Days of Christmas 2012
Nov 11th
This year I'm doing the Retail Days of Christmas, so when NEXT in Manchester set out to put Christmas Trees up in the window I started my Days of Christmas, Each day I will publish something in line with the original set, so instead of 12 Days it's 50-odd Days of Christmas. Enjoy!
You can follow this daily on twitter via #daysofchristmas or via david.mu/daysofchristmas
Yours,
Mr Murphy
Best New Band in Manchester????
Nov 9th
sorry to take traffic away from the site but this needs to be shared.....
The Start of Christmas 2012
Nov 5th
Today I decided on the spur of the moment to go to the Trafford Centre. Now, I generally have a rule regarding this place, and that is as soon as the lights have been switched on, it is avoided until at least February.
Unfortunately, Matthew put it in my head that the decorations had changed, and I am a sucker for Christmas. That, and there is a very limited edition Nespresso coffee out that I want (and didn't get 
)
At first, I didn't believe that they had spent any money to change the decorations (they had been the same for as long as I can remember), but it does seem like they have in some places. The singing tree for example hadn't been changed much other than the bulbs were a different colour.
McFly switched on the Christmas lights on Thursday and I am glad I missed it. From the pictures I saw, the Orient was heaving and I wouldn't have liked it. I am afraid to say I did miss their book signing on the Friday, but it does look like Selfridges have some extras of their signed book on sale (hint hint).
As I said, I love Christmas, especially decorations, and some of the new ones that have been put up are stunning. There are baubles hanging down that open periodically to reveal another tree inside changing colour. Anyway, less of my goings on, I will leave you with the pictures.
Enjoy, and Merry Christmas 
(you may need to click on Full Story)
Spooky World....Spooktastic!
Oct 20th
Halloween is fast approaching! Every year in the UK Halloween seems to get bigger and bigger, not yet as big as in the US, but close! On the outskirts of Warrington (not technically Manchester..but I went with two friends from Salford!!) is a plays called "Spooky World" during the summer this is a kids farm called "Apple Jacks", but from the end of September until the end of November is transformed into all that is icky and spooky!
Various "Zones" are created where you walk through in groups being terrified by actors dressed up as zombies, scary clowns and horror film characters. This year alongside the regular "Haunted Hayride" and "Field of Screams" they have added a "Contagion Zone" and a horrific fun house!
It's all good fun, characters wander around the grounds scaring visitors, there is a food court, pumpkin carving, roller ring. The motto is "Fun by Day, Scary by Night" I'm a wuss, so EVERYTHING scared me, to the extent that teens in the lines kept shouting "Boo!" at me and I would scream!
Not a big fan of the zombies and undead that jump out at you when you walk through some of the zones, but the "Haunted Hayride" was fun!
Booking online is cheaper and you can fast track your tickets, which means you can avoid the VERY long lines for some of the zones. Wrap up warm, wear wellies..but dont EVER say "Ill be right back!"
Rick Astley. Academy 2. 17th October 2012
Oct 19th
I have to admit..I'm a child of the 80's! I like new music sure, but the beat of a Stock Aitken & Waterman classic will always transport me back to my youth! Rick Astley was probably one of the bigger PWL acts, with Rick starting as a Tea Boy in the studios before progressing to bone fide pop star!
Ive seen Rick perform on a couple of the 80's Revival shows and he has always been in good voice belting out those 80's hits. But, there is more to Rick than the nostalgia circuit as tonight's gig proved. In the relatively small (and VERY hot!) surroundings of the Academy 2 room (reminded me of a school hall) Rick and his band treated us to a selection of his 80's hits, kicking off with "Together Forever" mixing in some Motown Classics, updated versions of old hits and some suprisingly good new matierial.
It must be frustrating for an artist to be pigeonholed into one era, but Rick mannaged to give the fans the hits they craved for and some new stuff that could easily sit in today's chart (his new album is set for release in early 2013, but you can buy a copy at the gigs) Rick has a fine soul voice and his band are adept at switching from the 80's sound to soul to rock.
Gone is the shy persona of the 80's, replaced by a confident and witty approach. Lots of banter with the audience, there was even a raffle half way through! Inevitably, the show closed with "Never Gonna Give You Up", but to be honest, there was so much other good stuff, that if he hadn't done it, for me, it wouldn't have been missed!
The crowd was a mixture of couples, 80's loving thirty and 40 somethings! and suprisingly a number of young hipsters..good on ya Rick!
