What a nice day....in MANCHESTER?

[dragstar]

its a long read....enjoy:


So, there i was sat in the library, trying to work out the accountability mechanisms of MI5 and GCHQ, when i thought "the fit-bird infront, has gone and im bored"

without a second thought, i packed my bag away, put my library books on the correct shelf (course i did ) and stepped outside.

"hmmm its friday afternoon, i could start drinking, do some work, infest PH, do some exercise, go for a drive or wander into town"

i decided to wander into town, with my scruffy nike hoodie, faded jeans and "im a good-boy" backpack.

as i dodged the scum, students, old people and tramps up oxford road, i remembered an Email from a chap from NORLOG regarding the new Lotus shop in deansgate.

"ahhh, 'tis better than a stomach-ache relieving fart" i thought to myself as i gathered pace, in the general direction of teasers (a "table-dancing" club, which has become a particular favourite)and happens to be next to the store.

as i crossed the tram-lines, a red VX passed me, as the owner gave a knowing "look at me glance". if only he knew . if only.

i grinned to myself, and carried on walking. i then "cackled" to myself, due to the thought of a "vauxhall store" in the finest part of manchester. , it was unfortunate, that i happen to pass a member of the public at this very point, as i looked insane. "oh well, at least im no beached whale, ma'am" i thought to myself.

i got close to the complex, and saw the sorry site, of my reflection in the windows, next to the shite ice-ring. "man, are they going to love me!" crossed my mind as i entered the store.

first impressions? very nice. it had a two-floor plan, however the only thing that was playing on my mind was "am i going to get kicked out?"

i was looking in the little glass cabinet, with the S2 models, wondering if they had a little scale "El 'beast", when i heard a voice.."hello", "er, hello" i responded, whilst deliberately wiping my top where a guiness mark had found itself, in the hope that she'd know, that i know about it

"are you looking at anything in particular?" came another voice. at this point i was cacking my pants, as i was waiting for this question, which in Drag*'s book means "have a look, then fook off"

"erm, yes a little help actually", as i descended the stairs i noticed that the 2 voices had been from women

"i have an S1 which needs a front-end respray, can you recommend anybody?", phew! they know im not wasting there time...and relax.

"we can do that, for you sir" said one of them.

SHIT, i thought (as i dont need a spray). my load then doubled when they wanted to take some details and i wormed my way out of it. "they think im lying" i thought.

one of them was french, a little petite girl. i talked about armourfending whilst purring over the titanium 111s S2 they have.

"nice isnt she" piped the frenchie, "oh yes..same colour as mine" as i fantasised about bending the french frie over the door.
"they keep changing the name of the colours, its really annoying" said the other one. "ah yes, as i nodded"

i then said, im going for a browse, which i did. WOW, what a store. they had nice window winders with little lotus badges, exige handbrake sleeves, trickle chargers, touch up pens, key-rings, little models and all sorts of lotus memrobillia. i was in heaven.

they also had the main thing i want for christmas...a lotus motorsport fleece or jacket..PERFECT. meanwhile i had been chatting to the two girls, about all things lotus from driving in the snow, to storeage and modifications.

i asked if you, ROB, had been in, "he's got a black S2 with black wheels...not that he goes around telling evrybody.."

"er, i dont think so, but a member of NORLOG, works here on weekends, so pop back!"

i had another quick look around, and then decided on a water-proof jacket at £84.99. "perfect for the wench to get!" i thought, as the thought of the straighteners haunts me still.

i said my goodbyes and then left. "come back soon" i will..i surely will.

MORAL OF THE STORY..you've just wasted 10 minutes reading about a glorified shopping trip :hehe

seriously, i learnt a few things today:

1)never judge a book by its cover, on both sides..those girls really knew their stuff

2)i kind of understood the spontaneity appeal of window shopping that women-folk suffer from

3)when i bought my car, i bought more than just 4 wheels, but a dynasty. our cars are truely special so take care of them.

4)it is possible to have a motor-related fun day out, without sitting in your car

and finally...

5)when your walking and you see a VX driver giving you his "victory glance" let him have it....poor lad only gets a few, and not many BJs with THAT "car"

thanks for reading, had a good day, and photos of me modeling (ooooh err) will follow.

Drag*

[Wacky Racer]

Phew!!!

I thought Tolstoy's "War and Peace" was hard going

[B19GRR]

dragstar said:

i asked if you, ROB, had been in, "he's got a black S2 with black wheels...not that he goes around telling evrybody.."

Gasp, is there another Rob around these parts with such good taste in cars but somewhat less modest than myself I ask?!!!!!

I must confess I haven't been into the new shop yet, in fact I can hardly remember the last time I was in Manchester - shocking I know - but the driving there is crappy


Cheers,
Rob
Race Speed 150+, Larini exhaust, spanking new Dunlops, QR panels all over the place, ally tat inside, bits of carpet even and of course gloss black wheels

[Bonce]

Great post dragstar. I didn't have a clue what you were on about but I think I enjoyed it all the same.

Edit: There's a Lotus shop in Manchester??

>> Edited by Bonce on Friday 28th November 21:43

[dragstar]

Bonce said:

Great post dragstar. I didn't have a clue what you were on about but I think I enjoyed it all the same. Edit: There's a Lotus shop in Manchester??

i thought it made sense?


yep, there is a small "lotus shop" in manchester (or womanchester, if you believe a "womens lib" talk that we happened to stumble into once, after a few too many beers it wasnt "long" before we were ushered out).

it is big enough to hold an S2 and is "classy". very nice, with very nice staff. well recommended if your up here, or if your local (rob, you havent got an excuse ).

MUNGO..lets hear the story. come on, out it comes....

ps, anybody got any other lotus related stories?

[dragstar]

B19GRR said:

dragstar said: i asked if you, ROB, had been in, "he's got a black S2 with black wheels...not that he goes around telling evrybody.." Gasp, is there another Rob around these parts with such good taste in cars but somewhat less modest than myself I ask?!!!!! I must confess I haven't been into the new shop yet, in fact I can hardly remember the last time I was in Manchester - shocking I know - but the driving there is crappy Cheers, Rob Race Speed 150+, Larini exhaust, spanking new Dunlops, QR panels all over the place, ally tat inside, bits of carpet even and of course gloss black wheels

next time i have to describe you, ill mention those things aswell

[Gfun]

I must take back my comments on 'they will never fit a car in that show room!'

[dragstar]

recommended big-lad.

it's really nice.

[NJS25]

Where aboots is this wee shoppy type thing

Going to the big city on Saturday , don't want to get lost with all those ruffians about .

I think I may be able to find Deansgate , but at which end is it? Don't fancy scouring up and down Manchester with the pushchair when someone here can direct me straight to it

It's my boys first Chrismas and he needs some more presents

Merry Christmas, Neil

PS. Sorry about the excessive use of smileys, I think I've read too many of Dragsters (dolphs!?) posts recently

[dragdolph]

you cant beat a good smilie

when you get to the city, walk towards teasers nightclub. it is literally adjacent.

right next door is the great northern cinema aswell, oh and a little ice rink that i may attack tomorrow

deansgate is "quite" big so id just ask somebody who will point you in the right direction. if your in a "posh" set of streets with boutiques/coffee joints and la tasca (which im banned from ) then your in the right place!

just ask a person in the shop!

good luck

[dragdolph]

sorry, i can be more clear than that. its at the end where the large roundabout is (where the A57 flies underneath).

if you stand facing away from the crown plaza-right infront of it- (or whatever that hotel is called infront of the tramlines at st peters square) and turn left. keep walking, over the road and tramlines for about 5 minutes.

then turn left again at the next LARGE junction. it should be on your..urm...left a few yards down.

ask somebody around here if your not sure!

good luck x2.

[NJS25]

Good evening,

Dragster thanks for the info., basically the shop is on Deansgate, at the opposite to the Arndale.

Definitely worth a look, I bought a few things for Sams (my!) Christmas stocking.

The shop is run by Ribble Valley Lotus, not Lotus themselves, but they still honoured my OLC discount

Staff were excellent, thoroughly recommended!

Regards, Neil


PS. The official Lotus mouse mat works a dream

[dragdolph]

glad you enjoyed it.

dont suppose you bought the little model elise fot the tot?.....thought not!

i was there this morning, changing my jacket for a smaller size.

pics will follow people!