This just in from the hardworking volunteers at Friends of Platt Fields:

OUR MIDSUMMER STRAWBERRY AND CREAM TEA PARTY
THIS SATURDAY 19TH JUNE
On the lawns in front of Platt Hall, in Platt Fields.

There will be

• lots of Victorian games and activities (stick and hoop, jacks, croquet, hopscotch, egg and spoon races,  giant chess and draughts, three-legged races, sackraces),  along with a few more modern ones – giant jenga, spacehoppers, and traditional floor mazes …
• a Victorian juggling show,
• try your hand at hulahooping,
• strawberries and cream tea, lemonade, cucumber sandwiches etc!
• Also we shall have a go at tea-dancing (I’m sure children’s grandparents may remember that but we would love parents and indeed children to try out a polka or a foxtrot, especially people coming from different cultural origins (where gentle dancing is acceptable)
• we shall have our wonderful Poem for Platt Fields – dedicated “to the children” read out by its author Mike Garry, with copies for people to keep as postcard souvenirs, and a plan for where it will be permanently installed in the park
• a chance to see the exhibitions in Platt Hall costume gallery (open all afternoon)

Free for all local families  (pay for food)
2 – 4.30pm

SEE YOU THERE!

This sounds like another excellent event organised by the Friends in Platt Fields’ centenary year, and I look forward to seeing people there!

I took a few snaps of the Platt Fields Centenary Festival when I was in the park last night. I caught the Bollywood Brass Band, who were awesomely entertaining, in the big marquee. I was examined by Arthur the Health Inspector, and sampled a pint of bitter from Kro’s inflatable pub. The bandstand looked wonderful - Friends of Platt Fields have done a fantastic job of decorating this section of the park for the festival.

If you didn’t make the festival on Friday or Saturday, then it’s still well worth going along tomorrow for the last day; you can check out the programme of events on the Friends’ website. Here are some photos - click on them for the bigger versions!

I’m really looking forward to the election being over. Not only because with any luck I’ll be representing the people of Fallowfield in Manchester City Council, and Qassim the constituency of Gorton in Parliament. Not only because I’ll be able to catch up on sleep, let the blisters heal and actually see my friends when they’re not helping me deliver leaflets.

I’m looking forward to the Platt Fields Centenary Festival this weekend, which starts on Friday 7th May, the day after the election. There’s a lot going on this weekend, with celebrations, live music on the bandstand, food stalls and plenty more. Check out the Friends of Platt Fields’ website, and hopefully I’ll see you there!

I have campaigned against the Digital Economy Act 2010. The law will require the University to spy on student Internet traffic, and could stop bars offering free wifi to customers. It can force people to be disconnected on mere suspicion of copyright infringement.

I attended a recent demo in Manchester organised by the Open Rights Group (of which I am a member), wearing a gag to symbolise censorship. I handed out copies of the Liberal Democrats “Save the Net” factsheet to passers-by and discussed the issue of arbitrary disconnection without trial.

The Liberal Democrats voted against this law in the Commons, and have pledged to repeal it if elected. The elections in Fallowfield and Gorton are between the Lib Dems and Labour. A vote for anyone else supports Labour’s Digital Economy Act and arbitrary disconnection without trial.

Every third Sunday of the month, Friends of Platt Fields holds a volunteering afternoon. A couple of weeks ago, I went along to find out more, accompanied by some friends.

Platt Fields is supported by the Council, but a lot of the excellent work done in the park is undertaken by volunteers. On this particular afternoon, I found myself working as part of a team of half-a-dozen, stuffing barley hay into tubular bales. These bales will be dropped into the boating lake at Platt Fields, where they will counteract the troublesome lake algae by natural processes. It was hard work but enjoyable, and the organisers and other volunteers were great fun. Other groups were planting seeds in pots, and painting things for the celebration weekend on 7-9th May.

Platt Fields is an excellent resource for Fallowfield, and I will continue to support it if elected. I’m also planning to return for more volunteering, and I’d recommend it as a fun and rewarding way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

I’m not going to be able to get along to this myself, but I’d like to let you know about a Reclaim the Night march this evening, leaving from Manchester University Student’s Union at 8pm (though you can turn up from 6:30pm for free food and placard-making). All genders are welcome.

Reclaim the Night is an empowerment campaign and protest against violence towards women. Marches have been going for over 30 years, around the world, each organised locally as a grassroots statement. Unfortunately, violence against women, both public and domestic, is still a major concern in the world, and events like Reclaim the Night are needed to continue to raise awareness and promote action.

Facebook link for the event.

Today is the day of St. George, patron saint of England. We live in a diverse and inclusive society, and it’s only appropriate to celebrate all the elements that make up our society, including the English traditions. These days, definitions of Englishness might well include a chicken tikka masala as well as a pint of real ale (indeed, I’m a fan of both!), but it’s entirely appropriate that we take time to celebrate England and Englishness, however we choose to do so.

This Sunday, there’s a St. George’s Day Parade in Manchester, starting at 11:30am in Park View Community School, Miles Platting. John Leech has more details. Further, the Manchester Lib Dems are calling for St. George’s Day to be a Bank Holiday.

However you celebrate the day, I hope you have a great one!

Happy St. Patrick’s Day to all those who celebrate it. There are many Irish people and people with Irish connections in Fallowfield and across Manchester, and they continue to contribute to the city.

If you’re interested in all things Irish, be sure to check out the Manchester Irish Festival!