August 27th Monday
Bank holiday Monday, the last day of Pride and it had been an amazing couple of weeks for me. Kate, Gabi and Kitty had departed and that left Diana and myself. I had a horrible feeling that I would hit an intense low. We had one day left and that would be highly charged and emotional.
The weather didn't look like it would be to good.
We had a trip into the city centre, but Diana suggested that we go out to Pendle where in 1612 , 12 people were charged with murder by use of witchcraft. 10 were found guilty and hanged. One died in prison and the other was found not guilty.
We could have picked a better day, but Diana knew I really wanted to go so of we went.
The area of Pendle looked very bleak and some of the roads went down to a single track.
Diana had to be careful driving, avoiding other cars and sheep darting across thIe road.
In one village we passed through they were having a scarecrow festival. With scarecrows everywhere.
We stopped of at the Pendle Witch pub in Saden for a couple of photos.
The weather was getting worse so we decided to get back to Manchester.
A shop in the Arndale we wandered into for a look
Back in The Village we had a not very nice fried chicken and chips. We also took a visit to the Manchester Concord stand before they packed up.
We then went to the Richmond Tea Rooms and the Sanctuary Bar before the Candlelight Vigil started in Sackville Gardens.
Before the Vigil I asked Diana to get a couple of photos of me with the Beacon of Hope and The Tree of Life for this blog.
The Beacon of Hope
The Tree of Life had barriers round it for protection from the festivities. To me The Tree of life is the most beautiful tree I've ever seen. It grows in the middle of a big city. Survives and thrives. A real symbol of hope and love. Both are there as symbols of the destruction HIV Aids has wrecked across the world, but also the hope and work towards an end to that destruction.
The Candlelight Vigil is to remember those who have passed on. Before the actual Vigil there were some emotional stories. Calls to practise safe sex, some, calls for more help in the fight against AIDS and more help for those diagnosed. Actually a host of conditions were mentioned that people need help with . I could air my own views how some of the most vunerable people in society are treated and then the pure greed further up the scale, but I won't here.
There were songs and one that really affected myself and Diana was when Alison Moyet came on and sang.
We got to the point where we all lit our candles and held a minute's silence. It was a beautiful sight I will never forget. Tears flowed, myself included. At the end there were sandboxs where our candles were laid.
nt
Leaving the Gardens Diana and myself knew we had exprienced something amazing, emotional and quite beautiful. Like a lot of people we had tears and held each other.
After the Vigil we went for a drink at Naps, and then took it with us for a walk up Canal Street as far as Taurus.
We finished our drink and went back to my hotel room so Diana could fix her make up.
Before Diana left I gave her a rose quartz crystal as memento of the night and told her she was like a sister to me.
When she left I burst into tears again. Pride was over. I had exprienced the most beautiful emotional time of my life. Below is a photo of me, to say the least looking very rough. It was taken just after Diana left.
Manchester Pride 2012 , an event that took me on an amazing, beautiful, unforgettable ride. Thank you to those I met and all those who worked so hard to bring it all together and put on a fantastic event that words cannot describe.
August 28th Tuesday
I got up showered and packed. I managed to get everything into my bags. I then checked out and went to the train station via Canal Street. Back outside in bob mode for the first time in nearly 2 weeks felt very weird.
The Village was open again and very quiet.
I'd had an amazing time, but an intense low was descending on me. If I can do this again, I will, but the aftermath is tough.
If my friends, Diana, Kate, Kitty and not forgetting Gabi, read this. THANK YOU. I wish I could put across the absolutely wonderful time I had. All I can say is you are all the best friends a girl could hope for and you made this time out really special for me.
As i write this I feel the tears again.
I'll finish this with a notice I saw outside Via that says it all.
Bank holiday Monday, the last day of Pride and it had been an amazing couple of weeks for me. Kate, Gabi and Kitty had departed and that left Diana and myself. I had a horrible feeling that I would hit an intense low. We had one day left and that would be highly charged and emotional.
The weather didn't look like it would be to good.
We had a trip into the city centre, but Diana suggested that we go out to Pendle where in 1612 , 12 people were charged with murder by use of witchcraft. 10 were found guilty and hanged. One died in prison and the other was found not guilty.
We could have picked a better day, but Diana knew I really wanted to go so of we went.
The area of Pendle looked very bleak and some of the roads went down to a single track.
Diana had to be careful driving, avoiding other cars and sheep darting across thIe road.
In one village we passed through they were having a scarecrow festival. With scarecrows everywhere.
We stopped of at the Pendle Witch pub in Saden for a couple of photos.
The weather was getting worse so we decided to get back to Manchester.
Back in The Village we had a not very nice fried chicken and chips. We also took a visit to the Manchester Concord stand before they packed up.
We then went to the Richmond Tea Rooms and the Sanctuary Bar before the Candlelight Vigil started in Sackville Gardens.
Before the Vigil I asked Diana to get a couple of photos of me with the Beacon of Hope and The Tree of Life for this blog.
The Tree of Life had barriers round it for protection from the festivities. To me The Tree of life is the most beautiful tree I've ever seen. It grows in the middle of a big city. Survives and thrives. A real symbol of hope and love. Both are there as symbols of the destruction HIV Aids has wrecked across the world, but also the hope and work towards an end to that destruction.
The Candlelight Vigil is to remember those who have passed on. Before the actual Vigil there were some emotional stories. Calls to practise safe sex, some, calls for more help in the fight against AIDS and more help for those diagnosed. Actually a host of conditions were mentioned that people need help with . I could air my own views how some of the most vunerable people in society are treated and then the pure greed further up the scale, but I won't here.
We got to the point where we all lit our candles and held a minute's silence. It was a beautiful sight I will never forget. Tears flowed, myself included. At the end there were sandboxs where our candles were laid.
nt Leaving the Gardens Diana and myself knew we had exprienced something amazing, emotional and quite beautiful. Like a lot of people we had tears and held each other.
After the Vigil we went for a drink at Naps, and then took it with us for a walk up Canal Street as far as Taurus.
We finished our drink and went back to my hotel room so Diana could fix her make up.
Before Diana left I gave her a rose quartz crystal as memento of the night and told her she was like a sister to me.
When she left I burst into tears again. Pride was over. I had exprienced the most beautiful emotional time of my life. Below is a photo of me, to say the least looking very rough. It was taken just after Diana left.
Manchester Pride 2012 , an event that took me on an amazing, beautiful, unforgettable ride. Thank you to those I met and all those who worked so hard to bring it all together and put on a fantastic event that words cannot describe.
August 28th Tuesday
I got up showered and packed. I managed to get everything into my bags. I then checked out and went to the train station via Canal Street. Back outside in bob mode for the first time in nearly 2 weeks felt very weird.
The Village was open again and very quiet.
If my friends, Diana, Kate, Kitty and not forgetting Gabi, read this. THANK YOU. I wish I could put across the absolutely wonderful time I had. All I can say is you are all the best friends a girl could hope for and you made this time out really special for me.
As i write this I feel the tears again.
I'll finish this with a notice I saw outside Via that says it all.
2 comments:
A beautiful account of a wonderful time by a special person. Thanks Karen for being you xxx
Di
Thanks Diana,
I had to write it quick and it certainly isn't well
written.
I hope with the pictures, my ramblings at least,convey
a sense of the wonderful time
Pride was.
Thanks again Diana
xxx
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