Things I’ve Been Trying in Manchester That Have Made Me Smile

Image by Dimitris Vetsikas from Pixabay

After some recent disappointment, I decided the only way forward was to keep going. So, I’ve been filling up my calendar with fun things to do around Manchester, some with friends, some solo. Here are some of the things I’ve been getting up to:

1. Product Management Event

Earlier this year, I toyed with the idea of getting into product management. I’d been DMing people on LinkedIn, trying to set up informational interviews, but no one responded. Recently, I came across a product management event on Eventbrite and thought, Why not?

The moment I walked in, I struck up a conversation with a couple of women. By the end of the evening, we’d exchanged numbers and even made plans for dinner. That’s what I call a win. Networking events can often feel dull and uninspiring, so I’ve learned not to expect much. But meeting them completely made my night.

The talks were pretty good too! There were three in total:

• Why authenticity matters

• Improv tools for product managers

• How to hit the ground running in a new role

I left with a few useful takeaways and I’m keeping an open mind about whether product management is for me.

2. Bound Sample Sale

This was my first-ever sample sale. A friend had introduced me to the concept, and I was intrigued. So when I stumbled across this event, I decided to check it out. Did I know the brand? No. Was it a men’s clothing sale and I still went? Yes.

I arrived at Ducie Street Warehouse fashionably late and saw a long queue. I almost turned back but figured it’d be a shame to come all this way just to leave. Plus, I was curious. So I stayed in line, reminding myself I was just going to look. I walked out with a gorgeous burnt orange wool jumper. It’s soft, cozy, and I regret nothing.

3. Book Club

I haven’t read fiction in a while. I joined a book club two years ago and have only attended a couple of times. However in the spirit of revisiting all the things that bring me joy, I decided to pick up a book. What better way to read than with a harsh deadline and a group to keep you accountable?

In reality, I could have gone without reading the book but I hate spoilers and I need to be in the know. So either I finished the book or I didn’t go. I started on Friday and had until Thursday evening to finish. And I did it, I was even reading while waiting in the sample sale queue. Efficiency at its finest.

I completed the book and went to the meeting. I’d forgotten how hard it could be to hear properly with all the overlapping conversations in the background and I’m not great at lip reading, so that was a challenge. But a lovely evening after work nonetheless.

4. Christmas Cinema at King Street Townhouse

King Street Townhouse is hosting cinema nights with a selection of Christmas films, which is perfect for me because I haven’t seen most of them.

We watched The Holiday, which I’d never seen before. There’s something nostalgic about early noughties films, but they also make me wonder—how much of today’s dating culture comes from these movie tropes?

They served popcorn, drinks, and fries, and the fries were so good I’ve been daydreaming about recreating them at home ever since.

5. Chill Pilates

I did a Pilates session that started out chill but became slightly less so in the second half. Still, it was very manageable overall.

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6. A Facial to Wash Away the Year

I booked a facial to help scrub away the problems from the year. You don’t know how much can really get into your pores. It involved a lot of scraping, ointments, wiping, a suction pen at one point and then some steaming and finally infrared light. Initially, I found it hard to relax. I wasn’t used to having someone touch my face like that but I eventually settled into it. By the time we got to the infrared light, I was actually dozing off.

7. Buying More Books

I finally bought a book that’s been on my TBR for what feels like a decade, Sapiens. I love it. It makes me feel like an intellectual, but it’s also genuinely well-written. The author has this dry, sarcastic humour that keeps it engaging. It could’ve easily been a dry read, but it’s not.

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8. Eating My Feelings

I’ve been eating my feelings, living on a diet of matcha and croissants. One counteracts the other. My go-to spot lately has been Companio. They have an almond and coffee croissant that everyone I introduce it to raves about. Personally, I’m a plain croissant kind of person.

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9. Dinner with Strangers

This one was a bit of a wildcard. I came across an ad for TimeLeft, and it immediately caught my attention. It felt like the kind of thing I would’ve tried if I were in London, so I thought, Why not here?

You sign up and get matched with five strangers for dinner. The ad led me to a survey, and before I knew it, I was filling in my details. The process was so seamless it reminded me of the time I fell for an air fryer scam. Thankfully, this wasn’t a scam. The dinner was at Exhibition and there were 7 attendees, including me. Overall, I had a great time.