This song? Top ten. And perfect for right now, because on this day seven years ago, I travelled one-way up the M6 and landed in Manchester. I’ve been here ever since, so I thought it would be an appropriate time (especially as this city won’t have me for much longer) to pause and count the ways in which I love this place. All a good idea, until I realised I really wouldn’t know where to begin. There simply are no words for the people I’ve met and the times I’ve had. The Manchester Years are famous in my book and I will look back on them with a fondness like no other. If I’ve learnt anything, it’s that the good people are like magnets. So thank you, Manchester, for teaching me that.

P.s. Count yourselves lucky that I chose that song to start this post off with. The alternative would’ve been Tina Turner –Simply The Best (don’t ask). But now for the photos. These were taken (almost) seven years ago of my friend (who happens to be wearing a wig) and I, outside our halls. I seem to remember we loved them at the time. They look even more iconic now.