Monday 30 October 2017

CALLING ALL WOMEN!


If you've ever wondered what it would be like to present your own radio show and are based in the North West, have I got a treat for you! As part of the Manchester Festival of Social Science, ALL FM are offering a FREE radio training day for women. No experience or technical knowledge is needed - just buckets of enthusiasm!

Date: Monday 6th November 10am - 5:30am

Venue: ALL FM 96.9 Radio Station, 19 Albert Road, M19 2EQ

If that isn't groovy enough, the generous folks are also throwing in lunch and travel expenses up to £5.20. If you're interested contact suzihoffman35@gmail.com. Don't waste a minute, as places are limited!

Testing, testing, 1, 2, 3...


Saturday 28 October 2017

Under The Microscope: Charles Addams

To celebrate Halloween I thought I'd dedicate today's UTM to the inimitable Charles Addams. Creator of the macabre Addams family, Charles became a household name thanks to his dark wit.


Here's a bunch of his zaniest cartoons to set the tone:









I know what film I'll be watching tonight...


BIG MOOD.



Beware of the thing!


Thes Pastitio?

Happy Oxi Day!

Tim Walker Blue Balloons


Friday 27 October 2017

Copycat

Happy national black cat day.


Although every day is BCD with our two monsters running amok!




Thursday 26 October 2017

Whit’s Fur Ye’ll No Go Past Ye

I read an article the other day about a geordie bloke who had a meeting in London. Hmm, this is beginning to sound like a limerick. Anyway, he managed to skirt around the UK's staggering train fares by taking a cheeky detour to Spain. This ingenious idea was not only cheaper, but - actually, see for yourself:

Newcastle > London train: £78.50

OR

Newcastle > Menorca flight £15.99
Menorca > London flight £10.99
Car hire £7.50
Sex on the beach cocktail £4

This chap realised that he could spend an afternoon on an exotic Spanish island, hire a car, have a cocktail on the beach, then fly to London and still have £40 left over - or sit on a three hour train. What would you have rather done? It especially made me chuckle as in the past I too have gone to extremes to get from A to B, managing to not only save money but squeeze in random City breaks as a bonus!


Norwegian chocolate wrappers stuck in one of my old high school diaries.

At the tail end of summer 2012, I saved a decent amount on my Corfu - Manc flight by flying via Oslo. My pals and I made the most of our 8 hour stop and had a majestic afternoon exploring Norway's capital. Similarly last year I flew Corfu - Manchester via Glasgow. As a bunch of my Greek friends are studying there, I stuck around for a couple of wild days then got the megabus home. The flight was a third of the price and the megabus cost a measly £13!

I've actually visited Glasgow a few times now and am head over heels in love with the city. I even dedicated a post once to my favourite jaunts in the city. During my fleeting trip last September, I insisted on squeezing in a trip to my favourite spot: the gallery of modern art:




I also caught the cosmic adventures in space exhibition at the lighthouse. I spent the afternoon exploring the history of architecture in science-fiction through books, films, TV and comics - I was engrossed!





If you're a fellow sci-fi enthusiast, I recommend checking out Aeon Flux!



The next time you're trying to get from A to B and find yourself setting the Erinyes on northern rail's ludicrous prices, remember that there are more than two letters in the alphabet...

Wednesday 25 October 2017

TEST YOUR MIGHT

I've been working at Manchester Central lately and on my lunch break indulging in the city's hidden treasures. If I'm not glued to Affleck's arcade machines, or in the library, you'll find me at the art gallery.





I thought I'd share a glimpse of what you can expect at MAG if you ever fancy a change of scenery. As you enter the gallery you're greeted by a neon sing which reads welcome in Urdu. It plucks the same fuzzy warm heart string as the 'everything is connected' sign that I spy every morning as the train pulls up to Piccadilly before I dash to work.



I must have glared at this stunning painting by James Webb, entitled The Signal (1860), for a good five minutes. It reminded me of one of my favourite Maya Angelou poems where we belong, a duet - particularly the enchanting line then you rose into my life like a promised sunrise.



When you put your iPod on shuffle.



Συν Αθηνά και χείρα κίνει




Another favourite of mine was Hetain Patel's mesmerising Don't Look at the Finger film.








Right, my half an hour's up. Time to head back to work.