A Different Sunday

Well not totally different, as it still involved tea, cake and extreme exertion going upwards. However this was nothing to do with cycling, today I spent a lovely afternoon with friends climbing Manchester Town Hall’s awesome clock tower followed by an excellent afternoon tea at the Midland Hotel. Two Manchester icons steeped in history yet living and breathing modern life.

The Clock Tower Tour was an amazing, if slightly wobblylegged experience, but not to be missed, though we nearly did, big thanks to Sue and Steve from New Manchester Walks for sorting our booking (or lack of it). Having to sign a disclaimer in case we expired on the way up or down did cause a frisson of anxiety which blossomed into full-blown fear at the end of the health and safety briefing. Shrugging off minor details about not standing on trap doors we set off up the 330 steps of the  tiny spiral staircase crouching and squeezing our way into the various chambers housing the workings of the clock.

The information from Steve was fascinating and anyone who likes mechanical stuff would notwant to miss being in the clock room as the clappers turned and the bells chimed. Climbing endless stairs and squeezing into almost hidden chambers we stood behind the clock faces -  peered underneath Great Abel the largest bell, and finally ventured out onto the balcony with its amazing views over the North West.

The descent was slightly more terrifying, the constant turning of the spiral staircase leaving us feeling light-headed but more than happy. This especially as on the return to the clock room we watched the amazing mechanism  swing into action and chime the hour.

Tea, coffee, sandwiches, and cake finished off our afternoon in good style with the reflection that there is nothing quite so wonderful as enjoying something new with old friends.

 

woeful or wonderful?

It was nothing short of a minor miracle that 6 slightly deranged women actually arrived at the station on Saturday morning for an early morning train to Glasgow following a week  of incident and trauma that could have sent any or all of us hiding under a duvet for two days.    An incident packed 36 hours  then ensued including delayed trains, rain, wind, snow and sleet, culminating in a gas and power failure in our hotel kitchen. All the elements of a truly woeful weekend with the potential for a collective pity party, hand wringing, confrontation, frustration, compensation demands and general misery. But as they whoever they are, say … ‘Its not what happens but how you handle it’  so having been informed our train was going nowhere due to door failure, we set the tone for the weekend and rather than join the stampede  onto the next train in order to morph into a sardine over 2 and a half  hours, we retreated to the buffet. Here we  spent a civilised half an hour imbibing hot beverages and perusing a street map  helpfully marked up with the major retail emporiums of Glasgow by the more organised member of our little group. Suitably chilled and with a full kitty – purse not feline – we boarded and spent two and half hours  travelling north enjoying some of the best of british countryside.  Best of all  we weren’t in the quiet coach so there was no one to shh us when we collapsed in the first of many fits of laughter checking out our eclectic range of headwear which ranged from cossack fur  through tartan helmet to pixie hoods and snoods with a slight detour down the piste via a knitted bandeau.

Having come to the crashing realisation that we may not look as if we had just stepped of the catwalk our press officer cancelled the paparazzi pack ordered for our arrival and we slipped incognito into the city. This was a good move as  several of us were suffering from that well-known affliction – cheap legging slide, and photos of us surreptitiously hoicking up the lycra would not have enhanced our reputation. A short trek from the station past a shop with a decidedly dodgy offer in the window and we arrived at the star of our weekend – the Indigo hotel.  The hotel was amazing with splendid staff and boutique rooms – though my room-mate and I have a reputation, fully lived up to,  for trashing them inside 5 mins. In our defence,  having all 6 of us partying on pre dinner champagne didn’t  help with the housekeeping.   We could possibly have done without the dodgy karaoke to Abba,  although who could resist the chance to sing the immortal line  ‘I called you last night from Glasgow’ whilst  actually lounging in a Glasgow hotel room in fluffy robes, drinking champagne out of tumblers… A simple pleasure matched earlier by a wonderful afternoon tea in the original Willow Tea Rooms , complete with a private view of the Rennie Mackintosh Billiard Room.

Resisting the temptation to stay slumped in the room we glammed up and  went off to hit the cocktails and dinner to be greeted with news of the crisis in the kitchen.  The hotel staff  must have felt they were in  some bizarre reality show with a restaurant full of diners including about 20 members of what one of our party members informed us was a fine dining club testing the restaurant for quality… more of this group later…. Our response of – ‘ who cares, we’ll have a take away if it will help’ seemed to be well received and we were  more than happy to receive the complimentary nibbles and champagne which helped fill the time until having presumably rounded up all the spare barbecues and microwaves in Glasgow the kitchen staff  managed to turn out a fabulous meal for us.  The Hotel Indigo staff were magnificent through and through , though Rodders disappeared mid way through the meal -  we believe he is now in Liverpool so our paths may yet cross again! However the wonderful Grant stepped in without missing a beat providing a dessert service beyond compare, and Colum  topped it off  the next day going the extra mile and providing a Black Pudding worthy of a star part in a revival of ‘Allo ‘Allo in order that a forlorn husband could be compensated for the loss of his wife for the weekend.

In fact we met with nothing but warmth and friendliness throughout our visit, yes the weather was awful, but no one laughed at our strange mix of headwear, the staff at the rather swish November Bar were happy to indulge us and take  photographs as we started our retail therapy with a bottle of prosecco. I cannot tell you what one member of a large department store arranged for us as it was extremely ad hoc, a fabulous experience but could have got them sacked! The hotel staff did their utmost to make sure our evening was not spoilt, and in return we attempted to help with the fine dining club. This resulted with our fearless leader infiltrating their ranks, acquiring their regalia,a photo call, much chatter, laughter and discussion about how wonderful the hotel was. It did however take  a great deal the next morning to get her to believe that they were in fact the ancient order of rottisserie chefs and not the Michelin Star committee!  But it is a splendid organisation with a long  and venerable history stretching back to the 14th century and I seem to remember that we now qualify for honorary membership of the Lancashire branch when we track them down.

We were  indeed a weary bunch by the time we boarded our train home laden with the spoils of our mission around the retail delights of the city, but as we finished the weekend with mojitos, coffee and nibbles we could truthfully reflect that what could have been woeful had in fact been totally wonderful.

Sunday sunshine and scones…..

…. in the heart of the Ribble Valley, scene of one of my earlier dates with disaster…..an evening  cycle ride with much screaming, stomping and walking up hills…..but yesterday in glorious autumn sunshine  we revisited some of the scenes of torture and found them gentler, more forgiving and ultimately more enjoyable.

It was a last minute spontaneous decision to continue the Sunday cycle, all week the forecast had been such that the building of an ark would have been an appropriate activity,  this coupled with family visits, bonfires and some work related stress  meant that the usual military like planning was out of the window. But sometimes the unexpected gives the most pleasure, and the whole afternoon was one of unexpected treats culminating in  a splendid afternoon tea at the wonderfully extended Bashall Barn.  Here we revisited the traditional war cry of  ‘we’ve earned it’ and tucked in reasoning that we needed fuel for the return hills and there would not be time to eat before setting off for an evening bonfire party.

The Barn is a treasure trove of good food, magnificent ice cream, sensational gifts  and as long as you know the difference between and heifer and a bullock you will find your way to some splendid toilet facilities. Its position also provides a magnificent view of the Ribble Valley, and Pendle Hill which yesterday was basking  serenely in the afternoon sunshine.  Our visit there rounded off a two hour cycle ride taking in some of  England’s most amazing countryside. As we pedaled we  met a variety of characters, cheerful walkers weilding their walking poles like Fred Astaire with a cane , lycra warriors powering past, head down and eyes fixed forward and cycling families  where the children pedalled faster than the adults.  We were accompanied for a long stretch by a spritly pedalling pensioner straight from Last of the Summer Wine who regaled me with his life story until we lost him at a complicated crossroad. Without exception everyone was smiling, reflecting the glories of the autumn day and even the cars seemed less inclined to push us into the ditches or maybe we’re just more confident,  we can now even do our hand signals without wobbling all over the road, though mastering drinking (from a water bottle!) and riding is still an elusive skill.

A speedy turn around at the end of the ride and we were off again to a fellow Cycletta survivor’s  evening bonfire and firework party where the food included our winning John Bury Trust  Beef and Marmite sausages which went down a storm. A  firework display to rival Sydney at New Year provided a fitting end to a Super Sunday incorporating all the elements of our recent cycling and charity fund raising adventures… sunshine, scones, sausages, and above all great friendship and fun now with a new addition….. fireworks.