Up north again...

 Today I went to Salford to give presentation.  I was given the opportunity to go yesterday and stay in a hotel but I decided that it would be better to sleep in my own bed and travel up today as I wasn't on until 2pm.  In the end I left home at 8.15am, and arrived at Manchester Pic. at midday.  I changed trains at Warrington and had a lovely view of an enormous Unilever factory from the platform.  The conference finished a bit early so I had a bit of time to myself before my train home.  I went for a wander around Manchester Cathedral which was somewhat ruined by the fact that an amateur dramatics company were noisily rehearsing Macbeth in the nave.  I understand why the cathedral allows such performances as they are clearly trying to reach out and serve the whole diverse population of the city but I'd like to go back at a quieter time.  I love the fact that English cathedrals are all so completely different.  They really are the most valuable historical buildings we have.  All the major historical events of a time period are reflected in our cathedrals.  Manchester cathedral was a originally a church which became a cathedral as a result of the industrial revolution.  It had already suffered as a result of the Civil War and was later badly damaged by a WWII bomb and the big IRA bombing of 1996.  It's like looking at the history of a country through a building. 

After looking round the cathedral I went on a slightly different pilgrimage - to the site of the late, lamented Hacienda.  Obviously, I knew it had been pulled down and a luxury apartment block built in it's place but I still wanted to stand outside.  It was just about possible to stand at an angle and pretend I was in the queue for a legendary night out.  I couldn't even take a photo because lots of workmen were digging up the pavement outside.  

I know that urban regeneration is largely a good thing, but it does seem sad that many of the old red brick industrial buildings were pulled down and flats built in their place.  Modern apartment blocks have little character and Manchester seems to be full of them.

I got the 16.55 train back to London Euston and was home by 8pm.  Those Virgin Pedalino trains are really quick and incredibly smooth.  The journeys were hassle free but a bit boring on my own.  I'm now tired and have to be at work by 9.30am tomorrow (early for me!)  Then I'm out tomorrow night and Saturday night.  I'm going to be ridiculously tired by Monday.  Oh well.