Film - Tech - Hiking - Sport - Music

The Battle Britpop Brought Back to Life

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

🎭 The Battle

Manchester Opera House 19th March 2026

For once, we actually did something unheard of. We set off early.

Usually it is the same story with traffic, last minute stress and sliding into our seats just as the lights go down. Not this time. We gave ourselves plenty of time and still somehow managed to be reminded that parking around the Opera House is a complete rip off. You win some you lose some.

Anyway, onto the show.

🎸 Back to the Britpop Wars

The moment things got going, the memories came flooding back.

If you...

Derwent Edge, Ladybower Reservoir and The Wheelstones

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000

🥾 Derwent Edge, Ladybower Reservoir and The Wheelstones

This one got off to a rare perfect start. We actually set off early and everything went to plan.

We arrived mid morning and parking was an absolute doddle for once. No stress, no circling, just straight in and boots on. Considering how busy Ladybower Reservoir can get, that felt like a win before we had even started.

The weather was spot on too. Clear skies and sunshine, one of those days where you know you have picked the right time to get out.

🌄 The Climb to Derwent Edge

...

Britpop Classical at Manchester Apollo

Sat, 14 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

🎸 Britpop Classical

Manchester Apollo 14th March 2026

Back at what is probably my favourite venue in Manchester, the Apollo. There is just something about the place. The size, the layout, the history. It always feels like the perfect setting for a night of live music.

Interestingly, this one was not sold out, which made for a much more relaxed experience. Plenty of space, no crushing crowds and even better, we were asked on the way in if we wanted to move forward about 12 rows. For some reason we turned it down. Still not sure why. One of...

Fire Raisers at Hope Mill Theatre

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

🎭 Fire Raisers

Hope Mill Theatre 13th March 2026

Friday the 13th and back at a venue I make no secret about loving.

Hope Mill Theatre is one of those places that just gets it right. It is quirky, intimate and feels a bit like a hidden gem tucked away in Manchester. Every visit feels like something a bit different and that is exactly why I keep going back.

🍕 Pre Show Traditions

Before even getting into the play, the usual pre show routine was in full effect.

Pizza and hummus. Simple, effective and now pretty much part...

The David Bowie Experience A Decade On, Still Starman

Sat, 10 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

🎤 The David Bowie Experience

Opera House Manchester 10th January 2025

There’s something quietly powerful about the date alone. 10th January 2025 marked ten years since David Bowie’s passing, and stepping into the Opera House Manchester that night felt less like attending a gig and more like joining a collective moment of remembrance.

This wasn’t about mourning though. It was very clearly a celebration.

⭐ A Setlist Packed with Icons

From the first note, The David Bowie Experience made its intentions clear. This was wall-to-wall Bowie. No narration. No storytelling. No attempts to contextualise or explain. Just song...

Atari Retro Collection Project

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

🕹️ Atari Retro Collection Project

My first ever console was an Atari 2600, the classic woodgrain version, so when Atari announced the Atari 2600+, I jumped at the chance to relive some serious childhood memories.

Yes, original consoles are still out there, but the appeal of the 2600+ was obvious straight away:

HDMI output for modern TVs
Smaller, cleaner form factor
Compatibility with Atari 2600 and 7800 cartridges

Within minutes of unboxing, I was straight back in the late 70s and early 80s, joystick in hand, rediscovering games I hadn’t touched in decades.

📺 Why the...

The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe – A Rushed Arrival into Narnia

Sun, 04 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

🎭 The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe

The Lowry, Salford 4th January 2026

A trip to the theatre is usually something I look forward to: the anticipation, the build-up, the chance to slow down and sink into a live performance. This one, however, started in a bit of a sprint.

🚗 Parking: A Minor Battle Before Narnia

If you’re heading to The Lowry, do yourself a favour and arrive early. Parking is, frankly, a bit of a ballache, especially when it’s shared with the shopping centre. Cars circling, tempers rising, time ticking.

There is a saving grace:...

Hiking Piethorne Reservoir

Sun, 21 Dec 2025 13:00:00 +0000

🥾 Piethorne Reservoir Winter Hike Review

Piethorne is one of those walks that never quite feels the same twice, and this late December outing was very much a case of embracing the conditions rather than fighting them.

We headed out for a brisk morning hike, mainly to get the blood flowing and clear the head before the rest of the day. From the off, the weather set the tone foggy, misty and damp, with a light drizzle hanging in the air. Not unpleasant, but definitely the sort of weather that seeps into your clothes if you’re not paying attention.

...

Film Review: The Running Man (2025)

Sun, 21 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

🎬 The Running Man (2025) Review

The Running Man (2025), directed by Edgar Wright and starring Glen Powell, is a high-energy, visually striking remake of the earlier action classic. While I’m not sure it compares completely with the original maybe that’s just sentimentality talking the special effects and cinematography are certainly an upgrade in this version, and it made for an enjoyable watch all the same.

In this near-future dystopia, working class Ben Richards is thrust into a brutal televised contest where survival becomes both spectacle and propaganda. Powell carries the role with charm and grit, bringing star power...

The Clause Manchester Academy 2

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

🎸 The Clause – Manchester Academy 2

Wednesday 18th December 2025

We got down to Manchester Academy 2 nice and early for this one, partly to grab a decent spot and partly to catch the support. It turned out to be a good call.

🎶 Support: Kairos

First up were Kairos, a sharp guitar band from Liverpool which I suppose I’ll forgive them for.

Joking aside, they were really good: tight, confident and clearly enjoying themselves. The guitars were on point and they warmed the room up properly. The only downside? They didn’t play my favourite...

Inspiral Carpets @ Albert Hall Manchester

Sat, 13 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

🎸 Inspiral Carpets Albert Hall Manchester

13th December | Albert Hall

I’ll admit it straight away I have a soft spot for Inspiral Carpets.

This is a band I followed locally when they were just getting going, back when you’d catch them in sweaty rooms like The Mare & Foal, The Castle, The Hurricane, and anywhere else that would have them.

I’ve got the rare vinyls.
I’ve seen the band grow, change and endure.
And nights like this remind you exactly why they matter.

🐄 Madchester Royalty Back on Home Turf

The Albert Hall...

Tina Turner The Musical @ Palace Theatre Manchester

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

🎤 Tina Turner The Musical Palace Theatre Manchester

From the cotton fields of Nutbush, Tennessee to the global stages that crowned her the Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll, Tina Turner The Musical charts one of the most extraordinary lives in music.

Tina didn’t just break rules she rewrote the book.

A survivor. A powerhouse. A 12 time Grammy winning icon whose story is as fierce as her voice.

The Palace Theatre Manchester proved the perfect backdrop for a show that is equal parts emotional storytelling and adrenaline-fuelled concert energy.

🎶 A Story of Resilience, Power and...

Gig Review: A Tribute to Manchester @ Manchester Academy

Fri, 05 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

🎸 A Tribute to Manchester Manchester Academy

Manchester is a city that breathes music. Its bands, venues and stories are woven into the cultural DNA not just of the city but of entire generations. On Friday 5th December, Manchester Academy hosted a night dedicated to that legacy a celebration of the artists who shaped a sound, defined an era and still soundtrack our lives today.

This wasn’t just a gig it was a nostalgia trip, a reunion, and at times, a wake for a fallen hero. It was loud, chaotic, brilliant, imperfect and emotional – in other words, exactly...

Nuremberg (2025) Film Review

Sun, 23 Nov 2025 10:00:00 +0000

📘 Plot Summary

The film focuses on the true story of the psychological duel between US Army psychiatrist Douglas Kelley (Rami Malek) and the imprisoned Nazi leader Hermann Göring (Russell Crowe) during the first Nuremberg trial in 1945-1946. As the Allies attempt to hold the Nazi regime accountable for the Holocaust, Kelley works to understand the depths of their evil.

Despite arriving late and missing the first five or so minutes (or, let’s be honest, maybe twenty 😅), Nuremberg still pulled me straight into its world and held my attention all the way through its long, deliberate runtime.

For...

Peter Hook and the Light Holmfirth Picturedrome

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Peter Hook and The Light – Picturedrome, Holmfirth – Thursday, November 20th

Thursday night at the Picturedrome in Holmfirth was a bittersweet celebration of post-punk classics as Peter Hook and The Light delivered a spellbinding performance. The crowd, buzzing with excitement, filled the intimate venue with energy from the moment Hooky and the band took the stage. Fans old and new swayed and sang along to every note, creating an electric and communal atmosphere.

The setlist was a masterclass in nostalgia, opening with the punchy “Get Ready” followed by “Crystal” (New Order cover) and “60 Miles an Hour”, immediately...

CRASH Live 2025 A Retro Gaming Weekend in Warwickshire

Mon, 17 Nov 2025 10:00:00 +0000

The CRASH Live 2025 event took place on the 15th and 16th November 2025, hosted at the Holiday Inn in Kenilworth, Warwickshire and what a weekend it turned out to be.

Battling the Storms to Get There

The journey down was not for the faint-hearted.
After a night of relentless storms, flooded roads, and detours that felt like bonus levels from a lost 8-bit adventure game, getting to the venue became an achievement in itself. But arriving at the hotel, greeted by fellow retro enthusiasts, made the effort instantly worthwhile. The banging breakfast went down well and it...

Hiking Ingleton Falls

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Ingleton Falls Hike (Fierce Storm Waterfalls)

We tackled the always-awesome Ingleton Waterfalls Trail just a day after Storm Claudia, and it completely transformed the experience.

The waterfalls were absolutely roaring the most powerful I’ve ever seen them. The trail started out dry enough, but by the halfway point the skies opened and we got soaked. Classic Yorkshire weather.

A couple of changes on the route stood out:

The once reliable ice-cream van is no longer there.

However, there’s now a small kiosk by the caravan park that does drinks and snacks, which was a welcome surprise.

We got...

Hiking Whernside The Highest of the Yorkshire Three Peaks

Wed, 12 Nov 2025 21:00:00 +0000

🏔️ Hiking to the Top of Whernside

Whernside is the tallest of the Yorkshire Three Peaks, and although it’s often called the gentler giant, the weather on this trip decided otherwise, still in the midst of a storm so we got lucky. We began at the mighty Ribblehead Viaduct, an iconic and dramatic starting point.

Only a short way into the route, we reached a stunning waterfall section a perfect early highlight before the long, steady ridge climb.

✈️ A400 Flyover A Standout Moment

Not long after passing the waterfall, a deep rumble echoed through the...

Review: Fawlty Towers The Play Palace Theatre Manchester

Sat, 08 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Review

I managed to snag a couple of cheap tickets via Tickets and landed in the Palace Theatre for the touring production of Fawlty Towers The Play. The evening is an affectionate, often uproarious stage distillation of John Cleese’s original sitcom. The production stitches together the best bits from three episodes into a tight two-hour farce, and the result mostly sings.

Cast & performances

The casting is the engine that powers this show. Danny Bayne’s Basil is all twitchy indignation and frantic physicality he clearly studies Cleese’s physical comedy and makes it his own. Mia Austen’s Sybil is...

Gig Review: Tom Meighan @ Whittles, Oldham

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Review

The small downstairs room at Whittles Tokyo Project in Oldham offered a modest, almost intimate setting for Tom Meighan’s return to the town. On a quiet Tuesday night, with only a modest turnout by his standards, the gig didn’t carry the energy of a large festival or arena show; instead it felt personal, lean and stripped-back.

The evening opened with support from Aziz Ibrahim. His set, while uncertain in front of a sparse crowd, had some strong moments, a few standout guitar lines and a rawness in tone that hinted at what might be possible under fuller attendance....

Review: Walk Right Back The Everly Brothers Story

Sat, 01 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Walk Right Back The Everly Brothers Story Theatre Royal Wakefield

I’m not entirely sure how I ended up at this show 🤷I was talked into going and I don’t have any particular interest in The Everly Brothers. Their music isn’t something I grew up with, and I couldn’t name more than one or two songs before stepping into the Theatre Royal Wakefield. So expectations were modest at best.

To my surprise, Walk Right Back turned out to be an enjoyable night. It’s a brisk, good-natured tribute musical that rattles through the Everly Brothers’ story with a mix of live...

Building My Own Blog Site with Jekyll

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Why I Chose Jekyll for My Blog

Creating your own blog gives you full control over content, design, and performance. I wanted a platform that:

Is lightweight and fast ✅

Supports Markdown content naturally 📄

Allows full customization without relying on WordPress or hosted platforms 🎨

Integrates easily with GitHub Pages for free hosting 🌐

Can showcase my interests: film, tech, hiking, sport, and music 🎬🚀🏞️⚽🎵

Jekyll is perfect because it’s a static site generator that converts Markdown posts into a fast, responsive website. Paired with the Jekflix theme, I can create a cinematic, modern design tailored...

Review: Young Frankenstein @ Hope Mill Theatre

Fri, 24 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0100

Young Frankenstein @ Hope Mill Theatre what a night

I went into Young Frankenstein with high hopes I’ve always loved the original film and I was curious to see how it would translate to the stage in a smaller venue. A pre-show pizza and drink at the Hope Mill Theatre set the tone perfectly. It’s a fantastic little theatre: tucked away, quirky, relaxed, and with the sort of atmosphere that makes you feel part of the night before anything even starts.

What unfolded on stage was one of the most entertaining theatre experiences I’ve had in a while slapstick,...

Review: New Dawn Fades @ The Met, Bury

Thu, 16 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0100

New Dawn Fades @ The Met, Bury

As a massive Joy Division fan, New Dawn Fades was an irresistible proposition. Not just a retelling of the band’s story, but staged in the very room that witnessed one of its most chaotic moments the infamous 1979 gig that descended into a riot and has now entered Mancunian folklore.

The Met is a fantastic little theatre: small, intimate, and atmospheric, yet relaxed and welcoming. It has a bar and seating area for pre-show drinks, a small museum and shop connected to the production, and is run by passionate volunteers. That combination...

Review: The Story of The Kinks @ Palace Theatre Manchester

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0100

The Story of The Kinks @ Palace Theatre Manchester

I’ll admit: I’m not a big fan of The Kinks. When it was ~~suggested~~ told catching The Story of The Kinks at Palace Theatre, I was tired, skeptical, and half ready to bail. Somehow, despite the grogginess and lack of enthusiasm I ended up buying a ticket. And I’m genuinely glad I did.

🎭 What the show is

The Story of The Kinks blends biography with live performance. It charts the band’s journey from their roots in 1960s London, through their chart‑topping hits, internal tensions, artistic reinventions, and cultural...

Review: Titanic Museum Tour at Manchester Central

Mon, 13 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0100

⚓️ Titanic Museum Tour Manchester Central

12th October 2025

I’ve had an obsession with Titanic history for as long as I can remember, bordering on a genuine fixation so when the Titanic Exhibition came through Manchester Central’s Exchange Hall, it was a must-see experience.

From the moment I stepped through the doors, things were set up like a theatrical journey. On arriving, I was met by “Captain Smith” and handed my boarding pass a clever touch that immediately rooted you in the experience. That immersive introduction set the tone as we were guided through the story of the ship’s...

Hiking Skiddaw Summit via Jenkins Bridleway

Sat, 11 Oct 2025 19:00:00 +0100

Hiking to Skiddaw Summit & Little Man

Overview

Parking isnt great and you need to arrive early to have any chance of a parking space (the car park is small). Otherwise this was a fantastic hike with great views. We even managed to experience a cloud inversion.

After some early clag this cleared and its a pretty steep and brutal ascent. We took in Skiddaw little man also and recommend you tackle this afer summitting.

Key Hike Points

Steep but rewarding ascent

Cloud inversion at the summit

Claggy start

Limited parking (arrive early)

Quote from...

Review: First Light @ Shaw Playhouse

Mon, 06 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0100

First Light @ Shaw Playhouse

As someone wit#h a real interest in history and having studied the First World War in some depth I was genuinely looking forward to First Light. The premise alone was enough to intrigue me: a play exploring the human cost of war beyond the battlefield, grappling with guilt, duty, and the forgotten stories of ordinary men. This was also poignant with them being from around the Manchester area.

Thankfully, the production delivered something that felt emotionally resonant and intellectually engaging.

🎭 What is the play about

First Light written by Mark Hayhurst and...

Creating a Reusable Hike Info Box in Jekyll

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 11:00:00 +0100

Introduction

In this post, I’ll explain how I created a reusable Hike Info Box for my hiking posts using Jekyll and the Jekflix theme. The system is modular and can be adapted to any category, whether hiking, tech tutorials, recipes, or music albums.

The main goals:

Store metadata in the front-matter.

Render a visually appealing info box with icons, animations, and badges.

Only display the box for relevant posts.

Make it easy to reuse for future posts.

Step 1: Add Metadata to Post Front-Matter

Jekyll posts allow custom variables in the YAML front-matter. For...

Travel Blog: Four Days in Munich History, Beer Halls & The Bavarian Alps

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0100

Visiting Munich in early September turned into one of the most packed, exhausting and rewarding city breaks we’ve ever done. With early flights, heavy walking days, moving historic sites and two major day trips into the Bavarian mountains, we squeezed the absolute maximum out of a long weekend that lasted from 6th to 9th September.

This blog covers the arrival day and final day, with separate posts dedicated to our visits to Neuschwanstein Castle and The Eagle’s Nest both highlights of the trip in their own right.

🇩🇪 Day 1: Arrival, History & The Longest Day

The...