The idea was to drop into the Central Library briefly, for nostalgia's sake, then spend the day at the People's History Museum which I enjoyed so much last time I was in Manchester, but we got distracted by the sun bouncing off all the shiny new buildings and illuminating the older ones. After I'd pointed out skilled and beautiful Victorian brickwork (second extra) for the umpteenth time, Secondborn said, 'so this is where the obsession started.' It had never occurred to me, but I guess it must have been.

We did get to the Central Library and stayed much longer than I intended. Eventually we got to the People's History Museum and stayed until closing time but a lot of our day was outdoors looking at new Manchester.

This steaming tower opposite the Bridgewater Hall is part of a plant owned by the city that generates efficient heat for large public buildings in the city centre: the Town Hall, Manchester Art Gallery, the Central Library and several others.

It was a shame that Firstborn had had to spend the day working but we all met up for our reason for coming here: the final gig of Bellowhead's reunion tour. Oh, such fun! We were high in the gallery and by weird coincidence found we were sitting next to some people we know from Oxford. When I couldn't sit still any longer and found that the other members of the audience in the gallery somehow could, I moved onto the steps to dance so as not to block their view. First me, then Secondborn, then Firstborn, then our Oxford mates and two others. And that was the gallery's lot. Odd. Much more lively in the circle and stalls.

We got told to stop, of course, probably for safety reasons. We didn't - we just moved somewhere less steep.

Bellowhead were wonderful - and extraordinary: a set lasting an hour-and-three-quarters without an interval.

Still buzzing on our way back we stopped for a drink at the Refuge. It used to be a beautiful brick insurance office that I regularly cycled past in the olden days which has now been converted into a bar and restaurant so that people like me can go and admire the nineteenth century interiors.

Extra 1 - modern buildings in sympathy?
Extra 2 - Victorian brickwork
Extra 3 - stone and brick seen from the Central Library