Manchester United or a visite in the red town

It's already a week ago that I touched the ground on Canal Street in Manchester and found Kikki still alive and vivid. Actually I was with my man in another club which is in an old house and seems to be a Pup and a Disco in one. I really liked it. Just the music was that night not really my thing, but the decoration, the look of the inside, the mix of the people, the beer and the barkeeper, all was very enjoyable and like it should be, I may say. 

Starting from raining Berlin, we arrived in part cloudy, part sunny Manchester on Picadelly Station and let the wind blow through our hair. Immediately the eye catched the mix of old and new, of beauty and well less beauty buildings and surprisingly a lot of folks on the street. 

But the first surprise was earlier when flying over Manchester before landing on the airport to see that Manchester and what is part of it and around is quite a big area, not just a little town with about 500mill people and some more. 

Now most people asked me why going to Manchester. It's not London, it's just soccer- Manchester United and then what? 

It's culture, it's architecture, it's a lot going on there and change is on every corner more or lesson. It has history and music, it has fashion, thought most is just starting to rise again, as you may know, once this town was rich and successful and had a lot more inhabitants but after industry situation changed it all went down but not completly which is now the reason why things are going up again and why this town has potential. Above the fact that it is a bit cheaper then London. It has beautiful churches, libraries and coffees and if you have more then 3-4 days, you can also prove that Manchester is the new kitchen in town or should I say from the country itself.

So strolling, kind of, through the centre as it is next to the station, when you arrive from the airport with the train, we got the first catch on how far things are and what to expect. 

Then we went down to the Oxford Rd and near the station with the same name and took a coffee in Sturbucks which looks bit different to what we are used to in Germany, but then it was kind of a mix inside. Being nearly under the train bridge, next to the river Medlock, with windows so typical for England and there it was, old and new together. Fitting all the students as this is the beginning of the area of the universities in Manchester. 

Yes, take an afternoon to walk the Oxfolk street up and 1,5 km or so just buildings from the University area and inside the stones from the University of Manchester is the Manchester Museum, which is very nice and quite big and mostly about nature and science of it, with real animals and skeletons of Dinos and many other animals. Also very perfect for a day with children. Then walk the same street up again and you will find a red house in a little park/garden and it is the Gallery of Costumes in the Platt Hall. Thought so many costumes did we not find and it contains also other arts. It is a small but fine museum. 

Not far away from it, there is the famous curry mile, thought it seems very dull at daytime and you may try it in the late afternoon otherwise this was the only area which I absolutely did not like and it had the feeling of a energy I simply did not like and so turning around fast was the only solution.

Inside Manchester, in the centre is enough to discover, so let's get back and walk down the Oxford Rd and then walk into the Whiteworth street. Right side. Looking back then you will see the River Palace a very beautiful building and if you turn right one street before, you'll discover a better side of it, and very old Pups too. 

Walking up the Whiteworth street offers you food on the way and the look on so many busses, that you wonder how they make it. Even in Berlin I never saw so many on one street. Not once! 

But let's go on and then you will reach the Sackville Gardens which are a must when you love internet, and of all those machiens called computers, as there he is, Alan Turing. Visite him and say hello! 

After that, left of him, right beside him, the memorials for the victimes of HIV are to find and still people suffer, still numbers risen, but that is another blog about. 

Then just look over the river and there is the famous Canal Street. The gay village, it's of course bigger then this one famous street and in summer for sure a place to be! 

Not far away and the chinese village is to cross, thought don't expect to much, it is very little and surprisingly dull. 

Three days is a start, but soon you discover it is far to less to see all and so you have to decide. 

We took of course first into the rooms we would stay over night. No, not a hotel, not a motel, it was B&B, actually a mix of couchsurfing and B&B, This gives you always the chance to come into contact with locals. More or lesson. Our host was very friendly, smiling and funny, thought the room was nice but a bit improvised. Not really my thing this B&B and couchsurfing. Yes, I am a hotel people after all. The luxury must it be. 

So breakfast, the real one, we found it in a very nice and quite big Pup right across from the Town Hall. The service nice and the food good, thought the little extra was missing. The rooms absolutely fantastic, even the toilets. 

The Town Hall is a must to go in and just now and untill christmas is over, there will be a market inside! Outside there is the famouse x-mas market which just opend the weekend we have been there and of course all that german dingsbums was there from Bratwurst to Glühwein. The christmas market goes on in the streets around and has much to offer, from food to presents to buy and the atmosphere is warm even when it rains. 

At one of the endings you meet the Joahn Rylands Library, which looks like a cathetral and has many very old books and manusciptes to show. Go inside, if not you'll miss a very nice experience and a dream of a library! 

What can I say, to walk from there whatever direction is to see old buildings, best shopping and food and Christmas Minions too. 

Three days and we went to the Northern Quarter as this is called the area for alternative shopping and has the famous alternative shoppig house. Yes, here shappy chic is still reality and on our way we took our afternoon tea in the 2/4. Then we just went on this direction, then another one, this street and that street, discovering arts on walls and buildings, paintings and went back to the centre, had our street food which was very good and the shopping for presents went very well. 

Another day and we went by to eat - all you can eat- near china town and then let the foot inside the little St. Mary Church. The Manchester Cathetral was not planed but suddenly we have been standing in front of it and so we went inside. Well, it is big and surprsingly with modern windows and warm. Good place to hide a while from rain. 

The national football museum is nearby but we did not visite it. It is said to be good but with little time in three days including arriving and leaving, we had to make choices.

By the way, Manchester United T-shirts have never been cheap, but go in a shopping mall it is cheaper, go to airport, it was cheapest price. I just only knew before. 

The Manchester wheel we did not found. Is it still there? The Hat museum was also on the list, but seemed to be always not on our way. 

Manchester is good to discover by walking but some things need a ride with a bus or tram. 

Even when the rainy days are on, it mostly does not look depressing, thought some old new buildings are really ugly and many places are a question- what will they build there? The buildings most time only in the centre higher then the average high, it is all smaller then in London. More cosy in some corners too. As a tourist you'll find enjoyment here and will have enough to discover for a week and even more, when you take the train to Liverpool and the national gardens. But how living really is in Manchester I still do not know. Got such a small look at it, that it feels unreal. Can't say I fall in love with this town and have to see it once again and others too. But for a traveler it is a good destination and a reason to be there instead for London. 

So catch a guide you can buy in a good book store or travel store and look up what you want to see and more, when you have some days left. 

We will come back for sure to prove, if there is sun in summer in Manchester!

Now of course a lot of pictures to go through, even for YOU!

Have fun!

Love & Light

yes it is what it looks like :-)

Picadelly Station

look out of the window from starbucks on the river

near GAY Village

the Palace

China town Gate

in the centre you'll find some of these buildings

Kiki and the original Queer As Folk Show comes to mind

Canal Street by daylight

Alan Turing

HIV/ AIDS Memorial

Town Hall in the back and just the red Pub is to recommend for english breakfast

Town Hall and christmas market

the Library I wrote about

inside the Library and also the pics now following

old and new together- the library entrance

must be the english humor!

inside the St Mary's Church

inside the Manchester Cathetral

on the way to the northern quarter- looks like Sherlok Holms could have been here

again, Town Hall, but the market inside! Oh those x-mas cloths!

on the Oxford Rd down the University lane

the little museum- Whitworth Art Gallery

seems the beast looked once very much like a wild pig

Art installation about how we live and use things

Harry Potter must be here somewhere!

Manchester Museum

same building... and I have a lot more pictures but that should be enough for now...

The Martian- the book

This is about the book which has become a movie with Matt Damon.

I read the book in english as I prefer the original version if I can. 

But yes, as I mentioned before, watch the movie first, then read the book, otherwise the movie will not please you that much. Maybe.

Now what to say about the book, written by Andy Weir?

It is no big literature and all but bad and to find under science fiction and written with the eyes of the man on mars, but also you get to see the story from the other end, from earth. I needed some pages to get used to the style of writing, as it sounds technical and like you talk to a log entry, which is actually the case. A lot of thinking and explaining in the beginning but then you understand you need all this to get an idea of the picture you'll follow in this story. The words are easy to understand but it is the way how they reach you. So have patience and go on reading as the fun comes along the way and man had I a lot of laughter and also with the drama this story tells, I had shed a tear or two. Even chilling moments crossed my way and this story is a page turner. You always want to know how it goes on, what comes next. The story itself gets up and up and up and has its peak at the very end of the book which is very pleasing. 

So for someone who never read this kind of books, it will be the right one to start away with stories of the future or playing in the future... 

All seems also well educated and it seems that all is more or lesson true or could be as near as you might imagine or it is and is very much up to date as possible, so the story could be happen this way in reality too. 

Despite the little time to get used to the way of writing, I really enjoyed reading this book and can recommend it absolutely.

Love & Light

The Martian- a movie

Seen the movie already? What do you think? Didn't watched it yet? Then go on reading! But first warning, watch film first, then read the book. 

About the book- wait for Blog entry later. 

Well, now let's see what I can tell you about the movie from Ridley Scott, who is known for science fiction movies. Mostly they used to be dark and cold and feeling more disillusioned. 

Not the Martian you will see in 3D. Sure the man on the moon (actually playing on mars) has cold times to suffer but red is quite a warm color and stranded as he is, unlikely it sounds, he has survived a storm, while the crew blew away into orbit again. Alone he faces the dreat of -must not die- scenario, which could be very depressing and boring to watch. 

Thought the movie is made from the book of the same name, it does not contain all the thinking and views you can read. 

But it is not an action in space movie, more a how a quite funny guy tries it's best and how people on earth react when they found out that he is alive, not dead and they have to figure out how to save him. 

Bad luck lies on the way and those things make the story go forward on and on. 

The narrative pace is going bit up and down but never to slow or to fast and you have easy to follow the story. 3D even makes it more fun to watch all these go by and the actors are very well choose. The technic is up to date and very pleasing for the eye to watch. 

As it is, a movie can hardly translate all the things from the book, so that's why I recommend to see it first as it lets out some scene and funny talking and comedy and also some drama. It just was not able to put into the movie and the end also has been changed a bit to match the Hollywood fantasy- I guess. 

Nevertheless the movie is fun to watch as it is positive, hopeful and Matt Damon is just perfect in his acting and guys has he a sexy butt or what?! 

It all looks easy, but the book will show you more the other side, so you are save and can have a popcorn cinema night with your friends. 

Give it 4 out of 5 stars, as the movie is missing the bit extra, which is in the book to find. 

So watch it and relax. 

Love & Light

The old rebel- Madonna

Last week I was on to see Madonna live again. Yes, I know, some may say- Oh no! She can't sing, dance and act and so on... All those negative believing. 

Well, it's true she was never the best singer, but she never claimed to be one. 

But one thing was always sure. She can do a Show. Can she still?

For starters, she can and how she can! 

She still has a lot of power as the show starts without doubt with showing exactly this. BASS ON MAX AND DANCE AND SHOW ON MAX. 

One picture and symbol after the other and it all fits perfectly in style, to the theme and the songs are well chosen.  To say it right away, she did chose always the right songs for the part she was doing and she has several different, from asian, to religious, to artistic, to let's get on the countryside and back to let's celebrate the 20'tis and so on. Kind of a immaculate collection. 

The stage is absolutely up to date and bringing out all you can do these days with technic. She also added new artistic numbers which have been very much a fun to watch. 

Yes, she still does the D-train and mixed it with the Girly Show concept. That means the numbers come and go and the time flies and two hours are over like in five minutes. 

It also means she is more the old Madonna as the older fans known her that way and she is mixing the themes like she always does and caring less about what is approbate and political correct. After all it's a Rebel Heart Tour and the Girly Show was also much of a Rebel Show. Thought back then more then today as we are used to it more and know that symbols and the question of what is strong language has changed. Also we have started to expect this from Madonna and she is not failing to show all the scandalous symbols. She is not exactly doing it without reason but in some numbers there become like an ad just because we might do expect those. So not really dirty anymore, not really a bitch, but a rebel- yes she still is. 

Of course this became one of the things the press took to critics. 

Others claimed that she is old and can't dance. 

Well, it's true she is older, over 55 years to be exact and no, she still can dance and that in a very good way, but yes she danced less then before and took more focus to singing and keeping up a go0d show. She is a hard working women and don't be surprised that she expect this from her dancers too, which you can see more then clear. Her dancers are in fact one of the best you can find. It looks easy what they do, but they have a very clean and hard dance routine to do, thought it holds up all expectation. They also make it that you never felt bored while Madonna changed her cloths. 

Another critic I read was that she took to contact to the people and that this is wrong as she is a star and will lose her star being with doing so. She should stay untouchable. First I think she is still in the way of being a star, then for the fans it was exactly what they wanted. She showed that she can speak freely and has humor about herself (also she showed it within two numbers she made). Another complain was about her -La vi en rose- interpretation, but this is coming from misunderstanding. 

Yes, she turned the song in her own version, but otherwise it would not have function. Yes, she is doing it the american way and so the song has not really to do with the original, but here she was able to show what her soul, her voice was also capable to do. She has in fact more to give then she does. Her interpretation was a warm timbre and once again, not a big voice but if she wants she can sing very  nice. 

But she had it not easy to catch the fire from the German people. It needed the -Like a prayer- nearly a capella- and all went to be a big party, dance, sing together and having real fun. 

You maybe will have this in other countries too. 

Why so, if she starts with a firework and still needs more time to get the people up and dancing? Is it the turn from fast to slow and back again? No, this is not the reason. I believe it is more the fact that people have lost their whole trust in her with the last CD and MDNA Show. 

To unsure if this show will really rock and so it takes a while to let lose. Also I saw another problem, which most stars and acts have to deal with nowadays. Mobiles. People focus on getting pictures and a little film from the show instead of watching the show and diving in. To play over the mobiles is very hard work to do. It actually cost the people a part of her own fun. Thought I by myself took pictures, but not on many occasions. 

Another thing why it took time to bring up the fire inside us was the D-train she is doing. No time to breath, no time to let the symbols and songs sink into you. We have been glad when she spoke and actually stayed on stage to just hold her instrument or drink water or when she waited until the stair was down for the next number. 

Then she gave us the chance to celebrate. Thought she wants to be professional and have it all perfect, she is pressing a bit too much, thought at the end I enjoyed, with a completely sold out crowed, the show. 

But keep in mind, this is after all a CD promotion tour, so you won't have a collection of all songs, thought she did put some of her old one into the show and actual they came from each Album she did. 

Of course in new interpretations which maybe not all liked that much. Some fans also have been sad that she did not use the songs - Ghost town and Joan di arc- as those are some of her stronger songs from the actual CD. 

Fashion, Stage, technics, dancers, choose of songs is absolutely worth a 5 star. Her singing, as always not stable but better as years before is a 3-4 stars. The show went by like a wind blows into your face- 4 stars, as I wished to have a bit more breath in the beginning. 

So, the result? 4 of 5 stars I will say as this is sure not her best Show she ever did, but could come as near as possible to the high level she had put up herself. The Confession Show is the mark she will never reach again I believe and is unable to do for most of us actually as the level is damn high. Hopefully Madonna finds a way to make it different with the next shows and find some new ways to make a show. She is a smart women and has once's changed how we make a show with the -Blond ambition Tour-. 

She will for sure go on again on tour and you know what: I believe if the album is good as the last one, the shows will be sold out again and as she has obviously fun this time, we will believe she will have it once again. Yes, you read right, this is what also reminds us old fans from the Girly Show, she has fun doing her thing. You may like it or not. If not, simple stay away from it. If you do- go on to see the show!

Love&Light

The leader sees underneath your clothes

How to get under the surface? Do we really want to go under the skin of someone? But then again, what lies underneath your cloths? We want to know people better. We even believe we know them as we see and read about them and what we read from them and what they tell us. But do we really? 

How to find out what you are about?

It's not the question who reads your posting and respond to it. It's not to see who repost your words and sentences. It's not to know when you will die or did you made the grammar test some made up for entertaining you on Facebook. 

It's not even the words you write to tell the world how you feel. Because all can be fake, all can be wrong, all can be censored. Ok. maybe not all, but much of it. May we be aware of it or not and you know, we believe our lies far to much and love them sometimes too, as they sound to good to you. 

But it is true, in each you find something true if you look closer. If you know how to look right, as you have to keep in mind that your worldview is just your own and so another human has another opinion. It's actually a secret and a miracle how we do understand each other quite so good. I have never been in the mind of anyone and I am sure no one has done it yet. Or am I wrong?

Not to mention that some people refuse to take a second look on things and believe the only right way to understand is their own. Then you can say what you want, you can pray as long you want and write letters, show the things, they just don't want to believe you as they don't believe in an alternative version. Sadly I have to call this also an experience I know. But I guess we all have had the luck to be part of such. 

Most of us will now say that with dear friends and family it is a bit different, and I hope so for the most of us to be it like that and in a positive way we'll see each other in less shadowed versions. I personaly also believe we will never know everything about us, above what some may say about the human they have a relationship with. You know those who claim to know all from each other. I think, we'll never do that. That is o.k.- I mean as I said you only stand in your own shoes and your mind is just your life. 

Anyway. How is it with the working life? Many believe to know their colleagues very well and to tell when they lie or make up things or are part of an intrigue. But is it really that way.

I have become very carfully to trust blind at work and as I have a higher position I look more sharply to what people do, how they act and what they say. Reading beetween the lines is a must, if you want to succee. 

Yes, one thing I always have in mind is to find ways to get under the surface. To see where the truth lies and the beauty, the potential of a worker. Especially when you have to lead a team which is not in balance and has not been for a while and some have given up believing, some only see things negative and some have become to comfort in the bad situation and most are afraid of changes. 

That's why as a new leader you have to find out fast how the most are thinking withouth being to obvious. As it is, you will be called weak so soon, if you ask to much. Another thing is to see what you can do as soon as possible to show effect and results to make them believe and trust in you and also you have to take the things in hand which most dislike and have hard to deal with. Show that you are not afraid of taking responsibility and also that you have no fear to talk with difficult people. 

But be patient. Nothing changes from one day to another, usually. Nothing changes from one month to another either. Yes, actually change can take time. And if it is about work routines then you have to keep in mind that to put up a new one takes about a half year and to let it settle down another one. With a high turnover it becomes longer. With other words make this understandable for your staff so they know what to expect. Usually they want all now not later but know in the same time it will be later but then many are so tired of hearing things will get better, later, and they did not in the end. 

So be gentle as a leader like a craftsman with his machine or like the carver with an old piece of wood. Like when he takes away the old color and let the real wood shine through. So has a leader to go step by step and take away the painted mask to see what's underneath. 

And use words wisely and communicate as much as you can. Yes, talk, talk, talk, and explain, explain and ask if they have understood.  Most employees forget to soon and many have a way to misunderstanding you will sometimes wondering how they could do. Then remember all have their own mind and see with different eyes. Never expect they fully understand. 

I am sure many of us have made the experience on team meetings that some always come up with the same question, some say they remember different, thought they can read what you wrote down and those are different letters to what they claim. 

Never underestimate the need of talking and telling you their needs. All know you are the leader and the boss is telling the rules and the pyramide in the company is clear, they usually want a word in all otherwise they start to dislike you and if you have bad luck they start hating you and become a rebel to your planes. Thought sometimes you just have to make clear that some decisions are to make and you are the one to tell them and they have to take it like it is. 

But if you succee you can enjoy it, thought never lay down and believe work is done. To lead is to see further then the team and to discover the traps before they'll do. But in the moment you succee, yes, smile and enjoy like the carver enjoys the visibility of real wood.

Love & Light