I SHOWED a first-time visitor to Liverpool around last weekend.

It meant I had to look at the place through the eyes of a stranger. When it comes to the waterfront, I found myself being pleasantly surprised.

Sunny weather helped make a favourable impression, as did the bustling river.

Ferries to Dublin and Belfast were coming and going from Twelve Quays and a cruise liner was moored at Princes Dock.

Being business editor of the Daily Post, I’m able to answer in alarming detail questions like what are the Three Graces used for these days? Indeed, I can accurately state the rent some of the buildings’ tenants are paying.

It put me to thinking what would a cruise ship visitor do with a day in Liverpool?

Clearly there are plenty of things to do, such as the Picasso exhibition at Tate Liverpool and the other museums at the Albert Dock. They may be a small trek away, but the two cathedrals are worth the effort.

Apparently last weekend, some cruise visitors were treated to a traditional English high tea at the Palm House in Sefton Park. Pimms, Earl Grey, scones with whipped cream and jam, cucumber sandwiches etc were laid on.

Of course, should you be a local trying to get high tea at Sefton Park, it wouldn’t be quite the same. Pity that.

Indeed, where would you go for high tea in Liverpool? I think the Adelphi does it, but you would generally struggle, particularly compared to other parts of England. Visitors to Dorset, Devon and Cornwall find themselves having scones and whipped cream pressed upon them at every street corner.

I suspect our city parks are missing a trick when it comes to catering. In Calderstones Park, the majority of the park’s principal building is used for administration, while the catering outlet is shoved to the side. Why not turn the whole building over to breakfasts, morning coffees, lunches and afternoon teas? I bet that would be very popular with all sorts of people and more lucrative for the council.

MY ELDEST son is currently looking at universities and choosing degree courses.

It’s a big decision that will set him on a course through life. To be fair to him, he is doing an excellent and very thorough job at sifting the huge amount of information out there.

But what advice would you give a young person thinking about a career? It’s a question I have been putting to some senior business people recently. I get two types of answer back. One is the idealistic “follow your dreams”, while others try to predict what skills will be in strongest demand in the future.

Answers to the latter question often include knowledge related activities. Biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, aerospace and chemicals all feature strongly, as does finance, particularly accountancy. Diligent application to studies in any of these areas should lead to a secure and prosperous life.

What should be avoided? The law and media are both prone to the ups and downs of the economic cycle – just ask the people at Halliwells. The public sector looks very insecure at the moment, but even in the good times for the public sector, many public sector jobs are subject to short term contracts and constant chopping and changing of policy.

I suspect, though, the best answer was from somebody who does a lot of business in China. He said the secret of China’s startling growth is the desire of so many of that country’s graduates to become entrepreneurs and work for themselves.