Warwick to Stratford to Birmingham to Liverpool to Formby to Southport

by chris cunningham

Yesterday was travel day from Stratford to Liverpool. We checked out of the hotel in Warwick and drove back to Stratford to drop off the car. No problems with that and then we had about an hour wait for the train. We have to go to Birmingham first (Hometown of Black Sabbath, Rock!), switch trains and stations, then I had to figure out which platform and everything. A bit confusing there actually.

After a short wait on the platform we boarded the train and we’re off. End of the line is Liverpool! We rolled in and Liza picked us up and we went first to her flat and rested a bit then we we’re off to Formby and visited with her mom and grandma. Then they took us to Southport where they had arranged for us to stay at The Prince of Wales. We had dinner with them, and tomorrow we’ll get up and do some sight seeing around here. Quite tired after getting up so early and spending the day traveling.

I’ll let Mom take today over once again…

“After a good nights sleep, awoke to a sunny morning-yes, sunny! A full English breakfast buffet awaits in the dining room. Lots of food which included poached or scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, hash browns, mushrooms, grapefruit, prunes, juices, toast, cereals and black pudding! Choose a few items and had to include the round bread called “black pudding”. Ok, so now I ask the waitress, what is this made of just as I was cutting it. She said it is called “black pudding” and is made from the blood of a cow! Ok, so I now cut a smaller piece than I intended and took a – nibble trying to keep an open mind! I chewed and swallowed and decided I could do without the – blood pudding. Looked more like a very dark bread, but once cut and with new knowledge of its ingredients, I will fore go the black pudding!

After breakfast Liza and Pat joined us and we walked across the street to a delightful street of Victorian storefronts and street vendor for some shopping/browsing. Cold and a bit breezy, but definitely feeling like Christmas should feel – (at least for a day). I haven’t worn a coat for this many days in a row since Lancaster in the winter! Do love the beautiful woolens, coats, sweaters, and scarves of all colors that fill the stores-I could do that! Classy boots catch my eye in each shoe store. Tried to think of a really good reason to get a pair, but in our 75 degree weather, guess I would look a bit funny! My entire wardrobe is definitely NOT for this weather!

Stopped for tea/coffee/cocoa at Costa, a local coffee bar, which was a welcome break from the cold.

A bit more shopping and then on to Lytham/St. Anne’s by the sea, lil towns that border the water. Had a warm lunch at a beach front “cottage” restaurant, another break from the cold! More stores to browse, most names are unfamiliar.

Actually see other brands that are familiar with shoes, perfume, department store items, but as we entered a market, familiar names were less evident. The cereal aisle contained about 1/4 of the cereals we see. Kellogg’s, Rice Krispies – but far less sugary items than we have. I bought some Christmas pudding (NOT black) to take home for Christmas Day to remind me of this holiday season in England.

Our home for the night is The Grand Hotel in St. Anne’s, another lovely old hotel which has been totally updated with circular glass shower with bay window giving us a view of the shore. The shoreline is marsh and the tide was out so will see what it brings in the morning. The water was calm all the way to the horizon and not one boat in sight!

We settled in while Liza and Pat went to check on Veronica, who was not feeling well and baby Ava who was running a high fever. They were unable to join us for dinner but, Rick, Veronica’s husband, and Soraya, Liza’s sister, plus, Liza, Chris and myself had dinner at a lovely lil Thai restaurant AND yes, we had crackers on the table!! Yum, another evening with good food and great company!”

Well, there we go.