Coronation Street

We had an exciting tour round the old Coronation Street set on Thursday.  We’d been many years ago before, in the days before they stopped the public entering.  This time we were able to see all the ‘behind the scenes’ stuff as well.  After the conducted tour we were allowed free range on ‘the street’ for as long as we wanted.

It was a real buzz to walk the same walk that so many famous and iconic people have trodden for so many years.

Rita’s “Kabin” – rebuilt after the tram crash!

We were gasping for a cuppa but they were closed(!) so ……..

……. we tried for a pint, and guess what!

The massive Beetham Tower even dominates ‘corrie’

In the yard at the back of “the Rovers”.

All the other back yards ………

…….. and the famous ginnel at the back of the yards.

We did eventually get into the Rovers (but still there was nothing on offer).  This is one of only two permanent sets, all the others sets are regularly dismantled and reassembled when needed.

It was a fantastic tour and great to see the ‘Green Room’, make up, costumes and dressing rooms this time but, sadly it will only be around for then next few months.  Granada TV have now moved to Media City and the old site is to be demolished for housing.

In the evening we had a lovely few hours with Doug’s dance instructors, Gordon and  Deborah from our cruise in February on “Oriana”,  who paid us a visit.  It was super to meet up with you guys and hope we’ll meet up again soon.

Yet another grand end to a good day!  Tomorrow is the eve to Manchester’s Pride weekend so it will definitely be burning the candle at both ends for the next few days.

“More Tales from the City”

James visited Manchester art gallery yesterday (Wednesday) – achieving a full tour this time instead of being turfed out at closing time having only seen a bit of it.

Walking there from the boat there’s always time to appreciate some of the city’s lovely buildings, both old and new.  The relatively new Bridgwater Hall, home of the Halle Orchestra, looks across Barbarolli Square ……..

……. towards the much older, solid and magnificent (I’m not going anywhere soon) Midland Hotel with ………

……. some of its enormous amount of detail being a work of art in itself.

Even the back of the Town Hall is a joy. (There’s a lot of work going on in Albert Square so the front view isn’t so accessible at the moment)

Anyway, Manchester’s art gallery has some very special pieces and there’s always something to ponder over on each visit. Works by Rossetti – this one is “Astarte Syriaca” 1877.  Many of his works feature his friend’s wife Jane Morris ….

….. Joseph Faquharson – (top) “When the West with Evening Glows” 1901 and (bottom)  “The Sun Had Closed the Winter’s Day” 1904.  Lovely Christmas card stuff!

A couple of JMW Turners – this one “Now for the Pointer” and like everything Turner did, has the most amazing light quality.

There was even a Banksy! Known for his graffiti, and tucked beneath a great master, this one’s called “We Love You” and is one of his most famous.  It’s a strange world!

The gallery’s main entrance and staircase is very beautiful and, ……

…… in the very modern part of the building (bolted on at the back), are some lovely Dutch ‘interiors’.  This one is “Kitchen Interior with Man Bringing Fish for Sale”.  It’s a comedy of errors as the maid has done wrong by letting the fish seller in.  The basket of fish has toppled over and spilt the fish on the floor and the cat has taken advantage of all the confusion.  Painted in exquisite detail.

If you have three hours to spare you can watch this very clever digital ‘still life’ with opening, dying and dropping flowers with moving clouds.  James didn’t stay!

Of the sculptures, James appreciated this Queen’s Head made from flowers and cheap trinkets …….

…… and this cast of Rodin’s  “The Age of Bronze”.  The original was cast in 1877 but this was commissioned by the gallery in 1911.

Art aside, we had another terrific end to a great day when friends Pawel and Lewis (nb One thing after another) came aboard for drinks.

Their dog “Edward” is never happier than when he’s on someone’s lap …….

……. and as the evening moved on, and everyone had forgotten about eating, we decided we’d better order in a pizza …….

….. which was followed by cheese and biscuits and a selection of nightcaps.  Pawel and Lewis went back to their boat at about 1:30 in the morning.  A great evening guys!

Just in time!

Tuesday was nowhere near a wasted day.  Expecting the delivery of the new chairs, James stayed on the boat for the delivery while Doug visited the nearby YHA to do the washing.

After some confusion by the delivery driver that we were a business premises (and that narrow boats weren’t on his list of delivery destinations) the said chairs arrived during the afternoon and we set to with their assembly.

Half way through the job and one chair looking good.

Second half of the job ……..

……. and we were soon enjoying the comfort that we’ve been accustomed to.  We should say that the chairs were purchased from the same supplier (Oriental Leather) as we used before.  They have been excellent in their service and remarkably good value.  The first chairs were 3 years old and still in good condition but the new ones (same model but uprated) are very nice indeed (and the leather matches exactly with the L-shaped sofa).

To complete a good day we had a visit from friend Justin, who we first met during our week in Sitges earlier in the year.  It was first class to see him again and we had much to chat about.  Thanks for bringing a bottle of wine to aid our dwindling supplies Justin!

As none of us had eaten much during the day we all walked the few hundred yards to The Wharf where we enjoyed a very good meal.  A point of interest here is that this ‘establishment’ was used for the inside shots of  the ground breaking series “Queer as Folk”. (it’s changed a bit since those days Justin says).

It was another quick walk back to “Chance” for a final nightcap before Justin left.  The giant Beetham Tower, still dominating everything around it,  looks good at night.

It was a grand day – with the chairs arriving “just in” time for Justin’s visit.  Thanks for your company, and your amazing and very entertaining humour mate, it was good to see you.  Catch up soon!

“Tales from the City”

Sunday was shopping day with vast quantities of foodstuffs being lugged from Aldi in Manchester’s Arndale Centre. After that it was on to some toilet maintenance (yes, they occasionally need attention like most things boaty) in the form of a new non return valve – it’s not very nice to get your ‘black water’ retuned to you!

The day ended rather well when Les and Chris came aboard for drinks and, when someone suggested a takeaway, we all settled down to a nice Chinese meal.

On Monday we took the Metrolink to Media City where we picked up a few bargains from the Lowery outlet centre,  ……..

…… then walked around a bit and found the Blue Peter garden (with Petra’s bust on a plinth in the corner).

Most of this very futuristic looking complex is now complete and looks pretty good. Viewed from the BBC side of the water the Lowery Theatre is left of centre and the Imperial War Museum, with its odd shaped tower, on the right.

Crossing the footbridge and looking back the BBC Centre dominates to the left – and it’s all is very clean and tidy.

A quick trip up the tower of the Imperial War Museum (£1.80 for the two of us) to view the now finished Coronation Street set was an immediate disappointment for Doug as they’ve  built a gigantic brick wall to stop the likes of us doing just that!

From the other side of the tower however, on clear day, you get a good view of the centre of Manchester and the Pennines beyond.

The landscaping has just been completed and the approach to the ‘beeb’ will be quite impressive when the grass and trees grow a bit more.

We walked the two miles from Media City to the Trafford Centre where we had some late lunch at Pesto.  It’s all very “Las Vegas”, with a great tonnage of marble and painted ceilings with the outlook from our table a pleasure.

The Great Hall has, as its centrepiece, a mock up of a ship’s bridge and foredeck (including swimming pool) and a star studded night sky for the ceiling.  You can sit and watch TV if you want!  Although it’s all very impressive, we didn’t want to watch TV and had really just come for the walk and some lunch.

Deciding not to walk back, we got the bus from the equally impressive bus station at the Trafford Centre back to “Chance” in Castlefield basin and a well deserved cup of tea.  The skies look very threatening a good deal of the time at the moment but we’ve had remarkably little rain (for Manchester!).  We hope it will continue.

In the evening we had a visit from blog reader Dave, who travelled from his home in Liverpool (with a bottle of wine!) for a very enjoyable evening together. It was good to meet you at last Dave.  Our other swivel chair found a new home at 11 o’ clock last night (!), after Dave had left, and we are now awaiting delivery of the two new ones.

A few days “Summer Hols” in Manchester.

As planned, we left Lymm at 6:00 yesterday morning (as silently as possible).  Not sure whether, as we passed by, we woke Ian and Irene on nb “Free Spirit” but we see from their blog that they very quickly (and sensibly) took up our place in the centre of Lymm.

Our early start was given an extra boost as we were treated to a fantastic sun rise over Manchester.

There are a few very splendid and majestic buildings on the journey into Manchester and (apologies for showing it again!) the Linotype Works of 1897 is one of the most interesting.  It’s an old cotton warehouse with the most amazing details but sadly, the best side is now blocked from view by a new housing development.  

Adjacent to Sale bridge is the very inviting looking Kings Ransom pub with it’s floating barge extension.  At this time of the morning the staff were busy cleaning the glass around the barge in preparation for the crowds who descend on this popular eating and watering hole.

The two and a half mile dead straight section of canal through Sale seems never ending (on hot days you can see mirages in the distance!)  but once it’s over the junction of ‘Waters Meeting’ is soon reached.  Turn left and you’re on your way to Liverpool but our choice was to turn right for Manchester.  After another two and a half miles, past the vast Man U stadium and Pomona Lock (which links the Bridegwater with the Manchester Ship Canal)  …….

……. and under the little, and intriguingly named, Throstle Nest Bridge (where Doug is having a little daydream!) we’re almost there.

The city’s giant Beetham Tower dominates the skyline as we pass the the Metrolink tramline on its way to Eccles, Salford Quays and Media City.

 

Don’t laugh but we get excited when we reach this point, where the lovely, and newly painted, wrought iron bridges and old warehouses tell us that Castlefield Junction is just round the corner …….. 

…….. and our favourite mooring is waiting for us! Well almost. In fact, blog reader Andy on his wide beam boat “Just Chillin’” was in ‘our’ space but, after a very nice meeting with him, he was scheduled to leave in the afternoon and we moved into his space, with “Eleventh Heaven” behind us.  We’ve also had our first meeting with fellow bloggers Ray and Diane on nb “Ferndale” who are moored in the basin as well.

Thank goodness for Facebook!  As soon as Doug mentioned that we’d arrived in Manchester we had a reply from Alison (we first met in Soho last year) who was also in the city with her friend Viv.  As they were literally just round the corner they were soon on board “Chance” and enjoying a glass of wine with us.

After they’d been to see Ant and Dec on tour with the ‘Saturday Night Takeaway’ they met us in G-A-Y in Canal Street for a few drinks on the roof top terrace. (After several attempts by intoxicated punters to take a photo of the four of us, the best turned out to be this one with James and his eyes shut!)

Well, after only a few hours, this great city is trying to ‘out-weird us’ with bloggers, readers and friends old and new – and a 2 o’ clock return from a great evening out with Alison and Viv.  The bubbly and lovely Viv we hope very much to see again and Alison’s wasn’t our only Facebook reply so we should have a great time over the next few days!