What should one do on a sunny Sunday afternoon in Manchester? When you’ve almost completed a PhD on the independent coffee shops and brunch spots of the Northern Quarter you know it’s time for a change of scenery.
My fabulous French Instagram wife C. had already suggested about a million times that she shows me around Chorlton, a neat suburban area of Manchester which she adores, so that’s where we went.
We crossed our fingers that the weather will remain warm and sunny (you never really know in Manchester) and set off for our Sunday adventure.
We started with some (imaginary) house hunting.
Chorlton felt definitely quieter and more peaceful than central Manchester, the kind of neighborhood where you want to go when you’re an indie parent who is seeking a safe area with good schools, Golden-Retriever-friendly streets, lots of greenery and slightly hipster-y coffee, food and booze places.
After a decent amount of walking around we decided that it was time to stop and refuel. With tea and cake, you guessed right. We went to Tea Hive on Manchester Road. Their cakes is an experience to which words don’t do enough justice – fresh, moist, seductive, scrumptious! Try them and come thank me later – preferably during that mild sugar high that follows their consumption.
Fab French Instagram wife looking fab as always.
If the weather plays along (or you’re feeling particularly lucky), sit outside. Whatever you decide to do, though, have a look around the entire place; I like to think that this is how Madam Puddifoot’s Tea Shop in Harry Potter would look like.
Hello, dream car.
If you find yourself in Chorlton, walk down Barlow Moor Road to discover a hidden gem, Chorlton Park.
Having grown up in a city with zero urban planning and few open spaces, I can’t help but get ecstatic every time I step into a park or garden.
Chorlton Park is the ideal place to exercise (shirtless)…
… have your very own The Sound of Music moment when the sun stops playing hide-and-seek…
… go looking for mushrooms…
… or simply relax on the grass and look cool.
I opted for picking petals of daisies whilst (ironically) wearing a dress covered in daisies, rendering the traditional he love me, he love me not into I’ll get the job, I won’t get the job…
Moments like that I always remember my dad telling me that, when he was a child growing up in a small fish village (no TV, no smartphones, no Pokemon Go), he and his friends would entertain themselves by staring at the sky and trying to spot clouds that looked like objects, people, animals, etc. So after thoroughly discussing boyfriend problems, job applications, world politics, exercise regimes, vegetarian recipes and shoe choices, C. and I spent some time simply looking up.
Not much to see in the photo below. Or maybe your imagination is better than mine. 😉
Optimistic (as always),
F.
