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.

Back to old England as I had a film developed.  Reculver, in Kent was very quite and spacious.  I would like to spend more time there.

There is nothing like being away from your normal environment for over a year and then going back into it to show you what roles you play.  Consciously or sub-consciously we all role play when in certain environments.  Around friends, colleagues,and family it is so easy to float back into the role you usually play as a daughter and so on.  To use an example it was extremely evident for me as when I was last in New Zealand I ate meat.  When ordering something in the first few days I was here I found myself pulling toward meat options and just before blurting it out, caught myself and realized what was happening.  Boy oh boy is habit strong!  It made me contemplate what other roles I was slipping back into and how our environment reinforces our roles in a positive or negative way.

Mindfulness is extremely powerful in changing this.  Having awareness of what is happening, and also the intention behind what you are doing.  I think coming back into any situation where there is a strong role play is the perfect place to practice.

What roles do you catch yourself playing?

Well it looks as though one more London coffee chronicles sneaked its way in:  Monmouth, in the Borrough Market.  I first saw Monmouth on Brian Ferry’s amazing photography blog and so had to visit.  Monmouth is just stunning.  A gorgeous corner cafe with rocket fuel and a beautiful local feel to it.  It doesn’t feel like a modern day swanky cafe, even though it was full on business people on this day.  It feels like an old bakery with style.  In fact I can’t quite find the words for it, which is probably rather obvious, but either way I really liked it.  There are a few Monmouth’s around London and they supply coffee to several other cafes as they roast their own goodness in a cup.  Check out their cool website to.  It’s a winner.

An hour or so North of Manchester is a very historic town called Lancaster.  It is home to the oldest running prison and court in the world – in a castle on the hill.  We spent a night there with Kirsty’s Dad who lives there and did a tour of the castle, learning about the historic Pendle witches who were tried there.  The dungeons were incredible and inhumane.  Prisoners who hadn’t even been convicted yet spent up to 6-months in there with a 65% death rate.  Today, 240 prisoners live in the more modern quarters.

The castle is owned by the Duke of Lancaster: Queen Elizabeth the second and the court is lined with with shields of her, and her predecessors dating back 1000+ years.  This is the court responsible for sending many thousands of people to Australia: the country founded on convicts: sorry had to put that one in…

Lancaster is very historic and beautiful, and is surrounded by rolling green fields perfect for cycling.  The council impressed me with bicycle lanes everywhere and there are some really nice restaurants as well.

Coffee rumors always itch my ears which of course leads to a tasting session.  One such rumor involved Flat White cafe in Berwick street, Soho, London.  This antipodean cafe, run by Kiwi’s of course, serves the Square mile beans quite deliciously.  It’s a pocket cafe but has packs a punch with well served coffees.  With so many recommendations to go here I had high expectations, and it was fabulous, but I have to say my top three in London were:

• Hand Made Food
• Look Mum no Hands
• Nude coffee, at the Rapha pop up shop in July

This is my last coffee chronicles from London: for now.  One more from the UK and then it’s time to take on you a Tour of New Zealand’s cafes.

]]> http://snippetsofeverything.com/2010/09/27/flat-white-cafe-coffee-chronicles-29/feed/ 1 ames flat white cafe, london flat white cafe, london http://snippetsofeverything.com/2010/09/26/my-worst-nightmare/ http://snippetsofeverything.com/2010/09/26/my-worst-nightmare/#comments Sun, 26 Sep 2010 17:52:16 +0000 ames http://snippetsofeverything.com/?p=2537 ]]>