What a lovely piece this is. I haven't read "Scenes from Clerical Life" but must remedy this. I always reread " Mill on the Floss" when feeling unsettled and find her humanity and wisdom such a balm. Your photograph sums up autumn so well and hope days of reading and thoughts of gardening ( on such a rainy day) brings comfort. And I couldn't agree more about Kate Molleson and Elizabeth Alker. I have discovered so many pieces of music through them and will feel quite bereft in Saturday mornings. Take care and wishing you the very best for your hospital appointment.
An image of hope, order & the stillness of autumn, thanks. I've only just found your substack Ronnie - with the post on the Mystery, which can't tell you how much that resonated. I spent first 4 years of my life(late 1950s) living in Nebo st, playing out almost every day in the Mystery. But that's another story. Meanwhile all the best for your next procedure (at the Royal?) - keep reading, enjoy the unfolding autumn days, & hold the fort, Jo
Hello Jo, and glad you found the Mystery article. But you talking of playing there every day from Nebo Street has got me wondering where is or was that?
Hi Ronnie, sorry delay in reply(have some friends from Manchester staying) - Nebo Street was on right, off Wellington Rd, just before the viaduct/Bridge carrying the main train line heading south out of Edge Hill, so about 20 yards from the Mystery gates on the north side. All the houses, (2 up, 2 down terraces,) were flattened in 67',its a car park & auto repair yard now, but from the early 30s to summer of 67' my maternal grandparents lived at 18 Nebo st. So a place that shaped me, with the green expanse of the Mystery being my first experience of 'unbounded' space, or physical freedom, and naturally play, with the old metal maypole still there in the late 50s( site of many a split-open head etc as kids hung onto the metal chains doing orbits as the chains tanked around in dervish circles), hope that gives you a good picture.
Thanks Jo, thank you for your graphically descriptive picture of growing up by the Mystery. I’ve found your street now on my 1905 OS map of that side of the Mystery. I’ll see if I can add the map in here…
Hi Ronnie, re Nebo st& the Mystery - I went for a kind of personal history /Songlines walk across from the Picton st end over to the old gates, just after the sports centre, this a few weeks before the Covid curfew fell in March 20' - I stood on the spot where I worked out(hoped) no 18 had been, odd feeling, a waste ground really under the dark sooty shoulders of the railway embankment, a tatty auto-repair shop under the blackened stone arches, few pigeons doing that cinematic forlorn pose, so I quickly walked on, down Lawrence Road, every step another memory. Meanwhile I hope your NHS appts& treatment are going well, the whole cardio journey is another level ENTIRELY. Look foward to your next reflective & absorbing post.
Those apples look lovely Ronnie and I see in the book photo you have The Millstone by Margaret Drabble. I think I might need to read it again,last read it in the 70s or thereabouts. Will be thinking of you Friday and I hope all goes well,you will be in good hands that know what theyre doing X
What a lovely piece this is. I haven't read "Scenes from Clerical Life" but must remedy this. I always reread " Mill on the Floss" when feeling unsettled and find her humanity and wisdom such a balm. Your photograph sums up autumn so well and hope days of reading and thoughts of gardening ( on such a rainy day) brings comfort. And I couldn't agree more about Kate Molleson and Elizabeth Alker. I have discovered so many pieces of music through them and will feel quite bereft in Saturday mornings. Take care and wishing you the very best for your hospital appointment.
An image of hope, order & the stillness of autumn, thanks. I've only just found your substack Ronnie - with the post on the Mystery, which can't tell you how much that resonated. I spent first 4 years of my life(late 1950s) living in Nebo st, playing out almost every day in the Mystery. But that's another story. Meanwhile all the best for your next procedure (at the Royal?) - keep reading, enjoy the unfolding autumn days, & hold the fort, Jo
Thanks for the descriptive picture Jo. And I’ve found your street on my 1905 OS map of that side of the Mystery now. Here it is, Ronnie
Hello Jo, and glad you found the Mystery article. But you talking of playing there every day from Nebo Street has got me wondering where is or was that?
Hi Ronnie, sorry delay in reply(have some friends from Manchester staying) - Nebo Street was on right, off Wellington Rd, just before the viaduct/Bridge carrying the main train line heading south out of Edge Hill, so about 20 yards from the Mystery gates on the north side. All the houses, (2 up, 2 down terraces,) were flattened in 67',its a car park & auto repair yard now, but from the early 30s to summer of 67' my maternal grandparents lived at 18 Nebo st. So a place that shaped me, with the green expanse of the Mystery being my first experience of 'unbounded' space, or physical freedom, and naturally play, with the old metal maypole still there in the late 50s( site of many a split-open head etc as kids hung onto the metal chains doing orbits as the chains tanked around in dervish circles), hope that gives you a good picture.
Thanks Jo, thank you for your graphically descriptive picture of growing up by the Mystery. I’ve found your street now on my 1905 OS map of that side of the Mystery. I’ll see if I can add the map in here…
Hi Ronnie, re Nebo st& the Mystery - I went for a kind of personal history /Songlines walk across from the Picton st end over to the old gates, just after the sports centre, this a few weeks before the Covid curfew fell in March 20' - I stood on the spot where I worked out(hoped) no 18 had been, odd feeling, a waste ground really under the dark sooty shoulders of the railway embankment, a tatty auto-repair shop under the blackened stone arches, few pigeons doing that cinematic forlorn pose, so I quickly walked on, down Lawrence Road, every step another memory. Meanwhile I hope your NHS appts& treatment are going well, the whole cardio journey is another level ENTIRELY. Look foward to your next reflective & absorbing post.
Those apples look lovely Ronnie and I see in the book photo you have The Millstone by Margaret Drabble. I think I might need to read it again,last read it in the 70s or thereabouts. Will be thinking of you Friday and I hope all goes well,you will be in good hands that know what theyre doing X