A whole day and night plus another day of Manchester, the pieces are finally beginning to fit together. The free shuttle bus is proving a fantastic lazy way to explore, just get on and stay there – until the bus is parked up at the depot and the driver turfs you off, that happened yesterday. A crazy amount of things to see and do, even people watching takes on a whole new level. Out in the shadows and starry lights last night, a mini-night life dot to dot finishing off in The Alchemist – swearing not to drink today, by mid-morning we’d found ourselves in Manchester Food and Drink 2013, with free Ginger Grouse and grabbing handfuls of toothpaste samples. A wonder world of freebies, even Tweeted4aTable in Co-ops pop up restaurant…sadly no table won so they’re now most definitely unfollowed, but a great deal for the lucky winning diners.

A late afternoon wander down colourful Canal Street and along to China