Wow, I can’t believe I’m here in Manchester, the home of Oasis and Manchester United! And now my Bucket List just got SHORTER! Here are some of the things that got ticked off that list!
Isn't it interesting that ONE reindeer is bright red...
1) BUY A REAL ENGLISH CHRISTMAS JUMPER (aka SWEATER) -
Because I’m doing a stage play that has a Christmas scene, I thought that buying an authentic Christmas jumper made in England would be totally brill! But I wasn’t so sure if there would be time to shop since the REAL purpose of me going to Manchester was to attend the UCB Radio Conference 2011. So, even while I was still in Manila, I went online, ordered a sweater and had it delivered to the UCB UK office.
It turned out that I found time to shop and I ended up buying a second Christmas Jumper! Isn’t that blinding?!!!
This is a SOSY version of Fish and Chips... using Haddock...
2) EAT FISH AND CHIPS
This I accomplished on THE VERY FIRST DAY I arrived in Manchester. Our good friend Tom Duckering from London drove up to Manchester to hang out with us. He even drove us up to an old place called Peacock Inn in East Sussex where I got to enjoy a very classy version of Fish and Chips (Haddock) and also some Stella Artois Beer! Thank you Tom for the wonderful DAY!
One of the numerous living rooms of Chatsworth House...
3) GET CLOSE TO SOME ROYALTY
Well, this is a subjective goal. What exactly does “close” mean? Like a few feet away? Or can being in the same edifice as the object indicate closeness?
Well, the closest I got to royalty on this trip was a visit to the residence of the Duke of Devonshire – all of the past Dukes lived in this humongous residence named Chatsworth House. The current Duke still lives in the mansion, on the side that people are not allowed to visit. Of course, duh!
This Red Leather Sofa I am sitting on is so huge, we could all have a post-pageant victory party on it! I am practically reclining if you haven’t noticed…
ABQ Loves Damsons!
4) EAT SOME DAMSONS.
I know it sounds like a swear word but I SWEAR… a Damson is a fruit, not an expression of anger at your prodigal offspring.
Being a fan of the late British Author Brian Jacques, I just had to try the fruit (which is a plum). He mentions it a lot in his Redwall Novels, you see.
Because Damsons look like Duhat, I was expecting them to taste the same but they turned out more like a lighter version of Sineguelas.
Yummy English Pies!
5) TRY TRADITIONAL ENGLISH PIE.
The venue of the UCB Conference was in the middle of a golf course in the middle of nowhere. So when a lovely lady named Jacky offered to drive me out to civilazation so I could do a bit of shopping, I was bowled over! And after I purchased all my pasalubongs, Jacky took me to a place called PieMinister where I could enjoy my very first authentic English Pie. Since I don’t eat anything on four legs I made happy with a Mushroom Leek Pie…
ABQ in Albert Dock, Liverpool...
6) VISIT LIVERPOOL!
Our UCB UK Family was so thoughtful to include a tour of Liverpool, the city made famous by the Beatles. Well, actually Livepool has been famous for 800 years because it was a popular port (still is) and many things were traded there, for example, slaves. Yep, the city was once a place where you could buy a slave or two shipped in from Africa. Of course the slave trade has long been abolished and now WE are the slaves of the Liverpool boys known as the Beatles!
ABQ at the Beatles Museum!
7) INVADE THE BEATLES MUSEUM.
I grew up to the music of the Beatles - Mom and Dad had the White Album and a couple other Beatles albums which I listened to using our gramophone. JOKE! I’m not THAT old! We had a record player that played LPs and 45s. I also feel very attached to the Beatles because the very first song I learned to play on a guitar was a Beatles song using the codigo on Jingle Magazine’s Special Edition on the Beatles.
So visiting the Beatles Story Museum was extra-special! Unfortunately, we only had about 40 minutes to explore a place that needs at least 2 hours! But we did take a million photos, so I guess it’s okay!
The Beatless!
8 ) ROCK TO A BEATLES LOOK-ALIKE BAND.
They sounded just like the Beatles too and are better known as the Beatless! Believe it or not, the guy on the right side of this photo was our worship leader during the UCB Conference, LOL!
Our wonderful UCB UK Family thought of entertaining us with the Beatless and so we danced through the night. And we held each other tight. And before too long, I fell in love with her…. Now I’ll never dance with another, since I saw her standing there… doot doo do doo!
9) LIP SYNC TO “I WILL SURVIVE” IN FRONT OF AN AUDIENCE.
I don’t know what possessed me but when the song “I Will Survive” was played after the Beatless’ set, I just started to do an interpretative dance number to the song. Yeah. And then one of the main men from UCB decided to join me on the dance floor to add VALUE to my craziness and everybody clapped in the end. Hmmmm… I did not know I had it in me!
And as you can see, or NOT see… I have NO photos posted in case you decide to use it as blackmail material in the future! LOLOL!
ABQ presents: Swan Lake!
10) MEET A SWAN. AND FEED IT.
I’ve got the spirit of National Geographic living in me so when I come face to face with animals that I can’t find in the Philippines I go loopy.
These beautiful Swans live in a tiny lake that looks more like a giant pond at the entrance of the De Vere Golf Course. I didn’t know that Swans hissed and so I got hissed at by one Swan for trying to come too near. But after I started feeding him bread crumbs, he hunkered down to eating and completely ingnored me.
the blogging beauty queen with Bessie...
11) MILK A COW.
Yeah, I know it’s strange but I’ve always wanted to squeeze Bessie’s udder til she turned moo in the face. Awwww… that was corny!
Okay, I did not get to milk a cow in Manchester but I did get close enough to have a picture with a milk cow. They are smelly but beautiful creatures. Anyway, this item on my Bucket List was not really fulfilled so it’s staying on the list. I’m hoping that my next trip to a place with a lot of cows will be more fruitful…
blogging beauty queen enjoying a Cider!
12) DRINK SOME CIDER.
I’ve always seen Cider recipes in my cookbooks and made the mistake of thinking that I could make Cider out of Cider Vinegar. Of course not! Anyway, someone introduced me to Magners – an Irish brand of Cider and I went wild with my first sip! It’s like a Shandy but not sweet. Well, it’s tad sweet with an alcoholic content of 4.5%. I generally try to keep away from Alcohol because I like it too much, but in this case, I just had to try it!
Sticky Toffee Pudding with Ice Cream on the side!
13) EAT SOME AUTHENTICE ENGLISH PUDDING.
Another traditional English Food item is Pudding. So when Ron ordered some Stocky Toffee Pudding at the Brunswicks Restaurant, I just had to TASTE IT! I have been off sugary foods for nearly two months now and have lost about 20 lbs but I just had to break the sugar fast and taste it.
English Fruitcake!
14) SAMPLE SOME REAL ENGLISH FRUITCAKE.
Okay, I’ve got a look of food goals in this list. You can see where my priority lies. Anywhoo, this lovely little Fruitcake is made up of wheat flour and contains less sugar than the normal English Fruitcake so I allowed myself to take more than 2 bites and shared the rest with Ron.
And so went my Adventures in Manchester! I most definitely had a bally good time! 
It’s really a pleasure reading your work here, my name is Cris G., we live in Milton Keynes, England just approx. 2 1/2hrs drive to Manchester where you had your Conference. I’m a bit envious with you to be honest because you have seen most of the beautiful spots in Manchester and been able to enjoy your stay unlike me hindi pa ako nakapunta sa Manchester and see those places that you’ve visited, lol! I should say I need to take my family for a day out or weekend brake maybe and drive to Manchester. I’ve been to some places near Manchester but not in it. I have heard about you from Jomar Hilario and I’m planning to attend one of his seminars and courses for me to know and learn more about how to work at home. I am looking forward to start any time soon. God bless you and all the best for you and your endeavors.
Ahhh… you should then visit the Radio Station that the station i volunteer for in Makati is affiliated with – UCB UK (United Christian Broadcasters – UK) they are in Stoke on Trentham. They are a Christian Radio station. You can find them online. The staff is wonderful, I encourage you to contact them and visit their place – it’s like a huuuuuge house but it’s a radio / tv station
England is beautiful specially when the sun is out which is rare I hear. BUt we were quite blessed because during our 10 day visit, we only had 2 or 3 gray days. The rest were relatively sunny! I am not used to cold weather but I adapted to it fast and miss 10 degree weather now!
Jomar is a dear friend, we go a long ways back
… you really have to attend his seminar – a lot of my success as a blogger is due to him and I thank God for putting him in my life. God bless you too and hope to run into you someday!
Hi Miss Joyce! Thanks for this nice post. I feel like I am travelling with you.
Btw, there is a special thread dedicated to you at Missosology.
http://www.missosology.info/forum/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=106503
I just visited the thread and feel so blessed to be remembered so fondly! Thanks so much for giving me the link
there were so many photos and clippings that even I don’t have. Actually , I was bad at collecting clipping so I don’t really have anything compiled so i am thankful to the beauty pageant fans like Maharlika (who wrote the special thread) for keeping all these valuable memories and putting them online!
[...] 4) Visiting Manchester, England for the First Time! – Attended the UCB Conference in Manchester in September 2011 with my hubby Ron and the trip was an amazing one, personally and professionally. After listening to Aussie musician and author Jeff Crabtree speak about the “Creative Mind” I discovered that deep down inside I am really a creative person, an actress to be specific… and that is why I do so well as a voice talent. For many years I rejected the idea that I was an actress or could be a good one, but after listening to Jeff, I finally understood that the well of emotions I hide inside me are a manifestation of my creative self and that I express it best through acting!!! REVELATION! Joyce Burton Titular with Jeff Crabtree [...]