Trips & Adventures – 8 February 2018
We went to Port Sunlight, via Liverpool, to see the exhibition “Model Image – Fashion and photos from the 1950’s” at the Lady Lever Art Gallery.
The exhibition captured the elegance, glamour and refined grace of the 1950’s featuring effortlessly stylish evening dresses and accessories and stunning prints by some of the most high-profile photographers of the decade.
We also viewed the rest of the gallery before enjoying coffee and cake in the cafe.
Trips & Adventures – 1 February 2018
Well, what a full and fantastic Thursday we had! It all started off by queuing up at W H Smith’s.
This was the day we had all been anticipating … Attitude Magazine hit the news stands on 1 February 2018. If you don’t know – Attitude Magazine is the best selling, most respected, groundbreaking and number one gay lifestyle magazine and the March edition featured Stuart as part of the “body edition” following his photo shoot:
We took the train to Stockport and then the free bus which took us on an extended tour of Stockport and its environs ending up at the Arden Arms, a good old fashioned traditional pub which until recently was run by two gay men. The food was delicious and the service was of a high standard.
We visited the Stockport Museum which currently has an exhibition celebrating the legendary Stockport recording studios – Strawberry Studios.
Bruce recognised “Neanderthal Man” (not the early humans which became extinct 40,000 years ago) but playing in the background was Strawberry Studio’s first hit in1970 by Hotlegs. To remind you the lyrics are:
“I’m a neanderthal man
You’re a neanderthal girl
Let’s make neanderthal love
In this neanderthal world.”
Founded in 1967, Strawberry Studios became one of the first professional studios outside London and was home to pop group 10cc. In the 50 years since the studio first opened the likes of Joy Division, The Smiths and The Stone Roses were welcomed through its doors.
Tony and Bruce had a go on the Pop Quiz machine and scored 10/10:
Instead of quizzing we should have been at home making sure the vinyl collection was in correct alphabetical order! After all this fun we explored the rest of the museum and then went on a tour of Stockport’s Air Raid Shelter. This was fascinating but hard to imagine 4,000 people down in the tunnels during the Second World War.
In the evening from 6.00pm to 8.00pm was the launch of LGBT History Month in the Performance Space at Manchester Central Library. The first event was the Let’s Talk About Sex project. It was a very special evening, featuring speakers, poetry, a screening of a specially commissioned short film, as well as an exclusive preview of the exhibition accompanying the project. Tony was interviewed for the project and read a poem or two.
One of the poems was called “Olufe Me” which means “I Love You”:
Olufe me
My darling, I love you with my heart, my mind, my body, my soul.
Our bodies touching
Our legs entangling
Our lips pressing
Our tongues darting
Our arms caressing
Our hands holding
Our fingers entwining
But now I am HIV positive … will I ever find those loving feelings again?
My legs tiring
My body sweating
My head aching
My heart hurting
My eyes crying
My mind slowing
My memories fading
Will my sweet feelings keep me going? I will always love you, my dearest darling.
Olufe me.
Trips & Adventures – 25 January 2018
We went to The Glass House Restaurant – a specialist training restaurant for Hospitality and Culinary Arts at Salford College of Further Education, Walkden Centre.
The restaurant offers fine dining within a contemporary and relaxed environment and is run by dedicated Hospitality and Culinary Arts students under the supervision of expert tutors who have worked in some of the best known hotels and restaurants in the country.
We expected a unique gourmet dining experience equal to the food and service you would receive in the finest hotels and restaurants. And, in the main, that’s what we got but at a much reduced price. Constructive criticism was offered where appropriate.
Trips & Adventures – 18 January 2018
The robots are coming … in fact, the robots are already here!
After a meal at Nando’s in the Printworks, we made our way to the The Robots exhibition at the Museum of Science & Industry.
We think of robots as a modern invention, but we’ve been harnessing the power of robotics for more than 500 years.
We got close to a unique collection of over 100 robots, from an animatronic baby to a news-reading android from Japan.
We particularly enjoyed interacting with Pepper who started with a fist bump and shared a secret! (Honestly, we are sworn to secrecy – we cannot say any more.)
Just to add:
“Whether the weather be cold, or whether the weather be hot,
we’ll weather the weather, whatever the weather, whether we like it or not.”
12 December 2017 – Christmas Meal
Following drinks at Yates Manchester on Portland Street, we walked to the Double Tree Hilton for Christmas lunch. We dined in the exclusive library room and the food, the setting and the service were excellent.
Since the Christmas meal there have been outings to the Seven Stars Pub at the Printworks and for pizzas at Dough on High Street.
Out in the City 