Popular Python

Oct 23 2007 by Mr Brocklebank, Liverpool Daily Post

A CARING Mr Brocklebank paid a call on actor/ traveller Michael Palin at Waterstone’s last week, to ensure he was not bereft of fans at his book-signing after the lukewarm critical reception to his TV series on Europe.

Instead, he found Palin’s star still glitters high in the Liverpool firmament. Half an hour after he started, there were still 400 patient Palintologists pythonesquely snaking up Bold Street, clasping books and videos charting the life of Michael. Plus three policemen, two security guards and assorted nervy bookstore managers deployed to patrol this incredibly well-behaved and intelligent-looking crowd.

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OUR Capital of Culture is all about building new relationships and friendships, which is why we need to make the most of our twin city links. To fly the flag locally, some of Mr Brocklebank’s acquaintances have suggested that the new One Park West residential block, currently arising on Strand Street, should sign a twinning agreement with the Royal Liverpool University Hospital, opened in the 1970s.

This new property may well be the work of a celebrated architect Cesar Pelli, but people around the city are remarking about its close similarity to the Royal up in Prescot Street. Clearly this is something to celebrate.

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IS MERSEYTRAVEL so train and tram-obsessed that it fails to understand that all methods of transportation are not sets of vehicles to be simply coupled and uncoupled?

If not, there is no excuse for its appalling planned “vandalism” of the rare and important WWII German submarine U-534 being chopped into four pieces for display at Woodside, rendering it almost meaningless visually and historically? Truly, we do not deserve to be European Capital of Culture perpetrating such inept so-called preservation of our maritime heritage.

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LIVERPOOL originated because of its sea trade. How singular that the inevitable book accompanying the BBC’s Coast series has a chapter headed”From Liverpool to Mull of Galloway” with not one illustration of the city? Curiouser and curiouser, as Alice in Litherland says.

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BY MAIL coach to London, where Mr Brocklebank found all cab drivers and tube operatives falling over themselves to be helpful. Is it something they put in the water?

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TALKING point: apparently 11 out of 12 passengers at Liverpool John Lennon Airport refused to pay new security surcharges.

With evidence like security staff verbally assaulting a Daily Post reporter and airline clients going about their lawful business in the General Aviation compound and, then, in contrast an unauthorised person climbing aboard an empty Thomson Holidays airliner, why should customers pay for such a third-rate service? Discuss.