NORTH WALES AND LIVERPOOL.

Friday 17th October.

Mano and Anna called and picked us up in the morning and dropped us at the border and we walked across to Gibraltar and the airport in the very warm sunshine, the picture shows the Rock from the airstrip as you walk onto the plane.We sat on the airport terrace and read the papers as we waited to be called,Gibraltar is a one policeman,one security scanner,one plane operation and is stress free,the exact opposite of Malaga and all other airports!We arrived in Manchester on time and picked up a hire car from the 13 storey car park above Terminal One,it turned out to be a Skoda, after an upgrade,it was very good and we started off to North Wales.On the way we called into see one of Brenda’s sisters,Norah,outside Runcorn and then carried on to North Wales to be welcomed by the Moffatt’s,Tim,Thea,Jo and Ben for a curry supper,sat around the table and caught up with all the news as we had not seen the family for over a year,except for Tim!The picture shows Thea and Jo in the family room at their lovely house in Old Colwyn . The last picture is of our old home in the village of Rhyd-y Foel which we sold over two years ago when our travels started!

Saturday 18th October.

On Friday evening as we talked and Jo found out that we were planning to go to Liverpool to see the new shopping complex,Liverpool “ One” she got rather excited and changed her plans and got a girl friend,Tash to join her for her favourite pastime,shopping! Liverpool is the 2008 City of Culture and it has been transformed over the past few years,the centre is now the largest shopping complex in Europe with the new ten thousand seater Echo Arena and next to it the multi purpose conference and venue building on the water front next to the Mersey along side the Albert Dock and Tate gallery.Liverpool is now a vibrant city once again and has been transformed but they have also kept the old grand buildings as well,in fact in the new Liverpool One they have mixed the new and old buildings in the development. As you can see the oldest pub in Liverpool,The Beehive is still on Paradise Street opposite the entrance to the new complex;we found our way into the car park of the largest new shop,John Lewis which is known as George Henry Lee’s by all Liverpudlians,I’ve had an account there for nearly fifty years! and the same lady on the Aramis counter has looked after us for over thirty years!! Thanks Norma!Jo and Tash then shot off to shop as we found our way around amongst the crowds on a beautiful Autumn day,later as you can see in the pictures a sea mist came up the river as we sat in the restaurant of Lees called “ The Place to Eat” and took the pictures of the Anglican Cathedral ,The St.Johns Beacon from which City Talk broadcasts from and which in 1966 I did the topping out ceremony as it was built.In another picture you can just see a ferry boat crossing the Mersey! In the heart of the complex there is a garden with modern fountains and it is surrounded with new hotels,apartments and entertainment buildings all over looking the river.On the way out we took the pictures of the Pier Head and the Liver Building with the mythical Liver Birds,the Ark Royal was berthed on the pier for a visit after leaving Gibraltar a few days before!In the evening I dropped Jo off in Rhos on Sea in her new top as she was going to a birthday party,Tim and Thea were out for the day with friends so we had fish and chips for supper from the local chippy!One “ Helluva ” city and one “ Helluva” day out,not to be forgotten for a long time.