A busy time . . .

I've been very aware that I haven't posted anything on the blog for a while.

It's been a busy time at home with visitors all of last week including number 2 son which was lovely. We also managed to squeeze in a belated birthday meal out for the Pater Familias with some very good friends; took our younger son back to Manchester and spent the weekend with him and came back to a theatre outing on Monday evening.

Now, finally we have time to draw breath!

Luckily the newly-retired husband was around to entertain our visitor and managed a trip to Brighton on a really warm day, the usual tourist sights in London and shopping for all the 'rellies' back home.

The weekend in Manchester was really good - time with number 2 son is very precious as the distances means we don't see enough of each other. Father and son went for a bike ride - this is one of the Pater Familias' retirement projects - now he's looking to buy his own bike. This gave number 1 son and I a chance to have a good long walk around Chorlton Water Park. A pub lunch all together afterwards before making the journey home again. All in all, a good family time.


On Saturday evening we went to the Vigil Mass at St Mary's, 'The Hidden Gem' and were amused when the celebrant suddenly remembered that they were not exchanging the sign of peace anymore (because of the dreaded Swine Flu). He had got as far as saying, 'let us now offer one another a sign of peace' when he suddenly remembered and shouted, 'No, no stop! We're not doing that anymore'. I know we weren't the only ones who found this amusing.

There were broad smiles and exchanged looks of amusement all around us; in a way that was the sign of peace for us at that particular Mass. By the way, Holy Communion under one species only too. In our home parish we still have Holy Communion under both kinds and exchange the sign of peace in the usual way. Interesting.

Stations of the Cross

For those of you who have never visited St Mary's, Manchester (the Hidden Gem), I thought I'd post a photo of the modern Stations of the Cross mentioned in the comments on the previous post.

Even in this small picture, I think you can get the general idea.

I've posted a picture below of the beautiful Pieta in the side chapel. I know which of the two I find more helpful as an aid to prayer.
As they used to say in the old exam papers (maybe, they still do?) 'Compare and contrast!'

Manchester and back ...

We had a great weekend in Manchester. The journey up was one of the best we've ever had - no traffic problems at all and lovely sunny weather most of the way.

We had a bit of trouble finding St Mary's (the Hidden Gem) for Mass on Saturday evening and missed the opening prayer (I hate being late for Mass!).

Even though we've been there several times now, we don't know the city well enough to find the church easily from wherever we manage to find a space to park. You wouldn't believe how many people we asked and nobody had a clue (and they weren't ALL strangers either - I was thinking, 'look for middle-aged women to ask - they're the most likely to know!').

I used to think Manchester was a stronghold of Catholicism! In the end a young couple (Eastern European judging by their accents) who had seen us approaching several people and getting further and further away from the church incidentally, took pity on us and said if we were going to Mass at the church so were they and so we followed them.

I must say it is very well named - the HIDDEN Gem!

After a lovely Mass we met up with number 2 son and went to the Curry Mile for a fantastic curry and a lovely relaxed evening together chatting and catching up with one another's news.

On Sunday we went for a good long walk at Chorlton Water Park - so many energetic people - I think half of Manchester was out running on Sunday morning. We didn't want to go too far out of town as we were going for lunch in the city centre at Malmaison - another success.

Sad to say farewell but hopefully it won't be too long before it's our son's turn to make the journey home down South for a weekend.

The journey back was a bit busier (everyone returning from visiting their mothers on Mother's Day perhaps?) but we still managed it in about 4 hours driving time which is quite good.

Back to normal today and catching up with washing and ironing etc. It's amazing how being away for just two days can make you so behind with the chores, isn't it?

No 'posh nosh' for this Mum after all ...

Well, that was short lived! I was looking forward to trying out the smart Italian restaurant near us on Mother's Day with the paterfamilias but we've had a change of plans . . .

Number 2 son has now informed us that although he can't come home to the bosom of his family that weekend (sob ...), he would quite like it if we could travel up to Manchester and see him.

Actually this will fit in quite well as it's also his birthday at the end of the month and we wouldn't be able to see him anywhere near the date otherwise so it's all worked out in the end. Shame that number one son won't be able to join us as he'll be away elsewhere that weekend but he'll be enjoying himself on his holiday so not to worry.

Mind, you I'm not letting you-know-who forget about the meal at you-know-where at some other time. Especially with food like this on the menu!

Manchester . . . and back

Can you believe it - after thinking about it several times during the week, and reminding others not to forget - guess who forgot to put their watches back on Saturday night?? Luckily nothing was lost by this (apart from an extra hour's sleep!)

After a leisurely breakfast - one of the best things about staying in an hotel, I think - we set off to visit a local beauty spot, Lyme Park.

It was a glorious, bright but cold morning as we left Manchester and arrived at our destination but about 10 minutes after we'd begun climbing the up the hill to 'The Cage' to admire the view, the heavens opened and we were soaked.

The photo shows the really leaden sky - this sort of weather in these sort of places always make me think of a scene from Wuthering Heights or Jane Eyre or similar novels where the heroine finds herself on some bleak, barren moor in the middle of terrible weather. You expect to bump into some romantic hero complete with riding breeches at any moment!

We 'repaired to a local hostelry' as they might have said in one of these novels; had a lovely warming lunch and also took the opportunity to change into dry clothes.

The weather on the journey home was also very mixed and we saw a splendid rainbow - the second one that day. The photo doesn't do it justice but it's not bad considering it was taken through a car window and travelling at speed.

Manchester

We had a lovely weekend in Manchester visiting Simon. Traffic was dreadful almost all the way so the journey took a lot longer that we planned and consequently it was a bit of a scramble to get to Mass on time - not helped by the fact that Manchester City Council (or whatever they are called) have decided to do a lot of re-surfacing work in the middle of town and several roads were closed - and being Manchester, of course it was raining too! Never mind.

We've taken to going to Mass at St Mary's, (the Hidden Gem) in the middle of city. If you are ever in Manchester it is well worth a visit for the magnificent interior. They don't like you taking photos but you'll find lots of lovely photos on the website here.

After Mass we had a lovely meal in a nearby restaurant serving meals from all over Asia (or so it seemed!)

Then to the theatre for a very good production of Antigone at the Royal Exchange Theatre - so much 'angst' and all that shouting! - I don't know how the cast manage 8 performances a week and still have any voices left!

The auditorium itself is a very modern 'capsule' within the lovely old building and the architecture works very well - the beauty of the original building remains intact and the modern structure within blends well and doesn't detract at all from the rest of the surroundings.

The pictures are just taken with my phone's camera so are not terribly clear but I think you can get the general idea.

Manchester and back ...

We've just got back from a lovely weekend in Manchester visiting S. Here's A enjoying a 're-fuelling stop' on the services at the end of the M6 Toll Road.

Father and son relaxing in our hotel room. We had a lovely evening catching up and watching the football on TV amongst other things.

We thoughtfully brought along our own refreshments! Drink from the bar, anyone?

After going to the Vigil Mass at 'The Hidden Gem' church of St Mary's in the city centre we lingered at the international market in front of Manchester Town Hall. I'm not sure what the joke was here but it must have been a good one!

It was a very interesting market with stalls from all over the world. Here are just a few - this one is the Japanese Garden

The Dutch stall complete with cut-out cows, bicycle, flowers, cheese and clogs - very well done.

No market is complete without a German Bierstube

Part of the imposing facade of Manchester Town Hall.

You know the saying, ' like a child let loose in a sweet shop' well it applies to certain adults too!

How to make a building interesting. We wandered through the city to a very good Punjabi restaurant that S recommended for our supper and it was very good too.

On Sunday we visited Hatton Park and this roundabout was part of a fun fair in the grounds. The estate was very big with lots of different attractions. The large house was really interesting but so much to see that unfortunately we didn't really have enough time to spend as long there as we would have liked.

We had a fairly good run home and were back in time to catch up with M's news and hear about his weekend as he'd decided to stay 'home alone' and had arranged to meet friends for dinner in a local pub restaurant.