Get your motor runnin'

22 May 2022

What now? 

Had the climax come at the wrong part of the trip? How could the rest live up to the past two days?

Me in the snug back seat

In the calm glow of satisfied success we got into the Merc - Dan driving, Harry in the front because of his long legs, me in the back. We snaked our way out of London after fond farewells to our hosts, Paula, Tom and Max. Paula had provided us with a most excellent array of English snacks and 'sweets' which were most appreciated. Prepared to roar off to Liverpool we hit roadworks after making sure we avoided the congestion charge area.

Eventually we hit clear roads and the motoring adventure began. Unbelievably the boys acceded to my desire to play spotify DJ and I hit them with a barrage of Dad Rock: Highway Star, Paranoid, Born to be Wild etc. Just south of Birmingham we made the first services stop and had a rank cup of Costa Coffee. 

In seemingly no time we entered Liverpool around 3.30pm and found our way to Orrell Park to locate our very pleasant two bedroom digs. We had noted a  pub (the Windsor) with a beer garden about 400 metres away and so raced down there to catch the final round of the Premier League season. 

I'd like to say that when we walked in you could cut the tension with a knife. But no. Wolves had scored early and the mostly Liverpool supporting crowd was calm enough 'early doors'. We couldn't get a seat so we went to the other end of the pub where the Everton game was being televised and I couldn't help noticing the blueness of the dress of those around us.

Everton basically collapsed against Arsenal, so the focus shifted to a different blue team, Manchester City who were taking on Aston Villa. I was shocked how brazenly the Everton supporters' loyalties shifted. So here we were: Liverpool supporters one end; Everton supporters the other. A recipe for trouble or a reflection of the famed 'friendly rivalry'?

A £10 round

Liverpool equalised to make it 1-1. The red end went off. Then Villa scored, cue more red end going off. Villa scored again; more red excitement. But the problem for them was that as scores stood City were Champions. Liverpool needed to take the lead, which they eventually did, but only after City had scored three quick goals - each of which was met with roars of approval from the Everton fans goading their red brethren. We thought momentarily that it might kick off but the tension fizzled out as City prevailed.

We settled down for a quiet and very low priced drink (£10 for three pints) now the pub had emptied a little. Dan had a chat with a young man at the bar who was intrigued by his accent. We befriended him and his mates and settled into some good natured cross-cultural/linguistic discussion. A lot of laughs. We also encountered 'in the flesh' the we-hate-England attitude of some Scousers. It's disturbing but entirely understandable. I asked the boys if they were interested in Rugby League or cricket. Nope.

Now hungry, we set off down the dismal streets of roller doors in search of a 'chicken and a coke' which we eventually found. We resisted, however, the opportunity to try Unicorn Poops. 

Then back to the pub's 'beer garden' to round out the evening, a great way to end another day of this crazy football/family excursion.