hull in my head

I awoke to the clanging sound of a dull bell and the neighing of a goat. Marcus heard this too and jumped out of his sleeping bag, “SHEEP!” he exclaimed, and fumbled to find his camera…

I rolled back over in my broken sleeping bag and woolen over jacket…. t was going to be one of those days…

A few minutes later and we were hurriedly taking down the tent. The speed of this action was crucial because it would make the difference of us having to pay for staying there that night or dodgly sneaking off before they came around to collect. I’d like to pretend that I feel bad about cheating the system in ways like this but I really don’t. In fact, with some shame I have to admit that not only am I god at it, but I get this strange sense of glee. Talking my way out of fines or fees, taking my way into places for free… blag is my bag baby.

Anyway we did indeed manage to get away Scot free and headed to a coffee shop to nick free WiFi and for me to wash and change in the toilet. And after some more scenic driving, picture taking, and Kendal mint cake purchasing we were off to Liverpool.

Liverpool is the European cultural city for 2008 and I’d like to tell you just how cool this reinvented city is but the fact of the matter is that due to the timing I never saw more than Albert’s Dock. More specifically, the Beatles Museum, on Albert’s dock. So I can claim I’ve been to Liverpool but not really. I hope to go again though and actually see it for what it’s worth, rather than for a disappointing tourist trap.

After our blink-of-the-eye-stop in Liverpool we headed over to Manchester where we were again lucky enough to find a place to crash with a friend-of-a-friend who we’d never met. This friend was generous Pete, who fixed us up in his gorgeous home, and then arranged for us to go have a meal with some others, all of them being fun and friendly. One of which I deemed to be especially “my type of people” and chatted about shared taste in good music and musical pasts. All and all I felt cheated that I hadn’t met these people sooner since Manchester isn’t very far away and is already in my book a cool city. Then they told me that I should have come the week before for the Joy Division Film premiere with them (minus Ian of course) being there. And at that point I realized I should have done this road trip months ago!