Trips & Adventures – 5 April 2018

As it was a bright sunny day we walked from the train station at Chester to the “Old Queen’s Head” in the city centre, where we had our meal – and very nice it was too – fish and chips or chicken, ham and leek pie.

There were a few famous people in Chester and on the city walls above the clock we spotted Spock from Star Trek as well as Chewbacca from Star Wars.

We followed the city walls down to the river and then visited the original cathedral where we had coffee. St John the Baptist’s Church was a cathedral during the Middle Ages. It lies outside the city walls on a cliff above the north bank of the River Dee. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building and is considered to be the best example of 11th–12th century church architecture in Cheshire. I took a “selfie”:

Trips and Adventures – 29 March 2018

We caught the bus from Piccadilly to meet our tour guide (Bruce) outside The Bridgewater pub in Worsley village. We decided to pop in and we dined on rump steaks with chips, peas, onion rings and onion gravy.

Later we walked along the canal towpath (minding the slutch) but it was very quiet as nobody was cruising that day. Bruce gave us a full and detailed tour of Worsley woods. He seemed to know an awful lot about the place! But all I can say is “What happens in Worsley woods stays in Worsley woods”.

There are lots of pretty cottages in Worsley village including the police station, which has been converted into a private cottage (“The Old Nick”).

After the walk we went for a sit-down at the Secret Garden for coffee and cake, before making our way back to Manchester.

Tony met up with Sandra and Jim for a “Pop Up Poetry” event run by the Age Friendly Collective at Manchester Art Gallery. Five or six people read poems (including Jim and Tony) in front of artworks in three galleries.

We enjoyed it so much I’m sure that we will be going to the next event – the Summer Gallery takeover – on Thursday 5 July 2018 from 5.30pm to 8.00pm.

This study aims to explore the experiences of older lesbian, gay and bisexual adults in relation to expressing their sexuality across their life time and the impact this may have on loneliness in later life.

If you identify as Lesbian, Gay or Bisexual, you are aged 60 or above and you wish to participate in a research study, then please contact Amelia Bell on 07722 743 285 or by email: studyphdbell@yahoo.co.uk

Trips & Adventures – 22 March 2018

Historically part of Lancashire, Southport was founded in 1792 when William Sutton, an inn keeper from Churchtown, built a bathing house at what is now the south end of Lord Street. At that time, the area, known as South Hawes, was sparsely populated and dominated by sand dunes. The town was once home to Napoleon III of France.

We had the “special” – fish, chips, peas, bread & butter and a cup of tea/coffee at Jackson’s Traditional Fish & Chip shop. The venue was voted Best Chippy in Southport in 2010 and again in 2013! We didn’t try all the other chip shops, but we certainly enjoyed our meals.

Later we went to Southport Pier, the second longest seaside pleasure pier in the British Isles, but we could only walk about 100 yards as the pier was being repaired.

We had no alternative but to visit Wetherspoons (!) – The Willow Grove – for refreshments.

This needs booking pronto. On the day we have chosen, 5 of the available 13 time slots are already sold out!