Splinters

Despite being a proud resident of Greater Manchester, I don't attend too many of what you'd call "cultural" events in the area. I did see two good theatre performances at the Bolton Octagon recently, Miller's "Broken Glass" and Dario Fo's "Acidental Death of An Anarchist", but these are exceptions that prove the rule. Generally its all booze, pubs and kebabs round my end.

Striving for improvement, two events did catch my eye. The Chorlton Arts Festival in the south Manc boho suburb from Friday 19th May (pointed out by Ready Steady Book) and the very fine journalist, writer and polemicist Gary Younge promoting his new book "Stranger in A Strange Land in conversation with Hilary Wainwright, editor of the equally fine Red Pepper magazine on Thursday 25th May at 6:00pm at the Pump House Museum Salford. Sadly, both events take place during the only two weeks of the year I'll be out of the country, sunning it up in Portugal. Bother and buggeration.

I hereby demand that the micro-minority of readers with the ability and inclination to attend one these two events do so:- so I can enjoy them by osmosis. Younge in particular is a breath of real radical fresh air amongst the stagnant namby liberal atmosphere of the Toynbees, the Garton Ash's, and, Christ help us, the Kettles who dominate the Guardian. He can write too. Give the man a hand.

Next month on this international blog, a heart-felt analysis of my favourite graffiti in Wigan.........