Chuff chuff Chuck

We decided to spend the day in Manchester, travelling by train whilst we could still afford it. The train we caught from our local station, Grindleford, was rather elderly. The doors opened OK, but before we could set off the driver kept coming into the carriage and banging the doors shut - the conductor was at the other end of the train, doing something similar. Apparently, because the train was on a slope, they had difficulty functioning - mental note, don't stand by the doors whilst train still moving.

The train wound its way slowly though beautiful countryside to arrive at Manchester Piccadilly. We didn't have a map, so we cluelessly climbed onto a free bus and headed into town. First stop - tourist information, which we spotted from the bus. We asked about where we could buy sushi - hoping Manchester was metropolitan enough to provide. Yay - China town, apparently, our best chance of finding a Japanese restaurant. And so we did, only to discover it would be £17.95 for a plate of sushi (8 pieces). You would want Nemo for that price!

Off to the art gallery round the corner then, there was a good cafe there we had been told. We had soup, a salad, drinks, and Maisie had sausage and mash on a palate plate - all for £12.00, much more reasonable.

To the art. There was an excellent interactive exhibition: Recorders: Rafael Lozano-Hemmer a major new exhibition by Mexican-Canadian electronic artist. We loved it, and stayed there for ages. We had a quick look at some L.S.Lowry's; we were in Manchester after all. I love seeing original paintings after seeing reproductions, the texture always surprises.

Then afternoon tea was calling - off to a cafe, a little shopping and back to the old train. I was a little disappointed not to see anyone from Coronation Street but there's always next time.

I can see clearly now

Well, we got a chip in the car windscreen, not that interesting. But - we have also needed to get new headlights. Driving to work was like looking through glasses that have just been cleaned by an optician (or if you've splashed out on some actual glasses cleaning spray rather than just clean them with your t-shirt) very lovely. But - that was nothing compared to driving home in the dark. It was like driving home in the day light, lovely shiny clean, clear lights and windscreen combined - magic!

Work has been full on with some training for a new library system taking up 4 hours without a break the other day. The highlight was the biscuits - the trainer declined saying "sorry I'm not allowed, and my wife will be checking my beard later" What a lovely image I thought. We discussed his potential options in a debriefing session (without the trainer there, I hasten to add), deciding his best course of secret biscuit eating could involve vacuuming his beard at a service station on the way home. Librarians…they are a devious bunch. I bet I can eat more pies than him.

I've just seen my future and it isn't pretty

Leanne and I escaped the house full of septuagenarians and the child for an evening of Made in Dagenham Yay. On our return home I find John and Lorraine in bed, watching Eggheads (a quizshow) on our laptop. Greeted with "hello dear, can you help us get it bigger, we've been having fun pressing all the buttons, but it just wont get any larger." There are some things you don't want to hear from your mother-in-law whilst she is in bed with her husband! Anyway, after making the screen bigger, I made a hasty exit from the bedroom.

But wait - what are they doing back in Derbyshire? I hear you cry. Weren't they on their way to NZ in the previous blog…well, yes. The poor loves were bumped from their flight and can't get another until next Tuesday; so back they came.

There isn't mushroom

We have had Leanne's parents staying with us, and for a couple of nights a friend from NZ and her daughter…all a bit of a squash. But cosy. There was one incident at 4 am of old man in underpants giving way to a lady of the house, both keen to have a pee. (I have to say, I was very grateful for the underpants as well as the first use of the loo)

Leanne's parents left today on the train to London, and leave a couple of days later for NZ. Getting them onto the train at Chesterfield was…entertaining? Stressful? Difficult? Challenging? Effortless? NOT the last one! You would think three cases and two adults could easily manage the task, but help was required. Lorraine first dispatched me to talk to the nice guard to recommend to them where to stand for the best access to carriage C. No help was forthcoming unfortunately. Then the train arrived. We shuffled them up to the required carriage, Leanne got on the train with some bags, I waited by the door after depositing the heaviest case on the train, 6 other people were trying to get on the train at the same time, then the refreshment cart person chose that time to come down the carriage - Leanne was trapped on the train, John was panicking, Lorraine had pottered off to find her seat, and I was left shoving the remaining passenger onto the train, and out the way so Leanne could get off! A little comedic perhaps, but took the edge of them leaving. They got to London without further incident, and all is well.

I had to go home and have a lie down, mind you, I do have a terrible cold, and now a cough to go with it - so grateful to have my own bed again. I blame the hygienically challenged new students for the cold, thay have been coming into the library with annoying questions to go with their germs - they seem to think we are only there to answer their questions.

Oh yes - for those mushroom lovers - it's the season - Mum keeps returning from the woods with giant boletus mushrooms and puffballs.