Every spare moment I would jump on my fixie (if it wasn’t raining, or bus if it was) and explore more streets, more galleries, cafes, or neighbourhoods slowly getting to know Manchester and all her intricacies, loves and history. I would glow in beginners mind, in awe of everything.

In the time I have been back in New Zealand it has been a long transition of moving. It feels like that was 2011, even though we have been back for longer. Moving and settling, no adventure, no balance, no freedom, no fun, none at the same time. No beginners mind. It has become a habit that I do not like so it is time to change it. My mission for January to drag me out of this state of being, is to treat Auckland like a tourist. To throw on my beginners mind glasses and explore. Usually I write massive lists of what I want to do but it is simple this year and I guess this is my resolution.

My favourite pictures from Manchester:

At work, looking back toward Manchester City. I was besotted (and still am) with the snow.

Outside one of my locals, Tea Cup.

At the edge of Piccadilly square highlighting some of Manchester’s sites.

After 9-months of living in the Northern Quarter I moved out to Whalley Range into an old Victorian Villa that was once attached to another. All that was left behind of the ‘other’ was its entrance way.

History poking through. I love how the cobbles poke through in Manchester’s little allies. Reminding us…

These little spaceman decorate the city and on a map make the picture of the spaceman. I only ever found one.

Oklahoma Tuesday’s.

The Manchester Buddhist centre where I spent a lot of time.

I got engaged to these hands.

Caught in the act at Fuel cafe in Withington, Manchester (42 or 44(?) bus from the city Alex, straight down Oxford road from the Uni).  On the day I departed the country Kirsty and I went to Fuel Cafe for a very yummy vegetarian English breakfast.  Fuel is absolutely fabulous and full vegetarian, with plenty of vegan options as well.  It was almost apt that my last meal in the country was an English breakfast.  They served Lavazza beans and made me a lovely double shot macchiato.  Fuel have an upstairs level where they have music gigs and other entertainment.  On this Sunday morning it was full of people by themselves having breakfast which I liked.  It was one of those places where you can be completely alone but surrounded by company all at the same time.

It wasn’t long ago that my partner and I were faced with a big decision: move countries?  An opportunity presented itself and we were out for the day talking, enjoying the sunshine, and it was lunch time so we stumbled into Gourmet Burger Kitchen as they have a fine list of Vegetarian burgers.  Never having been here before we sat down and continued talking about moving countries then read the menu and realized something.  The country in question was my homeland, New Zealand.  On the menu was L&P, New Zealand’s iconic drink, along with Peanut Slabs, and many other Kiwi delights.  The burger restaurant is a New Zealand burger chain which we had both never been to, or heard of.  Coincidence?

Whatever the case we both laughed and enjoyed a can of L&P along with fabulous Vege burgers.

1. A shop window
2. The street I am living in for a few weeks
3. Testing out the f1.4 on my favourite magazine
4. Tottenham court road, London

“In a hateful mental state we don’t want something pleasant; we actually want something painful.”

- Sangharatshika

I am now living in London as Kirsty got a job down here. We are here temporarily, until September when I fly back to Auckland, ending my journey in the UK: for now. It is inevitable we will be back here often, if not to stay again as Kirsty is English. The past 15-months have been amazing.  So much has happened it feels like 15-years, not months.  One of my reasons for packing my things and heading to the UK was to travel given its accessibility to Europe, and to experience living in another country.  On account of random job applications, and my travel agent raving about Manchester I ended up there.  I wanted to be in the UK, but not be in a city where I would spend most of my time (and money) on the tube, commuting.  I wanted to be able meet people, travel, and see England and get to know it as well as more of Europe.

Manchester was very kind to me.  The North West lived up to its reputation as very friendly and I barely met any Kiwi’s and Ozzie’s, mission accomplished!  While I didn’t get to Europe as much as I would have liked I have seen a lot of England.  Much more than I anticipated I would. It is often easier to go afar than to explore one’s own background, and somehow the backyard enticed me which on reflection I have really enjoyed.  And of course I am leaving the Northern hemisphere in exactly the same situation as I did in 2005: wanting more, wanting to come back and see more of Europe.  Travel plans have already been made to keep my travel itch scratched for 2011-2012 including the USA (look out Seamus, get that espresso machine ready), Nepal, and India.  And to tick the list of places I have not seen in New Zealand and do things I haven’t done before to test the legs for Nepal.  I’m also looking forward to showing Kirsty ‘my New Zealand.’  She has spent 3-months touring the country but only as a tourist which of course is different to the local view!

One of my missions was to find my home in the world.  I don’t think Manchester is it, and I know London isn’t either.  Having been living here for a few weeks I love its opportunities (ie. clothing stores and cafes) but don’t like the pure congestion of people, urban trance train and tube journeys and constant noise, be it audio or visual sensory overload.  Perhaps I’m just getting older?  A dog and a cat await in Auckland but this is certainly not the end of living abroad, that I know for sure.  They say home is where the heart is and she is coming to, so perhaps no matter where I am in the world now, the actual geographical location doesn’t really matter anymore.

Recently I changed jobs which has allowed me (for at least a few months) to have more flexibility in my working environment.  This of course means I float between home and cafes as often I find small 10 minute breaks to get there or simply a change in environment can stimulate much more productive work.

Jam street cafe in Whalley range happened to be my destination one day.  It reminds me of an eclectic mix of a hippy hang out, with an art shop, and a cafe all in one.  It has a great outdoor space, out front, and of course a checkered floor always tops in my books, along with the mixture of second hand furniture.  Each week they have live music or quiz nights on, and they have a great selection of vegetarian food, though a little pricey.  My macchiato pictured wasn’t quite what I expected and definitely didn’t live up to my expectations, but as we know, when it comes to coffee those are pretty high!

An arch for a door way no longer there: my neighbours.  My flat is in a big four story Victorian Villa which stands alone but used to be attached to another villa now gone, except for the arch way, which I find strange, yet interesting at the same time.

]]> http://snippetsofeverything.com/2010/08/11/snippets-of-manchester/feed/ 0 ames door way to a house that is no longer there dreamy