London Trip Part One

I'm back!  I will do this in parts again as too much to blog about in one go. Thankfully we survived the crowds and weren't blown away by the gales! Actually, we went down at the same (popular) time last year on a great offer (or was it a train?) and you couldn't find an empty seat from Lime Street but this year it was practically empty. A visible sign of the times I guess. 

 I have been visiting London regularly since I was in my early twenties (no, they didn't have gaslights then!) and still get all excited and patriotic pulling into Euston.  London is a very beautiful city.

Best  'Wow' factor? This has to be the window displays at Fortnum and Mason's.  We passed them, and the Ritz (will actually go in one day!) on the way home following the first night out in town.

Most surreal experience? After visiting a fab restaurant in Soho we all (sister Karen and our pals) went across the road to a traditional old pub where they were advertising singalongs.  Karen is great at finding all this stuff! So, imagine if you will, a tiny pub with a real cross section of people and a piano in waiting.  The door opens and in bursts a lady I can only describe as a cross between Les Dawson (in lady mode) and a panto dame, all sparkly top and garish make up - think over the top and then some! Very theatrically she took her place and hammered out 'unusual' versions of songs ranging from Crazy and Bohemian Rhapsody to Que Sera and It's A Long Way to Tip a Rarey (what is a Rarey??).  She did all this using only the white notes and knowing only half a dozen (max) chord. And she did all this whilst speaking in the strongest Polish accent you've ever heard! She had never heard of 'You'll Never Walk Alone' not even enough to improvise!  It was brilliant though and so many joined in to sing, from oldies to gorgeous young things, great fun.  Maybe you could set one up near you.............it knackers your voice though!

Come back for part two soon.

Birkenhead Park Part Two

The more I visit and blog about the places, buildings and rich heritage we have here on the Wirral, the more I wonder why many of us don't hold them in greater esteem. Even better, why don't we use them to attract wealthy people here, be it to live or to invest in the region.  Maybe we do but it must be in a quite low key fashion. Does anyone has more info??  

Part of Wirral Borough Council's Cultural Strategy (yes, they have one!) defines culture as ' a way of life' and 'a sense of being'. It also says that 'it is central to economic prosperity and growth' and that promoting it 'enhances self esteem and community pride'.  So, great words yet I don't think there is even an Arts Development Officer and yes, I know we are in a recession but don't think there has been one for a few years (don't mention the Hamilton Quarter!!). These are, effectively, the family jewels but to be brought out to enjoy and use, not ignored and neglected.  Thanks goodness for 'Friends of...' and I have some ideas too but not giving everything away!

The photos here include The John Laird Centre which was formerly the John Laird Art School - and the first public art school outside London when it was opened in 1871.  It was given to Birkenhead by Laird himself.  I went there on a Saturday mornings in the early sixties with my leather cap on - ha.  I felt good toddling along there but I was rubbish at painting! Top left shows a house on the edge of the park which is fabulous but seems empty, and I guess there are others. If you stand with your back to the front of the Park entrance (pictured) you face the hideously brightly painted building next to the John Laird Centre and the awful newer buildings further down.  In Hampstead (North London) they finally allowed a MacDonald's but it couldn't have the usually bright exterior, it had to be 'discreet' and in keeping with the beautiful place that Hampstead is.  Such opposites!

I noticed on the front of the Centre that some letters had fallen off so I rang the owners  (Stanton Marine) up yesterday and asked when they would be replaced.  I think they were a bit shocked and doubt they care that much, but when places (in general) start to fall into dis-repair this soon escalates and surely that is to be avoided at all costs?

I am going to London, our cultural capital, tomorrow until Monday (so no blog!). I just love the place but we too have lots to proud of, we just need to work on it a bit more. I know times are hard but this isn't a new issue and there is comfort in realising that there was once so much to be proud of here..................and there can be again, we just need to be more aware, less apathetic and take some collective ownership.  My mum, a true Liverpool lass, lived here (under duress I think) and always called it the one-eyed City!  Me, I love it.

"That Which Is Good Should Be Preserved" (No, not me!!)

This blog is the first of perhaps three about Birkenhead Park and its surrounding bits - so to speak. It continues my theme of attempting to raise awareness regarding areas of the Wirral, other than the very naturally scenic west side. Some won't immediately be as appealing for many reasons but they hold their place in our rich heritage and being reminded about them will hopefully encourage people to take ownership, show an interest, be aware of the threats to their survival and play a part in their (your) future.  Feel free to agree or disagree but please, do try to find time to visit and make up your own minds regarding their importance.  You can also source plenty of info as ever, by using tin'ternet.

I am ashamed to say that is has been decades since I visited Birkenhead Park, a place only fifteen minutes from where I live - another sign of how fab the Wirral is and how spoiled for choice we are.  Yesterday though, having taken son, David, to the station I decided not to pass by but to call in.  It was the perfect autumn day and the place was buzzing with families enjoying the sunshine, football sessions, dog walkers etc.  The first thing I came across was the very modern, new cafe and visitors centre which also houses an art gallery with a very good exhibition on by the Egerton (?) Art Society.  I walked around the fields and over to the large lake and then thinking I had walked everywhere, I thought I'd have a nose through some other gates, only to find another very beautiful lake to walk around.  People of all ages love to feed the ducks and geese don't they!

Feeding ducks at the Swiss Bridge

Birkenhead Park (for the people) opened in 1847 and was Britain's first public park.  If you recall from a previous blog, the building of  Rock Park (for newly rich merchants) was completed in 1850 so can you imagine the elegant Victorian splendor in and around Birkenhead then - for every sector of the community to enjoy.  After visiting it in 1850, Frederick Law Olmstead was strongly influenced by the park and incorporated features into New York's Central Park.  I have been to Central Park and whilst is it wonderful, so too is the one we have here in Birkenhead. What a shame it doesn't have such global recognition and appreciation.............yet??  Maybe it does but I just don't know about it.

 "Never underestimate what a small, dedicated group of people can do" 

Margaret Mead 

For the excellent work that has been carried out in the park we have to thank The Friends of Birkenhead Park, established in 1976 (a similar time to the Rock Park Conservation group starting up) in response to the park's neglect.  The major renovation work carried out in 2004 transformed the park.  New initiatives will include the creation of community gardens to enable groups to learn about wildlife and plants and provide skills training in growing fruit and vegetables plus the laying out of a Victorian Garden. They aim to address many local, social needs and be an asset for the schools, groups and the community as a whole.  Pretty amazing stuff eh? 


Please do forward blog details to as many as possible to help spread the (Wirral) word!

                                                      They get everywhere!
  

Golden Sunset

It's a bit of a cold, dull day today but here is a (different) golden, autumn sunset to warm you up.  Birkenhead Park blog will be published tomorrow x

Shock, Horror!

Dear Followers

David was home for the weekend and this is the awful trick he played on his ever-loving mother. I don't know who he takes after! No doubt you will all enjoy it though - tut! Hope you all have sound on computer?? 

Visit Rock Park

Rock Park is situated on the Wirral side of the Mersey, on the edge of the town of Rock Ferry. It was designed in the 1830's as a residential estate for the increasingly wealthy Liverpool Merchants.  These homes are more akin to large villas than what we would call houses and were the first Victorian properties to be listed.  They were all individually designed, although the owners and their architects had to keep within the 'Articles of Agreement' drawn up at the time regarding size, materials, height and occupation. The building work was completed by the early 1850's.

                                   

If you were to visit Rock Ferry today and not know about places such as Rock Park, you would probably want to pass through it quite quickly because so much has changed there and the former character has been sucked out.  Of course there will still be good people living in the community but it is an area of 'Regeneration' and many good solid homes have been bulldozed to make way for the usual rubbish they put up instead, which completely changes a community.  Only my opinion of course but I feel I can say this because it is where I spent much of my childhood. It has changed beyond all recognition, unlike places on the west side of the Wirral.  Key components in these included the sad demise of Cammel Lairds, industry in general and the (necessary) creation of motorways.  The A41 was once the main road to London (I know, I lived by the traffic lights!) so industry and therefore income, started to be channelled away from the area.

However, prior to the rise of the motorways, the council in their usual wisdom, allowed the building of a by-pass, something I doubt they would get away with today because in so doing, they dissected Rock Park into two halves. This resulted in the destruction of many homes and therefore much of the historic fabric of the park. This road now runs extremely close to the houses which are not on the river side of the Park. To my mind, the decline of the whole area was rapid from then on.  I doubt that a by-pass could be built there today and thankfully Rock Park was designated as a conservation area soon after it was built so the remaining, amazing properties are better protected.

Whilst trying to strike the right balance and being aware of local economics, if necessary try to  fight to keep places you love as they are. Keep an eye on what councils and builders are proposing. 'Progress' is often just the opposite and, as we now know only too well these days, bad planning (and greed) tear communities apart.

Please go along to Rock Park yourself one day and see why this fabulous slice of Victorian splendor is worth preserving for further generations to enjoy.

Raby Mere

I really do look forward to loads of things but the fact is that the older we become, the more we have to look back on.  We return to people and places and it is impossible not to be conscious of the changes which have arisen over time.  Sometimes though, places have changed very little and this is apparent if you visit Raby Mere, just 20 minutes from where I live. This is an area of 'Special Landscape Value' something which has been put in place to preserve the character and appearance.  The mere's original purpose was to drive a watermill for grinding corn but it is now owned (leased?) by Port Sunlight Angling Club.  The club was originally formed by employees of Levers (part of Leverhulme Estates) in 1947.

In the days when I was taken there with my family, you could row on the mere which was great fun.  Other pleasures there were just as simple - going on the swings, buying ice cream and feeding the many ducks!  It would seem that the only thing you can still do is feed the ducks. The house in the above photo is quite beautiful but not in the best condition.  I do hope the plan isn't to leave it to fall into disrepair and then knock it down. Does anyone know??? 

I look at this vast expanse of water and think what a shame there doesn't appear to be any public access or boating on it now, even occasionally.  So many children will never get the opportunity to have the fun as we had, especially when we got stuck in the trees! An added bonus today was that I met a lovely girl, who was feeding the ducks with her son.  She clearly loves the Wirral too and has promised to send me a list of walks around the Raby area.  Thank you!

Remembrance

Today is Remembrance Sunday.  Since I was about 30 I have had ownership of my Uncle Freddie's medals - although I never met him. Along with many others that day and thousands during the whole war, he was lost at sea when the merchant ship he was sailing in was torpedoed off the coast of Ireland.  He was 18 years old.  Apparently my Nin didn't speak (no doubt due to shock) for a couple of years.  We were close, especially after the early death of my mum (her daughter) but she never discussed this with me, my information coming from other family members. 

Freddie was a bit of a character.  He kept pigeons and had been known to sleep with them if he was really fed up about something. This was probably the case when Nin told him she had been forced to kill one of his rabbits to feed all the other children.  So many of our grandparents lived through incredibly hard times. 

Doing this blog was something that came to mind about half an hour ago and is a story I know well but still, as I write it my eyes are filling up.

Today, please remember those who died (and those who still die) so that we can live in a free and democratic society and let's try to make them proud.  Never take this for granted. Thank you Uncle Freddie.

Rock Ferry and Mistakes!

Starting this Wednesday for a whole month, I will be doing stuff so out of my comfort zone that I am sure I must be mad.  I 'm going to be doing 4 hours of live radio each week without having ever done it before. It's a local community radio station with an audience of loyal listeners so I want to do it well. I can hear some saying "Then just don't do it" but that's too easy for me! The enticement is that I have been given the opportunity to play a range of music, mainly of my choice ; chat to different people; probably be able (mainly through others) to provide information on a range of topics and hopefully have some fun. In the past I had to have hypnosis to overcome fears of public speaking  (for work) so I'm not a natural, but this was hard to resist!  Biggest fear?  As ever, making mistakes and looking daft. 

I did a fair amount of personal development work when I was taking my counselling and then career guidance qualifications, plus bits of teaching, so I looked for some old material to remind myself it's not a big deal (and I am much better these days). I am putting part of this up on the blog, just in case it helps someone else. Keep it in proportion though, some type mistakes have far worse consequences than others!

Do you really think it matters if you made a mistake?  Well for me it matters less so with age but it still can tap into a part of me and cause 'a wobble'.  I am though, a little more self assured but still work in progress! 

Does it stop you trying again?  Don't let it. In general, you will only regret what you didn't do....if only I had..............and what's the worst that can happen in most cases?

Some say that mistakes can:

Stretch and challenge you - Most definitely. I believe that we all need to challenge ourselves from time to time - although you won't find me sky-diving, that's a challenge too far.  Mine are more emtional than physical!

Give you the opportunity to practice - And we all know that practice makes perfect! Thomas Edison apparently 'practiced' inventing the light bulb over 1,000 times before he suceeded.

Overall, getting ready for success (whatever that means to you personally) means making mistakes so we can then make any adjustments.  What really matters is our reaction to them, mainly that we shouldn't let them stop us trying again. It could be seen by some as a mistake revealing all this but hey, who cares, someone still loves me - hopefully!

A Quickie 'bout the Wirral (or rather an excuse for another photo!)

If you read my blog regularly you will know that I want to encourage people to visit parts of the Wirral they haven't seen ever or for ages, despite the fact that you can cross the whole area in  about 30 minutes max.  We are a microcosm of the country as a whole, illustrated very well by the fact that a man living on the West Kirby/Heswall side will live about 10 years longer than those in Bidston/Seacombe etc.

I probably know most places, which are really just a series of villages (with plenty of history still to be seen), but have been amazed by those who have no idea about the hidden gems or equally, the areas which have been allowed to disintergrate.  I believe that, in many ways, we are fortunate to live here and need to take care of it for our children and grandchildren.  This photo is of part of Rock Ferry.  It looks very run down I know but just out of vision is the Royal Mersey Yacht Club, which goes back to 1840 and was visited by keen sailor, The King of Norway a couple of years ago. I hope to be visiting soon to interview them for the radio prog (see, good fun eh!). The Admiral pub is going to rack and ruin but on Friday I heard that it had been bought and sure enough the For Sale sign has gone.  This means that at least this small area will be 'lifted'. This shoreline is close to my heart and it upsets me to see it like this, especially as the promenade (as it once was!) is where I had my very first kiss................rubbish it was too but I soon learnt from my mistakes - with practice making perfect - ha, ha!!!

Better Than Rude Words

I was out with my stepson, Nick, on Wednesday and was telling him about the blog and how I don't always get the time to do it each day (nails to paint, grapes to peel, halo to polish etc).  He said I should do but if not possible, just write "Too busy, go away and come back tomorrow!" Actually, his language was a bit fruitier than that (he used rude words!) but you know I wouldn't be so impolite to my (the) reader/s!  So, as I am out most of today (Vintage Radio Launch lunch party...ooohhh!) I thought I would let you see the photo a dear pal of mine, Sandie, sent yesterday (which looks a bit like an advert for haircolour actually).  We have been friends for over 30 years. She lives in Spain now with her beloved (await loud guffaws), Allan.  

On the night it was taken a few months ago, we had all gone to the Nelson in Wallasey for a catch up couple of hours  and then the plan was to buy fish and chips from an excellent chippie (oh how I need a rest from this high life!) and return to redhead Jean's lovely flat, overlooking the Mersey.  As we know, God laughs at people who make plans and what happened next was that when we reached the flat, the key wouldn't work so we couldn't get in.  Neither could Jean's daughter, Caroline, open the door from the inside!  The result was that as the chips were getting cold, we all sat in the corridor and Caroline managed to pass forks, sauce etc through the letter box to us!  Then she took the lock apart to fix it(how clever!) which took a while but worked. No way could we get the bottle of champers and four glasses through the letterbox though!  You are always guaranteed to have a laugh with Sandie and Allan...and Jean! 

Now then, isn't this bit of fun better than a blank blog and being told to 'come back' tomorrow?!

Redhead Jean, Brunette Sue and Blondie Sandie!

Dads

At least once a week I travel over to Liverpool to see my dad John, who is 87 and my stepmum Rose, who  is 83.  Dad has advanced macular degeneration so has very little sight now. Rose has dementia and is on a very small loop, sometimes (often!) asking you the same question five times in about 3 minutes.  It can be very difficult to reply each time without doing it between clenched teeth occasionally!  But.......we are all trying to keep them living independently in their own home.  It is getting harder but together with the great support that Liverpool Social Services offer and along with my sister Karen (who has just spent a week with them) and brother John, we are still hanging on in there!  Rose also has a son and daughter. This situation and the issues it brings, seemed to suddenly appear out of nowhere.  One minute the folks are off out here, there and everywhere, driving over to see you, friends and other family members, and next they need your support for so many things.

However, the up side is that I have all kinds of interesting conversations with my dad and am probably closer to him now than I ever was. I think my sister would say the same. Dad and Rose are as happy as they can possibly be, given the problems they deal with on a daily basis. They are still good company - even if the laughs are sometimes at their expense!  Also the words "If only I had said/told him x, y or z" will never arise, we are at peace with past history, grievances and issues.  

So many old people have no one to really care about them and equally, many sons and daughters struggle alone to do what they can to care for parents, in addition to other responsibilities. My dad often says he is the luckiest man in the world and if love and not money is the measure, then he surely is. 

As often as possible, we go off to pub and take a bit of a drive around and here is a photo from yesterday.  The autumnal scene was taken at Pickering Pastures. They do look cheery don't they, bless.

John Leslie Rees

Today is the 5th anniversary of my husband John's death. He is dad to Nick, David, Joe and Sally. A man who was truly loved and is still greatly missed.