Return of the Hedgehog August 15, 2008
Posted by meigrowstall in Uncategorized.Tags: England, hedgehog, Life, Manchester
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He's the cutest little hedgehog ever! I had to keep mum from poking him with a stick.
So he ran under the grate. haha
We’re back in Manchester. August 15, 2008
Posted by meigrowstall in Uncategorized.Tags: England, luggage, Manchester, travel
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I swear, only one of those bags is mine.
A Secret Garden July 17, 2008
Posted by meigrowstall in Uncategorized.Tags: England, Manchester, mysterious places
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Whenever we walk to the city centre in Manchester, we pass this very long wall with gardens on top. Some days I hear kids laughing up there and I see wildflowers swaying in the breeze. It’s so tall, but in a certain spot where the road rises, i can just see the top of a basket ball hoop. There is a plaque on the wall that says the city of Manchester paid to have the land enclosed and the places where stairs used to reach the sidewalk have been bricked over…sealed. I Just want to go up there and see what it is and walk in some grass. I need to find a way in.
It’s a hard knock life. July 14, 2008
Posted by meigrowstall in Uncategorized.Tags: cleaning, England, Life, Manchester
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11 July, Friday, 5:01pm
Mum and I spent the entire day rearranging the flat, clearing out her bedroom, packing Henry’s things for China, washing clothes, and other exciting things. It’s rained very regularly for nearly three days, so the air feels damp from where I sit. In the last week or two, the repairman for our washing machine has been called three times, showed up twice, and actually worked on it once. Sadly, the contraption is still broken. ha. So it’s back to the tried and true ‘wash in the tub, since there’s nothing else we can do’ method. When we are in Cardiff next week, the plumbers from Urban Splash (construction co. that built this place) will come and replace the bedroom carpeting and some of the woodwork, because it’s all quite moldy from where the sink was leaking. This includes Joe-the-cute-plumber-repair-guy, whom I’ve had the pleasure of consorting with all too often and who got semi yelled at by my mother today, because she was upset at our washing-machine-less-damp-and-moldy-state. When did this trip get so complicated? I feel like it’s a circus.
On the ebook front, I have read 6/8 books from the Oz Series. I suppose they are actually children’s books, but I enjoy them as much as someone who is 12, and at least half as much as someone who is 8. Oz is much more wacky and whimsical than what made it into the movie – that’s all I have to say on the matter. I haven’t done too much writing lately and even less art, but hey, new places give new inspiration. We have another day trip planned with Ruth’s family to see a Duke’s house or something, I will be staying in a different country by monday (Cardiff is in Whales I think), and there is bound to be more strange people that i can report. From what i’ve heard, mom rent’s just one room there and shares the kitchen, bathroom, and living room with other people. This is going to be like an episode of Hey Arnold!, except that I’ve promised to keep my Casey shrine private 
(Honestly Helga, the closet is so obvious).
Who knows when this post will make it to cyberspace, but rest assured, I’m ever observing. Stay dry!
Wrap your Scarf Tight July 8, 2008
Posted by meigrowstall in Uncategorized.Tags: breakfast, England, Life, Manchester
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This, my friends, is a Raspberry Peach Muffin from Starbucks. This, my friends, is one of the most delectable muffins i have ever consumed. This, my friends, was Sunday’s breakfast. It immediately put a Miss Tia in my head, because she love peaches, me, and called me a ‘mango peach cookie dough’, which is a compliment in all respects. If only i could buy these muffins in a box!!!
Now that I’m through with that, I have to report my latest craze and not so mindless entertainment. A few weeks ago, I found a 3×3 rubik’s cube in my bathroom. The stubborn thing has been tormenting me ever since. I am determined to solve it, and promise to do a follow up picture when the deed is done. I am so focused on my goal, that it can only be a matter of time, and i have recruited renforcements to ensure my success. It just warms my heart to know that I have people rooting for me.
Other recent entertainments include: hours and hours of DVDs, writing in my notebooks, compiling and scaveging for artifacts for my new memory book, freecell with actual playing cards, downloading ebooks and other somewhat sad pursuits. It’s quite cold today. The last few days have been nothing but contant showers, and of all days, this is the one i forgot my coat, but brought the cheap umbrella (when the wind blows, it turns inside out and crumples, and often, the handle falls off. Great peice of merchandise). Also, survey says that we are going to Scotland in the second half of July sometime, and i wish it were right now. So that’s that then. I’m off.
The Retro Bar June 27, 2008
Posted by meigrowstall in Uncategorized.Tags: breakfast, England, Manchester, travel
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Henry and i have been going to this little pub down the street for lunch nearly all week, called the Retro Bar. I don’t actually understand why it’s retro, besides the fact that they play a strange mix of music, ranging from Snow Patrol to Irish drinking songs, to soul train. Very quirky. Anyway, my first meal there was a full english breakfast:
So here’s what I think i ate: stewed tomatoes, hash, sausages, mutated and huge slices of bacon, toast, one egg over hard, baked beans, that blood biscuit thing i can never remember the name of, a mystery bread that was quite crunchy, and tea. It wasn’t the best thing i’ve ever eaten, but it’s food, it’s cheap, and it’s close.
There are strange people that come in. My first time, a group of construction workers were there. They were loud, but moved out of the way to hold the door for me and say, “Excuse me, love. We’ll mind our manners.” I’ve also seen a scraggly man with an unkempt beard, who walked around very dazed looking. He seemed to be the kind of person that would wear a tin hat. Today i saw the most hideous woman of my life – mostly becasue it was a man in drag, and the daylight didn’t do much for his figure. I also saw an older man, graying and stooped over with a hunchback. He wore trouser, loafers, and a windbreaker, but the jacket just drew more attention to him. I feel terrible for saying so, though. Wouldn’t that be a sad way to live? People only noticing your back? I dunno.
I forgot some pictures from the Cathedral June 24, 2008
Posted by meigrowstall in Uncategorized.Tags: Cathedral, England, Manchester
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its a good thing I’m not catholic, becasue I don’t think i could handle buildings like that every week!
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- the Manchester Wheel
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- Mary, Joesph and Jesus
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- Illegal shot no.2
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- I forget what these are called. Dont people get trapped in them in movies alot?
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- The Illegal Shot of my Mum
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- Indoors
Six Days Gone June 24, 2008
Posted by meigrowstall in Uncategorized.Tags: England, Manchester
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Here I am, across the Atlantic having my yearly adventure. For those of you that I didn’t get to chat with, I’m hailing from Manchester, England at the moment, six days and going strong. This summer began with many firsts and continues with more every day. When I arrived, i rode my first train and taxi, being purple and pink respectively. The trains here are nothing like the NYC subways, for they are well kept and clean. The countryside is beautiful.
Manchester is the third largest city in England, so it feels much like New York, minus the fact that the traffic does wait a bit before running you over. It’s a busy place with interesting shops and more smokers, petrol fumes, and litter than I care for. Don’t take that for complaint though – I accept the city for what it is, not what is could be.
My mom doesnt have a car, so we’ve been doing a great deal of walking. It takes nearly 40 minutes to the University to use the internet, so forgive me if my posts are spaced out a bit. It’s also 20-30 minutes from our flat on Rochdale Rd to the City Center (that’s like what we’d call Downtown), so i’ve been getting my excercise. This morning I walked here with Henry, my mom’s husband. He’s only about five inches taller than I am, but he manages to walk about 4x faster. By the time we arrived, i was sweating and sure that I would vomit any second. I wish I was being dramatic about it.
So, the events thus far:
- Saw Beauty and the Beast on Ice on Saturday (personally, i think BHS pulled it off much better). The story was different than Disney, but the skaters were Russian and extremely impressive. The man who played the beast waswell over 2 meters tall, the tallest ice skater in the world, olympic champion, and would certainly give Mr. Barnwell a run for his money. The entire place was magnificent.
- VIsited the Manchester Gallery. It’s about the size of Akron Art Museum, very interesting, and much more free. There are 3 new exhibitions that opened on Monday, so this afternoon I’m probably going to go again if i dont get too lost.
- Shopped around Piccadilly Gardens and the Arndale Shopping Center. There are a bunch of really cool vintage stores and cafe’s around here that sell everything from colored wigs to cocktail dresses. I bought a dress for about £10 and it makes me very happy. I’ll need to hunt around some more, but for the moment, I’ve only got £12 to my name and I’d rather like to eat.
- Stopped in the Manchester Cathedral Sunday afternoon. I’ve seen places like that in movies, but its nothing like in person. The building is so fine and mind bogglingly huge that it truly shows the power of architecture – so well done that it inspires the presence and reverence for God. I enjoyed it very much. Of course, my mom got us in trouble becasue she was snapping pictures in roped off rooms. Really, mum. You are embarrassing sometimes.
This weekend we are planning a day trip to Liverpool, and I should be going to stay with my mom in Cardiff, Whales, where she works. I’ve heard the city is much nicer there – not as big, but much nicer. We’ll be going to Scotland at some point in the near future, and there is always the daily adventure to document. Cheers.
