A rite of passage

I went to Heaton Park today. It's a place I often visit with book club as I organise a Sunday morning walk - followed by the obligatory coffee and cake! 

Heaton Park covers an area of over 600 acres and is the largest park in Greater Manchester and one of the largest municipal parks in Europe.  Heaton Hall is a Grade I listed building and has been called "the finest house of its period in Lancashire". 

Everyone who has grown up in the area has a photo of themselves sitting on the lions outside Heaton Hall - it's a rite of passage. Lots of book club ladies have continued the tradition to ensure they are a true Mancunian!

Quote for today:
Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up, it knows it must outrun the fastest lion or it will be killed. 
Every morning in Africa, a lion wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the slowest gazelle, or it will starve. 
It doesn't matter whether you're the lion or a gazelle, when the sun comes up, you'd better be running.
- Christopher McDougall