On Saturday, Mr C, my mum and I set off for Droylesden to celebrate my aunt’s 90th birthday. I had recently upgraded our SatNav so that now we have live traffic information and newer maps. This trip was its inaugural outing. I keyed in the destination and off we set on our journey…
Just after Market Drayton the SatNav surprised us by choosing a different route to our usual one, which takes us via Newcastle Under Lyme and Macclesfield to Wilmslow. The suggested route was to head towards Woore and we decided to stick with it and see where it took us. We were taken through Woore, Crewe and right past Jodrell Bank Observatory where the Lovell Telescope looked particularly striking in the sunlight. We rejoined our usual route in Wilmslow and continued into Manchester until we were again diverted from our usual route of Coronation Street roads and houses. Instead we traveled along wide, open roads and past The City of Manchester Stadium.
The new route was a pleasant change and it shaved 15 minutes off our usual journey time. I confess to having momentary doubt when it took us in such a completely different direction than usual. Had I programmed it correctly??
On arrival at my aunt’s, we sat and chatted for a while before heading off for lunch at The Sheldon Arms where we were joined by my brother and his lady. After enjoying a delicious carvery meal we returned to my aunt’s house for a natter. The house was so full of flowers it looked more like a florists shop. At tea time we cut the celebratory birthday cake before it was time for us to retrace our steps and we decided to entrust ourselves to the SatNav once again.
We usually visit on a Sunday so we didn’t give it a thought that there might have been a match on at the stadium… We got caught up in traffic as Manchester City and Toon (Newcastle United) fans were leaving the stadium after the match. The beautiful moon in the sky on our journey back more than made up for the few minutes delay.
Photo from Theatre Severn website
On Sunday evening we went to the Theatre Severn to see Magical Mozart by Candlelight. Prior to the show we ate a pleasant meal in the theatre’s Foundry Restaurant. The show featured sopranos Diana Evgenieva Vasileva and Li Li, baritone David Milner-Pearce and The European Orchestral Baroque Ensemble “SPIRIT”. The music was excellent, the show was good and the artists were obviously having fun. We thoroughly enjoyed the evening.
This is a wonderful presentation of pictures of your journey… how do you carry that SatNav dish on top of your car Cherie… it must use a lot of petrol….peter:)
The trick to carrying the SatNav in my car remains a trade secret
He he.. So it’s a mystery trip, not a misery one then.
It was definitely a mystery tour and it was rather enjoyable
Glad you enjoyed your day out Cherie and your Aunt had a lovely birthday,
90 is a grand age to reach, I hope she has many more memorable birthday celebrations.
That’s a good shot of Jodrell Bank, we’ve driven past it many moons ago, but didn’t such a good view as that.
Hope all is well in Shropshire, the weather is atrocious here, driving rain and gale force winds, roll on spring, so we can get out, I need to go snapping with my new camera!
kind regards,
Di xx
90 is a grand age and she is still able to get about on her own which is even more remarkable!
The picture of Jodrell bank was taken on a previous visit there, although the view on my recent journey was equally impressive.
The weather here has also been rather windy and cold and I too am looking forward to Spring…
enjoyed your commentary on the use of the satnav, CP
I am glad you found my adventure enjoyable
Birthdays everywhere just now.
Happy Birthday James, I am not sure how I missed commenting on the day. It is the first time I have failed
Those flowers on that cake are magnificent! They look like fine china! Too nice to eat.
They won’t get eaten
- Congratulations to your Aunt on her 90th Birthday, a great age.
- For a minute I thought your SatNav was Jodrell Bank
- “The beautiful moon in the sky on our journey back more than made up for the … ” … result of the football match. !!
Now that WOULD be a fun SatNav to have
It wasn’t a good day for the TOON, but there is next time