Saturday, June 13, 2009

Friday 12 June


A busy day!

We leave Uncle Tom's and Aunty Margaret's just before 9am. First stop is the post office where we send an 81/2kg box home for 100pounds!

We cross to Liverpool under the river via the tunnel. First stop is the hotel (Sir Thomas) where we get a park right outside. We drop our luggage off. Decide to leave the car parked and grab a taxi down to the Albert Dock and we quickly do the Maritime Museum and International Slavery Museum. Both excellent but time is tight. Tina bought two placements, one called Tina which says "From the Greek word for annointed. She is a bundle of energy, good fun and can turn her hand to anything. A lady of many talents." The other is Martin and reads "From the Latin meaning warlike. He is a serious person of strong principles and is always faithful in love. A born leader who does not suffer fools."

Saw The Yellow Duckmarine launch itself. This is a vehicle that gives you a road tour around Liverpool and then throws itself into the water to take you around docks. Looks fun but we have no time.

Grab a taxi back to the car, grab a quick bite to eat and drive to Anfield, home of Liverpool Football Club. We park (still unsure if we parked legally but we got away with it) and take the tour as well as looking around the museum. On the tour were two groups who made it difficult. Firstly a group of Spanish young men of doubtful sobriety. They were out for a good time and were noisy at the start. The other interesting group were a large group of Asians who slowed everything down as they took masses of photos everywhere.

Drove the car back to the Hertz depot and on the way to the hotel by taxi we see this odd sculpture. In The Sir Thomas Hotel (room 207) Tina settles in to watch the tennis. I backtrack to find and photograph the sculpture.

On the way I stumble across this amazing building. It is run down, a mess, seems deserted but as I walk past something catches my eye. I watch in amazement as a circular part of the wall and windows comes out from the rest of the building, rotates and returns to the building. Absolutely amazing. I stand transfixed and watch it over and over - I couldn't believe what I had seen. Later I was reading a magazine in the hotel and discovered it was a work of art from the 2008 Liverpool's year as European Capital of Culture. It is by Richard Wilson and is titled "Turning The Place Over" which is a great title. Go to YouTube and put his name and the title of the work as you will see the amazing site I saw. You won't regret it.

And then finally to the Superlambanana - a truly hideous sculpture of a bright yellow sort-of lamb shaped like a banana. Done by a Japanese artist. The photo you see is off the net. I have tried to upload my photos but it has not worked so found this one on line. Maybe mine are too big?

On the way back I see this depressing Victorian building so start snapping away. Keep waling and then see that I am outside a prison!

Tina and I head for Mathew Street - where the Beatles started; home of The Cavern. We go into the Hard Days Night Hotel - invited in by the doorman, the famous pubs (The Grapes), shops (Tina buys a Beatles t-shirt and I buy THREE Beatles shirts). Lots of other photos:John Lennon statue, Wall of Fame, Four Lads Who Shook The World statue, Eleanor Rigby statue. Great fun.

Lastly, across the road for a meal at The Slug And Lettuce. We had seen it earlier as the name seemed so strange for a restaurant. Great looking menu and we decided to start with the Ultimate Slug Platter. Luckily we didn't order anything else as it was huge. Everything (spare ribs, breast chicken, fried veges, onion rungs, garlic bread and yummy dips) was perfectly cooked. We were so full and couldn't eat another thing.

Finally, here is a funny story. Uncle Tom and Aunty Margaret have two books of the experiences of an English and Drama Inspector. Here is one of them. You need to read it with a broad English accent.

A vicar is invited to speak to a class of young children.
"This is a very special time of the year children." he said jovially addressing the infants who stared up at him with open mouths. "Can anyone tell me what it is?"

"Christmas" volunteered a small wiry boy who began waving his hand. "It's Christmas."

"It is indeed" agreed the vicar smiling beatifically. "It's Christmas and a very, very special time of year."

"I'm gerrin a bike," the boy told him.

"I'm gerrin a doll what can wet 'er nappy an' talk," added a girl with a large moon face and hair in untidy bunches.

All the children shouted out what pressies they were hoping to receive from Father Christmas,

"I'm gerrin a remote controlled car."

"I'm gerrin a train set."

"I'm gerrin a ..."

"Children! Children!" explained the vicar, "Christmas is not just about presents. It's really a celebration of a birthday. It's about the birth of a very special baby."

"I know what it were called." said the small wiry boy.

The vicar interlaced his long fingers and smiled, "I'm very glad to hear it."

"It were called Wayne." the child told him.

"Wayne? certainly not. What a thought!" cried the vicar in mock horror.

"It were!" cried the boy, undeterred. "Babby were called Wayne."

"No, it wasn't called Wayne." said the vicar, his jaw tightening and his voice quavering a little. He bit his lip momentarily. The poor man had imagined that speaking to a group of small children about Christmas would be an easy enough task but he was now regretting he had ever agreed to visit the school this morning. "The baby was called Jesus." the vicar told him, slowly and deliberately.

"It were Wayne." persisted the boy.

"Jesus!" snapped the vicar.

"Wayne" repeated the child "I know 'cos we all sang about him in assembly 'A Wayne in a manager, no crib for a bed'"

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