Opening my eyes to Manchester

I'm waiting for the Kill Bill part 2 trailer to load so I might as well write a little something about my day.
Went into Manchester city centre today for the first time in about 6 months, found it educational. Not just because I went into the urbis, but because after I came out I spent alot of time wondering about what was going on around me.

This is the urbis, I had seen pictures of it and found it pretty to look at but didn't realise that it was an exihibition centre type place. To get an idea of the size of it look at the bus next to it. Anyway, I went in, and took a look around and there was an exhibition about urban citys that I reckon opened my eyes up to the city i took for granted. Two quotes I wrote down were "Greater Manchester has more football teams per head of population than any city in the world". This probably explains why when I went to Aberdeen I was shocked that nobody has an interest in sport, compared to back home where most people are involved if they are able to be. The second is from that great philosopher, Ian Brown, "Manchester has everything but a beach". Not true, but i think it highlights how underlooked the city was for years in comparison to London and the reason many Northerners feel like all the money gets spent on London. Really, do you have to have the biggest bomb on mainland Europe and to host the Commonwealth games to get a little money spent.

Ten years ago Manchester city centre was an eyesore and now its wonderful to stroll about and look at for the most part. Just take a look at the Urbis and similar buildings around that area to see. Interesting enough, around the back of one of the newer buildings (the triangle) leads you straight to this wreck
I'm not saying I want it torn down because I quite liked seeing it in a way, it just shocked me at how much money has been spent else where and then you only have to cross the road to bump into this. Also at the prices that housing is going in Manchester nowadays, surely the land this sits on is worth a fortune.

Back to the Urbis, they had TVs with different clips of people talking about the different sides of Manchester, comparing different communities and changing views. They had a section on the homeless where they had given homeless people disposable cameras and allowed them to record a little of their lives for others to see, and a section on CCTV allowing you to see the extreme that it has reached (on average you are filmed 300 times a day). It was very interesting, and best of all it was free. It meant I didn't do any of the things I went into Manchester to do but it was an enjoyable day. Only downside was some kids on one of the exhibitions didn't move for around an hour so I couldn't have a proper look at it, but never mind. Mentioning kids (or teenagers, to specify), I don't remember ever being as annoying as they are now, has something happened in the last few years to spark the bratiness?, I'm sure I was never like that.
I've hit a moan now too, so might as well get it out. My legs ache after yesterdays run, but its my fault for letting myself get so unfit. I also feel really bad for being single today, kept seeing things that reminded me of my Ex, CD's of Bands that she liked, little things like that. Came across a brilliant quote in the paper by Eric Cantona reagrding why he can't watch football anymore. He was asked if he had lost interest to which he said "No, but when I watch, I want to play". Thats wasn't the brilliant quote by the way, this is it "It is like when you are with a Woman you love and she doesn't love you anymore. It is better not to see her anymore". Well I wish he would have said that and made me realise before I got screwed over by my Ex. P.S. I'm not bitter

What to do?

Saw my ex girlfriend today. She was walking towards me while I was on my phone, instinctively just stepped into the the shop I was outside. Don't really ever want to talk to her, as she's caused me alot of pain and always seems to twist it and temporary convince me everything was my fault. Other than that, still havn't got round to actually kissing Jen. In fact I've never kisssed any girl what so ever. I have kissed girls, but they've always kissed me first. I just have this crushing fear of being rejected. I've never actually asked a girl out before, it has always been them asking me because I'm so terrified of rejection.

The other day I went to hers after work as she had been sleeping during the evening and awoke at 2 AM. I worked till about then but had to go home to get "the ring" so that we could watch it. About 11AM I was really tired so I told her "I need to sleep", asked for a quilt and she said I could go through to her room. This was good because she's really paranoid and normally never lets anyone go into her room. So I asked "are you was going to sleep too?", she said "I'll try, but I doubt it". So we went through and got into bed, fully clothed. She seemed to move towards me all the time and kind of snuggled against me. I spent a long time thinking about whether I should have kissed her, or put my arms around her. If she is giving me the signs and I'm not doing anything she's going to be thinking I'm messing her around, whereas if she see's me as such a good friend that I can stay in her bed with her, I'm going to shatter that trust. What to do? Oh yeah, got promoted at work too. Its a lot more pressure and work, not much extra pay but I do get guaranteed full time hours over summer, more training and my C.V. just got a massive boost so I might as well take it. It's just I don't like telling people what to do and at the moment I keep asking them instead of telling them.
Oops, got to go!
Ciao
P.S. I need advice, anyone got any?

Old Set of Photo's: Hayleys 18th

This is a set of photo's from back about 4 years ago. From what I can remember it was a really good night. It was Hayleys 18th, joint with Gemma's and they hired out Worsley court house and held it there.







Nearly everyone from the old hall went and there was even controversy. Halfway through the night Louise's boyfriend, Mark (or Ginger Spears as Aiden calls him) chucked a pint over Louise. What a dick.

She told me why a little later but I'm not gonna reveal that here.





For her borthday we all chipped in and bought her a 9" black cock.

Aiden obviously thought it was much bigger!

A tribute to John

In my first job at the old hall I had quite a few managers across 3 years, one of which was the worst manager I have ever come across. If Man Utd lost then you had better keep out of his way. If you were Iain Mc, you also had better keep out of his way, he fuckin' hated me with a passion.

In fact let me recall one day as a 16 year old (everything is scary at 16)
Dickhead Head Manager mark tells me to go to his office, so I do

Mark "I know it's you and I'll sack you once I have proof"
Me "erm, I'm not sure what I've done"
Mark "Yes you do"
Me "er, what've I done?"
Mark "You've been stealing springs out of staplers"
Me (in disbelief) "Stapler springs? I havn't, I don't know what you're talking about"

By the end of the conversation I was lying. Not because I had been stealing springs from staplers but because I knew who was. My best mate (Danny) was working as a chef and when he had a spare moment he whipped round the restaurant to steal all the springs out of the staplers (causes havoc for the managers) then he would steal all the pens that he would find (causes havoc for literate people), and then he would
spray freezing cold soapy water onto light bulb so that they exploded. This last one didn't really cause any havoc, but Danny just got a kick out of how confused the handyman got everyday changing numourous lightbulbs.

Anyway, that was the worst there was some good ones too. In particular were two that seemed to completely oppose each other and compete at everything. John and Fresh.

Instantly I took to Fresh, he always had time for me and the others, even though we were just little shitty 16 year old, he made time and he would have a laugh with you, maybe even give you a lift home at the end of your shift, as some of the other managers didn't care how you got home, as long as you got out of the door.

“I used to be the same as you Iain, a cocky little shit with the world at my feet”

- John S (about 1999)

John we all had problems with, half the reason was because we were problems and we didn't like the fact he was on to us. Simply, we had disagreements over his methods, but we always knew his morals were there.

When I look back now I do realise a lot of the time he was looking out for the group of young lads there, and he was getting a lot of pressure from above (head managers, not God) to stop us having fun during our job, because fun looks like fucking about.

I don't think I've ever told him but I respected him and learn't from him, and I still respect him.
I don't think i ever could tell him as it wouldn't come across the right way, it would seem fake.

it never worked, we were a tight, organised unit of mischief, with creative individuals, Aiden for example, we also had Searles arch nemesis in our ranks - Heywood)