Liverpool is Remarkable

Yup, so remarkable that I took my wife…much to her horror: she thinks Venice is a proper setting for an anniversary weekend whereas I am more conscious of the environmental plight of the city with its overflow of tourists …to Liverpool for our wedding anniversary a few years back. Score after 1st inning: Bill 1 [for courage alone], Wife 0. No make that Bill 2, Wife 0, as my firm ‘friends of the earth’ stance deserves another point.  Of course, she got her own back by booking the most expensive hotel in town [after the Beatles themed ‘hard day’s night’ hotel] and the most expensive restaurant. Score after two innings: Bill 2, Wife 2.

But, as luck would have it, the advantage swung first her way, then mine, because the hotel, on HOPE Street, between the 2 cathedrals – a point for my wife as all marriages are ‘hopeful’ and this marriage is ‘between faiths’ as I come from a ‘Paddy’s Wigwam’ background while she has roots in sturdy establishment Protestantism [no way Venice can compete as it lacks religious diversity] - was also the location where Liverpool FC house their new signings until they get a flat or house of their own. So Rafa Benitez, now of Inter Milan, and Fernando Torres, now of Chelsea, might have stayed in our room, showered in our shower, slept in our bed.  Score after 3 innings: Bill 4, wife 3. Not to be outdone, more expensive restaurants were found [Score: Bill 4, Wife 4, Wallet minus 5], but I swiftly countered with the finest marble urinals in the world, at the Philharmonic, John Lennon’s favourite bar, where the great man no doubt sought relief on many occasions during his student days as he hardly ever went to class.  The ‘Phil’ allows escorted women to view the urinals [Bill 5, wife 4, wallet recovering as viewing the urinals is free]. Oops, I just scored an ‘own goal’ with the Phil’s marble urinals: Lennon was notoriously unfaithful to both his wives, clearly not a subject to be brought up on an anniversary weekend. Score after 4 innings: Bill 5, Wife 5.

Tension rose in the relationship as each sought the final advantage. We ferried across the Mersey and visited Port Sunlight, which didn’t change the score.  I suggested Stanley Park, she suggested Crosby Beach.  A stroll through a park [named after the same family which donated the Stanley Cup to the NHL Champions, but really to see the grounds of Liverpool FC and Everton FC which adjoin the park] or a stroll along a beach. OK, it’s August, let’s go to the beach…where 100 naked men stood staring out to sea. Final Score: Bill 5, Wife 6. Men will never win.


-Bill (Elsie is not Bill's wife)

All You Need is Liverpool

We all probably know a lot more about Liverpool than we think.  You have probably heard of Penny Lane and Strawberry Fields.  You may have also heard of Liverpudlian, Eleanor Rigby.  She was a local, so you clearly have more local knowledge than you thought you had.  The Beatles sang about what was around them.   They provided food for thought as well.  "Will you still need me, will you still feed me, when I'm 64?"  If you look around the London Centre, you might even find someone asking that question. 

Someone here was asking, will you still need me, will you still feed me?

You can be a Beatle, too!

In a few weeks we head for Liverpool on a trip that is pertinent to British Pop students, Sport in the UK students, British Youth Culture students, Art in London students and anyone who has ever liked the Beatles or Liverpool FC.  We will get to hear proper Scouse accents, which a few years back had a few students thinking they were hearing Swedish accents.  In fact, start training your ear now.  How much of what Liverpudlian comedian, John Bishop, is saying can you understand?  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqgwO4zKKkw&feature=channel

For the art students among us, get ready for Crosby Beach!  Antony Gormley made 100 casts of his naked body which were installed in a few settings, but have settled on Crosby Beach.  Yes, this is like an ultra modern nude beach, where the statues are the naked ones.  The rest of us will probably be too chilly to strip down ourselves (this is not a challenge, just take my word for it).

Katie and Greta tried to warms up Antony in November 2009.

Keep trying to win Bill's quizzes on the trip, and I am offering a special prize to any student who bags Steven Gerrard!

-Claire