Nightlife in Mancs!

With 85,000 students, the social scene in Manchester is vast and caters for everyone. There are a few hubs in the city which are the best places to head to for a night out.

You will soon become familiar with Oxford Rd known as the Student Quarter. It is 2 miles long stretching down to the Curry Mile; and littered with great venues. The Font is nestled down an alley next to Oxford Rd station – laid back & decorated in a funky style which gives your eyes plenty to feast on, cocktails start at just £2. Next door is one of the 5 chilled New-York inspired bars, Black Dog Ballroom, found across the city offering cheap drinks. Pop round the corner to their newest addition - Dog Bowl - and you’ll find a 5 lane bowling alley! Nearby Zombie Shack may be new on the scene but is a superb place to go for a cocktail – an exotic tiki bar, expect lots of colour, graffiti and flaming drinks. You can’t miss the bamboo-staircase entrance and huge graffiti sign under the railway tunnel. A traditional student haunt just down the road is The Footage; a little grubby but very cheap with drinks for just a £1 on Wednesdays. It’s always packed, shows lots of sport and is full of students. Stop by The Temple, a converted public toilet transformed into small but popular bar renowned for its huge array of foreign beers. If clubbing is your thing, check out 5^th Avenue - indie-inspired Wednesday nights are cheapest with drinks starting at 90p but there are deals all week.

Northern quarter is another lively part of Manchester, well worth a visit with a bewildering choice of bars to choose from. Check out TV21, a television, film and music themed bar, you can eye the great posters and artwork on show centred round a cool circular bar. It’s a cheap & quiet during the week but becomes very busy at weekends. Walrus offers nice cocktails for a fiver in happy hour with live music performed but if you’re splashing out, sample the best cocktails in the city at the relaxed Apotheca Bar! The name comes from the antique pharmacy cabinets decorating the front bar and it is found in a beautiful listed building. Another grade II listed building worth partying in is the neon-glowing cocktail lounge NoHo – you’ll find impressive floor to ceiling windows and an eccentric but inviting style. Terrace bar is an awesome place to meet your mates with bare brick walls, original wooden flooring and vintage school furniture –it’s literally too cool for school! Pick your tunes on the free jukebox at converted pawn shop Dusk till Pawn, or view the ever-changing art displays at Kosmonaut which boasts its own ping pong league! Whatever you like, the Northern Quarter has something for everyone.

It doesn’t matter if you are gay or straight, the Village – scattered around the famous Canal St – has over 25 bars & clubs offering friendly, tolerant venues with great music. G.A.Y boasts £1.50 drinks Sunday to Thursday. Alter Ego gives us Poptastic nights on a Tuesday and Saturday with cheap entry and shots for just 50p! Cruz101 is one of the most popular & livelier clubs – but Thompsons will give you a more laid back vibe & makes a great starting point for a night in the village. Be sure to also venture into Queer, Baa Bar, New York New York and AXM for great nights out. They may be gay venues but most are straight friendly and the village is hugely popular with straight people. It shows how open-minded and tolerant Mancunians are – and it’s always fun to check out the fab drag queens partying here!

Elsewhere in the city, Bijou Club in Deansgate is an upmarket venue popular with the elite, celebs & footie players of Manchester. There are great bars to be found at The Printworks alongside Tiger Tiger – a 2000 capacity club boasting a Moroccan themed bar, 70’s/80’s disco room, swanky cocktail lounge, private karaoke pods and an Ibiza themed nightclub. Waxy O’Connor’s is a fun Irish pub with great music & friendly staff. The Met Bar on campus is reasonably priced and hosts lots of events so keep up-to-date with the goings on. With so much choice, you need to visit as many places as possible to find your favourite drinking destinations!

Manchester Museum - well worth a visit!

Manchester Museum is part of the University of Manchester and can be found amongst the hustle & bustle of Oxford Road. You can't miss it as it is set in this beautiful Victorian building and there are plenty of signs around.

Museum's aren't for every one but they are a fantastic resource and a great place to learn. The purpose of this blog is not to teach or bore you with too much history/details, but rather give you a glimpse of a superb place to visit in Manchester. The collection dates back to 1821 and moved to it's current location way back in 1868 so it has been a part of Mancunian life for almost 150 years. It is free to the public and is open 10am to 5pm every day of the year except between 24th and 26th December, and 1st January. More details can be found at www.museum.manchester.ac.uk.

Fairly soon into the visit, you are welcomed by two impressive exhibits at the museum; a giant spider crab which was captured in the 19th century & which can measure 4 metres claw to claw and a full skeleton of an elephant. I was surprised how big the tusks really are!

The first main collection is Living Cultures, and the pieces originate mainly from areas outside Europe such as Asia, Africa, the Americas and Oceania. There are over 16,000 objects on display in this collection alone! There is a fantastic array of carvings, art, statues, masks, warrior outfits and weapons from different cultures all over the world. You are taught the history, meaning and background of all the pieces. I was impressed by the beautiful craftsmanship of some of the speaks & crossbows and it was fascinating to see how they are made.

There is a large number of Roman objects to be found too, including pottery, figurines and this vase which is still standing at almost 2000 years old - incredible. But there are items to be found which are even older.

Manchester Museum hosts one the largest collections of ancient Egyptian artefacts in the UK - with objects dating from 10,000 BC to AD 600. The Ancient Worlds gallery also contains items from the ancient civilizations of Greece & Rome. It was the Egyptian collection which excited me most. There are beautiful examples of Hieroglyphics, Ancient Egyptian art and amazing mummy's to be found here. It is well worth a visit to learn about these incredible people, their lives and the process of the mummification itself. You can even see inside a coffin. Just remember how old these items are when walking around.

Soon you find yourself in the Zoology section sharing your space with fellow visitors and an impressive array of animals, insects and plants from all over the world. It's always great to see the different species found across the globe, and for the young-at-heart (like me!) you can act out some of the poses...

There are a few, stranger animals too, he must have been chilly...

A little unusually, you find a number of concept boxes which are more artistic but still very interesting. I have included a photo of my favourite ones but there are many more to be seen so make sure you check them out on your visit! The 'Humans' box displays the full skeleton of a chimp, human and ape alongside each other, as well as many other primate skulls. With us being so closely related to these species it is fun to make comparisons between them. The 'Peace' box was beautifully lit and decorated with hundreds of origami birds. Finally, the 'Life' box was a little more quirky displaying a number of hanging chicks & eggs inside. I loved them all.

Back to the animals and remember to look up at this gigantic whale skeleton taking pride of place over the museum.

From a giant monster of the deep to a giant monster of the past, check out the dinosaur exhibit and you will not find out about this incredible species as well as a huge T-rex skeleton. I was obsessed with dinosaurs growing up and it was a real highlight to find this beauty. It almost makes you feel like you're on the set of the movie 'A night at the Museum' and I found myself waiting for Ben Stiller to come walking round the corner.

The last collection to check out is the 'Warriors of the Plains' which focuses on 200 years of Native North American honour & ritual and is showing until 3rd November. You find ceremonial shirts, moccasins and tomahawks, alongside photographs of the objects in use, portraying the world of Native North American warfare and ritual from 1800 to today. Here are two examples of stunning North American battle outfits - impressive stuff eh!

Sadly, the Live Animals area of the museum is currently closed for a refurb. You can find live frogs, amphibians and reptiles here when it is open. But don't worry, it reopens on Saturday 26th October bigger than better than ever!

Be sure to pay a visit to the museum to view these wonderful & interesting collections in person - I promise you will have fun and even learn a thing or two. All free!

Eating healthy as a student!

Contrary to popular belief, it is easy (and really not expensive) to eat both healthily and cheaply whilst at uni. Money is tight for students so people see ready meals, freezer food and takeaways as a cheaper solution. But not only does your health suffer as a consequence of a bad diet, but it really doesn't cost much to eat nutritious foods that contain the energy you need whilst studying for a degree, working a part-time job and socialising with friends.

Student life can be tough (and very hectic) so you need the right food to fuel your body. This means eating protein, vegetables, fruit, dairy and the right kind of carbs whenever you can.

Let's start with protein - the meat! Chicken is great because it is so flexible; use it in a curry, stir fry, wrap or whatever you fancy. Save money by buying frozen chicken fillets (easily defrosted overnight in a bowl or using a microwave). Turkey breasts or diced beef is often cheaper than chicken - remember to check out the reduced aisle for meat which needs to be sold asap. It makes it cheaper if you bulk-buy - despite the bigger initial expense, you save in the long run. Remember, any of this meat can be stored in the freezer to prevent it going off! If you buy frozen instead of fresh mince for your Spag Bols or Chilli then you save a small fortune. Fish and seafood are also a great source of vitamins & omega oils but they do cost more. However, when you can afford it, splash out!

Now on to those vegetables. If you are heading to a supermarket, head towards Aldi or Lidl who do a great range of both fruit & vegetables at cheap prices. However, if you live near a local market or greengrocer you will find it is always cheapest to buy fruit & veg here. I was surprised at how much cheaper it can be so check out your local market now! Of course, a lot of the large chain supermarkets (certainly Asda, Tesco & Morrisons) now offer a different selection of fruit & veg each week for just 50p, so be sure to check these out when you venture in one. You can buy lot's of frozen veg but some of these simply don't taste as nice as the fresh stuff. That said, I actually prefer (and it's cheaper) to buy frozen sweetcorn instead of tinned or fresh corn. And whilst we are talking about veg, don't forget fruit. We all know we should be getting our 5-a-day - banana's, apples & oranges are a superb & cheap way to help us towards this. Plus they make a great snack instead of chocolate or crisps. Strawberries, grapes, blueberries & pineapple are a little more expensive but if you budget correctly then treat yourself once in a while.

Right, you've got the meat and veggies but what to serve then with? Avoid potatoes when you can, opt instead for wholemeal pasta, rice or couscous. The 'white' versions just aren't as nutritious for your body and combined with a sauce or flavours, taste practically the same. I'm not saying to never eat potatoes, everybody loves a jacket, roasties or some mash - but moderation is important! It goes without saying that chips should be avoided whenever possible. If this all sounds bland to you, you don't know how wrong you are. Buy a few select spices you like - garlic, chilli, basil, rosemary, cajun etc - and marinade the meat before you cook it. Use the oven or grill to cook meat in a healthier way, but if you do fry use the 1-cal spray oil. Don't forget to add the spices in to the pasta, rice or cous cous to add a little bit of a kick and always remember to season - a little salt & pepper (but not too much) goes along way! Soy sauce or sesame oil will add tonnes of flavour too.

Bread is a huge part of a lot of people's diets - a sandwich is the easiest lunch to prepare - but there are better options. Why not try a wrap, pitta bread or flat bread instead? Again, go for the wholemeal, granary or seeded varieties which are infinitely better for your body than any white ones. Use lighter than light mayo as the perfect accompaniment. Or how about swapping that bread for some lettuce and make a salad? Add whatever veg you happen to like - lettuce, tomato, cucumber, sweetcorn - and drizzle in Balsamic vinegar. It tastes great and is almost calorie free, so better than salad cream or dressings. We can learn a lot from our Asian cousins, so try a stir fry up if you don't like salads - a tasty alternative.

Dairy is an important part of our diet, and to be honest prices are broadly the same wherever you go. But how about trying the light versions - light or lighter Cheddar tastes the same as normal cheese especially when melted or used in a dish. Don't drink full fat milk, try semi-skimmed instead. Lots of people don't drink skimmed milk as they feel it is too watery and I use to agree, but I soon got use to it and now find semi-skimmed too creamy. The main point though is to make sure you are eating as much dairy as you can as it is an essential component to our diets.

The most important message is to squeeze as much fruit and vegetables into your diet as possible - you can't pretend it's expensive because it isn't. Try to avoid processed meat & food, take-outs and snacks whenever you can. They are all really bad for you and have little nutritional benefit to any diet. Chocolate and crisps may taste nice, but as I've said before; moderation is key. Eating multiple bars and packets a day will definitely not help the waistline. 

 vs.

It's also important to shop around the supermarkets and find out where sells the items you like for the cheapest. A huge tip is to try Aldi or Lidl who nearly always come out least expensive! Just remember to take your own bag as they do charge - not a lot but it all adds up. I even take an overnight suitcase with me as takes the strain of carrying the bags back to your flat. 

Cooking for one can be hard so why not make enough for 2 or even 4 (with currys, pasta dishes or chillis etc) and freeze the rest into portions to be eaten at a later date? It's cheaper that way and the second time round, you just defrost and re-heat for a few minutes and you have a home-cooked meal. The freezer is great for keeping any frozen meat & vegetables, or left over soup & dishes, but it should not be used to stock unhealthy frozen foods. Don't buy chips, waffles, fish fingers or ready meals and you won't eat them - simple! Use the freezer for the RIGHT food only.

Some ready meals will be ok for you and are quick & easy to prepare, all food items list ingredients, calories and nutrients these days so just be aware of what you are putting into your stomach! Most supermarkets do a great range of various ravioli & tortellini's with accompanying sauces - you can normally buy 2 for £2.50 - and a packet of each will make 2 meals. Not only a bargain, but a lot better for you than a Kiev & chips.

Finally, if you are generally eating healthy most of the week then it isn't a problem to scoff down a Maccy D or Subway, treat yourself to a cake, enjoy a cheeky chocolate bar or visit the Kebab shop after a night out. It's all about moderation, and the more exercise you do the more calories you get away it. So do you need that bus? Why not walk instead and burn that fat off! 

Here are some dishes I regularly make, to give you some ideas:

 Chile! And lots of it!

  Thai Green Curry!

  Chinese noodles!

  Bacon and vegetable cous cous!

  Pitta bread

  Carbonara

  Bacon, potato & leek soup!

My first day at uni - but how was yours?

Any student is nervous on their first day at university. At the ripe old age of 25 and having spent 6 years working in travel (and 1 year travelling sunny Australia) I was going to uni pursuing my dream of working in travel journalism. Despite my life experience, I was anxious about what life would be like. Of course, 18 year olds that have never lived away from home and international students living in a strange, foreign land have more right to be scared, but still.

I had worried whether there would be people my age on the course, would I find the lecture theatre in the vast maze of campus buildings, would my classmates speak to me. The usual. It turns out these would prove to be the least of my worries.

My first lecture was scheduled for 12 noon however upon glancing at my timetable on my app I suddenly noticed this had been changed to 10 am. Surely this couldn't be right? I clarified on the uni website but alas the site was down. It was 9.20 am by now so after muttering a few expletives, I chucked on some clothes, grabbed my (thankfully prepared) bag and dashed to uni. I realised I had forgotten which room it was in but now the app was down too. Living nightmare. Sweating profusely, I arrived at the Humanities block witnessing pandemonium.  Students and chaos surrounded me.  I joined the vast line of lost & bewildered students at the help desk but discovered their systems were also down. Once somebody could help, the lecture was full and I was asked to return in 2 hours. All that rushing was for nothing - could today get any worse?

Returning a little before noon, I was sitting with 2 friends I had met before, when suddenly I felt something on my back. I screamed as I felt it move along around to my belly. I fell to my knees, grabbed it and flung it off me. It was a mouse! Not only was I in shock, but my friends had looked at me like I was crazy. I had no need to worry about making friends or getting to lectures.  Everyone is in the same boat going through this experience together. However I did have to worry about small rodents taking a field-trip on my body. It was a memorable first day for me! 

How was your first day?