All up in the air...

I'm on holiday at last!! We started off in style with a weekend visit to Manchester and the Lowry at Salford to see our 'team' Birmingham Royal Ballet. Three performances of Sylvia in March hadn't been nearly enough so we did the Saturday matinee and evening and even managed to squeeze in company class. On Sunday we explored Manchester - the first time we've ever been - and I found myself agreeing to a trip on the Manchester Eye, a giant ferris wheel in the centre of the city. I'm not quite as bad as Grouse when it comes to heights, but I don't mind admitting being rather terrified. I was fine as long as the wheel kept turning, but when it stopped and we were just about at the top - and our pod started swaying in the breeze... well, it was an experience! I'm glad I did it - I felt very brave for the rest of the day - and really rather silly that I'd been so scared. And it might make a good setting for a short story one day. Yesterday's outing was a much more frightening proposition - the opticians. I don't mind the eye exam but choosing frames is a nightmare. It's like choosing a new nose or a different pair of ears! The fact that I'm practically blind without my glasses means my long suffering 'editor' had to make the decision for me: I'm useless when it comes to choosing with the webcam pictures either - I can't get past how dreadful I look! On the whole, it's an ordeal I could happily do without. Came home and engrossed myself in writing for a few hours: Hamish Bolph and Drover are all in a spot of serious bother at the moment and I'm considering the prospects for their rescue. Hoping the next few days will move things along a little!
Best cake? Manchester City Art Gallery where a giant piece of delicious cinammon and carrot cake was shared to push down one of the best cappuchinos I've had outside Italy. Speaking of Italy... but not just yet!