I am brave.

A care package arrived today for Chaplin from: Leif, Laika and Tineke Nordby.
Thank you. I think there is a theme... airplane sticker book, helicopter lego kit, telescope for finding Canadian Land... books for the plane and a slinky to keep occupied.

We went out for a walk and again came across the sketchy park outside China Town. Chaplin wanted to go on the slide so i let him have a few runs before i started to feel uncomfortable. After I saw a dodgy looking man giving the UK version of the middle finger to a few other people and decided it was time to go. Quickly.

Chaplin cried, and said "I can not talk to you right now mommy, i am upset" and then had a little melt down. I held onto him and said "i know you want to stay, but i am scared of those men and mommy thinks it's time to leave. They might have guns and I don't want to get hurt." WELL... for anyone reading this... Chaplin picks up everything you say - be smart about how you talk to him and what you say ... "A gun... why did he have a gun? Did you see the gun? Where was the gun?" ... he agreed to leave but would not stop thinking about the man with the gun. Later that night he told Adam 'I am brave, when i see danger I run the other way." now in old western movies this might not be termed brave.. but in our world YES running or turning away from danger is very brave.


i have been hearing the horses and today we saw them.
We stopped and waved as they clip-clopped by...


beautiful looking building that is full of alternative shopping. Great if you are looking for punk clothing, or pipes. Chaplin asked why we were not staying to shop here... and I didn't tell the four year old why! Too many questions...


Fancy looking restaurant with one horrible name.

Mum's the word - twice!

Saturday March 13 -

*****
Happy Birthday Great Grandma Pansy!
You're A Star That Shines Bright, a truly great lady. Keep shining ! Happy 91st
**********************************

Every second Saturday at the TATE, they have a children's activity station so we thought that would be a fun thing to do. However once there, we couldn't find it, and Chaplin didn't believe me and was certain that most of the art instaltions that weren't paintings on the wall were in fact children's stations - things for him to play with. yikes.

Lori: NO you can NOT re-arrange these blocks to your own liking.

South Bank Circle 1991

Chaplin: OH look mom a rooster.
Lori: NOT A toy... please do not touch!

Pablo Picasso, Coq

And my personal favorite... convincing Chaplin that this was not a door to open and close.
Chaplin: But mom it's a door and it must be shut.
Lori: this gallery has art to look at only, we can talk about it but not touch.
In a few moments I will be forced to take my words back.

Michelangelo Pistoletto Door.

This sculpture is eerie.

Ron Mueck, Ghost.
She is hyper realistic, 7 feet tall and posed in a state that looks uncomfortable. Standing next to her made me feel in danger of being harmed. I didn't like that feeling, but i couldn't turn away.

The next area we visited had thick black curtains for doors. Parting the curtains, we entered into a darkened room with most art installations on the peripheral, and smack dab in the middle - a large disco dance floor complete with pulsing lights. Chaplin squeaked with glee and ran to the edge of it and, adhering to my previous warning of no touching he stopped and looked at me with pleading eyes. Oh thank you TATE for making me the nice mommy, because there in big bold letters written into the dance floor was "PLEASE DANCE". Okay Chaplin it's your chance to giver, you go on and get up there and dance!

Lori : Yes Chaplin you can do more than touch this one.. you can dance on it!

Sunday March 14, and that means in England - Mother's Day!
I get two this year!

An old friend of Adam's - Dave, asked us out to his parents house for Mother's Day dinner with the family. We accepted and had a really fun time. They are all very fun-loving, charming, loud and full of life!

While the turkey was cooking Pauline Goldring (Dave's mom) took us over to the Sand Dunes, which is right behind their house.

Wind blown! In the far distance you can see the Welsh Mountain range.

A play mate for Chaplin, Jake Goldring (Dave's brothers son)


Chaplin's plate had more food on it than mine.
He wasn't sure how to even approach it!


After dinner Pauline and I talked about the Sand Dunes. She was a conservation officer at the Dunes for 3o years, having just retired a few years ago. The Dunes are a National Nature Reserve with rare animals, birds, grasses and plants.


Dave's dad, Harrold having a rest. He's so funny.

Dave and his lovely girlfriend Jan.

Monday March 15,
We went to the Walker Art Gallery and joined in story time.

After we made a picture of dad.
Chaplin then built a tower and asked me to take a picture of it.

It was chilly out today, so we didn't do any adventure walking.
Tomorrow we will bundle up and go out to visit the area around the Gallery.

Only in the Southern Hemisphere

Chaplin spotted these two lambananas.
One was in a mural across the street, the other was in a window of a law office.



I think they got some words mixed up here... Unisex Sunbed and Universal Barbers?


Chaplin planted his own tree! He did this all on his own, dark shirt for dirt, long pants for the trunk, green bits for leaves and a pillow for a birds nest in the branch at the top of the tree. I would say this is his first start to large scale art? Pretty neat.


We walked Adam to his taxi today, and said goodbye. Adam got in and I heard a little sad sound from Chaplin, i looked down and he had big tears rolling down his cheeks. I picked him up and we waved goodbye to Adam. I know Adam saw his tears. It made me sad and you what my darling little four year old said ? "Do you miss daddy too? I will smile for you and that will make you feel better." he then gave me a kiss. Honestly, there is nothing in this world that can make me feel better than that. I talked to Adam later in the day and he said 'boy that sure pulled at my heart when I saw him cry." no kidding!


We went and got ourselves a treat today! A spring looking lemon muffin and a fancy drink for me.

When I first read about Liverpool having set loose on the city 100's of Penguins i thought 'WOW, and I'm going to get to see this!" I was actually reading the story out loud to Adam from Liverpool's website before we came over here... I recall saying "OH not real ones, just those statue ones. too bad." So finding this Penguin Fact made me feel better about not having live ones running around the city.


Eleanor Rigby kept company for a few seconds by Chaplin Boyd.

Graffiti me some profit

Friday March 5,
Chaplin and I walked over to the Royal Liver Building and circled around it trying to decide what door was the front entrance. I couldn't find what I thought should be a big welcoming entrance! I stood outside a small revolving door trying to visualize if the stroller could fit, and how fast I would have to push it in? What kind of a predicament would I be in if the stroller was too big, or I pushed it too slow.. .when I security man opened up a regular door and stuck his head out "can I help you?" "oh yes, we were wanting to tour around this lovely building."
ha ha ha... he didn't even let us into the lobby! he came out and kindly explained that this building, though often thought of as a public building is not! I was shocked, how could one of the three graces be private! What kind of a country is this.. oh right it's England, where the swans are owned by the queen!

We then went over to Underwater Street and spent a few hours playing.
I meet a granny from Wales who told me her grandchildren go to an English school and are learning Welsh, as apposed to Welsh school and learn English. I asked why? and was told English is more important than Welsh, but they want the children to learn Welsh when they are young as it's an impossibly hard language as an adult. I nodded my head. And the granny kept talking in English with her Welsh accent (easier to understand than Scouse.) - and the whole time I kept thinking Ohhh right Welsh is a language! Of course... people living in Wales would speak Welsh! Duhh! I how dumb of me to just not put those two together instantly, that when Adam came home that night I told on myself! and he said "yeah Welsh is a hard language to learn, have you seen it written!?"

ENGLISH: Hello, my name is Lori. Today is a beautiful sunny day, don't you think?

WELSH: Helo, fy enw i yw Lori. Mae heddiw yn ddiwrnod heulog hardd, nid ydynt yn eich barn chi?

SUNDAY!!! Adam's off work day!!!!
March 7, 2010

Who's the peacock? Chaplin refused on posing with me.

Can you read their sign? This is a bakery!
Fly In The Loaf...Worm in my Cereal? How memorable is that though!
By the way, we didn't go in.

Past the suitcase display on Hope Street.

Pose for family photo, and just behind Adam's back is the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall.
Yes we are on our way to see see the "Out of this World" inter-galactic experience.
(music from science fiction shows!)

Quick hide the Millennium Falcon.
Though on second look, this Boba Fett looks a bit run down!


This photo captured Chaplin's expression when they started to play the Imperial March.

This was a fun, and thrilling experience for us all!


Then we took Adam over to St James Cemetery.


For John Manly : i think the UK Robin looks different from Fort St John Robins?


Another picture for Troy! BAA BAR!!!!!
No minors please. okay, so we left Chaplin outside and had a drink. not really.

This building is sad isn't it? Ready for demolition.
But see that mural of the rat/cat? it was done by the famous Banksy. It was on the market for £495,000, and because of the graffiti people thought the pub could sell for £1m. Whom ever knows where Banksy is, please send him some paint and my address please. (Adam heard it sold for much less than expect.. but what would you expect to pay?)

We had sushi Sunday for lunch, and Fish and Chips for dinner. I ate more than my fill, and Adam said it was okay because once we leave Liverpool I won't be able to find fish & chips with peas and gravy (or curry) like here - ever again. I know Troy has been searching? Have you found any yet that compare?

And this was our Monday March 8th.
Adam went off to work and Chaplin and I off to the Yellow Submarine Play place. We walked along the Mersey River, taking the RiverWalk way. We meet some fishermen who Chaplin asked what they were catching. Cod, and eels. gross. Chaplin thought that Papa Andy could teach him to fish this summer.


Friend named Thomas (or so his shirt says!).

Eye spy with my little eye

I think some of Chaplin's play-dough creations are little art stories. Original creative stories. He presents them to me, and always has some wild name for them.

Bowl of Recycled Soup, with blue tire topping.


Cherry Pie Pizza?

On Saturday Chaplin and I were on our way down to the Sea Urchin play area when we had a run in with a Buccaneer. Chaplin was recruited by Anne Bonny to crew her ship.

He felt the part, and was very brave using his sword to fight.

Spotting land to bury his treasure.
He was a very convincing buccaneer for the audience, and almost cried when he had to return to his normal life as little boy Chaplin.

SUNDAY! February 28 Another great day out with Daddy!
We went on the famous guided Mersey Ferry tour.


It was VERY cold so Adam is drinking a hot coffee.

this seat was a good place to see, but a horrible place to hear the guide!
We moved around and found a better spot!


Chaplin took this photo, and that is his finger in most of the picture.



View of the Three Graces from the Mersey River.

Not sure the Ferry ride was all he hoped for, because he asked a few times where the beaches were to go play on.

The ferry ride was only 45 minutes so after that we walked around for about two hours.
We went inside Liverpool Town Hall for a look around but due to a private function we were restricted to the front entrance and the staircase leading up to the doom. Too bad I was hoping to see that room "The Hall of Remembrance".

Staircase. Wow.

Dome. Wow.


Famous Red Phone booth.

We walked over to Bold Street - the area Adam recalled from his trip here in the 90's. And he found a familiar sight on Wood Street ...

This is for you Troy. CRAZY HOUSE


Monday March 1st : we got our tickets home to Vancouver sorted out.
We leave England April 6th, 2010.

Pictures from April 2nd
National Conservation Centre

Learning area.
Zoom in and see details in a feather. He thought this was pretty cool.


Piece together his statue


And go see the real one!

I spy with my little eye something that is yellow.


And the reason i wanted to visit this place:
"This brand new exhibition of photography taken in Lewis's, one of the UK's oldest and most iconic department stores, reveals a world that has been hidden since the early 1980s."
photographer: Stephen King (not the famous writer... poor guy)