Friday 21 August 2009

Nan's Pick n' Mix

An old friend, if that is the right description, of whom I was very fond, who made me feel safe many years ago when I probably needed looking after but didn’t think I did due to youthful naivety, recently came back into my life via Facebook. So an old friend, in the most literal of descriptions is probably the best, asked me where I was currently living, he knows Manchester, used to live here but didn’t know Levenshulme, it wasn’t the area we used to hang out in at all and well those of you who know it will know it’s not the kind of place you go for a visit if you’re from out of town.  Not because there is anything wrong with it, there just isn’t a lot to see. During our correspondence he asked if it had been gentrified, such a wonderful question I thought and of course open to a piss take.  I want to make something clear before I go on I love where I live, am happy and comfortable but I do tell things as I find them, gets me into all kinds of trouble but some traits are hard to control.

Levenshulme is a big pick and mix of a place, the kind you find when you go and visit your Nan, they're not quite the sweets you’d have chosen but there are some great ones in there with the odd minger. I’m not one for history so I won’t tell you the past movements of the place, why people came and when, though I am sure it is interesting but I will tell you of the people who are here now. We have a mix of students, teachers and other professionals priced out of better areas, immigrants from all over, Irish Catholics and general fuck ups. There are so many characters around that my daily walk is never dull, I also find people here really friendly.  Almost everyday my eyes meet those within my community, we don’t know each other, have never spoken yet we exchange smiles which range from the very shy and gentle to broad, toothless grins, the young to the old, and every race gladly joins in this much forgotten simple expression of humanity. We are a madly mixed up smorgasbord, a lovely representation of Britain today. The only group that doesn’t smile at you is the students, too young perhaps, too up their own arses at this stage of their lives to reach out, not sure but that’s just the way it is.

As far as I’m concerned the people are the best thing about the area. The facilities are rather ramshackle, there is litter everywhere, it's slightly unruly never quite doing what it's told, there is a rather unsettling trend to put plastic flowers and plants in gardens and a lot of poverty.  I mean we can’t even afford an Oxfam, but then I’m not sure if that says more about Oxfam than it does about Levenshulme. We do have a great charity shop though, that I support wholeheartedly, get all my books from there. Levenshulme is not the ideal place to go out drinking either, my ex partner and I did once or twice when we first moved in but you can smell the sulphur just ready to light up, not a good mix with all those spirits being bandied about. When I could still go out and drink, I preferred a quieter place with good music rather than dodging all that flying glass. That said it depends what takes your fancy, doesn’t it? If you like a place with edge, not fully formed, a non-conformist as I do, as I am possibly, then this may be the place for you. 

7 comments :

  1. johnwillows said...

    A VERY well-written quick look at Levenshulme. I've never been there, but now I feel I know it, through you,Cara. A jolly good subject for a post - and brilliantly carried out. Well done!

  2. The Limit said...

    Thank you so much John. There may be some literary license in there though, not sure if everyone would agree with my description, but I am glad you enjoyed it.

  3. Joanne said...

    Hi I came upon your blog through The Answer's 42 blog.
    I was of course being nosey but was interested in the post because I grew up in Bolton and Lord Levershulme as you know figured greatly throughout that part of Lancashire.
    You may see my post on the above blog so I won't repeat again. Just that I was diagnosed with ME/CFS and it turned out to be a bacterological infection Lyme Disease from a tick bite (the smallest the size of a poppy seed so we are not always aware of the bite). Have a read through the right hand side of my blog if you are interested.
    One of the few doctors specialising in Lyme happens to be Dr Andy Wright who is ME/CFS specialist and advises Bolton and Bury PCT. He tests all his patients and clinically assesses them and has found many to be suffering from Lyme Disease including himself. Have a good read and I am sure you will be surprised whats going on.
    Best wishes that you find something to help you with your ME/CFS.

  4. The Limit said...

    Hi Joanne, thank you for your comment & the info on Dr Wright. I saw him last year. I don't have Lyme disease, but it is definitely ME/CFS. Are you his receptionist? I'm sure her name was Joanne.

  5. Joanne said...

    No I live in Surrey and saw a different Lyme specialist click on my name and the link should take you to my blog my story is on the bottom right hand side.

    Glad you were checked out for lyme many are not.
    Good luck

  6. The Limit said...

    Found you Joanne & following. Thank you for all your comments. I'm so glad that the cause of your awful symptoms were finally found & that Dr Wright could help you. You obviously been through a dreadful ordeal. Wishing you well, and I look forward to your blog updates.

  7. Jody said...

    Cara,

    Loved it.