A long overdue visit to Manchester encompassed a trip to see many of Paul’s old haunts, hugely changed now of course.  We were there to see and hear Paul Gilbert at Sound Control,  just off the Oxford Road, right beside where the Haçienda had been, by the Rochdale Canal and the Cornerhouse.    After a walk through the town, past a  fair old few differing styles of architecture, we followed that up with a trip through Rusholme, Reddish, Wilmslow Road and Stockport.  Then we headed north to  visit chums in Ramsbottom, had a lovely blether and a meal at Owens in Rammy.  On to Slaley, resplendent in autumnal glory, since there had been no high winds the trees retained their mantles of acid yellow, copper, burgundy, ochre, amber, that acer red and so many innumerable variants.  An absence was keenly felt, but there were new faces, and as ever an enormous amount of chat round the table.

Home for a day, to Fiona’s 40th birthday lunch, a full house and a  very enjoyable occasion,  then to Glasgow to see Queen Extravaganza, a thoroughly enjoyable romp through A Night at the Opera and them some.

Below is a tiny selection of pictures; the ones I took in Manchester alone, to document the huge variety of architectural styles, would have you zedding within five minutes, never mind the ones of trees.