Happy New Year.

Things you will not hear on the Wirral

Ever so slightly tongue in cheek..... or is it?

Ian Fraser Kilmister, Lemmy RIP

LEMMY QUOTES THAT WERE JUST........ LEMMY!!

Christmas truce.

Pictures from the play Christmas Truce based on real events at Christmas 1914 when the soldiers in the trenches played football against each other.

Meanderings!!

There are a number of things as I'm sure you are aware that everybody thinks they can do!! 
Not only do as it seems but do better than the people that are paid to do it or that are professional at it.
So for example, bus driving, radio presenting, Grand Prix driving, judging criminal cases, acting, flying a plane, parking, boxing, singing and oh yes whistling!!

Which brings me to The 487 Factor!! The whistling out of tune seasonal tunes whilst driving a bus!! I have to be grateful of course that he could drive the bus properly and whistle extremely badly and not the other way round. 
So if you get on your bus to the strains of an out of key 'White Christmas' emanating from the drivers lips make sure you put your headphones on and settle for a smooth ride!! 
That of course serves two purposes as well..... You won't be able to hear the nutter that will more than likely sit next to you in the course of the journey. That of course is another story!!

GRAVITY - WITHOUT IT IT'S JUST GRAVY!!

Got to love this pic from Liverpool One whilst the Anne Summers shop was closed to redress the window.......

Liverpool waterfront crowned England's 'greatest place'

LIVERPOOL WINS YET ANOTHER AWARD!!

What a good idea a poetry book for Chrimbo!!

There are still some copies left of Nicki's book - 
Secret Verse of a 21st Century Menopausal Lady available at a reduced Advent price of £7.50 inclusive of delivery to any UK address. 

Just contact me here to arrange delivery and Paypal payment. (please put PP in subject line)

This is a very seasonal poem that is in the book, unless of course you have mince pies all year!!

Liverpool has been voted the UK’s friendliest city - here are 13 stories to prove it.

Click >>>> HERE <<<< for all the stories.

35 years ago today John Lennon was shot dead.

Just Sayin'

Emotional couple of days!

So Wednesday in the pouring rain we went to 

St Trillo's on the beach at Rhos on Sea 

in wet North Wales. 

It had always been Nicki's Mum, Enas's favourite place and we went just purely for the peace and tranquility. After all Thursday was the 5 year anniversary of my Mum, Pauline's death.

While we were there Nicki wrote a prayer request 

and put it on the notice board from which it would be read out at the service which was to be held on Friday. 

   

Here is the chapel with the notice board on the altar

and maybe it was just me but I'm sure there was a whisper -that it was ok for Milly to be on one of the six chapel chairs and observe it all!!

It was an incredibly emotional, although beautiful day despite the rain or maybe because of the rain. 

After all both wonderful ladies when they died were well capable of leaving God's tap running!!

So emotional indeed was it that Nicki wrote this lovely poem in the evening.

Thursday and my turn! 

We set off going first to Red Rocks and fortunately the rain had stopped and a great time was spent exploring and remembering!! Well Milly did the exploring!!

(Oh how much Mum would have loved Milly!!)

Now there is no trickery in this next bit I wish now I had my pics date stamped but this next pic was taken Thursday 26 November 2015 at the Red Rocks in Hoylake. 

For those of you that knew or ever saw my Mum's dog Gypsy, who died many years before Mum - no explanation is needed! 

 We ended a lovely day at the bottom of the road where Mum lived for close on 50 years and the lifeboat station that Mum had attending the opening of and where donations were made to after her death.

Well I did say it was full of emotion but I will end with a somewhat lighter picture!

26th NOVEMBER.

Mum died 5 years ago today, she was born in Liverpool and was Liverpool through and through, despite living 50 years on the Wirral! 
She loved the Liverpool waterfront and the river and of course the ferries. 
She would have been puzzled and amused by the dazzle of Snowdrop. She never visited the USA just Canada many times but she would appreciate the fact that I am wishing a Happy Thanksgiving to all Americans via a picture of Liverpool as so many people left through the port to start new lives and families in America. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Mum. 5 years gone.

Updating the world!

“If you ever start taking things too seriously, just remember we are talking about talking monkeys flying through the universe on an organic spaceship.”

~ Joe Rogan

Really love this 'busy' pic of the Albert Dock in Liverpool, complete with Billy Fury sculpture, vintage ice cream van, Liverpool Maritime Museum and an amazing lit up tall ship!

Ever been on a bus through the Mersey Tunnel where the ‘fast tag’ has failed and it has had to reverse so it could go through a different pay booth?

Neither had I until the other day!

Shame on you Selwyn’s coaches!

Ok - when did you ever hear of a ‘community’ health centre or a ‘community’ fire station? They were always there in the centre of the community and didn’t need to be labelled!! Then they disappeared and now are being replaced with one smaller one replacing four or five that were genuinely in the ‘community’ not stuck away in the corner where the land is cheapest!

When did you ever hear of a queue forming in the middle of a street at 4 o clock in the afternoon in North London for the arrival of the mobile post office?

Nicki’s latest poem inspired by Wilko News intrepid explorer/musicians, currently in the Caribbean on Britannia with P&O.

IN TRANMERE

It's a horrible grey

bastard of a day

in Tranmere!

With relentless rain

on the window pane

that won't clear

Why can't we

be sailing on the sea

on Britannia?

Instead of under a dark cloud

for crying out loud

in Tranmere!

What would make me smile

is a Caribbean isle

and some sunshine

A white sandy beach

A mojito within reach

how divine!

(c) Nicki Tilston. November, 2015

Talking of Matt and Sarah - congratulations on being able to put a big tick against South America on your list of places visited!! Isla Margarita on the right here is a part of Venezuela!

That is so amazing, that’s all 5 continents now guys!!

So what happens next? Oh yes I remember fly back from Barbados so you can visit New York and Christmas in UK and then …… oh I remember now….. back to the Caribbean!!

Just like to say that me and Nicki to name just two are not jealous or envious at all!!!

Keep on Keeping on my wandering minstrels

extra ordinaire!!

Must also mention Tim Wilko and his 3rd secondment ‘upstairs’ at ecnalubmA HQ, he is thoroughly enjoying it and we all hope that he is able in the future to take up a permanent post!

Have you ever gone through your history on Google maps/earth? Can be quite fun!!

Here’s some of my most recent places :

St. James Muswell Hill ; Bangor Pier ; Caledonia Street, Liverpool ; Isla Margarita ; Alvor, Portugal ; Ruins Rock cafe Dominica.

If you don’t have a rich history - make one!! Simply type the first couple of letters of a place in to search and then go to one of the other suggestions that it comes up with!! So if you type Ca for Canada it will give you Cancun for example. Go on have a good explore!! Before you know it you will be going street view and images of all the places you dream about!! We all have dreams!!

Before I go I have to ask you where else would you be able to hear Bohemian Rhapsody played on a 1905 fairground organ? If that shocks you to the core then don't press play on the vid below!!
Oh too late!!

This'll do you good on a wet Monday evening!!

Superb early film from BFI.

IS THIS ONE OF THE OLDEST FILMS OF LIVERPOOL?

Love this but really need to get a life!!!

David Gilmour & David Bowie - Comfortably Numb

All about the ship and it's somewhat strange cargo!

Giant £100m cranes sail across the Mersey into Liverpool - here's what you need to know about them.

Welcome to No month!!

NOVEMBER by Thomas Hood

No sun - no moon!
No morn - no noon -
No dawn - no dusk - no proper time of day.
No warmth, no cheerfulness, no healthful ease,
No comfortable feel in any member -
No shade, no shine, no butterflies, no bees,
No fruits, no flowers, no leaves, no birds! -
November! 

Oh Wonder - All We Do

If you have been watching Unforgotten on ITV and being mesmerised by the opening music, then I've done the Google bit for you!! 

It is called All we do and performed by Oh Wonder.

If you haven't heard it before then have a listen and enjoy!!

Happy Halloween......

One of Nicki's older poems we made in to a Poetic Pic last year but it is the right day to share with you again,'HALLOWEEN'

Just love the things you can pick up on the internet!!

This was a painting I picked up on my cyber travels of 3 whalers!! I think it is a really splendid painting and thought I would share it here with you all.
It was submitted by Chris Jeffries a member of my Facebook photo group!

21 October 2015 - Back to the future day!!

Wilko News team awayday!!

Some suggested Roast Dinner films for Yorkshire Pudding Day!

Roastbusters.

Beef encounter.

Pat Carrot and Billy the Kid.

The Thomas Turkey Crown affair.

Silence of the roast lambs.

Death in Venison.

Cloudy with a chance of meat and two veg.

Braise the Titanic.

Sprout of Africa.

Rosemary’s Baby potatoes.

The Nut roast professor.

Bay TV interview with Angus Tilston, Nicki's Dad, honorary Wilko News team member about his film archive. From 12:05

21st celebration of National Poetry Day. 8th October 2015.

National Poetry Day, best day ever to buy 
Nicki Tilston's book!!

Very simply email me here!

Paypal accepted.

Only £9 including UK postage.

SIMPLE!!

What could be easier? 

On the beach.....

Two Defiant members of the Wilko News team on the beach at New Brighton.

In front of an amphibious rescue craft called 'Defiant 2'