Fac51 The Hacienda - Walton Hall and Gardens

Yesterday Kath and I went to our first ever rave Fac51 Hacienda at Walton Hall and Gardens. An outdoor concert celebrating the classics of the Factory records and the Hacienda 

I was slightly too young to have even been to the Hacienda but it had a huge impact on the Manchester music scene and collective memory.

We arrived with an open mind, Kath was working tomorrow so opted to drive there. Walton hall is a bit out of the way near Warrington so no easy train commute (maybe one day if the new Manchester Liverpool line is built, if ever! It turned out there were a lot of middle age people like us the event clearly going for the nostalgia factor rather than attracting the youth audience. 

It seemed like a lot of people must have been in the same boat considering that the bars sold out of alcohol free beer before 9pm. I bought tickets a while ago and opted for the VIP experience. This proved to be a great idea as it was much more chilled out than the main event and had posh toilets rather than porta-potties. We managed to grab a couple of the deck chairs dotted about pointed ourselves at the stage and enjoyed the atmosphere.

The VIP area also had a VIP section at the front which was really fun though some people were super hardcore. 

The line up

• Justin Robertson
• Peter Hook
• Jon Dasilva
• Erol Alkan B2B DJ Paulette
• Mike Pickering
• Danny Tenaglia
• Leftfield
• Orbital

My stand out moment was Danny Tenaglia playing Blue Monday which got a huge crowd reaction. Overall it was a really fun event and lucky with the weather it would have been awful in the rain!

Great North Run

This weekend we headed to Newcastle so that I could do the Great North Run. Driving up after school pickup on Friday we arrived relatively late in the evening. Kath had booked us into the Sandman Newcastle Hotel next to St James Park well placed for exploring the city centre and in good proximity to the start of the run.

On Saturday we headed into the city to explore a little, spending the afternoon at the Great North Museum Hancock. There were a variety of displays from the natural world to Egyptians including artefacts on loan from the British museum. There was also a large Hadrians wall section. Thom had a great time there and I would definitely recommend it for some quality family time. The admission is free (optional donation), we paid only for a guidebook and to see one of the shows at the planetarium.

Sunday was the day of the race. It is the largest half marathon in the world, and you can tell! There were 60 thousand runners and a lot of spectators, so the city was extremely busy. I was in one of the later waves the walk to the back of the start line was very long I had done nearly 10,000 steps before I even started the race.

The race itself was very good. The route was nice and varied. There were flyovers by the Red Arrows, which indecently is the first time I had seen them for years. They were a regular fixture of the Woodford airshow when I was younger but it's been decades since that ended!

There was a lot of crowd support all the way along the course, and every time you went under a bridge somebody would start a chant "oggy oggy oggy, oi, oi, oi". Unlike most races I have done the start was in the city the end point at the sea in South Shields which was nice to see the contrast. It did mean getting back to the city was a bit tricky however they organised it really well having a shuttle bus service which must have transported many thousands of people efficiently to and from South Shields. 

I enjoyed most of the run though a bit like London marathon at it is so busy at times I felt like I was having to dodge and jig to get past people. I would definitely recommend though really felt like you were part of a huge event. 

It was my first time in Newcastle apart from a very quick visit for work once where I saw only a small industrial park data centre not far from the Angel of the North. I enjoyed the weekend, it had a certain charm and the people were very friendly. 

New bike day

I took possession of my new Volt London e-Bike. I managed to bag myself an ex demo model at a significant discount, and free delivery.

Volt send the bike to a local bike shop to be build, who identified that the battery was damaged so I got a new battery included.

My Van Moof X3 has been playing up and I can no longer get parts (they wanted £150 to replaced a stripped screw). So I decided it was time for a replacement I have been dithering for a while but the Volt seemed like a worthy successor it looks the part. I do miss the more upright Dutch position of the VanMoof but the Volt rides better and the motor is more powerful.

Pirate times in Gdansk

We arrive in Gdansk yesterday, the flight was late getting in so we didn't make it to the apartment until quite late Thom and was very tired. The Airbnb we rented was nice in a new apartment block close to the centre with shops and cafes close by. The only issue was it was quite noisy we could here the bleeping from the bridge raising ever hour and lots of people coming and going.

Today Wanda had booked us on a Pirate ship journey down the Motlawa river. Thom enjoyed the ship we had seen one going by from our balcony already so going on was quite a treat. During the voyage we got to know many things about Gdansk. The port is simply vast you can the why it was of stratigic importance. After returning from the pirate ship we headed to the centre of town to have a go on the wheel there. The wheel is 50 meters high so just a touch over 1/3 of the London eye height of 133 meters. Thom enjoyed it thought he said "You can see a lot of city!". Next stop was the Gdansk sign, next to the rive r it provides a nice photo backdrop. Then onto lunch at śliwka w kompot. Finally we had a look aroud the Soldek, thefirst ship build in Gdansk after the war. The Soldek was a bulk carrier, it used to ferry coal and iron ore. Thom enjoyed walking around seeing the engine room. It took 850kg of coal an hour to power the ship! I can't imagine how hot it must have been for the folks stoking the engines.

View from the wheel

Soldek

It's a rush

What an incredible night at the O2 Academy Manchester seeing Japanese Breakfast! Michelle Zauner was absolutely on fire, dancing and bringing so much energy to the stage.

The highlight for me had to be "Paprika" in the encore, especially when she theatrically hit that gong during the chorus – pure magic!

To top it all off, I managed to snag a signed copy of her latest album, "For Melancholy Brunettes (& Sad Women)," from the merch store. Their merch is always fantastic!

It was a perfect date night with my wife, Katarzyna, and a much-needed treat while the parents looked after our son. Still buzzing from the performance!

Edit this setlist | More Japanese Breakfast setlists

The Mental Marathon: Building Resilience When You're Not 100%

Today was my long run day, a staple in any training plan. But this one felt a little different. Last week, I was under the weather and had to miss a training session – one of the hardest things for a runner to do! The immediate instinct is to try and catch up, to push harder to make up for lost time. However, experience (and a bit of self-preservation) tells you that's rarely the right approach.

Adding to the challenge, the weather was surprisingly warm today for late June in Wilmslow. Usually, I'd relish a bit of sun, but when you're trying to put in serious mileage, heat can quickly turn a good run into a struggle. This meant consciously slowing my pace, taking on extra water, and really listening to what my body was telling me.

The Art of Showing Up (Even When You're Not 100%)

This is where the real trick comes in: recognizing that some runs, you just aren't going to be 100%. Whether it's post-illness fatigue, unexpected heat, or just a general "off" day, the key isn't to hit arbitrary targets, but to keep going. It's in moments like these that running truly becomes a mental marathon. The little voice in your head tries to convince you to speed up, to hit those splits you had planned, or even just to cut the run short. But then another, more resolute voice kicks in – the one that reminds you why you lace up your shoes in the first place.

It's about building resilience, about overcoming those internal doubts, and simply putting one foot in front of the other. Today's run wasn't about smashing personal bests or hitting ambitious targets. It was about showing up, being patient with myself after a week off, and adapting to the conditions. And honestly, those are often the runs that teach you the most. They build not just physical endurance, but the mental fortitude that carries you through every aspect of life.

Did you have a run recently where you had to dig deep and keep going, even when you weren't 100%? Share your experiences in the comments below!

Relaxing in Kos: An All-Inclusive Review

We recently returned from a wonderful week-long, all-inclusive trip to Holiday Village Atlantica Mikri Poli Kos, and it was exactly what we needed! After a busy year, it was fantastic to have a break from the usual routine and just relax.

One of the absolute highlights for Thom was, of course, the kids' club. He had an amazing time, especially enjoying the water slides and spending hours splashing around in the swimming pools. It's always great to see him so happy and entertained, and it definitely gave us a chance to unwind a bit more, knowing he was having a blast in a safe and fun environment.

Delicious Dining and Fantastic Entertainment

The food at the resort was mostly good, offering something for everyone. The main buffet restaurant was brilliant, with a great mix of Greek and British dishes, ensuring there were always familiar favourites and exciting new tastes to try. We especially loved the themed nights, like the Mexican day with delicious burritos and chili con carne – a really fun touch! While we didn't particularly enjoy the Greek specialty restaurant, the variety and quality at the buffet more than made up for it.

The kids' entertainment was also a huge hit. The Amphi-theatre was the hub for all the evening fun, hosting a lively kids' disco and various other entertaining shows that kept the little ones enthralled. It was lovely to see Thom and all the other children dancing and having such a good time.

Relaxation and Keeping Active

While Thom was enjoying the kids' club, we even managed to sneak in some well-deserved relaxation at the resort's spa. We both enjoyed a fantastic massage one day, which was pure bliss! It was wonderful to have that time to ourselves to truly unwind. And speaking of keeping active, I was also able to get my training sessions in at the gym, which was a huge bonus for me. As a keen runner who will be tackling the Chicago Marathon this year, maintaining my routine even on holiday is important!

Exploring (or Not) Beyond the Resort

Although the resort offered so much, we did venture out briefly one day. There's a village just a short 1km walk away, which we explored, but we didn't see much more of Kos beyond that. There was also a convenient bus service to the capital, but given how warm it was during our stay, we mostly chose to enjoy all the amenities and comfort of the resort itself.

For us, the all-inclusive aspect made the trip incredibly easy and stress-free. Not having to worry about meals or activities was a true luxury. We loved being able to just go with the flow, enjoy the beautiful surroundings, and simply soak up the sunshine. It was lovely to have the freedom to do as much or as little as we wanted, without any pressure.

Kos itself is a beautiful island, and the resort provided a perfect base for our family. It was exactly the kind of rejuvenating break we were hoping for.