It was actually a working day for Anna but she had arranged to work from her company’s Liverpool office. So she was up very early and out. Their office is in the Royal Liver Building so she is spending the morning with Bertie and Bella, the Liver Birds. Bella is the one facing the sea and Bertie faces the city
David and I were both traveling by train and so had arranged to meet up at Lime Street station.
Then we made our away across the city centre to meet Anna. We needed to get some practicalities out of the way- shopping for general provisions and checking into the Airbnb. It’s a very nice Airbnb, very close to the stadium. It is however a bit short on wine glasses so we are having celebratory fizz from a mug!
Gill arrived shortly after us. Paul and Jamie arrived a bit later. And then James then arrived. Anna had provided some pasta and spicy beef sauce to help line our stomachs before we headed out and that went down very well.
Then we were off to Boxpark.
We had a great evening. Meeting up with some old friends and Liverpool legends (special mention to Daniel Agger who has always loved Liverpool whatever)
We had good fun singing and dancing and everyone was very jolly
We were not late out as Anna is doing a 5k run in the morning. So Friday ended and everything had gone to plan apart from the weather. More fun and shenanigans tomorrow
The football season ends this weekend with all matches kicking off simultaneously at 16.00 on Sunday. Whatever has happened during the season there is always a bit of a party atmosphere if the last match is a home match, which it is. And this year it will be even more so given we are Premier League Champions.
In addition we are playing Crystal Palace who will definitely be in a party mood having beaten Manchester City to win the FA Cup last Saturday.
The Champions are confirmed (us) and the relegation places are all sorted (Ipswich, Southampton and Leicester City) but there is still a lot to play for in terms of European places.
As of today only Liverpool and Arsenal are guaranteed Champions League football next season…… along with ….. Tottenham Hotspur. This is because despite lying 17th in the league they beat Manchester United to win the Europa League.
The “as it stands” table will be interesting as the final games play out on Sunday.
It was clear some time ago that LFC might win the league and be presented with the trophy at this last match of the season so we (9 of us) decided to make a whole weekend of it. We have booked an Airbnb near Anfield from Friday to Monday with activities and parties every day.
So yesterday i packed for the weekend and painted my nails red.
Earlier this week Aussie Dave set off for Liverpool from his home on Australia’s Gold Coast. He is travelling via Shanghai and London. I’m going over by train (TransPennine Express); Anna is driving over via the M62; My brother Paul is coming up from St Albans thus having to face the M1 and the M6 on a Friday. It’s unclear at this point whose journey will take the longest.
Anyway…. the weekend starts here and there’ll be the usual daily updates on what I hope will be a weekend full of fun and friendship and joy.
My mum is 94 today so my (little) brother Paul and I have come to spend a couple of days with her. We arrived yesterday- she wasn’t in as she’d gone out to lunch and to see an Elton John tribute band. So we amused ourselves….i showed Paul some card tricks I have been learning. I think he was suitably impressed.
This morning we took her to do a “big shop” but then she was off out again- this time to afternoon bingo with birthday cake provided. So Paul and I decided to visit a couple of local cemeteries to find family and other people we knew
First we went to the old graveyard at Overton Church In Frodsham. We grew up in Frodsham and various family members are buried in this graveyard.
This is the grave of our paternal grandmother, Dora. Dora had 10 children- the last two being twins, one of which was our dad. His own father, Thomas, died only a few months after he was born. You can only imagine what a hard life Dora had. Of the ten children, four were girls and none of them made it to adulthood. You will see on the gravestone that three of the girls died between November 1924 and November 1925. It’s difficult to imagine how she coped but she did. Both Paul and I remember her although she died when we were quite young.
All six boys survived to become fathers and grandfathers. One of them, Thomas, was buried in the same plot as his mother and is mentioned on the gravestone
His wife, Kathleen, is buried nearby along with her parents, Walter and Emilia Corker
Another brother, Ken, is also buried in the same graveyard, in a separate grave along with his wife Barbara and one of their three children, Kim, who died aged 50, far too young.
Their other two children, Leslie and Lee, are still alive. No doubt Leslie (red) is currently and rightly being completely unbearable to Lee (blue).
Before moving on we popped into the Ring O’Bells Pub for a pint. This is a lovely 17th century pub which is mostly famous because the parents of Daniel Craig (James Bond) once ran it.
The graveyard at Overton Church is now full and Frodsham has a new cemetery located just outside the town. It’s a very nice setting and we had a walk round. We found a few people we knew who were buried there, but no family
Our last stop was to the top of Frodsham Hill where our dad’s ashes were scattered. As children we played on the hill and we had a lot of memories about what it was like then.
The air quality and the light was good and we got some good views
ICI Castner Kelner and the confluence of the River Mersey and the River Weaver. Astonishingly our parents took us swimming down there when we were little- I’m surprised we are still alive Looking across to the old Runcorn-Widnes bridge across the Mersey, recently reopened. Sadly I’m old enough to remember the “transporter” which was used to cross the river there before there was a bridge. The new Runcorn-Widnes toll bridgeLooking across the Mersey towards Liverpool. I swear I can see Anfield top left. Unfortunately I didn’t bring my binoculars so couldn’t check it out properly
In the evening we took mum out for dinner at The Chimneys, one of her favourite places
And so we returned home having had a lovely thought-provoking day and helped mum celebrate her birthday. So I’ll finish with a photo of the birthday girl
Many of you will know that I am a competitive bridge player and play in events at county and national level and even sometimes overseas. My usual partner is Val – this is Val and I winning the Scottish Ladies Pairs Championship in 2017
Every so often Val and I look ahead at forthcoming events and decide what we fancy playing in. And many months ago we spotted an online international women’s team event being run by the European Bridge League (EBL). It looked great for us – a chance to play against some of the world’s top women players from the comfort of our homes.
As always before committing to any future event I always check the football fixtures. This isn’t as easy as it sounds as the fixtures are all released as if everyone is going to play matches which kick off at 15.00 on a Saturday. In reality matches are moved (to suit TV schedules) and Liverpool rarely play Saturday afternoons.
For the weekend of the EBL bridge event we were due to be at home against Spurs.
The timing of the bridge event was such that it was unlikely that I could go to the match even if it was moved so I resigned myself to missing it. So we found ourselves team mates, gave ourselves a team name (The Yorkshire Puddings) and duly entered. I had a chat with Anna and sold my Spurs ticket to one of her mates (face value of course)
So the football season progressed and Liverpool were looking well placed to win their 20th title …. and then a little thought flickered through my mind….. what if they sealed it at the match against Spurs? And it soon became obvious that that was indeed what was going to happen. I was gutted and looked at my options. I could demand the ticket back but that would only help if I could find someone to replace me in the bridge event. We made a last minute attempt to add players to our team, with no luck. So I just had to take it on the chin.
On the Sunday of the match I travelled to my mums on the Wirral and played for most of the day there. Then I parked up at Hooton Station and played the last three matches from inside the car there. A first for me I think, playing bridge in a car
Playing bridge in the car at Hooton Station car park
But it meant that I could catch a train to Liverpool and get up to the ground before the final whistle.
Outside the ground after the final whistle
So I took in some of the manic atmosphere outside the ground but obviously it wasn’t the same as being inside the ground. Despite being in a huge throng of people I wasn’t with any friends or family so when the final whistle went and we were officially champions I had no one to hug.
Anna was in the ground and obviously stayed for a while to celebrate with the players.
I waited patiently outside with mixed emotions- elated at the win but sad not to be sharing it with her. I wanted her to stay and take it all in but I also wanted her to come out and share some of the excitement with me. I’d like to have been able to be more generous and be grateful that she was having the experience even though I was missing out.
Eventually we met up and celebrated together
We had a couple of drinks, and then I drove Anna and her friend home and then went back to mine. I couldn’t justify drinking a whole bottle of champagne on my own so I finished off a bottle of red wine and watched Match of the Day and whatever other coverage I could find.
So Liverpool have won their 20th title and I don’t feel that I have really been part of the celebrations at all yet.
But there’s four more weeks of the season to go and we can relax and party throughout those weeks. Anna and I are planning to share some champagne when we next meet and we have a mega weekend planned in Liverpool with many friends and family for the last weekend of the season.
Oh and the bridge event? Well we did enjoy it and we ended as the highest placed English team despite the English National Women’s Team also playing. But really I would have preferred to be at Anfield.
Where to start? We are back home and recovering from any jet lag we might have had. I’ve had time to reflect on our holiday- here’s a few of the things that spring to mind.
Inside Japan Tours
Our basic itinerary was organised by a company called “Inside Japan”, after they’d had a conversation with me about what our interests were and what we wanted to achieve. Their organisation and support was excellent and I’d recommend them to anyone who wants a bespoke holiday in Japan. Everything went to plan and there were lots of little touches that really made a difference.
We visited three cities : Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka. At times we found them somewhat overwhelming, Tokyo in particular. Enormous crowds of people, lots of lights and noise, a strange mix of the modern and the ancient and of technology and superstition. We liked Kyoto best, and particularly enjoyed our walk around the Geisha district of Gion.
Maiko is an apprentice Geisha. This is how they differentiate themselves KUMANO KODO
And of course Anna and I hiked some of the KUMANO KODO trail. This was a real adventure for us both. The forests and mountains were in total contrast to the cities – very few people, very quiet, peaceful. So much so that at one point Anna took a recording of the silence. Major highlights were the ryokens which we stayed at, each very different and each with its own identity. I’d certainly recommend staying in one of these traditional lodging houses if you get chance. I was also pleasantly surprised by the friendship and camaraderie of the people we did meet on the trails.
Food. I wasn’t at all familiar with Japanese food before we went there. I’d had good reports of it though from friends who had already been. I must confess that although I think I gave it a good try I didn’t particularly enjoy it or come to appreciate it. It was always beautifully presented and had clearly been prepared with care.
But I just can’t take to either sushi or sashimi. And sometimes one just fancies a chip butty!
And finally I must mention Japanese toilets! High tech and with lots of buttons to press and warm toilet seats!! I’ve no idea what all the buttons do but there does appear to be one which just makes a flushing sound.
All the toilets were clean and well maintained, even those out in the wilds of the KUMANO KODO trail.
That’s it then. Japan done and dusted. A new and very different experience for us all. Our next holiday is in June when we go back to Naxos for a month. A place we are very familiar with and which holds a special place in our hearts. Before that, though, there is the small matter of bringing the Premier League to a successful conclusion.
We return to Tokyo on the bullet train (Shinkansen), arriving back early afternoon
And on the way back we once again saw Mount Fuji. This photograph is by Denis
We are spending our last night in a big modern hotel with handy access to the bus station for getting to Haneda Airport tomorrow.
At last we were reunited with all of our luggage – some of it had been forwarded to Tokyo a few days ago. I felt as if I’d been living in the same clothes for the last few days! So I spent some time repacking and preparing for our flight home. Then Denis and I went for a short walk (to the local Irish Bar).
Our rooms were on the 26th floor so we had some great views across the city.
We had a first rate evening meal in the hotel restaurant, including some proper fizz and some lovely wine.
And that brought our amazing holiday to an end. We have another early start and then we are off home via Heathrow and Manchester.
The train journey back to Osaka was four hours; Denis had a much shorter journey and was meeting us off the train. Unfortunately we got off at a stop which wasn’t the one Denis was waiting for us at. So we reverted to Plan B and met him at the hotel instead. It’s a reasonable hotel in a central location.
Unfortunately it doesn’t have a bar and we really wanted to have a drink together so we decided to head out to find somewhere. And the weather was atrocious- it rained continuously all day. So we found an Irish bar and settled down for a couple of pints.
At 18.30 we returned to the hotel to meet our guide for an evening food tour. Another excellent tour. First we had some various different skewered dishes. Then we went to an Osakan curry house and then had some gyoza (dumplings) and finished with some fruit and ice cream.
By this time the rain had, thankfully, stopped and we walked through the heart of Osaka. A busy, vibrant, hectic place.
By then Anna and Denis had had enough and decided to go back to the hotel. But I stayed out. There is a Premier League to be won. I was off to the nearby English Pub to watch LFC v West Ham- hopefully to see us make a start on those 9 points we need
Despite a rather nervy second half performance Liverpool hung on to win 2-1. And so only another 6 points are now needed.
Tomorrow we return to Tokyo for our last day in Japan.
Oddly enough, given our exertions yesterday, neither of us slept that well. Although we did wake up to find Arsenal had drawn against Brentford while we were asleep meaning Liverpool now need NINE points to win the Premier League. Today they play West Ham at Anfield so let’s hope that a) we can find a bar to watch it in and b) they win!
Breakfast was the usual (by now) selection of Japanese dishes although there was also a more ‘normal’ breakfast buffet.
We got the little ferry back to the mainland and a shuttle bus the short journey to the station. It had been raining continuously since we woke up so we are glad that our hiking is finished and grateful that we had such good weather. Apart from the thunderstorm of course.
While we have been away Denis stayed in Kyoto. He had a couple of days of free time. He was also responsible for making sure the appropriate luggage was forwarded to either Osaka or back to Tokyo. And he had a day of shopping and cooking with the help of the Women’s Association of Kyoto.
Denis is meeting us off the train. It’ll be good tp be back together again and to catch up with what we’ve all been up to over the last few days. I will be glad to get to our hotel and have a normal shower and a change of clothes. And then we have just the one day to explore Osaka before heading back to Tokyo.
I was up early trying to make sure our boots and backpacks were as dry as possible after yesterday’s soaking. Luckily our lovely host had a boot drying machine which helped
She made us a great breakfast
And gave us our packed lunch
then took us back into Koguchi to the trailhead from which we started our hike.
Although today’s hike was only actually 1km longer than yesterday’s it was much harder. Partly because for the first 5 kilometres it is UP
And UP
And yet more UP. Until eventually we reached the top, at about 860 metres.
We then had a further 9.5 kilometres to do. That was more down than up and finished with about half a kilometre of straight down steps
Looking up from where we came And looking down on what was still to do
On the way we found more small shrines, more way markers (we had to do 29 to 1), the odd shelter, usually in the grounds where old tea houses had stood,
and some great views
At the end of the trail, at Nachi, we met a lot of the people we had made friends with over the last couple of days. Some of us ended up sharing a celebratory drink at a pop-up bar especially for people who had walked the trail
Celebratory drinks with Gemma and Rob
We are staying overnight at Nakanoshima, a modern hotel on an island just off the coast in Kii-Katsuura. We needed to get a small ferry to get across to the island.
Although somewhat tired we still made time for the now obligatory hot bath (this time outdoors) before heading down for dinner. Another friend we had made joined us and we had a lovely meal
While we were at dinner our room was transformed and the futons laid out.
And so our last day of hiking came to an end. We have had three amazing days spending time together and having a real adventure. We have learnt a lot about Japan and Japanese culture, and met some delightful people from all over the world.
Tomorrow we go to Osaka to meet up with Denis for our last couple of days in Japan.
The bus arrived promptly and 15 minutes later we were at Ukegawa ready to start today’s section of the KUMANO KODO. A 13 km hike through the forest and over the mountain to Koguchi
The trail was clearly marked and indeed where there was some possibility for confusion that was clearly marked too
There were numbered markers every 500m – ours today started at 53 and finished at 29.
We were walking mainly on forest paths and could see mostly trees but occasionally a clearing appeared and we were treated to some fantastic views.
“See see 3600 peaks“ viewpoint
We had been given a packed lunch before we left the ryoken – it was a bit different from your normal packed lunch!
So all was going well. We were enjoying it and making good progress when we heard the rumbling of thunder in the distance. As we only had a couple of kilometres to go we pressed on and within minutes were caught in the most ferocious thunderstorm. There was nothing to be done but get wet. By the time we had finished the hike we were soaked to the skin. Literally.
Lots of different groups of people hike the various sections of the KUMANO KODO and we crossed paths with a few of them. Everyone is very friendly and today a group of us went for coffee in Kojuchi as we all tried to dry off. Unfortunately we started to get cold sitting in our wet clothes. So we called our accommodation and asked to be picked up
Koguchi main street
We were taken to a very small ryoken out in the countryside. As it turned out we are the only people staying here so it is incredibly peaceful.
Trying to get everything dry!
So we were relaxing with a beer when the news of Mo Salah’s contract extension came through! Made us even more cheerful
I had what is now becoming a daily ritual, a hot bath. Not communal this time though as the place is too small
Dinner was some sort of venison hotpot with noodles- really good and just what you need after a day hiking and getting rained on!
We were both early to bed.
View from the ryoken – full moon
Tomorrow’s hike is the last but is also the toughest so we will be up early again and on our way. We finish at the coast and will be staying the night at a ryoken on an island just off the coast there. So next update from the Pacific!
Pearl Blog 3 