Our treat for July was a trip into the big city for afternoon tea and the theatre.
Being simple country folk we were shocked at a) the traffic on the motorway, b) how busy the roads in Manchester/Salford were, and c) the cost of parking.
We made the city before the shops closed, just, 5:30pm, having expected to get there by about 4:00pm. We found a car park in Salford charging only £4.50 but as we got closer to the centre we saw that parking meters now operate for 12 hours per day, seven days per week and two hours costs £8.50.
I took a watch into Watches of Switzerland to ask for an estimate for a replacement leather strap and a new watch glass. The quote was respectively £450 and £550 (granted the glass was included in the cost of a service as they wouldn't simply replace it) so I decided to leave it for now, especially as the watch isn't even mine. I'll maybe put the £1000 towards a new watch. I think they give you a free badge saying "They saw me coming" if you actually pay the price they ask for.
Still we had a lovely afternoon tea in Brown's before going on to the Opera House to see the delicious Flavia and her partner Vincent in "Midnight Tango".
The dancers and the band were excellent. The singer was very good and did not get in the way, and the barkeeper and his wife were very funny and could have stolen the show without too much effort. Some of the dances lasted for about seven or eight minutes so just shows how fit and strong these guys have to be.
We thoroughly enjoyed it and recommend it highly.
We were expecting to go to see Mama Mia! this month in Blackpool as it was announced on the TV whilst we were in Spain. Kathie ordered the tickets for what we thought was a Saturday matinee but the booking was just one year out. When we looked at the tickets the date is in 2014 and we are on a Sunday matinee. Something to look forward to?
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