Wednesday 14 November

The expanse from the base of Oldham Street to the slums of Ancoats was named with some great ceremony today. To the mayor’s evident relief, the notorious hashish dealer Byron Badger named the area – in which he has a number of licensed premises – The Northern Quarter (more lascivious suggestions having included Pothead Park and 'Bongville'). Spied Daisy at the subsequent parade, umbrella pointedly adrift, but just as I’d caught her eye we were both distracted by a collapsing stand of local dignitaries. Several rising stars of the burgeoning Soap and Footerballing trades pronounced vacant. By the time the dead were buried Daisy had vanished behind a convenient ‘kerchief. Damn my past!