Across the Boating Lake

It’s another full-on day with a visit to Daniel and Solveig in their lovely Wirral home, followed by a concert in Liverpool’s Philharmonic Hall, the orchestra under the direction of their new conductor, Domingo Hindoyan, a product of Venezuela’s flagship educational programme, El Sistema, and a protégé of Daniel Barenboim.

An al fresco lunch - delicious vegetarian frittata made using herbs and spinach leaves freshly picked from their garden - is followed by a long walk along the seafront to their favourite ice cream shop. Meols is deserted; possibly everyone has left and headed for North Wales judging by the westward traffic we passed this morning, or maybe everyone has gone into Liverpool to watch big-screen projections of tonight’s Champion’s League final.

Certainly, when we arrive in Liverpool the waterfront’s awash with red; excitement is definitely in the air, though as the night unfolds, we know that dreams are shattered by the score line. Still, out concert’s excellent; Rachmaninov’s 2nd piano concerto for me, Brahms’ 1st Symphony for G - and Hindoyan is definitely a hit! 

Today’s blip is of the huge expanse of low-tide sand from across Hoylake’s model boating lake - the inevitable wind turbines in the background.  

Thanks so much for the generous comments, stars and hearts for yesterday’s Laburnum Arch!