Friday 30 January 2009

February first sunday, birthday treats and beyond


Dear friends, faeries and fellow comrades in loitering

I hope you are enjoying the year so far and finding time to loiter and enjoy the view. What’s the best thing you’ve seen today?

On my way to work this morning I spied an open door, there was a sign on it that said MUST KEEP CLOSED. IF NOT INTRUDERS MAY ENTER. I was musing on the invitation when a girl in a pretty coat scurried past enthusing ‘it was the loveliest, most beautiful squid I’ve ever seen’ so her friend asked what colour it was. They were suddenly too far away for me to hear the answer but I felt glad to be here, now, in our city.

If you’re feeling jaded and craving sunshine, may I suggest taking the lift to the top of the shudehill car park when it’s dark and savouring the view…. let the city lights dazzle you…. I recommend taking a flask with your favourite warming beverage but please please please take care: don’t get so mesmerised you fall prey to a car, that most terrible of foe and sworn enemy of loitering (although I’ll admit they do come in handy sometimes)

Alternatively, and if you fancy some convivial company please come and join us THIS SUNDAY for a collective bimble. It is the second birthday of first Sundays, which may be a confusingly constructed sentence but frankly I’ve only just realised and I am so thrilled I can’t quite think how to convey my joy. How the devil did that happen?!!

To celebrate we will be striking out of our usual territory and exploring Stockport. I’ve always found it a charming place and also deeply peculiar. I trust residents will take that as the compliment I intend it to be. For me it’s a place full of twists and turns and twittens – lots of history (what a daft phrase) and a heady combination of decay, regeneration, hats and proper, decent pubs. Mind you, its been a while since I’ve spent much time there and I know its changed a lot – so I look forward immensely to seeing what the LRM discover.

Please come and join us, we’ll be congregating on the balcony at Piccadilly Station at 12.30 to embark on the 12.55 train, due to arrive 13.04 at Stockport. The main foyer will be the best place to join us if you wish to meet us at our destination.

Obviously we will be prey to the whims of public transport and I confess some trepidation about the logistics so please do strive to make the Piccadilly rendezvous if you can. However, if this does not suit or you are delayed and wish to locate us please call the LRM hotline on 07974929589 and we will do our best to rescue you

I also have some other news to share which I hope will be of interest:

Simon has kindly offered to help produce our new booklet – a loiterers guide or somesuch treasury of our adventures which will also act as a recruitment device. If you have any thoughts on what it should contain or wish to contribute in any way we shall be chewing pencils in The Sandbar Grosvenor Street from 6pm next Tuesday (3rd February) or alternatively please email Simon directly at simondavidrichardson@googlemail.com

Plans are also afoot for a very special night of music, films, words and assorted shenanigans focused around issues of surveillance / identity / public space and the city, probably huddled under the magical subvert umbrella http://subvurt.wordpress.com/ We have a very splendid headline act…. If you have skills, ideas or time to share to make it happen (musical talent, short films and tech support especially welcome) please don’t be shy and email loiter@hepzombie.co.uk

Finally last week I met with the good folk from MDPAG (Manchester Disabled Peoples Access Group) who had very troubling tales to tell of access routes erased from official maps for aesthetic reasons. Together we lamented the pain of an unnavigatable city full of barriers. Justice does not involve stairs! Manchester does have shockingly few accessible venues (and I know I am a hypocrite for not always using them. The multiple ironies of this entire paragraph are not lost on me)

This is where you may be able to help…. MDPAG use a ratings system to grade venues but there is no comprehensive guide as yet. They particularly want more information on pubs. I feel sure The LRM can rally for such a good cause – anyone fancy an ethical trip around town to rate hostelries for their access? Please email me if you’re willing to help and I’ll set a date.

I hope our paths cross soon, until then look after yourself

Glittery love


Morag x

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