Signals made my journey far more pleasant
VIEWPOINTS
Write to: Viewpoints, M.E.N, Mitchell Henry House, Hollinwood Avenue, Oldham, OL9 8EF Or email: viewpoints@men-news.co.uk JUST for once instead of a loud and foul-mouthed mobile phone user sat next to me I had the pleasure last week of a completely different experience.
Instead the smart young lady, no doubt with impaired hearing and speech difficulties, lifted her phone and keyed in. To my amazement within seconds she was exchanging a hand signals conversation with a friend on her mobile, likewise on her screen with not one word spoken.
I believe, therefore, that on board trams, all mobile phone users should learn and practice that art.
Also today I sat next to a middle aged lady with arm in sling and looking in pain. Her mobile phone began to ring on a low volume and she struggled to retrieve it from her handbag. She spoke softly to a friend who must have asked her where she was and she answered ‘I’m on a tram travelling into Manchester to give blood.’
So in relation to disabled people generally, the North West has its own Disability Awareness Day on Sunday, July 15, in Warrington.
Therefore let us all help the disabled in any way we can. John Bottomley, Clayton
Players did our city proud
ALTHOUGH our World Cup dream ended at the semi final stage, our young England team did the country proud by reaching the last four.
As mentioned, we are a young team led by a young manager in Gareth Southgate who has certainly proved his credentials to manage at that level.
This team can go on to gain us future success, the European championship in two years time would be the ideal place to start.
We now have a side to make us proud and they have certainly brought the country together during this World Cup tournament.
Let’s also praise the lads who represented our two Manchester clubs, you’ve done your country and our city proud. Colin Wickham Ashton Under Lyne
Why no Metro link west?
WITH the latest extension to Middleton is the west of Manchester a poor relation? Bolton/Wigan have no Metrolink.
I live in Wigan, travel to Liverpool more than Manchester and am a Lancastrian, not a Greater Mancunian.
Yes we have Merseyrail but no Metrolink. Christopher Gerrard
No wonder shops struggle
IF people want to know why the high street stores are struggling, simply head into Manchester on a Sunday.
I say Sunday because that’s likely the only time you won’t have to pay a minimum of £3 to park. Of course that’s only for one hour, so realistically you’ll have to pay upwards of £4.50, which is probably more than you’ll pay for your coffee in the shops.
I can speak from experience that parking in Manchester is more expensive than in Los Angeles or New York. In fact, when I was last there a few years back, parking in Manhattan was actually free on Sunday.
Or perhaps you would like to pay roughly the same amount to get on a tram and rub shoulders with drug addicts on their way to beg in the city centre who haven’t paid for their ticket.
If you do manage to get there you can look forward to the Northern Quarter, with its grotty graduate restaurants serving porridge or egg on toast for £5 a go.
Or you could inhale the massive amounts of cannabis smoke as people openly smoke drugs on the street.
Last Sunday I actually saw someone smoking cannabis while standing in the doorway of the police museum. Of course if you’re a criminal you’ll find Manchester to your liking.
There are no police whatsoever. Pretty shocking for a city that suffered the worst ever British terrorist attack barely a year ago.
Likewise, if begging is your thing you’ll find the high street most accommodating.
There’s a beggar on most street corners so you can pretend you’re doing something worthwhile by funding someone’s drug habit with your spare change.
So come to Manchester. Provided you’re rich, live in one of the enormous gentrified blocks of flats blighting the horizon, or want to indulge in criminal or antisocial behaviour, this is the place for you.
Just don’t bring your car, okay? The Voice of Reason