Blogs from Merseyside, England, United Kingdom, Europe - page 2

With great expectations, I set off to attend the 10:30 choral Eucharist at Liverpool (Anglican) Cathedral. Getting there was fairly direct and took the predicted 25 minutes. The solid building on top of a hill overwhelmed the surrounding gardens. I almost gasped with the feeling of awe created by its weighty presence and enormous height. Seated in an optimal place to best hear the music, I listened to the priest regret that there was no choir this Sunday. The congregation of about 150 sang in typically muffled tones. Recompense was the excellent organ - so resonant that the sound seemed to come from the Cathedral walls themselves. The altar was also very large, dwarfing the celebrants of the service. In contrast, the columns were so gracefully made that they look like folded drapes. The service was ... read more

At 5:50 p.m. I am sitting in Darby Square, one of the few places with benches for sitting. The other cities also had a similar dearth of public benches, as if they are scared of people loitering with intent. I was going to have a cup of tea and write these notes; unfortunately, the streets are becoming empty, and shops and non-pub cafés are closing. Just a few minutes ago I explored Matthew Street, the self-advertised “Beginning of the Beatles”. A version of the Cavern Club is there and doing a roaring trade from grey-haired tourists - the first place in England the band played according to the Beatles tours pamphlets. Along the one-block street are Beatles-themed pubs, clubs and souvenir stores, but the advertising is circums... read more

Days 16 and 17 - A magical, mysterious, trip to Liverpool and the other International Wilsons One outing Anne was really looking forward to this summer was a day trip to Liverpool. Michelle agreed to go but wasn’t all that interested and Tony suggested we go while he was in the office. So, Anne booked two tickets “to ride” and a magical mystery tour for her and Michelle. They left early out of Euston Station and Tony walked them safely to Waterloo before going back to meet some friends. The International Wilsons who were coming in from Argentina (just as Anne and Michelle left). Tony has known Dave since college, and our families remain close. Tony offered our flat as a place to freshen up and have some real breakfast while they waited for their flat ... read more

It draws so ever closer. Our bodies must have known as they woke very, very early for have us enjoy the view we have woken to every day we have been here at Rob and Mary’s. The tide was in, the boats were standing upright as they floated at their moorings and it was clear right across the River Dee to Wales. Squirrels with their bushy tails held high were scurrying about in the green yard below as they competed with the many birds for their morning breakfast and there was not a breath of wind. A lone, soundless airliner, high in the sky, was leaving its long, white vapour trail stretching behind. It was a morning not to be wasted. With no-one about, a ride was in order. We covered ground not before ridden … ... read more

We continue to experience glorious weather so a long, easy bike ride of ‘discovery’ was in order. I’m sure Mary was glad to have us out-of-the-way, for her to enjoy ‘her’ time. It was good to have Jane go to areas she had not seen or visited before. The unfit state that I am in had me ‘rest-up’ for the remainder of the day, either with light reading or watching Wimbledon. Rest day for the World Cup not only for the players but for the fans and television audience who would have been so intense as they watched England play Colombia. I was barracking for England because to put it really mildly, “I didn’t agree with the Colombian’s ‘treatment’ of opposition players and the referee.”... read more