THIS WEEKEND minifesto

Don't forget the amazingly splendid house gig / party extravaganza on monday

sundays derive will be a DIY affair - watch this space for details

Tomorrow is of course the great urban fox hunt, instructions below....

Dear loiterer

Thank you for signing up for the great LRM urban fox hunt. Here are your rules of engagement

If anything is unclear please call / text 07974929589 for clarification, also please use this number if you have to leave the game early or cancel (just so we don’t spend ages looking for you when we never stood a chance!)

At 2pm hunters must be at their designated, unique starting point (this will be sent to you in a separate email to preserve an air of mystery) They should don their high visibility jacket and begin the chase. If possible they should cry tally ho! or alternatively blow a whistle, or kazoo or other small instrument if available, although we do understand that may not be possible without alarming bystanders. Your first task is to find your fellow hunters….

Hunters must stay within the area outlined above and must be careful at all times to stay calm, courteous and mindful of the dangers of the city. Engagement with the public is encouraged but please don’t run, shout, ignore traffic or behave in a vexatious manner.

REMEMBER: If you see the fox you may not apprehend them until you have sufficient other hunters with you; 8 is the magic number when mob rule begins

When you see another hunter – identifiable of course by their jacket – the appropriate greeting is a cry of tally ho! or a note on your instrument/whistle if you have one. If your call is reciprocated you have found a kindred. How you proceed together is up to you of course but remember you can not catch a fox unless you are in a group of 8 hunters.

The fox(es) will be going about their daily business in perfectly reasonable manner. They are of course normal people, albeit sporting fluffy ears and magnificent tails; they don’t deserve persecution and can’t comprehend the hunting mentality. They will be in public view at all times; wandering feely in parks, squares, shops, cafes, galleries and generally enjoying the city. They may not hide away from the gaze eg in changing rooms or toilets.

To catch a fox they must be surrounded by a circle of 8 hunters and one must touch their tail; the fox must then surrender their tail and indeed their liberty.

At 4pm the game is over. If the fox(es) are caught much earlier we may have a second round. If any hunters or foxes are still on their own they should proceed to the library steps where will we gather to decide where to go for our post game celebrations.

I hope this makes sense! If not, or you need to collect a map or jacket please ring the hotline: 07974929589 and I’ll get the stuff to you. This is also the number to call if you get lost or confused or need any help.

Please be surreptitious and don’t wear your jacket before 2pm (unless of course you are cycling into town!) You can’t be sure who’s watching and discretion, as they say, is the best part of valour. Also, and this is very important: PLEASE RESPECT THE SPIRIT OF THE GAME AND DON’T TRY TO CONTACT OTHER HUNTERS TO TRY AND FIND THEIR STARTING POINT OR PLANS. If you know anyone else who wants to play please ask them to get in touch before 1.30pm so they can be given a location of their own.

Please remember this is an experiment and thus The LRM have no idea of the outcome although we anticipate ramshackle beauty and a glorious confusion through out our beloved city…..

I look forward to playing with you tomorrow

Love and giddy excitement

Morag x


PS The game area

Due to technological incompetence I have not been able to create an online map so it’s a DIY job I’m afraid. Here are the boundaries, walking in a clockwise direction. I suggest this map http://www.manchester.com/images/sections/travel/maps/mancmap2.gif but obviously any will do.

The bottom right point is the corner of Mossley Street and Princess Street, the line goes up John Dalton Street and then right along Deansgate till you reach Hunts Bank (nice name, yes that is deliberate) then turn down Todd Street and down Corporation Street then right along Withy Grove, skirting the outside of the Printworks and then go up Shudehill. Cross only at the traffic lights… the northern boundary is Thomas Street which isn’t marked on this map: it has Rambo’s tattoos, The Chinese Arts Centre, Odd bar and the old pink post office on it. It intersects with Oldham Street and this is the easterly edge; go down, through the middle of Piccadilly gardens and back down Mosley Street to the starting point. Perhaps its my imagination but I think the resulting shape is rather foxy, don’t you?