Liverpool!

We had a very busy weekend this weekend.  We decided as we had both days free that we would have a day out in Liverpool.  We've been meaning to do this for ages as there is a very big model railway shop on Penny Lane none-the-less for the boys to visit and a Pepperbery/Bravissimo for me to spend vouchers in.

Very disappointed not to find a fish and finger pie!

Ferry cross the Mersey.

The day didn't look great to start with - dark, miserable and raining, but it didn't matter as most of the day was going to be inside.  We got the train to Wigan and then on to Liverpool Lime Street (can't get a through train from this direction yet...).  By the time we arrived in Lime Street, it had stopped raining and was beginning to cheer up.  Matt and Tom got the bus to Penny Lane whilst I went in search for Pepperbery (get this - I bought a dress!!!!!!)  We then met up in the main shopping street and looked for somewhere for lunch.  We found an American style diner, we couldn't pass it, having watched so many episodes of Diners, Drive ins &
Dives.  It was good too.  Fired up we then walked to Pier Head and got ourselves some tickets for the Ferry Cross the Mersey (another Tesco Boost day trip).  The sun had now come out, so we got a really nice view of the iconic skyline.

The Skyline

Tom Lennon?

Next stop was the Pier Head Terminal which had a really good Beatles shop in it.

We then headed over to the Museum of Liverpool, the newest museum in the UK.  It was big and bright and bold.  They had put lots in it, but being with a 5 year old we didn't get to read much.  There was a section about the Liverpool Overhead Railway which was interesting, a train from the original Liverpool to Manchester Railway, 2 cinema experiences, one on the Beatles which we saw - Tom was air guitaring to the music so he enjoyed it and another about football, which much to Tom's disappointment we didn't see.  We all had tired feet by then so had sit down and a drink before heading out for a lap of The Albert Dock.

Tom and a Super Lamb Banana

NOTE FOR NEXT TIME: There is a Miller & Carter in The Albert Dock.

Although we did get distracted by the Miller & Carter, we didn't go in as we had a date with Etsu - our favourite Japanese restaurant in the UK.  We arrived just as the doors opened at 5pm and ordered all our usual favourites: edamame, ebi tempura, gyoza, tofu, soft shelled crab etc etc.  We had to order more and more as a certain little someone had an appetite on him.  It was a protein heavy dinner, but so, so good.  We left with happy bellies.

We then walked back to Lime Street and got the train home.  Tom was tired, but there was too much going on in the train and it was a noisy, shaking diesel train meaning that he was far to distracted.  He didn't take long to get to sleep in the car though!  A good, busy day.

Cute look

Sunday we decided we should take it easy, so we decided to do a lap of the Dales that we haven't yet explored.  First stop was Hawes for a stock up of cheese and then we headed further down the road through the lovely scenery of Wharfedale towards Kettlewell.  We found a great spot by the river for playing and throwing stones and a great little pub in the middle of nowhere for a drink.

Pen-y-ghent

We then stopped in Kettlewell for lunch.  We were spoilt for choice - there were 3 pubs and 2 tea rooms in a village about a third of the size of Ingleton.  We settled on a tea room full of bikers (always a good sign).  Tom was on tea cake duty, Matt on bacon butty duty whilst I had a rather delicious blue cheese and celery soup.  We then continued on our lap, finding our way to Malham and Stainforth before stopping for a drink at Horton and then home.  Not the most active day but a beautiful, scenic day, just what was needed after yesterday.