Having a boyfriend who’s from the North I have found myself falling in love with places like Manchester and Liverpool. So to cheer myself up I booked a mega bus coach ( I think it was £5) and took myself off there for the day. I would be meeting Ben’s Mum in the afternoon so that left me a few hours to venture around the Northern Quarter and head to my favourite art shop.
For me at the moment doing things on my own are particularly tough. Its silly but anxieties can make you feel like you’re a prisoner in your own mind. So once I had my mind set on this trip I went for it because I need to get myself back out there and out of my comfort zone.
First thing I did was venture to Fred Aldous, one of my happy places. I am often dragging ben around so it was nice to give myself a leisurely 45 minutes to star at literally everything. Seriously I could spend a small fortune on paper, pens and pencils. There is exerting you can imagine an artist needs. But I was strict with myself and picked up a few Posca pens for my #ella365project which I’ll be sharing more about soon, but if you click on the hashtag you’ll be able to see more.
I’m keeping my fingers crossed for a future move to Manchester, I make no bones about wanting to move out of London, I can just see myself living in a converted warehouse with large windows and painting all day..anyway less of that day dream. I wandered around Northern Quarter on the hunt for a coffee shop and one of my favourites has to be Ezra and Gil for sure and its not to far from the art shop and I bagged myself a window seat. As I had just joined the cue to get my coffee when a girl and her boyfriend appeared behind me asking if I was Ella Masters and to my surprise she had come over to tell me she loved my drawing and before I could ask her name and for my brain to engaged we waved goodbye. I love it when things like that happen and you meet people who take the time to compliment you.
Whilst sitting in the window I stole a few moments to draw my favourite view of the Crown and Anchor, I love the contrasting pink walls and the ceramic deep green tiles. It was nice to lose myself in drawing for an hour before I got a phone call to meet Ben’s Mum.
We ventured around all the shops and I picked myself up a few bargains in Primark, I’m desperately trying my hardest to save so I can move, but with the change in the weather and not having any summer clothes I treated myself to a blouse.
The treat of the day was finally getting to go to Albert Schloss, me and Ben were meant to have a few drinks in there when we last went but ben was to tipsy to find it and we ended up elsewhere. Both me and Linda opted for a salad but omg it was the best damn salad I had ever tasted! Genuinely got stuffed on a salad who have I become?! I was then informed of the free Photo Booth downstairs which we bundled into to snap some fun photos.
To me this little mini adventure was well deserved and much needed even though I didn’t do crazy amounts just getting myself out of London really helped. Don’t worry I didn’t let get the Mega Bus back down to London I stayed in the North with Ben and after walking god knows how many steps I slept like a baby!
I’ve never been to Manchester but I’d love to visit, the mega bus sounds like such a good deal. I’d also love to raid the art supplies store you went to, I’m a sucker too for pens and paper haha 🙂 you deserve some little treats and I’m glad you had a lovely day out. How amazing to be greeted by an admirer of your work too?! I bet that felt super special 🙂 sending you lots of love x x
Ellis // http://www.elliswoolley.co.uk
Oh I always wanted to visit Manchester 🙂
x Lisa | lisaautumn.com