Acceptance

It was a considerable relief to chat with Maureen and find her in good spirits. She seems baffled by her memory loss - not knowing where she lives, having to be reminded of just how old she is - but accepts this with a kind of amiable good grace, approaching wry humour at times: Well, I never had a good memory anyway. And I was never clever like you. 

And I don't get any sense of a rapid deterioration of her faculties. She can roughly cope with the demands of the world around her, with the support of her carers, and there's a hard-won peace in that. So our meeting was happy-sad, but a lot more happy than I expected, and a lot more happy than sad.

Family Affairs

Looking forward to seeing my sister Maureen later today. According to Cheryl & Caroline she's in a much better place than she was when we last talked, five years ago. Although her short-term memory is gone this hasn't left her angry. They reckon she feels content and seems to connect primarily to life when she owned the shop on Guide Lane and the kids were toddlers. It will be interesting to see if she has any awareness of who I am, though she does remember me as her little brother. The great, great thing is that she has stopped drinking completely and shows no awareness of her former addiction. This is both faintly astonishing and wonderfully heartening.

Yesterday we spent some time with my nieces and re-acquainted ourselves with my Great Niece Imogen. She's now nine years old and utterly delightful. But a doting Great Grand-Uncle would say that, I suppose.

At The Game

I made no efforts to secure tickets for any of United's games ahead of our visit here. That looks like a wise move in view of yesterday's result from Old Trafford. But I gladly accepted the offer of a ticket for the Stockport County game against Exeter City and duly went along for a Saturday afternoon at Edgeley Park with John and his mates Andy & Dave. I can't honestly say it was a great game, but County rightly emerged victorious after a dominant second half, dealing with cold, wet & windy conditions more than adequately. And the atmosphere at the ground was excellent. A bit rickety but a welcome respite from the corporate atmosphere at the so-called Theatre of Dreams.

It felt like footy used to feel when I was a kid. A genuine sense of the local. A lot more real.

The Real Thing

Enjoyed a cracking gig last night out at The Globe in Glossop. We were part of a small but highly appreciative crowd packing out the upstairs room where The Guilty Men were playing. The capaciously talented Clive Gregson (of Any Trouble fame, amongst other musical adventures) was a contemporary of John's at school more than five decades ago and played a wonderful set of beautifully crafted songs, mostly from a recently recorded album from the combo. Being up close to five master musicians cranking it out with love & enthusiasm felt like a rare privilege. Spot-on harmonies with no fewer than four great voices on stage and some gorgeous slide work from Mr Gregson were the stand-outs for me, but there was much else to wrap your ears around. Definitely a highlight of our December jaunt!

A Bit Damp

We've experienced a bit of rain here since arriving, but probably less than we were getting in Singapore in November. And we've been well wrapped up so the drizzle hasn't been a real problem - until last night, that is. Walking down to a near-by restaurant with John & Jeanette and Ray & Di we found ourselves in the middle of a major squall and, goodness me, it was unforgivingly cold. Fortunately the meal was excellent and the warmth of all the company helped us deal with sitting in damp jeans with wet feet. Indeed it added a kind of piquancy to the occasion making it that bit more memorable. But I'd be quite satisfied not to make too many more memories involving this degree of clammy, creeping wetness.

Not Making Progress

We went to Ashton town centre yesterday afternoon, checking out the The Arcades, a place we've enjoyed going jalan jalan in previous visits. It's still there, but not quite the same somehow. Over the years it's become that little bit more run-down with each visit, that little bit less happening, that tiny bit more drab. And the downwards trajectory seems to have continued. There was no sense at all of seasonal bustle. It felt as if the coffee places and shops were doing their best, but could only just manage to keep ticking over. It didn't make one feel optimistic in any sense.

Possibly it's just me, looking through jaundiced eyes, projecting my own mood about the country onto the place. But I suspect I'm looking at a real change. And not for the better.

Present Laughter

Watched an episode of Fawlty Towers along with John & Jeanette last night after consuming an impressively hot keema put together by The Missus with ingredients purchased from shops in Longsight. Excellent way to spend an evening. Laughed immoderately at John Cleese et al. None of the magic lost despite the passage of years.

Warming Up

Safely installed at John & Jeanette's and feeling the warmth of hot radiators and splendid company. Lots of happy catching up on-going.

Out And About

We took to the tram yesterday in order to get into the town centre, and back again. Bit odd never to have ridden the system before, but we've never had a reason to. All in all it was reasonably user friendly, and gave us the opportunity to gaze out at the suburbs round Wythenshawe. The houses All look old, according to Noi. To me they looked typical Manchester.

Lots going on at the Christmas markets in the centre. Very much happening, as they say - or used to say. In fact, a bit too much for us with big queues for food & drink at most stalls. We ate inside where it was a fair bit warmer.

Now clearing our rather chilly hotel room and hoping to be more warmly situated soon. I certainly need it.

Just Chilling

Just scoffed a jolly and plentiful breakfast at the hotel we are staying in. Getting our money's worth. And after that booked a car to enable us to get off to John & Jeanette's tomorrow and generally scoot around Manchester & environs.

We're intending to walk to a location called The Station near the airport in a little while and see where the transport available might be able to take us this afternoon. Must say, it's rather pleasant having nothing really to do over the weekend, but I would prefer things a bit warmer, thank you. Noi, not so much. She claims it's not so cold. No wonder she enjoyed her Norway jaunt.