Confidentials.com's pictures from around the city, people, places, moons, flowers and graffiti
Northern (not) Lights
Last week we were supposed to have a magnificent display of the Northern Lights. Jonathan Schofield went by train to Littleborough to climb the hills and marvel at the spectacle. There was nothing doing in the heavens but he did find an enigmatic tree. So he went for a pint in the Royal Oak and got the 11.44pm train back to Manchester.
Boris Johnson on the Rostafa wall
Confidentials.com had a moussaka in Rostafa restaurant on Princess Street. As with San Carlo there were celebrities pictured with the owners. Not Ronaldo in this case. Nor Wayne Rooney. Nor Rihanna. Instead Boris Johnson was grinning with the staff - two men, so no-one got pregnant. Maybe he was breaking free from lockdown. Boris Johnson: less like a Greek Adonis more like a large feta cheese.
Hungry like the wolf for Manchester
These are music fans on a music tour of Manchester. Ten of them had Brummie accents. "Why are you here?" asked the bewildered guide. Turns out they were here for the Duran Duran concert: a sell-out at the Arena. "We love them," said one in that lovely lugubrious accent. “Simon le Bon makes me happy,” said another in deliciously Eeyore-esque tones.
Happy to be here - Hong Kongers
This image is from our article about Hong Kongers moving to Manchester. “Hong Kongers are very resilient and whatever they do and wherever they end up, the strength of their Lion Rock spirit will always shine brightly, no matter what they have had to endure," says Selma Masood.
99-years-old not out
Sheila Lesmoine was 99-years-old this week. This was her party at Lloyds in Chorlton. Sheila has had a fascinating and colourful life including being a Manchester tour guide with specialisations in cholera epidemics and the Peterloo Massacre. Yikes. She also helped get English language books into Russia during the Soviet era. She’s a real wonder born in 1924, born in a world immeasurably different from that of 2023.
Manchester Cathedral hides behind blossom
Hayden from Confidentials.com caught this glorious picture of a cherry tree hiding Manchester Cathedral.
Appalled Councillor of the week - Pat Karney
This is the famous Pat Karney tweeting: 'Scandal of disabled people visiting Harpurhey Post Office being fined £100 because of McDonalds new parking arrangements. A 92 year old man with a disability pass fined £100. Tried to get -@McDonaldsUK to help but got nowhere. Am contacting McDonalds Chief Executive.'
Pat is very appalled
Dapper Councillor of the week dressed as one of the Osmonds
This is Councillor Pat Karney back in the day. Nice heels fella.
Beautiful bluebells
Nowhere in Europe does bluebells like Britain. This example is from the lovely country park of Healey Dell in Rochdale. Get up there and bask in their beauty.
Souper protest
Ukrainians demonstrated against the Soviet invasion of their country in Manchester on Saturday. One gentleman showed that humour can survive even an international outrage.
It's a beautiful Manchester ship
The former YMCA on Peter Street, now St George's House, is a Modernist dream of a building from 1911 by Woodhouse, Corbett & Dean. The decoration is in gorgeous Art Nouveau. The Manchester coat of arms on the building has been stretched to great effect but the proud ship of Manchester retains its beautiful proportions. The Guardian is wrong to say it's anything other that a symbol of the blessings that trade can bring. This was our article exposing the nonsense in a piece by Simon Hattenstone in an increasingly bizarre and extreme newspaper.
