THESE LINKS ARE a little late as we still try to process the terribly sad events that unfolded in Manchester earlier this week. Perhaps it would be best to sum up our feelings with Poet Tony Walsh’s ode to the city and its people, which he performed in front of thousands at a vigil of peace in Albert Square yesterday. Listen here (UK) and here (US) and read the full poem below:
This is the place
In the north-west of England. It’s ace, it’s the best
And the songs that we sing from the stands, from our bands
Set the whole planet shaking.
Our inventions are legends.
There’s nowt we can’t make, and so we make brilliant music
We make brilliant bands
We make goals that make souls leap from seats in the stands
And we make things from steel
And we make things from cotton
And we make people laugh, take the mick summat rotten
And we make you at home
And we make you feel welcome and we make summat happen
And we can’t seem to help it
And if you’re looking from history, then yes we’ve a wealth
But the Manchester way is to make it yourself
And make us a record, a new number one
And make us a brew while you’re up, love, go on
And make us feel proud that you’re winning the league
And make us sing louder and make us believe that this is the place that has helped shape the world
And this is the place where a Manchester girl named Emmeline Pankhurst from the streets of Moss Side, led a suffragette city with sisterhood pride
And this is the place with appliance of science, we’re on it, atomic, we struck with defiance, and in the face of a challenge, we always stand tall, Mancunians, in union, delivered it all
Such as housing and libraries and health, education and unions and co-ops and first railway stations
So we’re sorry, bear with us, we invented commuters. But we hope you forgive us, we invented computers
And this is the place Henry Rice strolled with rolls, and we’ve rocked and we’ve rolled with our own northern soul
And so this is the place to do business then dance, where go-getters and goal-setters know they’ve a chance
And this is the place where we first played as kids. And me mum, lived and died here, she loved it, she did
And this is the place where our folks came to work, where they struggled in puddles, they hurt in the dirt and they built us a city, they built us these towns and they coughed on the cobbles to the deafening sound to the steaming machines and the screaming of slaves, they were scheming for greatness, they dreamed to their graves
And they left us a spirit. They left us a vibe. That Mancunian way to survive and to thrive and to work and to build, to connect, and create and Greater Manchester’s greatness is keeping it great
And so this is the place now with kids of our own. Some are born here, some drawn here, but they all call it home
And they’ve covered the cobbles, but they’ll never defeat, all the dreamers and schemers who still teem through these streets
Because this is a place that has been through some hard times: oppressions, recessions, depressions, and dark times
But we keep fighting back with Greater Manchester spirit. Northern grit, Northern wit, and Greater Manchester’s lyrics
And these hard times again, in these streets of our city, but we won’t take defeat and we don’t want your pity
Because this is a place where we stand strong together, with a smile on our face, greater Manchester forever
And we’ve got this place where a team with a dream can get funding and something to help with a scheme
Because this is a place that understands your grand plans. We don’t do “no can do” we just stress “yes we can”
Forever Manchester’s a charity for people round here, you can fundraise, donate, you can be a volunteer. You can live local, give local, we can honestly say, we do charity different, that Mancunian way
And we fund local kids, and we fund local teams. We support local dreamers to work for their dreams. We support local groups and the great work they do. So can you help us. help local people like you?
Because this is the place in our hearts, in our homes, because this is the place that’s a part of our bones
Because Greater Manchester gives us such strength from the fact that this is the place, we should give something back
Always remember, never forget, forever Manchester
{p.s.} past weekend links
A few lovely links :
* Bohemian Home of Interior Designer Anna Spiro [Gravity Home]
* At The Shop: introducing the new Avignon Wicker Handbag [thisisglamorous.com/shop]
* Arts & Culture: Lorenzo Quinn at the Venice Biennale [tempo da delicadeza]
* At The Shop: our new selection of contemporary art [thisisglamorous.com/shop]
* A Fresh and Colorful Apartment by Studio TH [Living Gazette]
* At the beach: this perfect pink seersucker swimsuit
* Fashion: Summer Whites, Part 1 [Vanessa Jackman]
* For summer days: this silk georgette dress and these espadrilles
* Fashion: Summer Whites, Part 2 [Vanessa Jackman]
* At Home: this mirrored coffee table or this reclaimed wood one
* Recipe: Billionaire Bars [Not Without Salt]
& of course, a few things you may have missed …
* In the News 22.05.17 : Today’s Articles of Interest from Around the Internets
* The Edit | At Home: Styling with Animal Print
* Playlist 20.05.17 : Five Songs for the Weekend
* In the News 19.05.17 : Today’s Articles of Interest from Around the Internets
* This Week: 10 Things We Love Lately 18.05.17
* In the News 17.05.17 : Today’s Articles of Interest from Around the Internets
* City Guide | Places: Waltz – Nakameguro, Meguro, Tokyo
* Weekday Wanderlust | Places: San Francisco with Sophia Goldberg (@sophia.gb)
* Runway: Christian Dior Cruise 2018
* In the News 15.05.17 : Today’s Articles of Interest from Around the Internets
* Notes from the Weekend & A Few Lovely Links
Credits
[Top Images: @janicejoostemaa /@mylondonfairytales / @georgiannalane /@truenord]