SleuthSleuth is a sideways glance at the city every week, it's the truth, but Sleuth's truth. He's several people all at once. We give £25 for every story/rumour and piece of absurdity you find for us to publish. Sleuth sometimes even gets serious. We ask for the money back if any legal action follows. Follow Sleuth on twitter @Sleuth
Roof Bathing - The New Manchester Fashion
Sleuth loved the new Manchester phenomenon of 'roof bathing' in the recent hot weather. He spotted this while cruising in his dirigible (airship folks, get an education). The man on Manchester Central (aka G-MEX) wins the May joie de vivre award. Sleuth missed these Withy Grove roof bathers (second picture below) but spotted some tell tale signs of their roof bathing capers.
Man at work - before he decides he needs a little nap. See main picture for that forty winks.
Spot the open rooflights and the scattered clothes
Sleuth Offends Random Man
Sleuth regularly uses mini-cabs. So he called one the other day. A car drew up outside the house. Sleuth sauntered out of the house, opened the back door of the car and got in. One should never get in the front of a cab - bad form. "Opera House, please," said Sleuth. "You're joking mate," said an angry looking driver after a pregnant pause, "I'm waiting for a mate from across the road, going to the bookies." Sleuth looked down the street and saw a badged up mini-cab approaching. As he got out of the stranger's car he briefly wondered whether he should leave a tip.
Trof Launches New Bar
After all the bar openings this week, we have another one to announce. Trof bars are extending their Manchester empire with the opening on 1 June, of Gorilla, in the old Green Room site on Whitworth Street West. The rumour going around is that if you stand still long enough in Manchester, say on an empty plot of land, then a Trof bar will eventually open in your navel.
Nice paintjob, coupla points
Sleuth is happy that finally the staircase from Deansgate/Castlefield Metrolink station into the main Castlefield Urban Heritage Park has been restored and repainted. He's also happy that some use has been found for all the spare turquoise green Metrolink paint that must have been left hanging around after the latest rebranding of the system. But maybe the Council should have asked the residents what colours they preferred and also maybe have fitted the new lights before painting the stairs.
Some Metrolink colour returns
Once Neigh And Thrice Neigh
Sleuth was at a football dinner for the parents of his son's team. "Three boys?" mused one mum. "We've got a girl too. Very expensive. We bowed to the pressure and got her a horse. And now we have to pay for the horse's pills as well." "Oh dear," said Sleuth, "what's the matter with it?" The woman paused and looked at Sleuth. "This might sound funny but it's actually serious. It's got hay fever." Sleuth definitely thought it funny. (By the way, Sleuth looked it up, click here).
The Greatest Penalty Shoot-out In History For Great Manchester Schoolboys
Sleuth's son's footy team Trafford Schoolboys u15s suffered the most tragic of defeats in the North West Final in Liverpool. After defeating Salford, Knowsley and Liverpool on the way to the big game they lost on penalties to Stockport. It was 4-4 after extra time, and 14-13 for Stockport on penalties. Great game though and someone had to win.
The second penalty about to go in, there'd be many more before the heartache
Mark Addy reprieve?
Sleuth has heard worrying rumours that the compulsory purchase order for several hundred acres of central Salford might mean The Mark Addy - the pub with the best river terrace in the city - is demolished. So he asked Salford City Council for a quote. This is what he got back. Councillor Derek Antrobus, Salford City Council’s Assistant Mayor for Strategic Planning, said: "The Mark Addy is a Salford institution which is a magnet for the area. We understand the owners want to build on their success by improving the Mark Addy and discussions are taking place between our development partner, English Cities Fund, and the building owners about their own plans for either the redevelopment or substantial refurbishment of the Mark Addy.” Sounds promising. In the meantime here's a picture of some Dublin Bay prawns taken in that recent sunshine. Chef Robert Owen Brown genius at its best.
Lightly pulsing prawns of happiness
A SLEUTH QUOTE SPECIAL
Runaway quoteWhile George Orwell went shopping for replica City shirts (such a fair-weather fan), his mates William Shakespeare and Oliver Cromwell went to The Castle pub. Shakespeare said, “This happy town is a morsel for the delight of the senses, a dainty tart to tickle the tastebuds of sensation.” “Aye,” said Cromwell, slapping his leather clad thigh, “and it hardly ever rains, you know.” On his return George Orwell couldn't agree more and after seeing some large people eating Manchester Eggs declared, “Manchester, the belly and guts of the nation.”
This was then put on a banner on High Street Car Park.
Which was unfortunate as it is all equally ridiculous.
Sleuth started the rumour that George Orwell had said that about the 'belly and guts'.
He never uttered those endlessly replicant words.
Here’s the full story of Sleuth’s shame from a previous column.
Sleuth’s lies to tell tourists
George Orwell once said this about the city: ‘Manchester, the belly and the guts of the nation’. He was in the pub with William Shakespeare and Oliver Cromwell at the time.
