Liverpool Revisited

Liverpool Revisited

editors note:- memory lane story from Ralph! And this editor who recently re-visited Liverpool.. Mr and Mrs Editor were delighted to visit the city again – especially the Albert Dock with its museums, art galleries restaurants. And just along the docks is, of course, the new football stadium for Ralph's second favourite team!

This week I took it on myself to travel to Liverpool to meet up with my very first PA at my company , Littlewoods .

I drive off and onto the A500 -- passing that fine foodie place Cheerbrooks -- and on towards Crewe . Surprisingly litter free which was good to see. Turn onto Jack Wills Way . The new road passing the Station House House pub. Built as you will recall long before the housing estate came !

I much admire the superb planting that was undertaken by Crewe Council authorities in masking the huge industrial estate -- massive steel framed buildings that seem to sprout up overnight -- and forming a very pleasant frontage to the new houses .

Park my car in a tiny car park behind Crewe FC stadium . 8 hours for just £2.50 !

Walk to the station . Passing that derelict white elephant of a building called Rail House and , as do I note so many fresh blackberries on the briars . Which I sample .

Onto the station, passing my ticket through the reader .

Down to the cafe on platform 6 and a cappuccino plus an almond croissant for just £4 .

Read my newspaper a tad . Fed up with the contenders for Tory leaders as none inspire. . Cannot see them walking the world stage as the UK's top person . Lacking in gravitas .

Standing there on the platform, and I look at the mass of steel lines and so much ballast of grey stones as the bed of the lines. Makes me wonder just where all this stone is mined .

My train arrives spot on time. I board and to a seat with a table, facing as I always prefer to the engine .

A family of a mother with 5 children next to me . Aged from 3 to 16 . Off to see the dinosaurs in the museum in Liverpool city. Chat to them the whole journey . Little one quite bright and named Frank , which seemed such a grown up name for a little one .

She had four boys and a girl of 9 -- told her I admired her calm as the children were so excited for their journey. Lovely family. We chatted all the way to Liverpool .

Arrive on time at the huge Lime Street station . As clean as whistle . No litter or cigarette butts anywhere. Seat my self under the big clock to await my PA, Lynda .

We meet and kiss and hug.

Off we walk down past St George's Hall -- magnificent building -- and across the road via the Marriott Hotel and to lunch in an Italian restaurant .

Lots of memories shared for Lynda was my right hand for a good 10 years. She left me to have a family -- three fine boys, just like my Jo and I had .

A promise to meet again , here in Buerton .

We walk back to Lime Street in a torrent of rain. A right downpour and we both get very wet.

To the concourse and we part as I board my train back. Again a very clean train and a seat with a table easy to get.

Miss the clickety clack of the wheels as they used to be passing over points etc . Remember those days of individual compartments and a door with a leather strap to open the window .

Back in a busy Crewe Station and I walk to my car .

A nice interlude in my day.

Ralph Warburton