Today is all about…August 2022

I’m very aware that my recent ‘Today is all about’ blogs have either been posted at the end of the month or worse the next month!

So my approach for this month was to write the talking points throughout the month. So when it comes to writing the blog, most of it has already been done.

Halfway through the month, I can finally sit down and finish it. To be fair, the monthly blog was the reason for the delay, as the thought was about Manchester Pride which was at the end of the month.

The monthly thought: Manchester Pride Returns

It’s been an interesting year for Manchester Pride.

After making the decision not to attend last year’s pride event, I was back this year, albeit more of a quiet one.

I wanted to use this month to reflect on Manchester Pride, and whether they have listened enough to gain my support.

Spoiler alert…they didn’t!

This month’s talking points

Weekend at Rogers

It’s been a long time planning, but we finally got down to Rogers for the weekend.

The plan was to have a nice chilled weekend, and that is what was had. We basically sat in the garden, drank, gossiped, the occasional dip in the hot tub and laughed.

On Saturday we all made a visit to the idyllic Castle Combe Village. As it was a glorious day, it looked like a lot of people had the same idea as it was a little busy.

Delightful dining experience

When the hunger kicked in, we decided that we would venture to the pub for something to eat. The first place that we went to had a 30 min wait.

So we went to the other pub, and it was quite quick to get a seat. This should have been a warning sign! Actually, there were a lot of warning signs that we ignored, especially when we asked a member of staff for menus and she rudely retorted “Get them at the front!”

Put it this way, the experience was so bad, that it became so comical.

Whether it be the length of time to be served. When they did take your order, they didn’t look at you once. Instead, they faced straight ahead and repeated your order at least three times.

Or the time that another customer asked for the table to be cleaned and the menu lady mumbled “fuck off” while walking away.

Then there is the fact that Carl and I spent the majority of time running away from wasps.

The fact that the food took ages to come, and it was like they missed some of our orders too, as we had to chase for it. When it did arrive, the presentation/quality didn’t match the price we paid.

I ordered, what I thought was a wedged sausage and onion sandwich.

What I got was three unsliced sausages slapped between two slices of dry bread, and sliced onions thrown on top. That’s it!

I think it would be insulting to even compare it to a greasy spoon sausage butty!

But like I said, the experience was so bad, that we couldn’t help but laugh.

Although, this didn’t ruin the weekend. A great time was had by all.

So thank you boys for having us and a great weekend. xxx

Six Musical

It’s been two years in the waiting. After two postponements, we’ve finally for to see Six the Musical. And it was definitely worth the wait.

There is something about modern musicals that just brings freshness to the theatre.

While Rent was brought to the stage in 1996, it still provided the freshness to the stage. It is one of those shows that if it ever came to the theatre near me, I will try and get to see it.

&Juliet, I felt would be another one of those shows.

Six is the only show where I’ve instantly looked at going to see it again as soon as I walked out of the theatre. Checking which would be the closest venue to go see it again?

Fuck it! How much would it cost to see it at the West End?

However, it wasn’t long announced that Six is returning, this time to Manchester Opera House, in July. Tickets have been bought!

Why is Six so good?

As soon as the Queens came on stage, the harmonies just hit and drew you in.

The music was spot on. I have been listening to them for two years, but I was able to get a different perspective watching the performances too.

The comedy hit every time. It was choreographed to perfection.

While this was about historical figures, it wasn’t a historical play. Saying that, I wouldn’t be surprised if someone hasn’t complained due to inaccuracies in the story.

When I say that I loved it, that’s an understatement.

As we were leaving the show, our friend asked what I thought of the show, and I responded “It was better than I expected!”

It wasn’t that I didn’t have high hopes for it. I think my expectations were at a high level, I felt that they couldn’t be achieved and I would be disappointed. I wasn’t!

If you get the opportunity to go see this, then do. It’s 100% worth it!

An eventful Sunday

Do you know how there is just one day where everything goes to pot? Well one Sunday in August that happened to me.

We had a few things planned and as long as everything went to schedule everything would be fine. Well it didn’t!

Monkeypox Vac

With Manchester Pride coming up, there is a higher risk of monkeypox. So we went to a drop in centre to get a vaccination.

We’d thought it’d take a couple of hours. We arrived at 8.30 for the 9am start. The queue was already out of the car park.

Three house would be enough time right? Meaning that we had enough time for our next engagement.

When the four hours passed, we were so close, so messaged we would be late. It couldn’t be that much longer…surely?

Nearly six hours later, we were stabbed. And extremely late!

Nephew’s Birthday

By the time that we got home from the hospital, we needed to get our shit together to head to my mum’s for the nephew’s birthday.

I hadn’t even wrapped his birthday presents. I did some ‘straight man’ wrapping, and was out of the door in minutes.

Only 3 hours later, the family get together was a full blown party. The kids were out in the garden screaming and enjoying themselves. While the little one was in the living room watching TV.

We spent a couple od hours at the party, and then made an exit to get to our next event. I would of loved to have spent more time, but playing catch up.

Sunday Service

We arrived at Sunday Service later than planned. It had been a while since we had shown face, but we came as we were celebrating Matt & Jason’s anniversary.

I had a great time, as there was a load of friends there who were enjoying themselves. Granted it didn’t end how I expected, but it was a blip in a good day.

Over a year ago I spoke about good friends. It’s been over a year, and I have moved on. Yet, I was cornered and while I said “This isn’t the right time”, he still felt that it was the right time to start an argument and gaslight exactly what happened? He’s a bigger pyschopath than I expected!

I carried on with my night, and I was having a good time with my actual friends. But then anxiety kicked in, and then went to full breakdown.

On reflection, this was me. When the anxiety started, I was starting to get angry with myself for allowing to that to happen, which triggered me more. Then I triggered it further because of the pure embarrassment that I allowed all this to happen in the middle of the pub where people could see me having a breakdown!

What I do know, there is a very clear big bold line through that friendship. The saying “I wouldn’t piss on you if you were on fire” comes to mind.

Identical

For the 2nd time in August, we went to the theatre to watch a new musical called Identical.

It’s a musical that is based on the book, Parent Trap. It’s not the Disney version by the way.

To be honest, I had low expectations of the musical. Purely as I felt that this was more likely aimed at a younger audience.

If it wasn’t for the Salford resident discount, we probably wouldn’t have gone to see it.

When I booked the tickets, I wasn’t expecting to be on the front row. I had a few rows back, but they had been removed for the orchestra.

And if I am honest, I enjoyed it. Look it wasn’t the best musical I have seen. However, after just watching Six the Musical you will be compared to that.

If you have kids, it’s worth a watch.

‘Today is all about…’ photos