A site for my handmade cards, accompanied by my photos and written meanderings which are occasionally witty, often tongue-in-cheek, and rarely profound. Beginning in June 2013, you'll also see lots of NBUS, which is an acronym I coined for Never-Before-Used-Schtuff. Note: my Privacy Policy can be found at a tab below and you can find my NBUS Challenge online. I hope you'll join in the fun there! Thanks for coming by! Have a beverage and enjoy!

July 30, 2016

England Grand Tour, Leg VII ~ Liverpool

Greetings!

I'll bet you thought I really did fall into a food coma! Sorry, between computer problems and having too much fun, I haven't been able to get caught up.

On Tuesday morning, my friend Shirley Bee drove down to Knutsford and off we set towards Liverpool. It was another beautiful day and a fun adventure as we went down the wrong roads because the road signs were completely grown over by vegetation. Shirley was a vision of calm as she shrugged and said, "Oh, well then, let's see where this goes," and by dead-reckoning she always made her way to where she needed to be. I just sat back and watched her, amazed!

We stopped at a village called Port Sunlight which is the model city built by William Lever to house and accommodate all the workers who worked in his soap manufacturing plant. It is beautiful! What a far-thinking and philanthropic man he was. Today the town remains much as it has always been thanks to a trust that Lord Leverhulme and Lady Lever set up. If you live anywhere near, but have never visited Port Sunlight, it is worth a visit!

In Port Sunlight we met up with bloggie friend Em Louise Fairley, who is an amateur historian for this area of the UK, so it was quite interesting to hear her knowledge of Port Sunlight. She kindly gave us a DVD of over 50 Port Sunlight photos and  a book on the village. Thank you, Em, for your thoughtfulness!

Leaving the car, we took the train into Liverpool where we met up with Ros Crawford and Monika Skinner, two more bloggie friends. Here we are enjoying a delicious lunch while getting to know each other better:
Around the table, left to right: me, Shirley, Monika, Ros, and Em

After lunch we were picked up by Ros's delightful husband Ian who had endured two flat tyres trying to meet us! Ian is an expert on Liverpool history. He educated and entertained us on a whirlwind tour through the streets of Liverpool. I learned that Liverpool is SO much more than just the home of the beloved Beetles of my youth!

We started at the Liverpool Cathedral:
The inside sandstone architecture is spectacular. I sat in the chair reserved for the Queen when she visits! (Isn't the shadow on the adjoining chair so interesting?

And here are a few of the many other sights we saw around the city and around the beautiful harbour:
Yes, that's right, the bottom right is the amount of luggage I purchased for my return trip to California! Just kidding, it's a sculpture on the street in Liverpool. 

Thank you Shirley and thank you Ian and Ros for a delightful, fun, and very interesting day!

I will leave you with this fun photo twinset of the train station in Port Sunlight.
Are we coming or going?

To be continued ...

~~~

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46 comments:

Happy Dance said...

*sigh* I could listen to the history of a place and its people for hours and hours and hours. It sounds like your trip is a smashing success. What a lucky (I almost wrote 'licky') girl!! Traveling to England, sitting the same chair as HRH, and meeting up with all these wonderful bloggy friends. Heard train travel in England is marvelous. Can't wait to hear allllll about your trip. Have fun, be safe, and enjoy every second!!!! Miss you. Bev

Pat said...

Great that you managed to see some of the main sights in Liverpool Darnell including the Liver Building which the company DH worked for used to own. Port Sunlight must have been interesting too and how lovely to meet a few more of the ladies there. Hope you are enjoying the workshop and looking forward to hearing all about it. x

Greta said...

I can't believe all the people you're meeting & the wonderful personalized tours--trip of a lifetime as I said before! I am so especially jealous you got to meet Ros! The internet & sending cards are great, but just not the same as being together in person. Now I'm wanting to see you again! As I told Ros--we're less than 600 miles apart & spent only a few hours together while Ros saw you 2 days--not right--haha!

Lisa said...

What absolutely gorgeous pictures!! Liverpool looks so beautiful!! I am so enjoying following along with your trip!! Safe travels and I look forward to the next installment!! Big hugs :)

Lisa
A Mermaid's Crafts

Brenda in IN said...

This is just a dream trip with great new friends, good food and lovely sights. You are really a traveling roadshow for us! I love those aqua shoes.

Lisa Elton said...

This trip must be an absolute dream come true for you!! Getting to meet so many blogging friends and having personal tours is just wonderful. So happy for you Darnell. Thank you for letting us enjoy along with you through your photos. And sitting in the Queen's chair, how FUN!! That IS an interesting sight in the chair next to you!!

Cheryl W. said...

Loved learning about Port Sunlight. Thanks so much for sharing these photos. It's so much fun to "travel with you."

TK said...

What an adventure of a lifetime for anybody! Love the history, and seeing your friends in person must be amazing!

Vikki H said...

Another jolly update from you and it's a delight as usual! Didn't the Beatles come from Liverpool? Oh, well, card friends are much more interesting!! Please tell me that is not all of your luggage.

Sue said...

So glad you are still meeting up with bloggers and see more of our beautiful country.

Looking forward to hearing about your next leg. Sue

Stamps and Paper said...

Liverpool is a great place to visit and Port Sunlight is an amazing place we visited it a couple if years ago....you're certainly seeng some great places ...enjoy the rest

Anne x

Lia said...

It;s so nice you're having a good time. Enjoy!!
Lia xx

Redanne said...

I had a feeling that you would love Liverpool, I especially love the harbour area and then Port Sunlight - one of my favourite places! I am so thrilled that you continue to enjoy your stay on this small island! What we lack in size we make up for in history.... I hope you are enjoying the retreat and meeting even more friends. Hugs, Annie xxx

kiwimeskreations said...

So enjoying sharing your trip Darnell - I hope Hammy is coping with all the travel.
What a beautiful country and wonderful bloggy friends. Love your photo of you on the queen's chair - of course you are the Queen of CAS, and coming or going??? - only you can tell, but I'm not sure that you are sure whatyou are doing.
Blessings
Maxine

Viv said...

Oooh such an exciting trip for you Dee, so sorry we didn't get to meet irl. while you were here! we used to live in Liverpool, did you get to see the Liver buildings? enjoy the rest of your trip and I hope the weather is good for you too. Great photo's of you all too btw. ;) hugs Viv xx

Carole Pollard said...

The fun continues you are having a fab time I love Liverpool and am visiting next week for a few days with my Girl Friends such a shame it wasn't this week . Hope you continue to enjoy this amazing journey with lots more fun to come love and hugs Carole x

Linda said...

Still having an amazing trip I see. Can't believe we were so close yet so far away ..... just across the water. I did give you a wave. Have fun my friend and I you're still with the HLS crew ..... give them all a big hug from me. Happy travels xx

Mrs A. said...

Glad to see your resting up like I told you to. Looks like your having way too much fun though. Nice to put more faces to names in your pictures. Hugs Mrs A.

Alice (scrAPpamondo) said...

Your trip around the Uk is wonderful, enjoy it!! Thanks for the interesting photos! You have always a good company!

Mac Mable said...

Enjoy reading about your fabulous and fun trip...Hope the weekend is going well too? Thanks for sharing x

Nan G said...

Wow! Still going n going n going! Are you related to the energizer bunny? Maybe a cuz to hammy? Whew! Catch your breath my dear. Then...NEXT!

KT Fit Kitty said...

What a marvellous trip, Darnell! I am enjoying all the photos!

Kath said...

It sounds like you having a great time (I hope Hammy is enjoying it too!) and look forward to hearing more of your travels.
Kath x

Cat Craig said...

It makes me smile when I read your travel blog. So happy you are enjoying yourself.

BożenA said...

Hello Darnell,
I love your stories and travel reports. I envy all those meetings with friends. We all know them from the Internet and admire their work. Yes, for me it would be the greatest vacation ever!
hugs,
BozenA

Unknown said...

More lovely memories for you. I would love to visit Liverpool one day. Ive seen Liverpoolfootball team play once when they played Swindon Town many years ago.

Carol H. said...

That is so very cool that you get to meet up with blogging friends in another country!! Looks like you are having a blast!! Thanks for sharing the pics!

conil said...

Coming or going, you most definitely are getting around...don't believe that's a scu;pdsture. I'm going with your first explanation...you bought all those suitcases to bring home what you've collect. Lucky girl meeting all these excellent crafters. I'm especially delighted that you've met Shirley Bee and Monika.

OH Babs said...

Oh you are having so much fun and meeting so many members of your fan club. All I can think of is you are going to have a slew of thank you cards to write when you get home.
Take care and continue having fun. :) Barb

Sybrina K said...

Coming? Going? Regardless, your having the trip of a lifetime! Enjoying your stories and pics so very much. :)

Em Louise Fairley said...

Darnell, it was SUCH an honor to be yours and Shirley's guide around Port Sunlight! LOVED spending the day with all of you and meeting new friends.
Love and hugs,
Em xxx

shirley-bee said...

Who needs Satnav, eh? It was my absolute pleasure to be part of your Royal Tour, and to meet so many bloggie friends along the way. You're quite the facilitator! Have a wonderful time in London :)

Ros Crawford said...

I'm so glad that we could help out with your tour and even happier that I could finally get to meet you and the other lovely ladies... Have fun!! Mwah!

Chriss Blagrave said...

So nice to see you and these sweet blog give friends! 😘

Sandra H said...

Ooooh wow fabulous photo's again Darnell and the sites your visiting look amazing!! your going to have to invest in a massive photo album to put them in along with the memories you have created ....totally stunning hope you continue to enjoy your visit her take care xx

Sue said...

Wonderful pictures Darnell, I am so glad you are having such a great time.
Sue...xxx

Birgit said...

You look like you bring the same amount of luggage with you as Marlene Dietrich. I love the history of the European towns and cities....they are so rich with everything and I hope I get to see parts of England once

Shona Chambers said...

Your going to sleep for a month by the time you get home and be smiling the whole time your doing it!!!!!

ike said...

FABulous pictures - I really love that suitcase sculpture :-)
You will be knackered by the time you get home after all this 'hopping' :-)

Hugz
IKE xx

Cara said...

Lovely sharing in your adventures. Cara X

Craftychris said...

What a fab time you had! Wonderful photos, the luggage sculpture is so cool! It's brilliant you had history lessons too! xxxxxxx

Brenda said...

I am loving that you are having such a wonderful time on this amazing trip Auntie! The sights look amazing and oh so beautiful! The food, well...I know I would be in a food coma if it was me! lol But the favorite part for me all the blogging buddies are you meeting up with! I just think that is amazing and so fun!!! Hugs, Brenda

Bobby said...

I'm so glad you're posting the pictures and details of your trip so I can live vicariously through you, Darnell. Meeting up with bloggie friends has to be so much fun.

Cornelia (fun stamping) said...

So mice to be able to "participate", if only in spirit! Really enjoying your travel diary!

Julia Aston said...

my goodness - you are meeting SO many stampers - what a job you did to work this all out - AND you got expert tour guides in the process! What a wonderful trip Darnell!! Julia xx

Lisa T said...

I cannot believe how much you are packing in.. and not just in the suitcases or your tummy! I haven't been to Liverpool - in fact, a few of the places you have visited as I live South, but I am enjoying seeing all the photos and adding them to my "places to visit" list :)