Leaving home ...

17th July and two of our lovely grand-daughters are going home to Scotland.  We’ve hired a car for a couple of days as there is a surprise for someone ...

A walk to stretch our legs after a long journey this is the Pencil with Largs behind looking across the Firth of Clyde taken from Largs Yacht Marina

Molly does not usually like the water but this day she even got her tummy wet!

The surprise - our eldest grandson Adam in his 3rd year at Glasgow University, has now rented a flat near his Uni with 2 mates ...

So his Mum (our daughter Sharon) and Dad Joe organised a surprise party for him ...

Adam was presented with a big box of ‘goodies’ to start him off in his new independent life … we had contributed household items together with instructions, like oven gloves (incase they learned to use the oven) and air-freshener for when they’ve ‘destroyed’ the bathroom for anyone else! He took it with his usual good humour!  A good lad! Joe said that he was going to make just a short speech for Adam - he said “Bye!"

Sharon and Joe taking pictures of the ...

… crowd of family and friends - the empty chair is mine as I took this picture which includes Sharon and Joe.

Adam

Louise (left) with friends

Alice (left) with friends

and Joanne (left) with a friend.

We travelled back to Rock n Roll, still moored in Liverpool’s Salthouse Dock the following day - it was so quiet, we missed those happy girls tremendously.

Still at Great Haywood as I write this blog catch-up ...

… the rising moon over the marina at 8:15 last evening.

And in the garden at the same time I’m taking the picture above ...

… the last of the posts which will surround the lawned area is in!  Time for a beer or two!

A bird’s eye view of Liverpool and TTFN at Great Haywood

16th July in Liverpool ...

George and two of our grand-daughters are on the Echo Wheel of Liverpool and that’s me far below trying to get a picture of them! 

 The Anglican Cathedral

 

Not sure which dock this is above …

… but this one is Salthouse Dock and that’s our home 6th from the right! 

 Looking …

 … out …

… to sea! 

Paddy’s Wigwam/The Catholic or Metropolitan Cathedral 

Radio City Tower

The 3 Graces

The 3 Graces, Liverpool Museum and Albert Dock.

They so enjoyed that trip but even though those heights are not my cup of tea I so enjoy seeing these pictures!

An at Great Haywood yesterday …

After returning from a weekend at our son’s house I walked down to the junction just in time to say cheerio to Margaret and Geoff on Seyella as the continue their journey to the River Soar and Ann and Chas from Moore-2-Life.

We shall meet up with Seyella later in the year for our winter cruising (if not sooner) and the lifers will be staying in the Great Haywood area for another week or so, so I’m sure there will be more meetings afoot soon.

In the garden ...

Hi, still in Great Haywood Marina on my own and George is at our son’s house helping him to landscape his garden …

The wood on the lawn is what’s left of a Cyprus Tree which stood very tall behind the Rowan tree, made the back wall unsafe and darkened the whole garden ...

… then the unsafe back wall came down ...

… and the big boys toy arrived, except ...

… it wasn’t only the boys who needed a go!

 In the meantime, life for daughter-in-law Ange carried on with the usual domestic chores!

 And then the wood arrived - at this point I thought they were going to have a railroad through the garden!

Progress is being made - ditches are being dug to hold the wooden posts which will contain the new lawn ...

… and the drainage has been put in ...

 … the builders have started to rebuild the back wall ...

… and the first posts at the only right-angled corner have been aligned.

15 year old Lucy has volunteered to mix the cement each time knowledgeably asking if a wet(ish) or dry(ish) mix is required.

 The curve starts but unfortunately it’s too tight and has to be remodelled ...

 … and come right in the end!

On Saturday Ange came to pick me up to spend a night so that I can see at first hand how it’s progressing ...

Sunday morning - father and son chatting whilst awaiting instructions ...

… from the boss, Ange’s Dad Norman is project manager and is checking ...

 … out the work for today...

 … time to get started!

Left to right - Norman back-fills on what will eventually be the patio while Lucy does the same on the lawn side.  George and Mark have nearly completed the curved section of the lawn surround and the back wall is complete except for the ‘finishing-off’ top layer.

Busy, busy, busy

The last mix of the day ...

 … and such a lot has been accomplished in the short time I was there.

I’m back at Rock n Roll now still catching up on outstanding jobs within the boat and the blog of course … watch this space!

Liverpool on foot with the girls!

Friday 16th July when we ‘hopped-off’ the open top tour bus …

click on any of the pictures for a better view!

Liverpool Anglican Cathedral … unfortunately and disappointingly closed to visitors as it was being used for the university’s graduation ceremony.

Opposite the Anglican Cathedral stand these absolutely beautiful buildings but no matter how hard I’ve tried I can’t find anything out about them - if you know what they are ... I would love to know!

Whilst waiting to get on another tour bust we walked down Duke Street to China Town …

… where the street signs are in English and Chinese ...

… and there are lions and lovelys!

 Hopped off the bus once more at Mathew Street where the girls met a very young John! ...

... by the wall of fame ...

… opposite The Cavern … home to those 4 young men!

 As it used to be a long time ago - I wish I could have been one of those lucky girls!

Instead these lucky girls got to see it today!

 The Cavern today is further underground today than the original was but ...

 … it was fantastic!  The atmosphere, the noise, the colours, the music were great.  Joanne absolutely loved all of it!  Me? I had a lump in my throat just being there!

The Beatles look out over the street at The Hard Day’s Night Hotel in the centre of Liverpool

I wonder how many shoppers realise that the site of Liverpool's Old Dock is at the entrance to the Liverpool One shopping area and is laid out to resemble what the old dock area was all about ...

 …and what two beautiful girls are all about too!

A view from the steps at the entrance of Liverpool’s Maritime museum - isn’t it amazing!!?