Two fine pieces of pie.

I have eaten two fine pieces of pie today. Last night I ate at the Gurkha Grill. Life is good.

The first was during my long walk, and the second was at the end of it. I got onto the river behind Tall Trees, and headed for Sale Water Park. The river was high, and full of junk. Ducks struggled to keep swim upstream, and were paddling hard, prow to the flow, just to stay in the same place. The path was muddy, with twigs and branches that had been washed up along it. Jogger after jogger, wet dog after galloping wet dog, I made my way past Chorlton Water Park and Jackson’s Boat. It rained on and off, but never for that long. I thought about sailing, about the job interview, about being in Wellingborough at the weekend. There were some dire sights around by the old school, with the horses’ field by the Nene flooded badly. The Mersey had flooded too. I got onto the Bridgewater canal at Stretford Cemetery and I unwrapped my piece of pork pie.

I walked up the canal, past the Watch House Cruising Club and the Coronation Street houses, and came to some newly built flats that had their own moorings. I wondered how much they might cost, and whether I’d be able to afford them. Onwards, through old industry and through new, past piles of containers five storeys high and dirty old pipes. The canal doesn’t flow. It’s like a huge, long thin pond. Litter floats eerily still, several bottles steady, each at different heights, based on how full they were – as if they were suspended in jelly.

Stretford canal boat yard, originally uploaded by hugovk.

It was much greyer than this. The boat with the red roof had been moored too tightly, and was almost underwater because the canal had risen.

Bridge under Bridgewater canal, originally uploaded by hugovk.

I walked through here too. Everything under this bridge was flooded. I had to edge past on the raised footpath to the right of the canal as you look at the photo.

charlottez, originally uploaded by cosmicsindy.

I didn't meet this young lady by the canal. What a shame!

On I walked, past Old Trafford, Salford Quays, the Ship Canal – I saw a hole next to the footpath, ten feet wide, six feet down to the white water gushing around inside it, a pipe halfway up gushing out brown water, and floating on the surface at least fifteen balls - footballs, basketballs, 99p funballs, old cistern balls from toilets – at least a hundred plastic bottles, and countless chunks of browned polystyrene. To Castlefield, to Love Saves The Day, and on to the next slice of pie. Tudor Pie, ham and chicken, and – for £2.80 – I’m sure it’s organic too. Thanks Hugh!

Ancoats, Strangeways, Mai Bai and Tall Trees saw the rest of the day passed merrily. After the gloom of not getting the job, last night’s Gurkha Grill, long chat with Pippa and baptism of Peep Show really cheered me up. Today it didn’t feel like there was anything on my mind, but I got to do a lot of thinking too. I feel very optimistic. Perhaps it’s endorphins from the exercise. Normandy, Withington, Bury St Edmunds, Melton Mowbray, and Wellingborough: I bet that I could even find five fun things to do in each of these places. I feel a series coming on…