An Accidental Circumnavigation: South Lancashire by Bus, 03 January 2017

The World’s Our Bus Stop: 2017 Edition

Some of the best laid plans are never planned at all. Some of them are made on the hoof, or they just fall into place. Serendipity and spontaneity can make for the greatest of journeys as we lose ourselves in another town, village, open space, or on a bus you never thought of catching.

My first circumnavigation of 2017 was a classic example. I left Chez Vall thinking “my first work day of 2017”. So I caught the 220 to Stalybridge bus station for the 0746 train to Salford Central.

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Sleepless Near Settle: Sleeplessness And My Childhood

Or: Why the creator of this blog is very much a night person

You will be wondering “why on Earth is The Chase’s Ann Hegerty in an East of the M60 article?” Well, the story behind this picture takes us to December 2014. After meeting her with (Tremendous Knowledge) David Rainford at The Water House in Manchester (in early 2013 after a Poetica event in City Library), I had finally got around to joining a local quiz team. Since the close of 2014, I have been involved in the quiz teams for The Wheatsheaf and The Lodge Hotel. Regular readers of this blog would know for sure the two pubs are in Dukinfield.

A Merry Christmas and a Peaceful New Year from East of the M60

Here’s to a less tumultuous 2017 (hopefully)

What a year 2016 has been – most of which have been memorable for the wrong reasons. As a thank you to all readers old and new, to East of the M60, here’s this year’s Christmas card.

This year’s Christmas card is inspired by a Christmas jumper pattern.

The Joy of Silence and the Music of Being

Why Silence is Golden

The road to Gairloch, leading to one of the most tranquil places I have ever had the joy of visiting in 2013. Image taken by Shearings Holidays (2014), who introduced me to this part of the world (Creative Commons License – Some Rights Reserved).

I am probably the last person on Earth to be associated with silence. In nearly ten years of running East of the M60, my online life has multiplied. Firstly, my first online experience was via college, since 1996. This was in The Good Old Days of Netscape 2.0, when Microsoft’s Internet Explorer browser was a mere upstart. We chatted to distant friends by email. As for our friends closer to home, we used to go to the pub.

Is This The 346? The Not So Perfect Ten

Another ten 346 bus routes across the UK and overseas

The 346 we know and love: Dukinfield’s 346 route, a product of two former SHMD routes (11 and 15).

Before I begin, it has been a while since our last edition of The Not So Perfect Ten. It has been even longer since we did a Not So Perfect Ten based on a bus route number. The last was a countdown on the 409 service (which only mustered nine entries at the time). The previous one to that was based on the 343 service.

Ringing the Frequency Changes: AM to FM and DAB to DAB+

Personal musings on broadcast radio frequency changes

 

Vintage radio image by Jeff Holt, 2012. (Creative Commons License: Attribution-Some Rights Reserved)

 

Before I went to bed, I learned about the possibility of more tasty radio stations coming my way. “Whoop whoop I thought,” thinking my erstwhile DAB receiver would benefit from a few new stations, using the DAB+ system. Then I realised the only one I would have been likely to listen to was Steve Penk’s Wind-Up channel. Chris Country was definitely out, so my opinions on the Manchester digital multiplex’s selection was met with a “meh”.

Memoirs of a BBC Micro Maniac, Aged Six

Or: how the school computer became my gateway drug to all things of an 8-bit nature.

If you know a thing or three about 8-bit computing, you would have come across the excellent drama, Micro Men (starring Alexander Armstrong as Sir Clive Sinclair). Or, you might have had first-hand experience with a Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum, or an Amstrad CPC. Even if you didn’t have access to a microcomputer in the home, you would have had first-hand experience at school.

Last Bus from Ashton: The Night I Saw Jeff Lynne’s ELO

The Mother of All Memorable Concerts at Manchester Arena, 10 April 2016

The rave reviews of their Manchester gig were well deserved. Surpassing my previous all time #1 gig (Roger Hodgson, 29 May 2013, Bridgewater Hall) and my last trip to Manchester Arena (Peter Kay’s Comic Relief gig), Jeff Lynne and Co. more than exceeded my expectations. By several notches.

Have Yourself a Very Merry Christmas from East of the M60

A Christmas Card for all our readers

Well, we only have eight days left of 2015 to enjoy. You know what that means: enjoy the last eight days. Drink sensibly and happy feasting. If you can find anything on the ol’ telebox this Yuletide, good luck to you!