To Autumn, then…
The leaves turn and fall; memories remain, and I write about them before they fade.
‘Twas ever thus.
Summer passed by with a lot of cooking and DIY. I rediscovered Opal Fruits, listened to a great podcast featuring two of my favourite ever footballers, Pat Nevin and Johan Cruyff – both of whom I’ve been lucky enough to meet – and the return of the Mighty Marine – replete with their new mascot – on their new pitch, which I got to try out (and Elijah played on, more of which later!)
I also watched Mad Tracey from Margate, reminisced about going to a talk she gave with Sir Peter Blake and afterwards, giving her a copy of my homage drawing, Everyone I’ve ever Met Whilst Drunk which I hope she cherishes to this day. B turned 9, so we tentatively allowed her to start Stranger Things from the beginning which offered fresh insights, plus we watched Turning Red again on repeat, both on Disney+ and in real life, and the equally brilliant series 3 of both Breeders and This is Us – described by a friend as the cleverest TV series ever made, and I concur – whilst Elijah signed up to Marina Academy, which meant several new kits and weekends spent proudly becoming Soccer Moms and Dads.
Another great meal at Barnacle, the last of the summer wine – wholeheartedly recommended again, even though our favourite front of hours has left for the exciting new Hawksmoor Liverpool which we can’t wait to frequent – and a tear-jerking tour of Goodison Park, home for not much longer, during which Elijah’s walk down the tunnel to Z Cars will never be forgotten.
There also came his first proper birthday party, thanks to some virus’s interventions; a great new series of Cobra Kai; Andor, which I’m yet to fully get my teeth into… and then the seminal moments of the Queen’s death, at which B was upset after her communication with her Majesty earlier in the year, naturally.
The news also evoked clear memories of a summer spent working at Buckingham Palace and an unforgettable afternoon at Clarence House with the new King: most people know this story, but I’ll tell it again anyway as it seems timely. Twenty years ago, unlikely as it seems, I was a security guard at Buckingham Palace for the Summer Opening of the State Rooms in the Jubilee Year. It was a fascinating experience which I’ll remember forever, especially the many oddballs obsessed with the family and their apparent right to part of the property.
Years later, meanwhile, a Healthy Schools event saw me invited to Clarence House and it’s weird now to think that the dinner ladies and I were stood talking to the future King and his wife, in their house, looking at their photos and knick-knacks and even using their downstairs toilet. On the way there, I happened to bump into a famous TV chef, and I told him what our kids thought of him for his efforts to change school dinners but that I thought he was alright and even gave him a rewards ribbon that my future wife had made.
Back to reality after a surreal couple of weeks of mourning, Elijah turned 6 and we spent a nice day out in town spent spending his birthday money on football cards and bubble teas and we adapted to change, in more ways than one. Secondary schools were looked round, and I made the choice to go Gluten Free after months of discomfort and difficulties. It’s quite liberating and certainly the best decision: all my favourite things would appear to contain gluten, therefore things are more expensive, and things will never be the same again, but I’m actually excited about that fact.
Talking of things changing, to celebrate my own birthday, Elijah and I went to see the new stadium taking shape on the waterfront. That we were later asked to leave the grounds of the nearby Titanic Hotel where the LFC squad were having their pre match meal, presumably because we were both in blue, didn’t spoil an emotive hour spent dreaming and imagining how it’ll look in a couple of years when we’re there for a match. That it’s now becoming a reality, especially after seemingly years of (now very sheepish) others’ arrogant crowing that ‘it’ll never happen’ etc is another momentous life event that I’m seeing through the eyes of a little boy and I’m loving every minute.
We end very positively, then. I got to experience the newly laid 4G pitch that Marine call home, as E starred in a tournament on there one sunny Sunday. Meanwhile, my best mate of thirty-two years came to visit, my wonderful wife took me out on a date, and Stanley Tucci is back on the TV with his excellent Italy series so all is right with the world… just in time for the clocks to go back and darkness to arrive…
Cheers!