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

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...

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:
The Oxnoble ‏@TheOxnoble  Feb 7

@chrissycurlz 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.

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”.

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.

"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.

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 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.

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!

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.