Eye Spy

Today we took our eldest son into Liverpool to do a spot of sight-seeing. The last item on the day's agenda was the Liverpool Eye so off we headed to the famous waterfront. As we neared the Echo Arena dusk was slowly and gently putting the sun to bed for the evening, creating beautiful silhouettes of the many iconic features of Merseyside's wonderful and historical landmarks, the wheel rising magnificently from the riverside like some enormous sea-goddess. We boarded our cabin with a certain amount of trepidation which for me quickly turned to mild nausea as we slowly rose up out of the ground and sat on top of the city. Any discomfort rapidly subsided however when we were rewarded with a view only the Liver Birds are accustomed to: truly breathtaking. The 360 degree spectacle took in the two cathedrals and the outer-reaches of the city beyond, the hustle and bustle of the shopping complexes, the hotels and the bars, but most of all my eyes were drawn to the stark contrast of the river's quiet calm: the promenade I used to run along in my former corporate life, the ferry crossing the Mersey and of course the Liver Building and those famous birds. For me, trips 'home' from the Lake District are like little 'fixes' of energy and vibrancy combined with serenity and each time I return I feel refreshed and rejuvenated and remember who I am. I love my home city and viewing its panoramic offerings from this height made me fall in love with it all over again.