Lovin' it in Liverpool

Took the train from Durham this morning heading for Liverpool. Tomorrow I visit Broadgreen High School which was runner up to Longfield (from Darlington) in the ICT awards last year. We had to stop at York and change trains and thought this a great opportunity to visit that wonderful town but alas alack, the cost of storing our luggage was 4 pound per piece. We are travelling with two suitcases and a backpack (carrying our sleeping bags for the campervan leg) and honestly, NZ$36 was just a little too steep just to have a look around. So on we went to Liverpool.

We’re staying at Albert Dock and it’s rather magical – and ghostly - due to the fog that’s set in. The Beatles Museum is right next door. What to do? What to do? We experienced true spring weather in the upper north-east of England but heading west it has got progressively grey and misty – just like the forecast said. Still, it hasn’t stopped us exploring the streets and their regeneration. Cranes and concrete mixers abound as the restoration of much of Liverpool’s heritage is being replaced brick by brick. Some three billion pounds (nearly 10 billion dollars) are being spent, apparently revitalising this part of Liverpool. It puts the Viaduct Basin in Auckland into some perspective I guess. But it’s going to make a big difference. This is the view from our hotel room - the glorious Albert Dock.

All of the brick buildings in the lower part of town are being stabilised and gutted and then completely rebuilt – truly a wonderful conservation effort which I think will be repaid. I certainly want to come back in a couple of years and check it out.

It’s colder here, but that’s just the front that’s set in and isn’t unlike the kind of changeable weather we get in New Zild in the springtime. Looks like we might get our first English rain. No big deal. It’s still warm enough. I am sitting here on the bed with the blinds open and I can see the river Mersey just off in the corner. The Cook keeps singing “Ferry Cross the Mersey” and the OC has no idea what he’s talking about (which is probably a Good Thing). Took this pic out walking in the late afternoon, murkey as it was. Just added to it all I reckon.


The people we’ve met and chatted with…and forget the supposed English reserve, they natter as anybody natter, and they’re as inquisitive as anyone, have all been wonderful. Yesterday at Longfield a young girl asked me where New Zealand was and I explained it was beside Australia to which she asked ‘Can ya ge’ a tan?’ Clearly the slip slop slap message has got through to me because I’m as pasty as pom at the end of winter!

Had a wonderful experience with the taxi drivers in Durham. Suffice to say they are the laziest, rudest, least supportive, educated or dynamic people in the north-east that we have come across. That’s probably enough on that, except part of me would like to send Mad Dog Prebble over to deregulate the taxi companies.

The Cook was particularly taken with the Durham Cathedral yesterday. It might have been the 325 steps spiralling to the top that he took with the OC and the subsequent oxygen depletion but I get the distinct impression that he revelled in the history of humanity that just oozed out of the sandstone. That plus it’s a pretty bloody impressive building on the inside – even more so than the outside really. As the kids would say “A BIG shout out to our mate Olive” who really made the difference. It is so cool to see local things through local’s eyes. And especially when that local is an ex-history teacher. Bless!

Durham is quite the medieval town. Small streets chock full of 700 to 1000 year old houses and pubs and the like. The Cook went and visited an indoor market – his second in two days after going through one in Newcastle. Kind of reminiscent of the Farmer’s Market down by our railway station come a Saturday morning BUT butchers, lots of butchers, great cuts of meat, a variety of birds to cook and fishmongers . Dozens of types of fish and shellfish and you name it, if it’s fishy you can get it. I have never eaten trout and it’s excruciating to come so close to as many as I could ever want and yet so far from a frypan.

OC and YC have been good as ever. Pounding the km’s, avoiding the dog poo that’s been curiously missing and having to take drastic action to miss the expectorate. Apart from everybody smoking everywhere…which takes some getting used to…that folks spit with regular monotony is kinda offputting.

Tomorrow I leave them again to traipse the streets while I take in more innovations at Broadgreen High School, an inner city school in Liverpool. I hope the rain keeps its distance for them. On the wishlist before we go is a trip to The Tate Gallery, Liverpool and perhaps a visit with the ghosts of John and George.

We happened across a wireless caf with free wireless connectivity and espied the fab four looking over at us and I couldn't resist. Apparently only two are alive (as the OC told us - where on earth does she pick this up at seven and a half ?)



We shall see.