Diary – Tuesday 13th September 2016

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An important day, being my first ever pub signs talk to a general audience. I travelled back to Manchester by coach, having booked a week ago to gain a decent discount on the journey, which lasted just over an hour via National Express, reminding me very much of The Divine Comedy song parodying such journeys. I arrived a few hours ahead of the talk – the next bus would have been too late. I filled in time with a visit to the public library, before meeting the event host in a pub next door to the talk venue, which is a function room attached to the library I had just left. Between my first and second arrivals at the library Manchester was hit by a spectacular thunder storm, which was still raging when we dashed for the talk-room entrance. Texts of apology came in from those unwilling to make the journey in such dire conditions, which flooded department stores in Manchester and led to the cancellation of a major football match too. I was invited to address members of Manchester’s Chorlton Civic Society, along with speakers addressing local social and political needs. For example, cut-backs from the government mean many children are not learning to swim as free school lessons are very restricted, which has obvious dangerous implications. (I learned to swim by the time I was ten). There is a campaign to get children generous discounts for lessons at local leisure club facilities. Sorting out the projector and screen was tricky, this being the first time I used one, but we got there in time for my power-point presentation to roll. I discovered afterwards that I tend to overuse the word ’basically’ when ad-libbing, using it up to three times in one sentence. My audience was down to twelve, but the talk was very well received and I already have three provisional invites to repeat the talk to other groups in South Manchester. My host kindly let me stay at her house overnight, so after a few glasses of wine, I got a good night’s sleep. Thanks to everyone who supported this event, online and on the night itself. Youtube – The Divine Comedy The National Express Song Arthur Chappell