I got up early as I wanted to be useful before going out. So got the stove lit and made a tomato soup with a red onion which had been deep frozen and was a funny texture, but smelled normal and fried in olive oil perfectly normally, plus some big thrown away tomatoes which needed their stem areas cutting out but the rest was fine, and a stick of purchased-at-full-price celery! I also sorted through the second lot of grapes, blanched the good ones and put them in a tray to dry.
I left the soup cooking on the stove and cycled off to the station, where I'd arranged to meet Jackie, my friend from the Northern Green Gathering who lives out in the wilds of North Yorkshire, who wanted some company. So she came with me to Manchester to the social group that I sometimes attend. At Piccadilly we met Janie, and walked down to Night and Day to have a bit of lunch and lively conversations. I was pleased to see Sean, the organiser of the Manchester World Naked Bike Ride, Christine, one of my facebook Scrabble opponents and her partner Simon, Ian, Ellie, Amy and Stephen, Robert, Simon, Laura and Victoria, and several others who's names I can't recall. But we had some good conversations and I was glad that Jackie made some friends. I was very happy to see Janie again, and Sean.
However, Jackie wanted to go to a particular shop called Unicorn but she was so engrossed in conversation that she left it too late... we got on a bus and arrived to find it just closed, with the staff shutting the shop. Bummer.
But overall, the day was lovely. The train trip back was noisy with loads of police dealing with football yobbos. But there was no hassle really.
I got back in at about 8.30pm, and a bit later, on facebook, read something which has saddened me considerably. My good friend Robin, who has often commented on this blog with good humour, posted that last night his wife Stella died in hospital, following complications after weight loss surgery in November. I didn't know Stella very well, I met her about half a dozen times, mostly briefly, but Robin loved her as did their two children. Very sad news. My heart goes out to them. I'm so sorry.
Showing posts with label Manchester. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Manchester. Show all posts
I had a 9am start to the day, despite a late night, and caught up with some washing up, as Gill had kept the stoves going and there was hot water. She got up at 6, as usual!
Our youngest went off to a party and eldest went to have a hair cut, and I got ready to go to Manchester for a regular social I like to attend. I made sandwiches to have on the train and zoomed into town and got my ticket and got down to Platform 4 to get the train. I chatted to a musician chap who had two chunky cases with him... probably guitars but I thought at first one was a cello. We talked about being a performer and all sorts. He was off to Cheshire to do a gig.
I had my sandwiches and read Resource magazine. I was soon in Manchester. I met my friends Laura and Nina, and we went to Night and Day and met another of Laura's friends Colin, and Janie and Jonathan, and Swin and Ellie, and a new attendee Simon, and Fiona and Tess, Sean turned up, and Ian, and plenty of others. What a lovely crowd.
I had two coffees and lots of conversations and left at about 5.45, and got the 6.11 train back which was a bit late, and I spent the journey chatting to a nice retired couple who were keen to get back to Edinburgh and were slightly worried about getting their connection in York. They'd been to a nephew's wedding at Manchester Town Hall.
And therefore I got back into the house at 9.30pm and didn't do much apart from get slaughtered at Scrabble by Gill. She beat me by 108 points.
Our youngest went off to a party and eldest went to have a hair cut, and I got ready to go to Manchester for a regular social I like to attend. I made sandwiches to have on the train and zoomed into town and got my ticket and got down to Platform 4 to get the train. I chatted to a musician chap who had two chunky cases with him... probably guitars but I thought at first one was a cello. We talked about being a performer and all sorts. He was off to Cheshire to do a gig.
I had my sandwiches and read Resource magazine. I was soon in Manchester. I met my friends Laura and Nina, and we went to Night and Day and met another of Laura's friends Colin, and Janie and Jonathan, and Swin and Ellie, and a new attendee Simon, and Fiona and Tess, Sean turned up, and Ian, and plenty of others. What a lovely crowd.
I had two coffees and lots of conversations and left at about 5.45, and got the 6.11 train back which was a bit late, and I spent the journey chatting to a nice retired couple who were keen to get back to Edinburgh and were slightly worried about getting their connection in York. They'd been to a nephew's wedding at Manchester Town Hall.
And therefore I got back into the house at 9.30pm and didn't do much apart from get slaughtered at Scrabble by Gill. She beat me by 108 points.
Although I went to bed at a comparatively early 1.30am, I got up at 5.50 in order to leave the house at 6.35 and get to the station to get a ticket to Preston, and get the 7.06 train all the way there. As I was settling in to my seat, Robin just got into the train as the doors were closing, he'd got the train down from Darlington. So I didn't get a peaceful time... Robin is an enthusiastic talker and we had a year to catch up on!
So we were soon in Preston, and we got a taxi to where we thought the venue was, but it wasn't and we got taken down to another part of the campus. I got changed quickly and proceeded to do a lot of devilsticking and a bit of unicycling in the area where new students were arriving with their parents, luggage, sometimes siblings. This Freshers Weekend is a regular event at UCLAN... except that this year it's just the Saturday.
I enjoyed the various bands and musicians, devilsticked to the music, made balloon animals for some of the staff and existing students and Student Union people, as well as the children tagging along with their older brother or sister starting Uni this weekend. I had a lot of fun greeting the 6 or 10 year old and welcoming them to University, asking them what they were going to be studying, and more silliness. I had quite a long lunch, 45 minutes, in a room out of the way, before embarking on my second 2 and a half hour slot of zany, clever, silly, colourful, quick-witted and quick moving entertainment.
I got away (in costume) just before 4pm, and scurried down to the station on foot, as I wanted to get the 4.10 train. I got there and it was cancelled, so got the 4.23 instead. Once my ticked had been checked, I got changed in the carriage toilet, and then dozed til Manchester... New Scientist sending me to sleep.
At Manchester I went to Cafe Nero and met up with Laura, who was with Ian, and Janie, who had her friend Jonathan there. It was good to see both my friends and these new friends. A bit later, Laura took me to the Arndale Food place, where she had noodles and bones and I had a baked potato.
Then back to the station, and I got on the 8 something and was back in York soon after 10pm, after a noisy journey and sympathy from/with my neighbour, Sally, a student of 3D wallpaper!
Later still, had a long type-chat with Ali, whom I haven't chatted with for ages. Really good to catch up.
So we were soon in Preston, and we got a taxi to where we thought the venue was, but it wasn't and we got taken down to another part of the campus. I got changed quickly and proceeded to do a lot of devilsticking and a bit of unicycling in the area where new students were arriving with their parents, luggage, sometimes siblings. This Freshers Weekend is a regular event at UCLAN... except that this year it's just the Saturday.
I enjoyed the various bands and musicians, devilsticked to the music, made balloon animals for some of the staff and existing students and Student Union people, as well as the children tagging along with their older brother or sister starting Uni this weekend. I had a lot of fun greeting the 6 or 10 year old and welcoming them to University, asking them what they were going to be studying, and more silliness. I had quite a long lunch, 45 minutes, in a room out of the way, before embarking on my second 2 and a half hour slot of zany, clever, silly, colourful, quick-witted and quick moving entertainment.
I got away (in costume) just before 4pm, and scurried down to the station on foot, as I wanted to get the 4.10 train. I got there and it was cancelled, so got the 4.23 instead. Once my ticked had been checked, I got changed in the carriage toilet, and then dozed til Manchester... New Scientist sending me to sleep.
At Manchester I went to Cafe Nero and met up with Laura, who was with Ian, and Janie, who had her friend Jonathan there. It was good to see both my friends and these new friends. A bit later, Laura took me to the Arndale Food place, where she had noodles and bones and I had a baked potato.
Then back to the station, and I got on the 8 something and was back in York soon after 10pm, after a noisy journey and sympathy from/with my neighbour, Sally, a student of 3D wallpaper!
Later still, had a long type-chat with Ali, whom I haven't chatted with for ages. Really good to catch up.
Gill and I got up early to finish packing, do the recycling... we'd only produced a carrier bag of landfillable rubbish, four glass bottles, 2 glass jars, a few plastic bottles, several cereal boxes full of compostables, dealt with guerilla-style, and half a dozen drinks cartons which I brought home to put in the recycling here.
We'd ordered a taxi for 9.15 and the driver told us all about her house and grounds, which sounded interesting. The journey into Swansea cost £13.
The train was at 9.55 and the journey up to Shrewsbury, a quicker route via Cardiff and Abergavenny was still very interesting and pretty in places. However, we were glad we'd taken the four hour trip on the Heart of Wales line on the journey south, as that was really lovely.
We got into Manchester for about 2.10pm and then had a bit of a wait for our train to York. I chatted to a nice chap who was a driver of the Virgin Pendolino trains.
A non-eventful trip back to York, apart from managing to delete about 450 sent messages and inbox stuff. Altogether this holiday I've re-organised my computer substantially and deleted well over 500 messages and over 100 pictures and files.
I took the heaviest rucksack and several other bags and put them in my bike trailer, which I'd left at the station. Enjoyed the cycle home, popping in on Country Fresh to say hi to Rich.
When I got in, I found Melody (presumably) had not just watered our tomato plants but also tidied up a bit... how embarrassing but how lovely. A Yorky reward will be hers!
When the others came in (they gave up waiting for the bus and got a taxi) I visited Country Fresh again, and Rich had left me several boxes of desirable compostables. In a skip on the way back I found some copper pipe, lead pipe and a lump of wood. Nice!
I did a bit of compost bin filling and set the squirrel trap, as there was evidence of nut theft from the red hazelnut tree.
Dealt with 300 emails! Cut/pasted blog posts, written whilst on holiday on Wordpad. Lit the stove. Washed up.
We'd ordered a taxi for 9.15 and the driver told us all about her house and grounds, which sounded interesting. The journey into Swansea cost £13.
The train was at 9.55 and the journey up to Shrewsbury, a quicker route via Cardiff and Abergavenny was still very interesting and pretty in places. However, we were glad we'd taken the four hour trip on the Heart of Wales line on the journey south, as that was really lovely.
We got into Manchester for about 2.10pm and then had a bit of a wait for our train to York. I chatted to a nice chap who was a driver of the Virgin Pendolino trains.
A non-eventful trip back to York, apart from managing to delete about 450 sent messages and inbox stuff. Altogether this holiday I've re-organised my computer substantially and deleted well over 500 messages and over 100 pictures and files.
I took the heaviest rucksack and several other bags and put them in my bike trailer, which I'd left at the station. Enjoyed the cycle home, popping in on Country Fresh to say hi to Rich.
When I got in, I found Melody (presumably) had not just watered our tomato plants but also tidied up a bit... how embarrassing but how lovely. A Yorky reward will be hers!
When the others came in (they gave up waiting for the bus and got a taxi) I visited Country Fresh again, and Rich had left me several boxes of desirable compostables. In a skip on the way back I found some copper pipe, lead pipe and a lump of wood. Nice!
I did a bit of compost bin filling and set the squirrel trap, as there was evidence of nut theft from the red hazelnut tree.
Dealt with 300 emails! Cut/pasted blog posts, written whilst on holiday on Wordpad. Lit the stove. Washed up.
Busy day.... up at 8am to get 10 sacks of compost down to the Barbican Edible York raised beds. I took the first 5 down and then continued into town to refill the Suma account as we've got a delivery next week and we'll have to pay the driver a cheque.
I popped into Country Fresh and Freshways on the way back and then took that lot down the garden and collected the next 5 sacks, and took them down. Lots of cycling!
Back at 11.45 to get ready to go to Manchester where I'm meeting with friends and then staying with Mark and Janie before going to DAD on Sunday.
The train journey was uneventful and quick, and I met Laura in the station, and in Cafe Nero we met Nomi and Jess, Ian, Amy, Simon (his birthday), Fiona, Katie popped in... and out, and in again, and there were others who's names I have forgotten or didn't learn. Then at 5ish I got a train to Stockport and Janie picked me up and we drove to Marple. It was good to meet Mark her husband again, and their two sons whom I get on well with, and it was interesting coping with their two overenthusiastic dogs.
As it was a nice evening I helped cut their front hedge, using a, electric hedge trimmer for the first time I think. Fun!
Tea was nice, pasta and veg stew, and as darkness fell we had a bit of juggling fun.
Later when the boys were in bed, I showed Janie some assorted videos including the Ethical Man ones that I am on.
I popped into Country Fresh and Freshways on the way back and then took that lot down the garden and collected the next 5 sacks, and took them down. Lots of cycling!
Back at 11.45 to get ready to go to Manchester where I'm meeting with friends and then staying with Mark and Janie before going to DAD on Sunday.
The train journey was uneventful and quick, and I met Laura in the station, and in Cafe Nero we met Nomi and Jess, Ian, Amy, Simon (his birthday), Fiona, Katie popped in... and out, and in again, and there were others who's names I have forgotten or didn't learn. Then at 5ish I got a train to Stockport and Janie picked me up and we drove to Marple. It was good to meet Mark her husband again, and their two sons whom I get on well with, and it was interesting coping with their two overenthusiastic dogs.
As it was a nice evening I helped cut their front hedge, using a, electric hedge trimmer for the first time I think. Fun!
Tea was nice, pasta and veg stew, and as darkness fell we had a bit of juggling fun.
Later when the boys were in bed, I showed Janie some assorted videos including the Ethical Man ones that I am on.
Didn't sleep brilliantly as the bed wasn't that comfy, and then got a message from Laura that she was heading for Manchester to come to the Lowry with me. Then Jess, Nomi's friend turned up too, and we all headed off to Afflecks which Laura thinks is the centre of the Universe in Manchester, but it wasn't my kind of place really (I really don't like shopping!) and after this we got on a tram to go to the Lowry.
Jane had arranged to meet me; she had met me during the Tunick installations, and today she introduced me to her husband Mark and her two sons, and we all went into the Everyday People exhibition. There were relatively few photographs, but they were carefully chosen and were really stunning. More so was the video taken of the making of the installations, especially the Peel Park footage of all the models walking away from the circular flower beds... a beautiful effect.
We had lunch there and I did some balloon animals for a bit of fun, and Janie's youngest developed his skill balancing a 'fighting worm' model on his finger and his nose too! Just before the two parties parted, they wanted a demo of the unicycle so I did that outside, and then our group went to get on the tram back into the centre of Manchester again.
Our next rendezvous was Cafe Nero for another social meet up, which was really good as I met several people whom I've met through the internet but this was the first time I'd met them in the flesh. Some good conversations ensued, and soon after 5pm i took my leave, said goodbye to my friends and headed to Piccadilly Station, and got a 6pm train all the way back to York, and I was home before 8pm.
Jane had arranged to meet me; she had met me during the Tunick installations, and today she introduced me to her husband Mark and her two sons, and we all went into the Everyday People exhibition. There were relatively few photographs, but they were carefully chosen and were really stunning. More so was the video taken of the making of the installations, especially the Peel Park footage of all the models walking away from the circular flower beds... a beautiful effect.
We had lunch there and I did some balloon animals for a bit of fun, and Janie's youngest developed his skill balancing a 'fighting worm' model on his finger and his nose too! Just before the two parties parted, they wanted a demo of the unicycle so I did that outside, and then our group went to get on the tram back into the centre of Manchester again.
Our next rendezvous was Cafe Nero for another social meet up, which was really good as I met several people whom I've met through the internet but this was the first time I'd met them in the flesh. Some good conversations ensued, and soon after 5pm i took my leave, said goodbye to my friends and headed to Piccadilly Station, and got a 6pm train all the way back to York, and I was home before 8pm.
Spent the morning getting myself together for going to Manchester.
Got a train after lunch and got a seat, and deleted exactly 100 emails from my inbox.
When I got to Manchester I got a £1.50 streetmap, and then walked along to Canal St to Eazysleep where I'd booked a room, and had an hour's lie down before walking with my unicycle and little rucksack, and extendable telescopic fishing rod with a pink WNBR flag, and got to the park on Oxford Road just as other World Naked Bike Riders were gathering. I had a bite of tea which I'd brought with me, and practised unicycling in a mask which Tony had lent or given me. I decided I couldn't wear the mask as it kept on slipping and making my vision really difficult, and it would make it more likely that I'd fall off. I sorted the flag on the pole and held it on with a safety pin through the eyelet at the end. I decided not to have the pole fully extended as it was too huge. Janie from the Spencer Tunick photo installations showed up to do the ride and it was good to see her again.
Just before we set off I gave out leaflets for the Sheffield and York rides on the 19th, and by this time, there were well over 100 colourful and scantily clad participants. We had quite a lot of police escorts and the Friday evening Manchester public were very appreciative, apart from one Asian family of 4 who all stood with their backs to us as we cycled past. I was careful to lower my flagpole for when we went under the tram power lines, but at all other times I waved it gently to and fro. I got EXTREMELY hot and sweaty as unicycling is very hard work... everybody else was cold!
We ended up back in the same park after an hour; I estimate we cycled about 6 miles. I was exhausted. I met a chap, Ian, who had participated in the Spencer Tunick installation but had been out of the country and hadn't got his invitation to the preview, and as I wasn't able to go, i offered him my ticket.... except I couldn't find it, but I found out later that he went to the Lowry and said that I had an invite and that I couldn't go; they checked my name and let him in instead. Whilst we were walking together, he told me about his carbon calculator which I'll try out in the next couple of days.
I met up with a friend and after that had a relatively early night.
Got a train after lunch and got a seat, and deleted exactly 100 emails from my inbox.
When I got to Manchester I got a £1.50 streetmap, and then walked along to Canal St to Eazysleep where I'd booked a room, and had an hour's lie down before walking with my unicycle and little rucksack, and extendable telescopic fishing rod with a pink WNBR flag, and got to the park on Oxford Road just as other World Naked Bike Riders were gathering. I had a bite of tea which I'd brought with me, and practised unicycling in a mask which Tony had lent or given me. I decided I couldn't wear the mask as it kept on slipping and making my vision really difficult, and it would make it more likely that I'd fall off. I sorted the flag on the pole and held it on with a safety pin through the eyelet at the end. I decided not to have the pole fully extended as it was too huge. Janie from the Spencer Tunick photo installations showed up to do the ride and it was good to see her again.
Just before we set off I gave out leaflets for the Sheffield and York rides on the 19th, and by this time, there were well over 100 colourful and scantily clad participants. We had quite a lot of police escorts and the Friday evening Manchester public were very appreciative, apart from one Asian family of 4 who all stood with their backs to us as we cycled past. I was careful to lower my flagpole for when we went under the tram power lines, but at all other times I waved it gently to and fro. I got EXTREMELY hot and sweaty as unicycling is very hard work... everybody else was cold!
We ended up back in the same park after an hour; I estimate we cycled about 6 miles. I was exhausted. I met a chap, Ian, who had participated in the Spencer Tunick installation but had been out of the country and hadn't got his invitation to the preview, and as I wasn't able to go, i offered him my ticket.... except I couldn't find it, but I found out later that he went to the Lowry and said that I had an invite and that I couldn't go; they checked my name and let him in instead. Whilst we were walking together, he told me about his carbon calculator which I'll try out in the next couple of days.
I met up with a friend and after that had a relatively early night.
What a day... WHAT A DAY!!! The first few hours were spent on the very cold and windy quayside next to The Lowry Exhibition and Arts Centre in Salford, with Tony my friend from Leeds, Jane (from Stockport I think), and several other friendly people.
I'd been sitting down for a while and Lorna appeared. Lorna was responsible for telling me about this event, as she'd previously participated in a couple of Tunick photoshoots in Ireland. She had travelled up with her friend Johan and a nice Irish chap called Tony. I'd not met Johan before and was really pleased to do so as he's a very good friend to Lorna. I went to chat with the three of them, and had a little bit of modelling balloon fun with them before going back to my position in the queue.
The time went quite quickly as there was a lot of good humour and banter in the line, and I had the flask of coffee I'd brought with me at about 2.30am as I was flagging. But at 3 the queue moved and at 3.30, the first batch of 50 were readmitted to the Lowry, and we were right on the end of this group. Jane tagged along with me as she'd come on her own and this was the first time she'd been out to do something like this on her own, without her husband.
I'd filled in my model release form at home and this meant registration was very simple... we gave in the form, were ticked off on a list, and picked up an Ikea bag to put out clothes in and a little bottle of fruit-juice drink. Then there was more waiting. I played with my devilsticks and gave Jane a go... she wasn't too bad for a beginner.
Then we were herded outside to a fleet of waiting coaches and double decked buses... I got to sit in the front top of one of these. We were first taken to a place (Castlefields?) where there is a canal and a bridge, surrounded by a very industrial brick-built landscape, and we were introduced to the artist for the first time. He used a megaphone to talk to us all, and explained that he wanted to try to capture some of the LS Lowry style, with lots of people milling around. So then he asked us to disrobe and then get in position in the place where the photographs were to be taken. I got onto a barge which was in a lock, and wasn't able to walk around much when he asked us to walk around. It was very cold, and whenever the wind blew, there was a pained noise from the assembled masses. The artist yelled instructions at us, telling us not to look at him and the camera, and not to smile. Eventually he had got enough pictures and we got dressed again... i just put my dressing gown on, rather than all my clothes.
Most of us went back to the bus but Tunick wanted people over 60 to stay behind, and then as that didn't get enough people, he yelled out, anyone with grey hair, and he collared some more. Jane and I went to sit on the bus again and waited for our next place... which was back at the Lowry. We hadn't been able to do this at 5.30am as the megaphone and noise would disturb the residents, but we started this one at 7am, and assembled outside the front of the gallery, and did a lot more milling round and 'freezing' so images could be captured. There were more barked instructions, and some people were moved as they had too many tattoos or were too tanned. During this installation, we were asked to bend over, similar to how some of the Lowry figures are hunched over, and someone farted loudly which caused an eruption of laughter. We were so glad to get back in as it was very very cold.
It wasn't long before we were once again taken out to the buses and coaches, and we were taken to Manchester Airport to a hangar near the plane spotters car park. The first group to be asked in were the over 45s, and the rest of us waited. Then it was our turn, and we went into the hangar... where Concorde was on show! We were moved into position under the aeroplane and had to squash up quite close.
Then were were taken to the Manchester City ground car park in front of two huge gasometers (gas holders) and Spencer divided us up into about 6 or 7 groups and got us to gather together in those groups, facing in different directions and sometimes bent over. The group I was in was right at the back this time. Then he asked for all the women to go to the double decker buses which had parked in front of some trees, and he got all the women to stand in the windows, I think with just their bottoms showing. However, I was back in the coach at the other end of the car park and wasn't paying much attention. I'll wait for the photos!
The photos that Tunick took today will form an exhibition called Everyday People, which will be on show at The Lowry from June 12th til September 26th. This is kind of lucky as the Manchester World Naked Bike Ride is on the 11th in the evening and I think I'll stay over and go to the opening of the exhibition the next day.
We were taken back to the Lowry, arriving just before 11am.. I went to get washed and dressed, said goodbye to Lorna and her entourage, and walked over to the tram stop to go back to Piccadilly, where I was due to meet Laura at midday. Suddenly Jane drove up and asked Tony and myself if we'd like a lift into the City. We accepted and she dropped us right next to the station. So we were a bit early there, and I decided to have a go at sending a text message to Gill... she had lent me her old phone and taught me how to send a text, so I sent her one saying all was well. I texted Laura too, telling her that I was at the station.
She appeared quite soon, and all three of us walked down to the 'gay village' area where Laura likes a particular eatery, called Via. But it was shut, so we went next door and had a pizza for lunch.
Then we parted company from Tony and Laura took me to find a couple of her favourite shops, both of which were shut. But much to Laura's delight (but not mine!), Primark was open, and she bought I don't know how many tops there for £4 each. We then went for a coffee. We decided to go back to the Canal St area as it's got a lot going on... and there was a gay line dancing thing in the street, and Laura joined in which was great to watch. She isn't afraid to have a go, despite not knowing the moves perfectly. After a bit of sitting and watching and chatting to a friendly old gent, I got my devilsticks out and joined in the spectacle... line dancing in front of the pub and just along the road there was space for me to spin my sticks. I really enjoyed this.
But time was moving on and I told Laura that I'd have to go. She tried to persuade me to go back to her house in Warrington to meet her family, but I declined as I too have a family to go home to, so we walked up to Piccadilly together, and there was a train waiting for me with 5 minutes to spare before going all the way to York. I did some pumpkin seeds on the train, which I'd brought with me just in case there was any spare time. But somewhere along the route a nice chap got on who was doing a MSc in hydrology and we talked about conserving water, droughts, floods, peat bogs and green roofs until Leeds where he got off. I was soon in York, soon home by bike (with a pallet in tow!) and after tea I had an hour in bed before getting up to do my blog and sort emails. Up til 2am.
I'd been sitting down for a while and Lorna appeared. Lorna was responsible for telling me about this event, as she'd previously participated in a couple of Tunick photoshoots in Ireland. She had travelled up with her friend Johan and a nice Irish chap called Tony. I'd not met Johan before and was really pleased to do so as he's a very good friend to Lorna. I went to chat with the three of them, and had a little bit of modelling balloon fun with them before going back to my position in the queue.
The time went quite quickly as there was a lot of good humour and banter in the line, and I had the flask of coffee I'd brought with me at about 2.30am as I was flagging. But at 3 the queue moved and at 3.30, the first batch of 50 were readmitted to the Lowry, and we were right on the end of this group. Jane tagged along with me as she'd come on her own and this was the first time she'd been out to do something like this on her own, without her husband.
I'd filled in my model release form at home and this meant registration was very simple... we gave in the form, were ticked off on a list, and picked up an Ikea bag to put out clothes in and a little bottle of fruit-juice drink. Then there was more waiting. I played with my devilsticks and gave Jane a go... she wasn't too bad for a beginner.
Then we were herded outside to a fleet of waiting coaches and double decked buses... I got to sit in the front top of one of these. We were first taken to a place (Castlefields?) where there is a canal and a bridge, surrounded by a very industrial brick-built landscape, and we were introduced to the artist for the first time. He used a megaphone to talk to us all, and explained that he wanted to try to capture some of the LS Lowry style, with lots of people milling around. So then he asked us to disrobe and then get in position in the place where the photographs were to be taken. I got onto a barge which was in a lock, and wasn't able to walk around much when he asked us to walk around. It was very cold, and whenever the wind blew, there was a pained noise from the assembled masses. The artist yelled instructions at us, telling us not to look at him and the camera, and not to smile. Eventually he had got enough pictures and we got dressed again... i just put my dressing gown on, rather than all my clothes.
Most of us went back to the bus but Tunick wanted people over 60 to stay behind, and then as that didn't get enough people, he yelled out, anyone with grey hair, and he collared some more. Jane and I went to sit on the bus again and waited for our next place... which was back at the Lowry. We hadn't been able to do this at 5.30am as the megaphone and noise would disturb the residents, but we started this one at 7am, and assembled outside the front of the gallery, and did a lot more milling round and 'freezing' so images could be captured. There were more barked instructions, and some people were moved as they had too many tattoos or were too tanned. During this installation, we were asked to bend over, similar to how some of the Lowry figures are hunched over, and someone farted loudly which caused an eruption of laughter. We were so glad to get back in as it was very very cold.
It wasn't long before we were once again taken out to the buses and coaches, and we were taken to Manchester Airport to a hangar near the plane spotters car park. The first group to be asked in were the over 45s, and the rest of us waited. Then it was our turn, and we went into the hangar... where Concorde was on show! We were moved into position under the aeroplane and had to squash up quite close.
Then were were taken to the Manchester City ground car park in front of two huge gasometers (gas holders) and Spencer divided us up into about 6 or 7 groups and got us to gather together in those groups, facing in different directions and sometimes bent over. The group I was in was right at the back this time. Then he asked for all the women to go to the double decker buses which had parked in front of some trees, and he got all the women to stand in the windows, I think with just their bottoms showing. However, I was back in the coach at the other end of the car park and wasn't paying much attention. I'll wait for the photos!
The photos that Tunick took today will form an exhibition called Everyday People, which will be on show at The Lowry from June 12th til September 26th. This is kind of lucky as the Manchester World Naked Bike Ride is on the 11th in the evening and I think I'll stay over and go to the opening of the exhibition the next day.
We were taken back to the Lowry, arriving just before 11am.. I went to get washed and dressed, said goodbye to Lorna and her entourage, and walked over to the tram stop to go back to Piccadilly, where I was due to meet Laura at midday. Suddenly Jane drove up and asked Tony and myself if we'd like a lift into the City. We accepted and she dropped us right next to the station. So we were a bit early there, and I decided to have a go at sending a text message to Gill... she had lent me her old phone and taught me how to send a text, so I sent her one saying all was well. I texted Laura too, telling her that I was at the station.
She appeared quite soon, and all three of us walked down to the 'gay village' area where Laura likes a particular eatery, called Via. But it was shut, so we went next door and had a pizza for lunch.
Then we parted company from Tony and Laura took me to find a couple of her favourite shops, both of which were shut. But much to Laura's delight (but not mine!), Primark was open, and she bought I don't know how many tops there for £4 each. We then went for a coffee. We decided to go back to the Canal St area as it's got a lot going on... and there was a gay line dancing thing in the street, and Laura joined in which was great to watch. She isn't afraid to have a go, despite not knowing the moves perfectly. After a bit of sitting and watching and chatting to a friendly old gent, I got my devilsticks out and joined in the spectacle... line dancing in front of the pub and just along the road there was space for me to spin my sticks. I really enjoyed this.
But time was moving on and I told Laura that I'd have to go. She tried to persuade me to go back to her house in Warrington to meet her family, but I declined as I too have a family to go home to, so we walked up to Piccadilly together, and there was a train waiting for me with 5 minutes to spare before going all the way to York. I did some pumpkin seeds on the train, which I'd brought with me just in case there was any spare time. But somewhere along the route a nice chap got on who was doing a MSc in hydrology and we talked about conserving water, droughts, floods, peat bogs and green roofs until Leeds where he got off. I was soon in York, soon home by bike (with a pallet in tow!) and after tea I had an hour in bed before getting up to do my blog and sort emails. Up til 2am.
Woke feeling a bit excited as later today I'm heading off to Manchester to (hopefully) take part in an art installation by Spencer Tunick.
I had a busy morning outside once I prized myself out of the house, and then went to Country Fresh, and back to light the stove to get bathwater and tidy myself up.
Enjoyed my bath lots.
Just after 5 I cycled a child back to his parents and then came home, had tea and escaped from Dr Who, by listening to Tracey Smith on Internet Radio.
At 8.30, started getting ready to go to the station......
I got to the station in good time and got an open return for £22, and once on the train I had a really interesting chat with a young man whom I'd overtaken on the bike earlier in town, who was heading back to Huddersfield. He was Paul who works for the Tyndall Centre, and was therefore a great person to converse with. We chatted about how to assign carbon allocations to shipping and aviation, which currently doesn't show in any individual country's carbon emissions. What luck to sit with such a knowledgeable guy!
Tony got on the train at Leeds and he immediately inspected Paul's bike as Tony love bikes, as well as being a naturist and keen on participating with the Tunick installation. Paul got off at Huddersfield and Tony and I chatted about organising the York World Naked Bike Ride and several other subjects.
We got into Manchester soon after 11pm, and took the tram to Harbour City which is the nearest Metro stop to The Lowry. There was another guy who got off the tram who looked like he knew where he was going, so I asked him if he was going to the Lowry, and we walked together across a Dutch-looking metal bridge and to The Lowry, which was still open and people were beginning to accumulate inside as it was very cold and windy outside.
I chatted with some of the people in the group we joined, and as we had over 3 hours to kill, did some balloon modelling which went down very well. I worked with a woman called Jane who had previously done some balloon sculpture and she made a couple of animals. She loved the teddy bear I made.
Sometime after midnight we all went outside as the queue had started to develop, and people were getting chairs down from a terrace so they could sit and wait in the queue... as registration wasn't til 3.30am.
I had a busy morning outside once I prized myself out of the house, and then went to Country Fresh, and back to light the stove to get bathwater and tidy myself up.
Enjoyed my bath lots.
Just after 5 I cycled a child back to his parents and then came home, had tea and escaped from Dr Who, by listening to Tracey Smith on Internet Radio.
At 8.30, started getting ready to go to the station......
I got to the station in good time and got an open return for £22, and once on the train I had a really interesting chat with a young man whom I'd overtaken on the bike earlier in town, who was heading back to Huddersfield. He was Paul who works for the Tyndall Centre, and was therefore a great person to converse with. We chatted about how to assign carbon allocations to shipping and aviation, which currently doesn't show in any individual country's carbon emissions. What luck to sit with such a knowledgeable guy!
Tony got on the train at Leeds and he immediately inspected Paul's bike as Tony love bikes, as well as being a naturist and keen on participating with the Tunick installation. Paul got off at Huddersfield and Tony and I chatted about organising the York World Naked Bike Ride and several other subjects.
We got into Manchester soon after 11pm, and took the tram to Harbour City which is the nearest Metro stop to The Lowry. There was another guy who got off the tram who looked like he knew where he was going, so I asked him if he was going to the Lowry, and we walked together across a Dutch-looking metal bridge and to The Lowry, which was still open and people were beginning to accumulate inside as it was very cold and windy outside.
I chatted with some of the people in the group we joined, and as we had over 3 hours to kill, did some balloon modelling which went down very well. I worked with a woman called Jane who had previously done some balloon sculpture and she made a couple of animals. She loved the teddy bear I made.
Sometime after midnight we all went outside as the queue had started to develop, and people were getting chairs down from a terrace so they could sit and wait in the queue... as registration wasn't til 3.30am.
Early start with a taxi ride to Hebden Bridge and a train to Manchester, change to Salford Crescent, change again to Manchester Airport where I said goodbye to K who is flying back to America.
I had a non-eventful train journey back to York. Picked up my compostables and visited Cycle Heaven who have completed constructing my new bike... and have a bill for me which I'll get for them tomorrow when I'll get my bike home.... Exciting!
Home to find a happy family.
During the evening, researched my paid blog and wrote it, on The Energy Saving Trust and their activities.
I had a non-eventful train journey back to York. Picked up my compostables and visited Cycle Heaven who have completed constructing my new bike... and have a bill for me which I'll get for them tomorrow when I'll get my bike home.... Exciting!
Home to find a happy family.
During the evening, researched my paid blog and wrote it, on The Energy Saving Trust and their activities.
Went to Manchester today, to an Equity 'Childrens Entertainers' meeting.
After this, met with K at Manchester Piccadilly, got a tram to Victoria and then a train to Hebden Bridge. I'd found us a BnB in Pecket Well, through a website, but when we got there we found it wasn't really suitable.. it was a private house and the room was actually the daughter's bedroom, so we decamped to the Robin Hood Inn, which was a bit more expensive but much better for our needs.
A lovely walk in the evening, enjoyed the night sky and stars.
After this, met with K at Manchester Piccadilly, got a tram to Victoria and then a train to Hebden Bridge. I'd found us a BnB in Pecket Well, through a website, but when we got there we found it wasn't really suitable.. it was a private house and the room was actually the daughter's bedroom, so we decamped to the Robin Hood Inn, which was a bit more expensive but much better for our needs.
A lovely walk in the evening, enjoyed the night sky and stars.
