Thursday
Travelled to Manchester on an early start. I had a nice apartment waiting. I dropped my belongings there and went to get some essentials and then got back and fell asleep for a couple of hours. When I woke I got cleaned up prepared some food and experimented with my make up which turned out terrible.
I got a text from Gabby which was unexpected. She was playing at an open night in Tribeca off Sackville Gardens. I decided to go after a repair job to my slap which was still pretty rough. It was dark so I decided it was passable. Gabby was playing guitar and singing with a friend, who for the life of me I can't remember her name.
Gabby
Gabby and friend
They were both great and it was a lovely beginning to my stay.
Unfortunately a blurred picture outside
Friday
I met up with Kristina and we went out to the Trafford Centre. I had not been out there for a long time. I enjoyed the afternoon there, but the bus trip is a bit long. The sooner the tram is connected there the better.
We had a lovely afternoon looking around the shops having lunch and some wine.
I had tried something different with my hair which I think worked.
Back in Manchester we stopped of at my apartment for a coffee and get changed for the evening.
We decided to go some where different for an evening meal. I had heard of a place with a great view of Manchester from one of the city' tallest buildings. I couldn't remember the name so after some research online we found it.
A restaurant/bar called 20 Stories.
Unfortunately it started to rain heavily. Typical of Manchester so not unexpected.
We couldn't get a table as it was really busy so we decided to have a couple of cocktails.
At the top we could go outside there were big umbrellas to shelter from the rain. The wicker chairs were dry but there was a foam covered bench which was sodden wet near where we were sitting.
There were a lot of giggles when we warned people not to sit on the bench. People were so thankful that we warned as the bench did not look wet. I think we saved them quite a bit of embarrassment.
There were big eco bubble things but they were reserved.
(Kristina with more cocktails)
We decided to move on to find some where to eat which was no mean feat as it was a Friday night.
We ended up going to the Ivy roof garden restaurant. The menu's were hard to read as the font was so small. We managed to order and Kristina realised that she had left her glasses at 20 Stories. She decided to go and see if they had been found and possibly handed in.
Of she went and then the wine came. I didn't think she would find her glasses.
Sitting alone I drank some wine as the waiter filled my glass from the bottle in the ice bucket.
Kristina came back happy to have found her glasses, they had been handed in. There was a bottle of water on the table. Kristina filled her glass and mine thinking it was the wine. She hadn't seen the ice bucket. I had to laugh when she realised what she had done. She then went for the wine and the waiter was unhappy that he was not serving the wine. By this time I was having a fit of giggles.
The meal was lovely, but the desert was pure heaven.
Chocolate bombe desert that was amazing.
After the beautiful meal we went back to The Village for more cocktails at Oscars.
The evening came to an end and Kristina went home. It had been a wonderful day and I was a bit sad but happy I had spent a wonderful day with a great friend.
Saturday
My plans for the day were to go shopping for food and such, then meet Di and Ash in the evening.
First of I had woken with a hangover from the cocktails and wine the night before. This was my first in years.
Coffee and breakfast helped me recover
Something surprising happened when I was out shopping I found a dress I liked. I don't wear a dress much as I really like my jeans, but I thought it would be great for the evening.
My new dress
In one shop as I was in the queue a man was looking at the vaping stuff and was horrified at the price. He commented to me it was terrible how much it cost. To me it is just great when people talk to me as just another person. I love it when I just blend in.
I went out in the evening to meet Di and Ash. We had a lovely time in The Village. Sadly I never got any photos. What was funny was a rugby team in drag with full beards. Actually some had some nice outfits.
It was great to spend some time with Di and Ash, they are a lovely couple who I don't see much of these days, so it's always special to see them.
Sunday
Sunday was really a rest day. No one I knew was out. I saw an interesting Polish street performer outside the Arndale. He made a great joke about his nationality and Brexit. His thing was to escape from hand cuffs and then a strait jacket. The joke was that when Brexit happened the authorities would try to put him in a strait jacket. He did a good show and had people laughing and enjoying his performance.
I had a good walk and then back to The Village.
Sunday afternoon the city centre was very quiet.
Around The Village there is a lot being built.
A giant crane with its boom looming overhead.
The Village very quiet.
Back in The Village, I visited a few bars and then called it a night. Before that I went to see my favourite tree in Sackville Gardens.
The Tree of Life
One thing I did was to try and get my hair right. The pictures below show my attempt. I had to use my camera to see the back of my head. I am still learning as I go. Hopefully it worked ok. I do like the look I got.
I am still living in the shadow of a dream. What did make me smile was the back looks way better than the front view.
A last drink in Velvet. I decided to get some sleep. The last few days had been great and I think I had made some progress. I felt really happy. One more day left to explore and that would be fun.
Monday
I wanted to go to Huddersfield. It was some where relatively new for me. I guess in the Trans world it is not a place you really hear about.
I went and caught the train.
The train journey was uneventful. When I got to Huddersfield outside the station was the George Hotel. Famous for being the birthplace of Rugby League.
I had a walk into Huddersfield centre which was fine. I was a bit nervous, but everything was fine.
Harold Wilson, Prime Minster in the sixties and seventies. I guess Huddersfield's most famous son.
I decided to catch another train and go to Leeds.
The city of Leeds is great for shopping. I like the city, I had no intention of buying anything, but I did end up with a pair of jeans. I saw some beautiful dresses and tops, but my card was screaming NO. Anyway I didn't have room in my bag. I thought that Kristina and myself would have been better in Leeds rather than the Trafford Centre.
Eventually I decided to go back to Manchester. I would have a couple of drinks and call it a day.
My new jeans.
A last drink in the Onbar in Manchester.
Being silly with a broom.
This trip had came to an end. I had really enjoyed myself. It was great see friends. This post brought some great memories to the fore. I would say 2019 has been a great year and hopefully I can squeeze in another trip.
Love and Light xxx
