and up and  impressive buildings (and impressive blue sky- it's set for a fine weekend!) on Deansgate, over a cup of coffee in Grindsmith. One for Skywatch Friday.

Solitary, soli-tree

A nice spring evening for a walk in some greenery. I added a slight painted effect to the photo which is linked to Rurality Blog Hop #74.

R is for Radio cars

Lovely old 1950s font here, a real rush today as ABC Wednesday reaches "R".

Evening tide... #CityDailyPhoto

Looking along the River Irwell from Salford towards Greengate and into Manchester.

Monday Murals: Have you been Eurocultured?

This mural was created at the May 2011 Eurocultured Festival (which is sadly no more due to funding cuts in the arts) on New Wakefield Street: Yellow submarines, floating cars and space ships. Taking part in the Monday Mural.

Weekend Reflection: Pop Art nouveau

I am really not sure that Art Nouveau and Pop Art can ever work well together, but there is something about this chair in Altrincham's Oxford Road that I quite like. It made me stop and I ended up with a decent reflection for Weekend Reflections anyway...

Mancunian Wave reader Chris points out that the frame probably isn't Art Nnoveau style - mea culpa.
========================================================================

Are you really sure this is an Art Nouveau armchair?

I like Art Nouveau and this is offensive to that style. Art Nouveau is restrained and elegant. 

art nouveau furniture at manchester art gallery - Google Search

				art nouveau furniture at manchester art gallery - Google... en.wikipedia.org (Manchester Art Gallery) 1944 × 2592 - 1258k - jpg vam.ac.uk L'Art Nouveau Pavilion 600 × 474 - 48k - jpg antiques-atlas.com Lamb of Manchester Ar...
				View on www.google.co.uk	Preview by Yahoo

There are also specific carved motifs typical of Art Nouveau and this chairs' excessively florid carving lacks any of those.

I would describe it either as 

- Baroque or

- Roccoco

best regards

Chris 

Social cleansing in Manchester

There hjas been an encampment on West Mosley Street / St. Peter's Square for a few weeks now. Homeless people pitched their tents last month to highlight their plight and raise awareness.

There is, for some reason,  a police guard at the Central Library to prevent the homeless using any library facilities. Last week the group won the right to remain here for another week. But what then? As the signs around the camp say: " We don't want your coins, we want change"...

Skywatch Friday: Fair and fun

Today's two photos were taken by Tim Sutton-Brand at Knutsford Fun fair on Monday night, the last night of five at this annual event. Billed as the UK's biggest funfair, it takes place on Knutsford Heath, with 100 rides including the UK’s "largest travelling Cyclone rollercoaster which spins as it travels along almost half a kilometre of hairpin turns and dips." Taking part in Skywatch Friday. Also this week's contribution to Weekly Top Shot #176, in the Pacific North West.

A vote for the common good #VoteGreen2015

Whilst the Tories and Labour can spend millions of pounds on advertising, the Green Party rely on members to share our message. We’ve created these six short animations to spread the Green message.

The national English newspapers are backing the following parties (with most of the Tory-supporting ones spreading lies as usual. So much for a fair and democratic election process): 

Financial Times, Telegraph, Times , Express, Mail, Star, Sun all back Tory. Even The Independent (!) backs the Tory-Lib Dem coalition to continue. The Guardian back Labour (having backed Lib Dem in 2010). And as we all know, the Telegraph and Mail set the agenda for the BBC and ITV news coverage, so it is a miracle we have ever had anything but a Tory government...

So...

Yes, it is all fully costed.

...and for the UK to be considered democratic we need Proportional Representation rather than the unfair and antiquated first past the post system.

"Q" is for Quarry Bank Mill, but not that one...

ABC Wednesday queues up for a "Q" and here's a narrow boat that thinks it's a textile mill from the 18th century ... Near Acton Bridge on the Trent and Mersey Canal. You can hire this narrow boat if you wish.

A rose by any other name...

A rose by any other name would smell as sweet... I am unsure as to what these colourful flowers are, but to me they are beautiful whatever they are called, in English or Latin...

Monday Mural: More Koffee?

More new murals arrive on the side of the of the old Koffee Pot shop on Stevenson Square.  Taking part in Monday Mural, sharing innovative street art around the world.

21C alternatives to medieval monarchy #BornEqual @Republic_NW

In Albert Square

The Republic movement campaigns for a democratic alternative to the monarchy.  There is apathy towards the over-privileged royals by many and and a strong anti-monarchy feeling by many others too, but neither receives much, if any, coverage by the mainstream media.

"The position is inherited, which means that someone who is mad, bad or a complete waste of taxpayers' money can become queen or king. I think that brings the whole purpose of having a head of state into disrepute."

~ Louise Christian, human rights lawyer.

Every child should be born equal. Child Poverty Action Group.

Weekend Reflection: Mayday sundown

Yesterday evening and a nice end to the working week, reflected in suburbam leaded windows.. a contribution to Weekend Reflections.

There are two activfties in town today that I wanted to point out- starting with the Manchester Mayday Festival. Manchester Trades Council will host a celebration of trade unionism at the Mechanics Institute Manchester, the birthplace of the TUC. International Workers' Day is celebrated around the world. "We want Manchester to play its part, with a day of events for trade unionists, our families and everyone who is supportive of our movement. 10.00 Feeder march from Bexley Square in Salford with Salford TUC
11.00 Rally in Piccadilly Gardens with speakers from local campaigns."

11.30 March to the Mechanics Institute with Union banners, the PCS Samba Band and the new NUT band. Bring your branch banner! At 12.00 the day's programme starts at the Mechanics Institute. Free refreshments available during the day. Licensed bar open all day. Films, music and more.

But pop out at 2.00 pm to go back to Piccadilly Gardens to join The Green Parade. We will march round Manchester wearing green to raise awareness of the Green Party and its policies.

City Daily Photo Theme Day: Revolution #CityDailyPhoto

Happy May Day, traditionally known as the day of the workers and appropriate then for this month’s City Daily Photo Theme Day of Revolution.  Today’s photo was taken by Susie on a walk to Ramsbottom in Lancashire with the Altrincham and District Ramblers. 

Germany leads Europe in windpower and the UK as a windswept island could do so much more - a green revolution to evolve and revolve!

I was honoured to be asked to choose one of 2015's CDP theme days and came up with the Revolution theme, which is deliberately open to interpretation: A windmill or wind turbine going round (or vinyl, wheels, machinery etc) or a new idea … or revolutionary figures past and present in your region. 

The following revolutionary movements started in 19th Century Manchester (and Salford and Rochdale) as a reaction to the industrial revolution which started here: 

British Suffragette movement
Trades' Union movement
UK Vegetarian Society
Marxist-Engels communism
The Rochdale Pioneers who started the Cooperative Movement ... 

There are many modern day equivalents so, go on, seize your inner revolutionary!