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Happy Hallowe’en everyone!
Great Northern Warehouse have unleashed the beast!
It has emerged from the depths of Great Northern to celebrate Halloween this week.
Head down to Deansgate in Manchester and spot this massive creature of the dark….
The Tour of Britain came to Tameside on Saturday.
Britain’s premier cycling race passed through Gee Cross, Hattersley, Mottram, Stalybridge and Mossley as the riders completed the final stage of the 2019 edition. The Tour took in some of Tameside’s finest scenery and was broadcast live on ITV4.
The Steve Harley Acoustic Trio appeared at Darwen Library Theatre last Thursday. Steve Harley is a bit of a hero of mine actually.
I’ve seen him a few times over the last 30 years so to be given the opportunity to photograph the gig was great.
The best bit however, was being given a little time with Steve after his sound check. A nice guy and the ultimate professional.
Healthwatch Oldham held its Forum in Alexandra Park last Saturday. Dozens of families enjoyed lots of activities including a fancy dress fun run.
And the rain didn’t spoil anyone’s fun!
Healthwatch is the independent “consumer champion” for health and social care. It was set up to help people all over the country who use services to have a powerful influence in how services are run, as well as to help people to make informed choices about the health and social care options open to them.
A record-breaking 400,000 people came to Bolton’s biggest ever Food and Drink Festival.
Figures collected by Transport for Greater Manchester at key locations around the town centre show that there were 398,943 visitors over the four days (Aug 23 to 26).
The annual festival celebrated its 14th anniversary this year and is organised by Bolton Council in association with Aldi UK.
Last year the event welcomed 274,000 people and organisers have put the increase down to a combination of winning ingredients, including the weather.
Leader of Bolton Council, Cllr David Greenhalgh said he wasn’t surprised at the numbers.
“These visitor numbers are incredible but will be no surprise to those who saw how busy the festival was every day of the Bank Holiday weekend,” he said.
“It was a glorious weekend weather-wise too and these amazing figures show that it wasn’t just the temperatures that have rocketed over the weekend!
“It was a wonderful family event, and we’ve had so much positive feedback already from traders, chefs, sponsors, partners, and of course visitors to the festival.
“Everyone was enjoying themselves, whether it was watching chef demos, listening to the music or having something to eat or drink, or having fun with the family.
“We had visitors from all over the country and further afield such as Australia and the Netherlands, who came especially for the festival.
“It is, as James Martin himself said, the biggest and best festival in the country and I would like to thank everyone involved for making the event a huge success.”
James Martin made his 11th appearance at the festival for three live demos at the event in the heart of the town centre, and also walked around the festival site. He said: “This is the biggest and best food and drink festival in the country.”
Visitors flocked in to Bolton town centre from around the world including Sydney, France and the Netherlands to sample food and drink from more than 200 traders, watch top chefs in action including The Hairy Bikers, Gregg Wallace, Michael Caines, Simon Wood and Aiden Byrne, and enjoy live music and entertainment over the four days.
Daphne Van Aken, a Dutch food blogger, from the Netherlands said she had visited many food festivals around the world but not one as big as Bolton’s. “I chose to come to Bolton for the festival. I don’t think I’ve ever been to such a big festival, it’s really well organised. It’s so diverse and there’s so much to do.”
There were also more than 70 live music acts on two stages, street entertainment over the four days, and the former BHS unit in Crompton Place was transformed into the Family Zone.
Traders were also pleased with the event. Churtopia has been at the festival for the last eight years. Daniel O’Grady, from the churros company, said: “We encourage other traders from all around the country to come here and trade.
“I was speaking to another trader who does five of these a week, he works flat out. This is his first year here and he’s never experienced anything like Bolton Food and Drink Festival.
“Bolton attracts people from all over the country, both customers and traders. We will definitely come again. We love being here.”
Ruth Doyle, Regional Managing Director at Aldi UK, added: “We are a huge supporter of the festival and it gets better and better every year.”
For more information, please visit www.boltonfoodanddrinkfestival.com, follow on Twitter/Instagram @BoltonFoodFest and Facebook @BoltonFoodAndDrinkFestival.
Chill Factore is celebrating Pride across the region and invited one of the UK’s most famous drag queens to put on a breathtaking display, skiing down the slope in full regalia.
The Vivienne has been performing around the world for the past 11 years and since 2015 has been the UK ambassador for the global hit TV show, RuPaul’s Drag Race.
She donned her famous blue sequin dress, swapped her pink stilettos for ski boots, and let her blonde locks loose on the snow. The Vivienne sashayed down the 180-metre snow slope complete with a free-flowing Pride flag trailing behind her, showcasing its array of mesmerising colours.
Commenting on her first drag race on the snow, The Vivienne said “This is the best I’ve ever felt in drag, If I can walk in 10-inch heels I can walk in skis! I’ve always been a fan of skiing, it really is an activity for anyone and everyone, regardless of ability.”
“It has been such an honour being asked to represent the LGBTQ+ community at Chill Factore and be the first drag queen on the slope, it’s the perfect way to glide into Pride.”
To continue the celebration of inclusivity across Manchester, Chill Factore is offering a further 20% off Snow Park, lift passes and taster lessons for guests who present a valid Pride wristband*.
On bringing the spirit of Manchester Pride to Chill Factore, CEO Morwenna Angove, said: “We are often bringing fantastic and breath-taking activities to Chill Factore and this was certainly no exception.
“To watch The Vivienne lavishly ski down the snow slope with the Pride flag trailing behind displayed just how wonderful this celebration across the region really is.
“It may be the first time we’ve had a drag queen become an ice queen here at Chill Factore but it certainly won’t be the last.”
HERE comes the bride . . . with a pizza down her side!
Her gown and train is decorated in cheese and pepperoni and has a “crust” edging.
She even has a matching pizza bouquet.
It may be a little over the top-ping for some tastes, but others might knead the colourful outfit for their big day — especially as it won’t cost them any dough.
The amazing dress is part of a one-off wedding prize in a competition being run by pizza maker Chicago Town. The winner will also be treated to a honeymoon in Chicago.
And wedding guests will be able to take away a slice of a special six-tier pizza cake.
The competition was announced after a poll of 2,000 Brits found that food was as important than the wedding ceremony itself for some guests.
Seven per cent said they would turn down an invite to a wedding because they didn’t like the sound of the food being served up, while eight per cent admit that they have left a wedding early because the food wasn’t up to scratch.
Rachel Bradshaw, of Chicago Town, said: “Weddings are the ultimate celebration of love, but it seems our obsession with food trumps everything else. Our research has revealed that 65 per cent of Brits would be more excited about attending a wedding if they knew pizza was on the menu.”
A spokesman for Chicago Town said: “The unique pizza wedding dress is loosely modelled on Rihanna’s iconic 2018 Met Gala dress – and the package is available for one lucky bride-to-be due to get married this year.”
https://www.thesun.co.uk/fabulous/9538433/pizza-dress-bridal-package-competition/
Hundreds of well-wishers journeyed to Chester Cathedral from across the Diocese of Chester to mark Bishop Peter Forster’s long ministry as the Bishop of Chester.
Joining Bishop Peter and his wife at the emotional and joyful farewell service were their four children and their families.
Representatives from parishes right across the Diocese attended to give thanks for Bishop Peter who is due to formally retire on 30 September.
In his sermon, Bishop Peter quoted from the Book of Job, and referenced the parable of the labourers in the vineyard.
Bishop Peter said: “Jesus invites us to journey with Job when times seem tough, and also to accept the invitation to labour in his vineyard, and be rewarded just like everyone else, however and whenever that invitation from Jesus comes to us. He is the vine; we are the branches. Jesus invites us to recognise that our lives are lived with him in God. That we only live because Christ lives in us.
“I hope that I have been able at least to attempt to conduct my ministry as Bishop in these terms”.
I first met Barrie when he signed for Oldham RLFC as a teenager in 1991.
I met him at Watersheddings one dark night in his sparkling new kit to photograph him for the Oldham Evening Chronicle.
Since that night I’ve photographed Barrie dozens of times during matches when he played for Oldham and also for Great Britain against other top rugby league playing countries – including a few memorable matches against Australia. I’m sure Barrie remembers those particular matches well….
We occasionally bump into each other at charity or sporting events. Recently I asked Barrie if I could photograph him in his home. As accommodating as ever, Barrie agreed and there are a few examples below from that day.
Thanks again Barrie.
Had some time off recently so decided to visit Rome and Florence in Italy. Beautiful country.
All photography shot on a Nikon D810 and 24mm f1.4
Rome is the capital city and a special comune of Italy (named Comune di Roma Capitale). Rome also serves as the capital of the Lazio region. With 2,872,800 residents in 1,285 km2 (496.1 sq mi), it is also the country’s most populated comune. It is the fourth-most populous city in the European Union by population within city limits. It is the centre of the Metropolitan City of Rome, which has a population of 4,355,725 residents, thus making it the most populous metropolitan city in Italy. Rome is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, within Lazio (Latium), along the shores of the Tiber. The Vatican City (the smallest country in the world) is an independent country inside the city boundaries of Rome, the only existing example of a country within a city: for this reason Rome has been often defined as capital of two states.
Rome has the status of a global city. In 2016, Rome ranked as the 14th-most-visited city in the world, 3rd most visited in the European Union, and the most popular tourist attraction in Italy. Its historic centre is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The famous Vatican Museums are among the world’s most visited museums while the Colosseum was the most popular tourist attraction in world with 7.4 million visitors in 2018. Host city for the 1960 Summer Olympics, Rome is the seat of several specialized agencies of the United Nations, such as the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Food Programme (WFP) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). The city also hosts the Secretariat of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean as well as the headquarters of many international business companies such as Eni, Enel, TIM, Leonardo S.p.A., and national and international banks such as Unicredit and BNL. Its business district, called EUR, is the base of many companies involved in the oil industry, the pharmaceutical industry, and financial services. Rome is also an important fashion and design centre thanks to renowned international brands centered in the city. Rome’s Cinecittà Studios have been the set of many Academy Award–winning movies.
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with 383,084 inhabitants in 2013, and over 1,520,000 in its metropolitan area.
Florence was a centre of medieval European trade and finance and one of the wealthiest cities of that era. It is considered the birthplace of the Renaissance, and has been called “the Athens of the Middle Ages”. A turbulent political history includes periods of rule by the powerful Medici family and numerous religious and republican revolutions. From 1865 to 1871 the city was the capital of the recently established Kingdom of Italy. The Florentine dialect forms the base of Standard Italian and it became the language of culture throughout Italy due to the prestige of the masterpieces by Dante Alighieri, Petrarch, Giovanni Boccaccio, Niccolò Machiavelli and Francesco Guicciardini.
The city attracts millions of tourists each year, and the Historic Centre of Florence was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1982. The city is noted for its culture, Renaissance art and architecture and monuments. The city also contains numerous museums and art galleries, such as the Uffizi Gallery and the Palazzo Pitti, and still exerts an influence in the fields of art, culture and politics. Due to Florence’s artistic and architectural heritage, it has been ranked by Forbes as one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
