A 100 years from now?

Last week I went to Manchester for the day to see my son, Daniel. I was early so walked slowly towards our meeting place, just past The Arndale Centre. Some call it The Triangle, which is about right, given the shape of the area. It was a warm and sunny day - one of the few that I've spent in Manchester when it hasn't rained.



Looking round the packed area, I could not prevent the morbid reflections entering my head. My first thought was - what if there's a bomb? The area is a prime target for so-called Islamic State. Fighting to rid my mind of these possible horrors, I looked around some more. Selfridges, Harvey Nicholls and a huge Next are unmissable - dominating the area. It's a Wednesday lunchtime in summer and yet there are plenty of customers exiting these stores with huge carrier bags. There's money somewhere -  for some. Either that or there's debt. It struck me - what did the British do before shopping? Shops crammed with stuff that many people want but which none of us really need.



Of course most people who were seated in the area, whether alone or with others, were looking at their phones.

Also in the area were plenty of eateries: Sinclair's Oyster Bar, Zizzi, Banyon bar and kitchen, Wahaco, Burrito Bar, Wagamama, Vapiano, Pizza Express, Chiquito, Harvester, Tampopo - Fresh Eastern cooking. The range is dazzling and makes for so much variety. As a student at Manchester University in the 1980s, the choice in eating out was much more limited, which didn't really bother me personally, as I wouldn't have been able to afford it. That said, in those days students were privileged compared to students now, as we had all our tuition fees paid by the Local Authority and I also received a full grant each term as my parents were not well off.



Apart from the Corn Exchange building and an old church down a little side street there was nothing to suggest that the people of a century ago would have walked here. Horses and carriages, some cars now too, long black clothing for women and hats for everyone. Also, a 100 years ago,  raging in France was the Battle of the Somme, in which on a bright sunny day, July 1st 1916, thousands of British young men went over the top of their trenches and were immediately gunned down.



I wondered then, what this densely populated area of one of our major cities will be like in another 100 years. Except maybe for the babies and toddlers in the area, the harsh fact is that all of us will be dead.



What would the people be wearing? What will happen to major names, such as Next, Selfridges and Harvey Nicholls? And the places to eat and drink? What would they be like or would the whole area have changed completely? I wasn't able to ponder these thoughts much more, as I spotted my smiling, waving, 25 year old son walking towards me.