Welcome To Manchester

They have a big ferris wheel here, too. Must be a trend.


I think Manchester must be the rave capital of the world. (Not at this place, however, which was a factory converted into a fancy food court.) On a Friday night, I saw thousands of teens, some very scantily clad, pouring off the trains into Victoria Station and spilling onto the pavement, buying flashing bunny ears, pink cowboy hats and glittering mouthpieces from street vendors (is there anything that signals you are an ecstasy user more than a flashing mouthguard?) on their way to someplace. Don't know where, exactly.


I identify Vivienne Westwood more with the London punks, but Mancunians need cutting-edge style. I guess.

Lenten Promises

As Smitty says, if it weren't for catblogging and apologies...

Yes, I've been a bad blogger. And since this is Lent, the time for repentence and penance, I confess my negligence and vow to be a more regular blogger.

Speaking of Lenten promises, this year I gave up shopping for 40 days. Food shopping and shopping for absolute necessities (i.e. shelves for our many towels) are excepted. But I haven't bought any new clothes, or new jewelry, or anything else that I don't need. I took this on in part because we have a bit less storage space in the new flat, and since I was giving clothes away, it didn't make much sense to buy more that I couldn't fit into my wardrobe. (I've already commandeered half of Smitty's closet space.) Oddly enough, I haven't missed retail therapy. It's been liberating to delete e-mailed missives from Amazon and Marks & Spencer proclaiming the good news of 40 percent off shoes.

Lent ends with Easter. And at that time, I will be in the U.S., visiting my family in New Jersey, where there is no sales tax on clothes. I don't think I'll be able to resist a little shopping -- after all, with exchange rate as they are, it's all 50 percent off -- but I hope I'll be able to restrain myself...

Friday Catblogging

If not for cats and apologies, there would be no Americans Amuck.


Greg is an older cat. Quick in the mind, but not so much in the body.

'We're Not America'

The lead story on BBC News 24 is this one about the creation of a pledge of allegiance to Queen and Country in the schools. A teacher's union representative suggested this was was a bad idea: "This isn't America. This is Britain, and we have a healthy skepticism."

Hi

Apologies for the very very light posting of late. The move and unpacking from it have consumed more of our lives than we care to say. In addition, I've had a couple of medical issues that needed to get sorted out, one of which required minor surgery and the other of which requires continued appointments with medical professionals. So I've spent far too much time in doctors' offices and not nearly enough on the blog. I hope April is a better month.

Friday Catblogging

Apologies for not posting much lately. The unpacking and organizing process has been more time-consuming than I care for it to be.

Happily, we have cat photos.


Swiss cats Nala and Greyboy make nice before bathtime.

Famous For Britain

Duncan Goodhew.

The BBC calls him "Britain's most famous swimmer."

I've never heard of him either.