Category: UK2011

May 7-8: Manchester, part 2

Blogging was interrupted a bit by dodgy internet access! Here’s hoping it’s better in the next place…

anyway, where was I? Oh yes. Saturday evening in Manchester my hostess Elizabeth invited a bunch of Manchester knitters over for a potluck! There was tons of food, lots of knitting and great chat. And I made butter tarts for a Canadian treat.

In the morning I headed off just a couple of blocks to Purl City Yarns, who had me in for a lovely tea and knitting/chatting session! Unfortunately, Canada Post has let me down yet again – the “3 day guaranteed” box that I sent 7 days prior never made it, and it was full of samples to show off. We had a lovely time anyway.

The rest of the day I just walked around some more, went to Cornerhouse, walked through the galleries and bought some magazines in the shop. Didn’t go to a film though – I wasn’t really up for subtitles. I had a lovely dinner that evening at Ning in the Northern Quarter.

May 10, 2011
May 6-7: Manchester

Friday morning was my last in Edinburgh for the time being (though I’ll return before the end of the trip!). I puttered around the flat in the morning, packing up my stuff and doing internet-y things, before meeting up with Sarah and Rebecca for lunch. We went to Ooud Kitchen (which makes me think of the Ood) and all shared a mezze platter with falafel and grilled halloumi along with all the fixin’s. It was delicious!

My shawl grows, slowly.

After a bit of a harrowing adventure involving catching my train with only a minute or two to spare (note to self: leave way earlier next time) I got my train to Manchester. Unfortunately my reserved seat ended up being in a group of young men who were going to a match or something and were drinking beer on the train, so I decided not to sit there. I was able to get a good seat after the first stop, about 30 minutes out. The journey was a little over 3 hours, and I did see sheep out the window though I didn’t photograph them!

I met up with a Manchester knitter, Elizabeth, who generously let me stay in her gorgeous flat in the Northern Quarter. That evening we went out to dinner down the street – I had a yummy butternut squash and cambozola risotto.

Saturday was pretty grey and rainy, but since I didn’t have a ton of time I braved it anyway to go exploring. Turns out the city centre is really quite compact, and I was able to see everything easily on foot. First up was the Manchester Craft and Design Centre, which is a sort of cooperative where artists have work and retail spaces. Tons of beautiful handmade jewelry, bags of different kinds, pottery – all the wonderfully crafty things I love to buy! I was restrained though, and didn’t purchase anything. It was still really lovely and inspiring.

I wandered down to PIccadilly Gardens and took refuge from the rain in a restaurant, where I had a full (veggie) English breakfast for lunch! It was yummy.

That afternoon I stopped in at the Manchester Art Gallery (the Anish Kapoor exhibition is really interesting), saw the Town Hall, and then went to the Museum of Science and Industry, which is housed in the oldest surviving passenger rail station in the world. There’s a great textile exhibit, and the whole thing was really interesting but a bit huge! It’s sort of overwhelming.

Some more photos from around Manchester – I have more that I need to get off the camera before I can write about the rest of my weekend!

May 8, 2011
May 4-5: Holyrood, Arthur’s Seat, Leith

I’m trying to keep up the blogging, I really am! Really must try not to let it get away from me or it’ll be so hard to catch up – as it is, 2 days’ worth of photos is a fair amount to sort through.

Yesterday (Wednesday) I managed to get up a whole 2 hours earlier than the day before, had some breakfast in the flat and then caught a bus out to Holyrood Park. My first stop was the Palace at Holyroodhouse – the official Scottish residence of the Queen. No photography allowed inside, sadly, so you’ll have to take my word for it! It was interesting enough, a bit stuffy but still pretty cool. The plasterwork ceilings and original furniture are pretty.

My favourite bit was the Abbey, which is a ruin. The nave is the only part still standing.

Then I headed up Arthur’s Seat, the tallest hill in Edinburgh. Unfortunately due to the lack of maps and/or trail markers, I ended up taking a Very Tricky Route up involving very steep stone “steps” (sorta). Got a bit discouraged and ended up calling it quits most of the way to the top. Yeah, I’m sort of disappointed in myself too. Maybe another time, with someone who knows an easier way!

Still a pretty great view from the ledge where I stopped though.

Also I didn’t have any food with me, which was a bad plan. So it was sort of bad all around. At least it was sunny! I headed back down and then had lunch at Fruitmarket Gallery. Another day, another shot of my knitting on my skirt!

I wanted to see the exhibit, but then I rushed over to the Camera Obscura to catch the last show of the day. It’s pretty cheesy, but super fun. The camera is really cool. The rest of the attraction is different floors with “world of illusion” stuff – magic eye, optical illusions, lights and the like. I had some fun taking photos.

$fractured$

Today I took a longish bus ride out to Leith, the port which was only integrated into the city of Edinburgh in the 20th century. I got off the bus a little early and walked to Ocean Terminal, which was interesting but as it was raining a little, it was a bit bleak.

With some time to go before meeting up with a friend, I decided to take the tour of the Royal Yacht Britannia. It was a fun way to pass some time.

State dining room – it was huge. All around the room were presents to the Queen, displayed on various walls, and on one end of the room was a narwhal tusk! What?!

Firth of Forth. (That’s more of Scotland over there)

Phones on the bridge.

Rolls-Royce in the Garage. Obviously.

Then this evening I headed out to knit night with the Tea Tree Tea knitters which was lovely! Tomorrow I’m leaving Edinburgh in the afternoon to head down to Manchester, where I’ll be doing an appearance and trunk show at Purl City Yarns on Sunday the 8th of May. Won’t you come by and see me?

May 5, 2011