Only one of the best weekends EVER. I really needed it actually, as my job woes were severely doing my nut in... 
Thursday was one of the best nights out I've ever had (excluding my brief, torrid love affair in the hypnotic city of Seville some years back! AHEM!
).
We headed into Manc to find some bar where Goldblade and The Hyperjax were playing. It was a little odd, since when we found it it seemed to be really empty. Not empty of people... Empty of furniture, decor, EVERYTHING! I could have sworn it used to be the old department store occupied by 'Bensons for beds'
An hour later and it was jam-packed with the two bands, their entourage and a huge group of Rockers, punks, psychobillies and the seedy underbelly of Manc's alternative crowd. The bands were absolutely electric, the PA was crap, the beer was plentiful (despite the hastily arranged bar being a little small). I got chatted up by an absolutely gorgeous geordie girl in 'pirate-girl' attire with a huge bouffant of black hair! I'll buy you that crate of Newkie Brown, if I ever see ya again!
x
The shop who laid on the night of free food and two great bands is a new Rock clothing shop (I believe being run by the wife of Goldblade's guitarist). She gave us a load of free badges and stickers, in return for some 'word of mouth' publicity. I doubt it'll need much, it's not like there'll be much competition. We've needed a shop like it for years! Somewhere which sells other attire than a rack of black 'band name' hoodies and tees? Yep! When the website's a bit more complete I'll add a link to it, surely!
Friday, I set off to visit 'The girl who turns me to mush' up in Barrow. She used to live not too far from here, but sadly moved away, so I don't get to see nearly enough of her. Anyway, its a great little train ride up through Lancaster and South Cumbria. It's pretty difficult to believe you're in the same country as rotten ol' manc. A mere 85 miles north, and you could almost believe you were in Canada or Scandinavia. Beautiful.
Barrow itself, on the other hand is an armpit of a place, but you're never more than 20 mins away from the Lake District national park. On the saturday, we set off for a walk in the hills. Feeling a little adventurous, we picked a 'little' bump on the map called "Harter's Fell". Not too long and well off the beaten track.... Fuckin' exposed boulder hops with raging waterfalls under them, I WASN'T expecting. However, a lot later than we anticipated, we reached the top in a howling gale. Strangely (for Cumbria in the Winter) it didn't piss it down on us and all of Conniston/Barrow peninsular was visible. Roman forts, stone circles, birds of prey and harsh rugged landscapes in every direction. Absolutely stunning...
Later on we went back to Barrow to prepare for the night out... It was a Rock night in the old railway goods yard in Barrow docks. Not the choicest of locales, but great fun. Like going to Jilly's in '94 again. Its amazing how dance moves and a couple of odd requests will get you noticed in a large group of 'moshers'. Ah well, at least I had good company (wearing the slinkiest catsuit imaginable and giant FMBs ! ) Nothing truly exciting happened with regards my friend, but I reckon, some day, perhaps... (sigh) Oh God, I go to pieces at the thought. I'm sooo lame
I'd better stop typing now, I'm having massive direct x tech/geek woes and with it being Microsoft, I haven't a clue HOW to fix it.
See you all VERY soon, funds permitting, some of you will possibly bump into me in Rockworld on the 19th. There! My name's officially on the list! If you need any help or advice with getting around Manc, I'm sure me, Asha or Ladyinsane can help out! Just 'whack off' a PM if you've got any questions! Actually there are loads of others too!
A fond and wintery farewell to you all. Take good care, wrap up warm, etc.
xxx xxx
v78 @_@
Thursday was one of the best nights out I've ever had (excluding my brief, torrid love affair in the hypnotic city of Seville some years back! AHEM!
).
We headed into Manc to find some bar where Goldblade and The Hyperjax were playing. It was a little odd, since when we found it it seemed to be really empty. Not empty of people... Empty of furniture, decor, EVERYTHING! I could have sworn it used to be the old department store occupied by 'Bensons for beds'
An hour later and it was jam-packed with the two bands, their entourage and a huge group of Rockers, punks, psychobillies and the seedy underbelly of Manc's alternative crowd. The bands were absolutely electric, the PA was crap, the beer was plentiful (despite the hastily arranged bar being a little small). I got chatted up by an absolutely gorgeous geordie girl in 'pirate-girl' attire with a huge bouffant of black hair! I'll buy you that crate of Newkie Brown, if I ever see ya again!
x
The shop who laid on the night of free food and two great bands is a new Rock clothing shop (I believe being run by the wife of Goldblade's guitarist). She gave us a load of free badges and stickers, in return for some 'word of mouth' publicity. I doubt it'll need much, it's not like there'll be much competition. We've needed a shop like it for years! Somewhere which sells other attire than a rack of black 'band name' hoodies and tees? Yep! When the website's a bit more complete I'll add a link to it, surely!
Friday, I set off to visit 'The girl who turns me to mush' up in Barrow. She used to live not too far from here, but sadly moved away, so I don't get to see nearly enough of her. Anyway, its a great little train ride up through Lancaster and South Cumbria. It's pretty difficult to believe you're in the same country as rotten ol' manc. A mere 85 miles north, and you could almost believe you were in Canada or Scandinavia. Beautiful.
Barrow itself, on the other hand is an armpit of a place, but you're never more than 20 mins away from the Lake District national park. On the saturday, we set off for a walk in the hills. Feeling a little adventurous, we picked a 'little' bump on the map called "Harter's Fell". Not too long and well off the beaten track.... Fuckin' exposed boulder hops with raging waterfalls under them, I WASN'T expecting. However, a lot later than we anticipated, we reached the top in a howling gale. Strangely (for Cumbria in the Winter) it didn't piss it down on us and all of Conniston/Barrow peninsular was visible. Roman forts, stone circles, birds of prey and harsh rugged landscapes in every direction. Absolutely stunning...
Later on we went back to Barrow to prepare for the night out... It was a Rock night in the old railway goods yard in Barrow docks. Not the choicest of locales, but great fun. Like going to Jilly's in '94 again. Its amazing how dance moves and a couple of odd requests will get you noticed in a large group of 'moshers'. Ah well, at least I had good company (wearing the slinkiest catsuit imaginable and giant FMBs !
) Nothing truly exciting happened with regards my friend, but I reckon, some day, perhaps... (sigh) Oh God, I go to pieces at the thought. I'm sooo lame
I'd better stop typing now, I'm having massive direct x tech/geek woes and with it being Microsoft, I haven't a clue HOW to fix it.
See you all VERY soon, funds permitting, some of you will possibly bump into me in Rockworld on the 19th. There! My name's officially on the list! If you need any help or advice with getting around Manc, I'm sure me, Asha or Ladyinsane can help out! Just 'whack off' a PM if you've got any questions! Actually there are loads of others too!
A fond and wintery farewell to you all. Take good care, wrap up warm, etc.
xxx xxx
v78 @_@
VIEW 15 of 15 COMMENTS
The area around Barrow sounds good, sort of place that would appeal to me. And of course Barrow is an old word for a burial mound. I like the fact that a lot of England's place names have a story and meaning in the names. Although knowledge of that seems to be fading in general
i never thought of myself as a teacher type though. so i'm really really curious to see how it comes out.
post more after i get home from work