a nice day with a disturbing end

[incandescens]

Well, I was in Manchester today, and I seem to have avoided trouble by an hour or so.

I got there around midday, and spent most of the afternoon shopping. (Yes, books and craft stuff were involved.) I headed back to the station (Manchester Picadilly -- there are several Manchester railway stations) and got a bit lost on the way, managing to overshoot it to the south and have to come back via a nice canalside residential area, though admittedly it was a nice walk) and got to the station a few minutes before the train was due at 5.56pm. I was rather thirsty and was considering stopping for a coffee or whatever, and catching the next train. However, I'd looked up the trains beforehand, and I knew that the next one wouldn't be for another half-hour or so. I therefore decided to go for the bird in the hand, and get on the current train while I could, and pay for an overpriced drink on the train from the refreshment trolley if I really had to have something.

In retrospect, it was a good thing I did that. A couple of hours later, when I was home and had got round to turning on the television for the news, I found that there had been some rioting developing in Manchester, and while it wasn't directly on the area I'd been shopping in, it was certainly right next to it, and had been going up to the railway station. It was rather disturbing.

Nothing in Leeds so far, and I hope it stays that way. I'm also hoping for rain. I can't help thinking that a really heavy drenching downpour would do a lot to make some of the idiots on the streets a bit less enthusiastic. (I do not say that all the people on the streets are idiots, but rain would at least cut down on those of them who are idiots.)

Comments

[summer-queen.livejournal.com]

!!!

I'm so glad you got on the train. Better to forgo coffee and miss the rioters. I hope Leeds stays unscathed and that things calm down very soon. In no small part because my parents are supposed to head over in a few weeks, and I'd feel a lot better knowing they're not heading into trouble.

[incandescens]

Thank you.

I'm sure it'll be calmer by then. It'll probably have calmed down by the end of the week here. (At least, I am very much hoping so.)

[archangelbeth]

Yikes! I am glad that you came home on time!

[incandescens]

Thanks. :)

(This is not writing material that I want!)

[undauntra.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you are okay.

[incandescens]

Thanks.

[sophiap.livejournal.com]

Ack! That was too close a call. I'm glad you took the train you did.

[incandescens]

I would probably still have been okay for another hour or so, but it's unsettling to know that I was that close to it, if you know what I mean.

[flemmings.livejournal.com]

'What, in our town!' is an unpleasing sensation, I agree. Granted our street riots had a different ambiance to your street riots, the goal still seems to be the same-- to do as much damage as possible. Here's to buckets of rain.

(Mind, I remember the parents having to cancel a trip to France in '68 because there were barricades in Paris and the mayor was shot in Lyon. This is now considered Their Finest Hour. Go figure.)

[incandescens]

The current aim of our street riots seems to be looting and idiocy, whatever may have contributed to it. :P Thanks for the good thoughts.

[lady-ganesh.livejournal.com]

I hope you and yours stay safe.

[incandescens]

Thank you. We haven't had any trouble here in Leeds, and things seem to be quietening down generally, so fingers crossed . . .

[lady-ganesh.livejournal.com]

Yeah, today's news seems better, so here's hoping.