Greater Manchester

I am still reeling from the news of the events at the Arena last night. The softest of soft targets, teenagers with their friends and parents, mostly girls and women. Violent death and injury is unbearable in any circumstances but the effects of this attack will be part of people's lives for generations to come. Last week I was at my aunt's funeral with my mother. She still talks about the Manchester blitz. She was only a child then, and noone knew if her older sister was alive or dead until she walked back through the door the next day. Some of my friends on facebook are counsellors and trauma therapists. They are offering their services. Others are sharing contact numbers and photos, offers of help. Manchester is where I'm from, where many of my friends live and work, where I went through the rites of passage of going to concerts and gigs with friends as a young teenager. Years later I took my children to events and concerts there, sharing the experience, bonding over the music. I have worked on the door at clubs including the Hacienda. Many of my friends have connections to the music business in the city and beyond. I have been that parent waiting outside the venue. I have been that parent inside the venue with them. I have been that parent waiting for them to come home with someone else's. The media circus that takes over when an event of this enormity happens is harrowing. but in among the eye witness accounts and the heartbreaking stories is the strong message that this is greater Manchester. People are coming together, rather than being divided. For many reasons I am proud to say I come from Manchester and today is one of them.

Any Port in a Storm

A couple of months ago I was travelling to the West Country by train. I had a lot on my mind and I knew reading a book wasn't going to be enough to distract me. I'd seen a short story competition on the Gifford's Circus Facebook page and I thought I'd have a go. Only 500 words on the theme of this year's show, Any Port in a Storm. I had a couple of ideas. As I travelled towards Devon, I recalled my brief time at Exeter University. In 1972 I spent a term there. Homesick for my friends in the North I was back by Christmas. There were some interesting times though and one involved going to the Tar Barrel Festival in Ottery St Mary around Bonfire Night. There was a fair in town that was straight out of a Thomas Hardy novel. Sideshows included a two headed calf and a five legged lamb. There was even a mermaid sitting in a glass tank. Somehow she found her way into my story. Last week I was thrilled to learn that I have won the competition. I get tickets to the circus, but what's even more exciting is that my tale is printed in the circus programme. When I go to the show Tweedy the clown will read my story out loud! I'm so thrilled to be part of the circus.