Liverpool day out and Gail's work shots

Hi all, Thought it time to download some of the pictures we have remembered to take and show you a bit more about our days here in beautiful (if cold) Yorkshire. We had summer last week, 5 days of over 20 degrees....all in a row! They tell us the 12 degree days we are having now will lead into warmer days but I'm not hopeful, thankfully we are acclimatising and have stopped wearing our thermal underwear.

As for what we have been up to I'll drop in some pictures with some explanations.

These two shots are of Greg and James in the lobby of a grand Liverpool Hotel, called the Adelphi, where we spent some time having coffee and catching up after our Italian trip last August. James was back in the UK from the Caribbean and in his old home town of Liverpool for a few weeks. He graciously showed us around the town and gave us a brief history and keen understanding of what makes the place tick. It is the 2008 City of Culture and of course historically the departure point for all grand world tours in the Victorian and Georgian ages. Of course other people remember Liverpool as the gateway to slavery or the home of the Beatles but both these things are becoming less referred to as time goes on.

Being close to the Irish republic ports and the main gateway into the Uk and beyond it is understandable that for many years Liverpool was divided down Catholic/CoE Lines... There are two cathedrals James took us through, Liverpool cathedral (CoE), the shot here (on the right) is of the crypt entrance and old graves as the cathereral, although finished in the 1970's after 100 years of construction is of gothic style and scale and rather austere, we were not tempted to take a photo,,,,, and the Metropolitan cathedral ("paddy's wigwam"), which is ultra modern and an architectural delight if an aesthetic challenge,,,,, Both are modern indications of the religious tensions of the city which have become less over time. James strolled us through the streets with great enthusiasm and banter showing us current and historic references. We traced the paths down to the Albert Dock , the Three Graces, all around the new regeneration works and he not only showed us a great lunch but finished off the day by taking us to a delightful cocktail bar where we regained our composure over a few Margaritas before leaving us to our own devices. Those well fueled devices included a happy walk back to our hotel when we encountered the Liverpool parking constabulary on horseback ticketing parking offenders..... we saw one bloke arguing the toss but when the authority is astride a stallion and you are not, the power play is obvious. We did spend the night at the Theatre where we saw a local playwright's comment on the past 30 years of Liverpool's re-development, a very poignant, political and well penned comedy which had us guffawing and reflecting.... Alan Bleasdale - On the Ledge --- if you ever pass through Liverpool.....

Closer to home, the fields around Wetherby are awash with gold at this time of year as the oil seed crop, rape, is in full bloom. We have a farm near our home which grows rape, strawberries and asparagus. As well as selling the rape seed to oil producers for food and fuel the farmer also cold-presses the seeds and bottles his own oil. High in omega and with a very high smoke point we use it for cooking oil as it is superior and healthier. These are shots of the rape seed fields, the farm and of course Gail and her car. We have also been to the much recommended Crab and Lobster pub just north of Wetherby where we had a delightful lunch. The place was well recommended especially enhanced by a warm day, full sun and a delightful spanish wine..

Of course Gail has been meaning to get some photos of her working life for a year now, these shots show the mobile van parked up at a hospital, the MRI table and the working desk where two or three staff work to process the patients and control the examinations. All rather cramped but a great learning experience. Despite the frustrations of working remotely and some poor corporate communications the staff are great folk to work with. That's it for now. We are off to Scotland on May 30 so there will be an update after that. .......'ay 'op.!