Works Night Out

I pick up Craig around half seven on the coldest night of the year, he checks his hair, I assure him it’s looks fine, our conversation feels like it’s been had many times before which it has. We both agree this is a good thing. I then go on to describe my flu like symptoms in some detail, Craig patiently listens and agrees, there’s a lot of it about, he says I’ve probably got the two day version [though how he can tell I’ve no idea]. Again that familiar conversation feeling is noted. It’s like we’re off to rehearse and we drive into town, past the Salford Lads Club, reminiscing on the freezing dome space and the terrible sound and the strangest gig we ever did together for the Goths of the Manchester Youth Club Alliance [where I never felt the generation gap so keenly and wrote about here if I recall]. It’s been sometime since Craig played in the band but on a friendship and feel good level he never really left. We arrive in Rusholme and decant to the Albert. Ben arrives and soon after Mike and Bone appear. We have a few beers then we’re off to eat, the curry mile is alive and rocking, pimped up roadsters driven by glittery Asian lads are speeding and tooting and celebrating what I’m not sure, possibly a festival, possibly Hindu but I’m only guessing? A bhangra style rave is taking place in a car park opposite the restaurant. The kids are avin it large …is the correct expression I do believe. We eat and drink and tell stories. That’s pretty much the gist of it. Boneheads got a new iPhone we have a play with, Mikes show is thriving, his listening figures up. I regret not seeing Cherry Ghost at the Ritz; they are quite my favourite band of the moment. Bens Christmas Tree is home grown. I drop Craig off in town around midnight and return home early as the flu like symptoms have the better of me. He’s the only one of us staying out. Happy Christmas VP x