We woke to a cold, wet day. We tried the hotel’s café for breakfast and it was pretty good. Banana and Honey smoothie, Danish pastries and pro-biotic yogurts rubbed shoulders with more traditional sausage and bacon baguettes and haddock and poached egg, toast and preserves. We had a bit of each!
We then headed into Manchester to finish the Christmas shopping…and to get some bits and pieces for ourselves. Considering there is a recession, you wouldn’t have guessed it from the number of people shopping, especially in the Arndale Centre – it was packed!
At 10.30 we decided to take a break from the shopping and find the nearest cinema. Luckily the Odeon (it was just round the corner from where we were shopping in M and S). Wow! What a size!! I think it’s the largest cinema we’ve ever been to in the UK. It had 20+ screens and was on three-floors.
We decided to see the 11.05 performance of ‘INKHEART‘ starring Brendan Fraser, Andy Sirkis and Helen Mirren – mainly because we didn’t have to wait long. What an excellent film! Great cast, good storyline and impressive special-effects without being over-the-top.
By the time the film finished (1.15) we were starving and headed for Wagamamas close-by. A great lunch!
After lunch, we picked up the final presents at WH Smiths – long queues! – and then trekked back to the hotel in the cold pouring rain to put our feet-up and read the papers. We got back around 3.30.
We opened the champagne at 5 and exchanged anniversary pressies (even though the actual date is tomorrow.
I got Ann:
- A pink necklace with a silver heart
- Edge of Darkness DVD
- Sacred Arias CD by Katherine Jenkins
Ann got me:
- Prince Caspian Blu-Ray DVD
- Foot moisturising lotion
We’d booked a table in the café/bar for 7pm and were eager to see if the food was as good as last night.
As it turned out, the food WAS as good, but the SERVICE became increasingly sloppy. They put it down to it being really busy, but we noticed that many of the tables were vacant!
We got back to our room around 8.30 and it a choice between The X-Factor Final or a newly restored episode of Dad’s Army on the TV. Who do you think you are kidding..?
All-in-all, we’ve had a really good time here, but we’ve decided to get an earlier Train back tomorrow!
I got into blogging quite late in life, not publishing my first post until 2004 – well into my 40s! My lifelong love of technology and communication (in all its forms), together with a fondness for the art of writing seemed to be the perfect combination to contribute a few words to the online community. But I’m no Samuel Pepys! If you’re looking for deep and meaningful comments on a variety of subjects, then you’ve arrived at the wrong site! I only pen for pleasure! On average, my posts appear about twice per month, covering family & friends, cinema visits, eating out, holiday experiences and techy stuff. Oh, and as this is my hobby, there are no sponsored links nor adverts here – it’s all done with love!
I hope you find it enjoyable, interesting and occasionally, even helpful!
Comments