|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
READER MESSAGES EARLY TO MID MAY 1999 ( SEE ALSO THE EXHIBITION GUEST BOOK! ) From: RAYOPINT@aol.com
Wow Aiden, with an E. Thanks for those memory invoking pictures of Victoria Ave. I was in the mobile unit patrolling the Ave from near Chadderton to Middleton Road, and I remember there was a scare on about Anthrax, this was in the mid 60s. There was a farm just midway along the Ave and I had to close it to all and sundry, except of course the Goverment Ag men. I felt real sorry for the farmer because he went broke after this. Anyway I was known as the traffic scourge by the locals because of pulling them over all the time, but to be honest, I let most of them go with a warning. Thanks for the memory. Ray O'Neill Glad you like it. I don't think anyone else apart from me would bother to make a postcard featuring Victoria Avenue. I did it as I had a few requests from Higher Blackley people for photos of that area. I also have a connection with Victoria Avenue: For the autumn term Sept to December 1983, I taught French and German at Our Lady's High School, Alworth Rd, and took the bus from Cooper Rd. Here's another photo from nearby, it's the the constructin site of the M60, which snakes along the valley north of Victoria Avenue. From: "Thornton, Frank" <ThorntF@NAVCANADA.CA> Sure glad to be home again. If you ever have the chance to visit Wyoming/Colrado/Utah/Arizona/Nevada, go for it. It is a photographer's dream. Watch out for the "hairpin" bends though, as you climb to over 11,000 ft. pretty scary.F.W. Thornton Thanks for your message. I once travelled on the "Green Tortoise" overland bus trip from San Francisco to New York, and we went through part of Wyoming and South Dakota - the scenery is spectacular, but I have to admit, that scenes around Manchester are just as interesting to me as even the most spectacular places in the West.
In the United Arab Emirates, I often drove across the desert and took quite a few photos. Near the oasis town of Al Ain, there's a large rocky escarpment called "Jebel Hafeet" or Whale Mountain - I have quite a few photos of that - it's very spectacular. But given the choice I prefer Alderley Edge or Werneth Low, because they're home, and they're green! See more pictures of Arabia in my Arabian Collection on my personal website. Very nice to hear about your travels. You're giving me itchy feet! We're driving to London tomorrow, so from the motorway, we'll be admiring the splendours of Staffordshire, Birmingham, Warwickshire and Oxfordshire - Nice! From: "Philip Mather" <pmather@cgo.wave.ca> Greetings from Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Thanks for all of the photographs and news from Manchester. I lived there for many years in Stretford and Sale, my parents still live in Sale Moor in fact I was at school with Fred Talbot (your Granada weather man) at North Cestrian Grammar in Altrincham. We have sent each other E-Mails since I came " on line" last year. Keep up the good work. Regards Phil Mather Yes, Fred Talbot is a good bloke - He's just the same off-screen as he is on-screen - very genuine. But I have a question - completely unrelated. Why have so many Manchester expats gone to live in Ontario? To: "Aidan O'Rourke" <aidan@anamaria.u-net.com> Subject: Voting in Australia Date: Wed, 12 May 1999 22:47:48 +0800 Dear Aidan, Yes, you are right. Voting is compulsory in both State and Federal Elections here in Australia. Probably another reason why the turnout is so poor in local elections. If you don't vote you get a "please explain" letter from the Electoral Commission and if your excuse isn't acceptable you get fined. I think the fine is $50. Lynda Sounds a bit like the policies of Mr Byrne, headmaster of St Bedes who recently forbade his pupils from being absent on the day of the big match in Barcelona - if they're off and haven't got "a very good excuse" they're suspended. Date: Tue, 11 May 1999 19:57:40 -0700 I really enjoy reading your Manchester on Line. I live here in beautiful
Santa Barbara, Ca but England will always have a place in my heart.
Your pictures and comments make me feel like I'm there. Thanks again. Honor Simpson Thanks for your message. Which area do you have connections with? Hi Aidan. I make it home every 5 years or so. I married an Englishman in '63
and we visit his relatives when we come over there. Thanks again for
your time. Very nice to hear from you. Does this bring back any memories:
Date: Wed, 12 May 1999 20:49:07 -0700 Hi Thanks, that's great. I'm including your message in Reader Messages! From: Jdvprod@aol.com Date: Wed, 12 May 1999 01:24:42 EDT Subject: Re: This week's Newsletter is online! To: aidan@anamaria.u-net.com Dear Aidan, I look forward to getting your reports from Manchester and surrounding districts. I am from Stockport originally but have fond memories of the city. Although I am far away now, living in California I like to get the news from back home. Keep up the good work! Thanks. I'd like to include your message on the Reader Messages page. Where are you from in Stockport? I grew up in Cheadle Heath/Edgeley (below).
I grew up in Offerton and my wife is from there also. My sister lives
in Hazel Grove and I keep trying to get her on the net so we can communicate
better. I would be honored if you would include me in your newsletter.
Let me know more about what you do for the newsletter. Keep in touch, Yes, I know Offerton quite well - and Hazel Grove - no photos of those areas yet - coming soon! From: "Lynda Youel" <youel@tower.net.au> Dear Aidan, Voter turnout in local elections was always very low even when I was living there and I see things haven't changed at all. Interesting piece in the MEN about Eyewitness, let's hope it pulls in the crowds to your exhibition. Winter finally arrived in Perth today. We could only manage 16.7c and the sun took a complete day off. We're off to a soccer match tomorrow - Perth Glory - so this weather should make the atmosphere more like "home". Best wishes Lynda How do you make people take more interest in local politics? By having a US-style mayor perhaps. Next year London will have a mayor elected by the people. How about Manchester? There are plans to put polling stations in supermarkets and shopping centres - sounds like a good idea. As for postal votes, I'm not sure. Anyway, staying with the theme, here's one with the Town Hall and the post box, taken from the exhibition. P.S. Is it true that in Australian general elections, it's an offence not to vote? From: "Mark O'Brien" <claddagh@iwl.net> Yes, I did, so should everyone. >From paul.duckworth@fujitsu.com.au Thu May 06 04:25:54 1999 Dear Aiden, I would like to join with the many other readers who receive so much
enjoyment from your articles. I try and read Manchester on Line and
Eyewitness daily and each new newsletter is avidly searched for items
which bring Manchester closer. Having lived and worked in Stockport
for twenty years prior to coming here each
I am amazed at the amount of effort you must put in the maintain the
pages, but being greedy I, like many others, want even more; more updates,
more letters and more photos, but will remain satisfied with what we
get. By the way, which hospital is to be used for the refugees from Kosovo.
I can only think of St. Thomas's, but I believe that is still in use. Keep up the good work and thank you. Thanks for your kind message. My plans for EWM, to be revealed shortly, should provide you with more. Which part of Stockport did you live/work in? I lived in Cheadle Hulme and Bramhall, but was brought up, as they
say, in Altrincham. I worked in the One last point, you missed my question regarding which hospital is
to be used for the refugees. Regards I'm not sure, I'll let you know when I find out. Can anyone help? From paule@cme.nist.gov Wed May 05 17:44:05 1999
I am excited to hear you are coming to DC in July. I would be happy
to meet you and show you around my "version" of the area.
Plenty of Limeys here as you are no doubt aware and we've even figured
out where the best Guinness is to be had. Let me know your plans. I'm
almost guaranteed to be in town. Paul Eddleston Great Look forward to meeting you. I'd interview President Clinton, but I don't think he has any connection with Manchester! Envelope-to: aidan@anamaria.u-net.com My wife, Bev, is from Whitefield. We live in Columbia Maryland, about 20 miles from Washington. We'll be around home for at least half of July and you're welcome visit. Be warned: we usually have a "heat wave" week in July with
temps in the upper 90's and high humidity (we spend a lot of time at
the pool). Jeff I'm used to that sort of weather - I think I can put up with it for a couple of weeks! I once spent part of the summer in Florida - very very hot! From Alphacarp@aol.com Wed May 05 05:29:31 1999 Your writing is EXACTLY the kind of description and tone I've been
searching for to learn more about Manchester (I'm from Oak Park, Illinois).
Love your news and love your photography. Fantastic. Makes me want to
come and visit. Thank you! I try to get away from the "official" style of presentation, and give it a personal touch. Glad you like it. Yes, I do answer e-mail messages, though I often fall behind due to pressure of work.
Hi Aidan, Regardless, I enjoyed the presentation and of course the Newsletter
as usual. George Ooops, I think I must have accidentally over-written that file. I'll replace the correct one now - the Xmas lights should appear above right. Thanks for your feedback. From ENGLISHRDS@aol.com Wed May 05 05:13:57 1999
First let me say what a great town I found Manchester to be. I came
over 4/1 and stayed with a friend in Irlam. He made sure we saw lots
of Manchester, and of course, "Mecca" (Old Trafford). it was
my first trip to England, and I couldn't have picked a better place
to visit. When you come to Washington in July, don't miss the American Cafe in
Georgetown. I used to be stationed in Virginia, which is just next door
to Washington, and went to the Cafe many times. I think you'd enjoy
it. A rather
Regards, I hope to make it to Georgetown and will look out for the American cafe. The trip is planned for July. If there are any Manchester expats, or people with Manchester connections in the Washington area, I'd like to hear from them. I'll be taking photos and writing reports. From: Sonia Morris <soniamorris@start.com.au> Hi, Aiden, just a little memo to say how much I enjoy your site and
visiting it is a little bit like going "home". I wish I could
visit the exhibition,but distance is tyrannical, as you well know. Keep up the good work , and thanks for it all, regards Sonia Morris Thanks. I've included your message in the exhibition! From: "Stephen Howe" <Stephen@howe18.freeserve.co.uk> To: <aidan@anamaria.u-net.com> Subject: Voting Date: Sat, 8 May 1999 20:52:00 +0100 STEPHEN R. HOWE E-Mail - Stephen@Howe18.Freeserve.co.UK Hi, I have been viewing you pages from time to time, and I think that the service provided by you to expats is second to none -keep up the good work.  I,
like you, have travelled and worked extensively abroad, and wish when
I was away, a service like this would have been available.However, on to the point of my E mail, you stated that you are surprised that many people do not vote. I on the other hand am not - well in this country anyway. Whilst agreeing with your premise that other peoples who are repressed would like to vote, it is this that shows why in this country we do not vote as we should. In countries where open voting/democracy is banned, the vote, a vote, would have an effect on the way the people are governed. In this country, we have achieved a state of total support/status quo, but if it's a blue flag one group shout hooray this is the way forward, when really nothing changes Manchester is fortunate to have a large and sensible majority of councillors, which seem to govern well regardless of the colour of the flag. Due to the generally greater prosperity of the region, I cannot see the loony left getting a stronghold and running the region into the ground, as they did in Liverpool. What is needed to make the people of the region vote, is a sense that their vote in making a difference, then voting would be of some benefit. It is my view that our society is becoming very much a society that unless it receives something tangible i.e. wealth, conditions, it will not help itself for moral reasons/reasons of values. A downside of this is that the minority rule the majority, a point well made with the words of Abraham Lincoln. However, keep up the good work. Stephen. Thanks very much for your thoughtful observations. You're right - when people enjoy a high degree of political freedom, as here, they take it for granted. I agree with everthing you say. Thanks for your kind comments, but it's not only expats who read EWM - The mailing list members are equally split between the four countries Australia, Canada, United States and the United Kingdom, plus a sprinking of other countries, including a few from New Zealand. |
||||
From
George_Greatbanks@bc.sympatico.ca
|
