Following the star

It’s a necessarily brief journal entry tonight. We’ve spent the day in Manchester which has presented the opportunity for many possibilities for today’s Wide Wednesday challenge. 

It’s a stunningly beautiful December day with not a cloud in the sky and both Manchester and its Christmas Markets sparkle in the winter sunshine. But this Christmas - like last Christmas - sadly can’t be simply froth and sparkle, as everywhere we look there are reminders of Covid - and to be honest, we probably shouldn’t even be here in the city, let alone attending a Rick Wakeman concert tonight. 

So despite the colourful festive tinsel and baubles that abound, I’ve gone for a mono image of a large illuminated star outside the Town Hall Extension in St Peter’s Square - currently a walk-in vaccine clinic.  Silhouetted in the arched cloisters are just some of those queuing for their Pfizer boosters - the full queue snakes round behind us. 

As an extra, there’s a slightly more upbeat backlit shot of St Anne’s Square Christmas Market - but the masks and shadows are still there! Strange times indeed!