Looking After Mum, April 2026

Liverpool Waterfront from the Port Sunlight Riverside Park

Today my sister flew off to Cyprus for a week in the sun. So, I’m spending a week in Liverpool looking after my 97-year-old mum (she lives with my sister), traveling by train rather than car. The train takes nearly three times as long but is loads more fun. As a pensioner I have lots of time on my hands.

I caught a train from Huddersfield to Liverpool. My ticket allowed me to get the train out to Broad Green station, a short walk from my sisters. But I decided to get off at Lime Street and get the bus there. I fancied a pint in the Vines, a very ornate pub (rated three stars in Camra’s list of historic pubs) that’s just been refurbished. I had a pint of Salopian’s Shropshire Bitter; it was excellent and only cost me £4. Take care when ordering, they tend to serve their beers in Jugs, which I hate. I prefer straights (in my manifesto, I will ban jugs).

According to the Met Office the weather next week is not looking good for taking photos, lots of rain and windy weather. I guess I’ll be spending more time in the pub, getting wet inside rather than outside. Many sessions with my friend John, in some of our favourite Merseyside pubs.

Today I took no photos.

I met John in my favourite pub in Scousley, the Ship and Mitre for real ale and fish and chips. The fish and chips here are excellent (much better than those at the Vernon Arms, just down the road). The beer is always excellent and reasonably priced. They have a very good selection of foreign beers.