Trips & Adventures – 24 October 2019

We met at Piccadilly Train Station and headed towards Platform 13. Tony tripped at the end of the moving walkway (fortunately into my arms) and we laughed: “Now we’ve had the trip, we are looking for the adventure!” Incidentally, Mr Essoldo was looking very dapper in his Harris Tweed matching jacket, waistcoat and cap.

We arrived at Davenport in less than twenty minutes and then took bus 378 to Bramhall. Bramhall Hall and Park are set in extensive grounds with landscaped parkland, lakes, woodland and gardens.

The Hall is a superb Tudor manor house with origins dating back to medieval times. The manor of Bramhall was first described in the Domesday Book in 1086, but the spelling was “Bramale”.

Of course, we made our way to the cafe and enjoyed Shepherd’s pie, fish, chips and mushy peas, steak, soup and chips. The portions were huge, but we managed to clean the plates

The Hall, one of the most beautiful treasures of England, is of great national importance. The magnificent 16th century wall paintings, striking Elizabethan plaster ceiling, the Victorian Kitchens and Servants’ Quarters give this Hall its unique charm.

The Hall offers unique insights into the families and servants who lived and worked there. It stands in about 70 acres of parkland designed in the Victorian Romantic style. It offers woodland walks with intriguing glimpses of the Hall itself and of the brooks and lakes.

The framework is constructed with oak timbers, joined together using mortise and tenon joints and held in place with oak pegs. Wattle and daub (interlaced twigs crudely coated with clay) or lath (thin narrow strops of wood) and plaster were used to fill the spaces between the timbers.

Mr Essoldo checking the pottery

Mr Essoldo checking the fireplace

Mr Essoldo checking the cinema listings

There is a lot to see and after visiting the house, we admired the landscaped parkland and lake before heading back to the cafe for coffee and cake!

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Trips & Adventures – 17 October 2019

Some of our readers (and I think you know who you are) will be delighted to learn that this report is all about food.

Fifteen of us travelled by tram and bus to The Three Seasons restaurant at Bury College. In the photo below, Mr Essoldo is holding a personalised signed copy of the 7-inch single Rebel-Rouser by Duane Eddy. It is a rock and roll instrumental (either that or Duane Eddy forgot the words). It appeared on Eddy’s debut album Have ‘Twangy’ Guitar Will Travel and was released as a single in 1958, charting at #6 on the Billboard Hot 100.

We arrived at Bury College just after 12 noon and made our way directly to The Three Seasons. The college restaurant serves a wide range of meals from bistro style to gastronomic delights, all of which are prepared and served by the catering students and supervised by experienced professional catering staff.

This is a little something I prepared:

The truth of the matter is that the students had only just started their course a month ago and were a little nervous. One young man served me a glass of wine, but unfortunately managed to pour two glasses of wine all over me. I was soaked through and had to change my shirt and don a catering uniform.

All in all we experienced quality dining in a vibrant commercial restaurant at competitive prices (£7.95 for a three course meal including tea or coffee and just £2.00 extra for a glass of wine).

The college also has a Hairdressing Academy, but I don’t think that was necessary for most of the male members of Out In The City.

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Trips & Adventures – 10 October 2019

Red Button Alert: The BBC are stopping the red button service in early 2020 … if only there was another way to get the news. Well the good news is that Out In The City is keeping the red button! We shall bravely continue to bring you a weekly email with regular Red Button Alerts.

This week we travelled to Esholt via a train from Manchester Victoria and a bus from Bradford. The name “Esholt” indicates that the village was first established in a heavily wooded area of ash trees.

The manor house, Esholt Old Hall at Upper Esholt is medieval in origin, probably 16th century, and possibly once had a moat. It is well-preserved and has Grade II listed building status.

But that’s enough history. The only reason we went to Esholt was that from 1976 to 1996 it was used for outside location shots for the Yorkshire Television drama series Emmerdale Farm. The series relocated to a purpose built set based on the layout of Esholt on the Harewood estate in Leeds.

Red Button Alert: Victoria Jane Binns is an English actress, known for her two roles in the two veteran ITV soap operas Emmerdale and Coronation Street respectively. In Emmerdale she played the part of Ollie Reynolds for four years from 1999 to 2003. Well, believe it or believe it not, Vicky’s Binn’s grandmother is Walter’s cousin! A member of Out In The City is related to soap opera royalty!

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October 2019

Black History Month takes place in October and is a nationwide celebration of Black History, Arts and Culture throughout the UK.

This year the many inspiring women whose commitment to society and future generations has proved invaluable to the UK are being celebrated.

Aderonke Apata

Tony Openshaw spoke to Aderonke Apata – who has just reached the 50 milestone. Here she tells about her life and shows that age should not be a barrier to your achievements as she is set to become a barrister in her 50s and she also takes a look back on her achievements and what she has overcome before reaching half a century.

Read the article here

1 October 2019

The International Day of Older Persons is observed on 1 October each year following a resolution by the United Nations General Assembly.

It was first observed in 1991 and raises awareness about issues affecting the older generation as well as a day to appreciate the contributions that older people make to society. This year the theme is “The Journey to Age Equality”.

Pauline and Tony were interviewed on That’s TV Manchester and Pauline also did an interview on Gaydio.

Older people can have fun too!

It’s also International Coffee Day(!) – an occasion that is used to promote and celebrate coffee as a beverage, with events now occurring in places across the world. The first official date was 1 October 2015, as agreed by the International Coffee Organisation.

7 October 2019

A plaque was unveiled at Church House on 7 October 2014 to mark the 50th anniversary of a meeting held in the offices of the Diocese of Manchester which began the modern equality movement for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. It’s now the 55^th anniversary!

The first meeting of the North West Committee for Homosexual Law reform took place in the Manchester Diocesan Board for Social Responsibility on Blackfriars Road in the then Bishop of Middleton’s Room.

In 1964 Allan Horsfall, a gay rights campaigner from Lancashire, became one of the founder members of the North West Committee for Homosexual Law reform (NWCHLr), which became the Campaign for Homosexual Equality.

11 October 2019

National Coming Out Day is an annual LGBT awareness day observed on 11 October. Founded in the United States in 1988, the initial idea was grounded on the most basic form of activism being coming out to family, friends and colleagues, and living life as an openly lesbian or gay person.

12 – 19 October 2019

National Hate Crime Awareness Week is 12 – 19 October 2019 – a week of action to raise awareness of hate crime.

Trips & Adventures – 3 October 2019

We travelled by bus to West Didsbury past the Dancehouse Theatre (previously two back to back cinemas – The Regal Twins), the Footage (previously the Grosvenor Picture Palace) and an Asian Supermarket (previously The Trocadero). We also passed what was previously The Cavalcade which used to be a gay pub in the 70’s, but only on a Sunday afternoon.

After visiting a couple of charity shops in Didsbury Village we arrived at Foster’s Chippy. This was previously part of the Foster’s chain of Fish & Chip Shops but now has a new owner and is independent.

I notice that I’ve used the word “previously” about six times, but what we have noticed as we get older and wiser is that if things don’t change they will stay as they are.

We enjoyed our meal and headed towards the Fletcher Moss Park and Botanical Gardens, but first we stopped at The Old Parsonage. It’s a Grade II Listed Building and is believed to be the oldest building in Didsbury after St James’ Church. It dates back to 1646 and several rooms are open to the public. In 1832 Sam Newell and his wife lived in the house. It is said that the house is haunted by the ghost of Mrs Newell, who had supposedly fallen down the stairs to her death.

In the hall, Ken lead us in a Square Tango (which was a bit rounded in parts), the Valetta and the Lambeth Walk. We relaxed in the calm atmosphere and also chatted with some ladies making lace.

Fletcher Moss Park has some interesting carved benches and a plethora of flowers and plants but we soon spotted the Alpine Café. It was much improved since John’s last visit (previously the coffee had tasted like sludge) and we all added compliments in the visitor’s book. We also saw two magpies (one for sorrow, two for joy), which was a good sign. Another great day out with good conversations, laughs and more laughs.