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Dunno if any of you lot know Manchester, but it's an absolute miracle that no one was killed when the Mcr bomb went off. The biggest bomb ever on mainland UK in the busiest part of town on a day when everyone was shopping early in the morning cos of the England v Scotland game that afternoon.

Given the lack of bodycount (and why have we adopted that Scouse tradition of having a minute's silence today given no one died?), it has to be said that it was the best thing to ever happen to Manchester City Centre. I know that there are still some horror stories associated with survivors, but it has totally transformed the City centre and allowed it to leave the 19th Century and become a modern vibrant city centre. Had it not been for the bomb, then the recent Life On Mars tv series would have been meaningless as Manchester in 96 was no different to Manchester in 73.

But for all the improvements, it has to be said that a large part of Manchester died that day. The dreary nature of the City brought with it some much life. It was no coincidence that every worthwhile music scene since punk originated from the City. People got up off their backsides because there was nothing else to do.

Now, it's all so commercial. The Corn Exchange is posh bars and shops. Everywhere you go there's a shop or bar from some chain. There doesn't seem to be the same soul there anymore. It's hard to put a finger on it, but I can't see Manchester ever being the home to the greatest music scenes ever again.

BUT, it's still a fantastic place these days. It's my favourite City in the world. I love going there.

As for the music scene, it won't ever be that way again but, it couldn't possibly be better than the Madchester scene anyway really.

The day that bomb went off was quite a scary one for me because my Dad was dropping off a family friend in the City centre and after the bomb went off, we couldn't get through to him. He was late home which had us panicking but he turned up safely thank God.

Obviously that day was an awful day. However a ot of good has come from it, Manchester is a much better city for it, without the bomb there would never have been the investment that there has been!

Since when have Scousers had a minute's silence when no-one died?