A view of home

As the world turns its eyes to the place I grew up, I wonder how they'll find it? The older I get the more sentimental I become about being from the Wirral. In someways it is a forgotten place. How many times after I say I'm from the Wirral, do I have to explain its location? However, come tomorrow golf enthusiasts will at least have some idea. I hope the BBC do some great panning shots of Hilbre and the views across to Wales, I hope they capture the gorgeous sunsets and the beauty of the Estuary. I did find this little article, giving a little tongue and cheek guide to Hoylake. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/golf/5181708.stm I had no idea that the new James Bond was from Hoylake and notice that Heswall gets several mentions. Anyway, I hope that Hoylake does the Wirral proud and that people might just begin to acknowledge that there is a great, yet strange place that sticks out between Liverpool and North Wales.

a wedding

A bleeding Nose, a seagull & a happy couple

Jet lag is a flippin killer!. We've been back in the UK for 3 days and i've woken up everyday @ 4:30 am and then had to work all day. Tis not nice! We've returned to pretty much the same weather we left in the U.S., however, Leicester doesn't quite have the same scenary as the Pacific North West. I loved all the mountains and water together. The views were spectacular all the way from Vancouver to Seattle. It annoys me a little that i've chosen to make the bleak midlands my home. It also made me think i was privileged to grow up on the wirral. There too you have water and mountains together, the view constantly changing with the tide and the weather. I miss it!!

I also miss my Wirral friendships, those that have known me since I was a nipper. It was great to spend 5 solid days with Ian, Mike and Dave in the build up to the latters big day. Its brilliant that even though we dont spend too much time together these days and that our lives have gone different ways that it still feels so comfortable to just hang out. Granted there were times when all the banter felt a little too much, but in all honesty i love it. Even all of the owen's and hughe's crudeness. I felt very much like a teenager again - except i got to go to bed with my pregnant wife. You'll also be glad to know that some other things have also not changed. The spirit of monday night football lives on. We played footie twice - the first time i walked away with a broken nose. It bled for an age - some of you are thinking devine retribution as i made both Laura T and Jenny A's noses explode. Then after the wedding rehearsal we played again - this time with a few americans playin and watchin. Dave and I had a little fight and I walk away with a bloody lip. You'd think after 10 years we'd have changed a little but no. Anyway I looked crackin in the wedding photos. The stag do was a great night out. Dave puked and blamed it all on his father in law to be "It's all David Pott's fault" and then ended the night by being tucked into bed by his future mother in law.

The day of the wedding went really smoothly. Anna looked gorgeous. Dave is a fortunate man and has married into a great family. We were completely looked after and made to feel totally comfortable during our stay. The house even had a swimming pool. We had a lot of laughter. Mike speech was pure wit and delivered with Haydock charm. He captured Dave clumsy yet loveable rogue character perfectly. The most amusement was had, though, over the rogue seagull who made an appearance. "Ka-kaw! Ka-kaw!". I might let the other boys tell you a little about that.