NQ

When I was first seeing the Minx, my favourite place in Manchester was the Northern Quarter. It had a kind of seedy glamour to it, a frontiersland of bars and restaurants, all sharing a transient vibe. 

These days, it feels like the Quarter has been subsumed into Manchester as a whole, and my favourite places are dotted around the city, and not in any one particular area.

But that's not to say that I don't pop into the Northern Quarter from time to time, and this morning I walked across to meet Charlie for breakfast at Idle Hands on Dale Street. 

My fears at icy conditions underfoot were unnecessary, but even so I took the bus up to Shudehill and walked from there. I came in along Thomas Street, which, this morning at least, was still looking pretty gritty.

I had a great time with Charlie who is off to London, today, en route to Marseilles, where she's visiting a friend, and later in the afternoon she posted some nice photos of her, Dan, and my brother, Wol. 

(And while they were having beers, I went out for a run with Hannah. We did four and a half miles, which was impressive for her; the most she's ever done before is three. But she took it in her stride, and was chatty all the way 'round, which is always a good sign.)