Christmas markets, ice skating, films, gigs and NOISE!

It’s a busy week here at Mancubist towers so here’s a quick mid-week, mid-November round-up… The biggest event this week is surely the re-opening yesterday of the Manchester Christmas Markets. The largest one, in Albert Square, is open daily, 10am until 9pm, right through to 22 December. For more information, including opening times for the other [...]

Let's move to... Lancaster

My paper had a property piece about my home town this weekend. And both my schools get a name check. The link is here. No comments as yet, but it's all very fair. Lancaster got a raw deal out of the town centre developments of the 1960s and hasn't quite captured that heritage trail that Chester and York have. The traffic is awful too. But we've just had a great weekend there, spent at my Mum's ho

All going wrong

We didn't go to Rovers yesterday. Too much going on. But I think we're going to be in the bottom three for a while now. We were lucky to have caught Newcastle and Everton in crisis mode, now we face Portsmouth and Spurs on the rebound. Nul points. I don't think we've got a good enough squad to turn teams over, just chase a game. On balance I would prefer to be in the quarter final of the Carling Cup than not, but I'm sure Ince would have preferred the points now that we're going to get turned ov

Just not Cricket

We had a top night at Marple Cricket Club's annual dinner

Northern Rail - wonderful staff

I left my suit on the train this morning. I know, what a div. The guard from the 07.57 from Marple to Manchester handed it in. The same guard who held the back door so I could leg it down a slippy platform and get on board.

James Crumley - RIP - some chance

There are a handful of writers I have followed closely and consumed, devoured, everything they've written. James Crumley is one. His hard boiled American crime novels aren't light reading, they pack a punch and grip you from the start. He also lived his life as hard as some of his characters.

I went to a book signing in London once where he just sat there and ripped through a few tins of beer. He invited everyone there to drop by and visit him if they ever made it to Missoula, Montana

Why I have a headache tonight

Commuting this week has been shocking. Cancelled trains on Monday going in. No driver and massive delays tonight. The worst of it is the lack of communication at Piccadilly. The screens all say different things, the staff are clueless and surly and offer conflicting advice to the staff on the trains.

And driving is no better. The road snarl ups on the A57 at Gorton are still a pain - and totally pointless. Just what the world needs - another Tesco.

Bring on the Burnley

Just been rooting for Burnley in the penalty shoot out with Chelski (on Sky Sports News). With Rovers winning at Sunderland, we're hoping for home draws and a meeting in the final. Quite keen to avoid the Arsenal Youth team however.

Stockport

Craster, Northumberland