My idea of catching up with blogging last week turned into a dismal failure for a variety of reasons, but we’re now into a new week. After spending the weekend back at Bigland Towers I’ve returned to Southport for a few days, which will give me time to do what I need to do – which includes blogging.

Today I’m out shopping and finding a temporary ‘office’ where I can work in peace whilst getting my steps in ‘commuting’ to and from my sisters. The commute has often turned into an exploration as I try and take a different route into town each day. This involves suddenly deciding to take a detour and explore streets I’ve not visited since I moved to London back in 1986, or even before as some were near my old school which I left a decade earlier!

One thing that’s caught my eye is how the corner shop had died a death. There used to be loads of them around my parents house. Now they’re almost all gone. The newsagents/tobacconists of old are almost extinct, as are local butchers, grocers and chip shops. Even hairdressers have disappeared in some parts as people retire, or realise their business has become unprofitable. Trying to remember where these places were and what they were has become a new game. In some cases it’s easy to spot them because of the way the building’s been converted rather than demolished. In others there’s hardly any clues. Mind you. it’s not just shops. Many pubs have disappeared too, like this one – the George, where I spent many an hour with an old friend who lives around the corner.

By the George is a large old cemetery where my grandmother used to take us young kids on walks. It’s not as well maintained as I remember, but I did find this memorial which I recalled as a child. It’s to the crew of the lifeboat Eliza Fernley, as 14 of the 16 members perished, along with 13 members of the St Annes lifeboat whilst both boats were trying to rescue the crew of the ship ‘Mexico’ in 1886.

Before I made it into town I passed one last empty shop, but this one has family connections. DM Rogers was the family business. It was opened by my mum and dad and named after my mother (Doreen Myfanwy Rogers, her maiden name). When my dad gave up the business it was taken over by my brother David who moved it from Nelson St to Shakespeare St. This was the third incarnation after moving across the road. Dave retired last year and now workers are converting the shop for another tenant, so this is the last time I’ll see the sign and name.

How times change…

I’ve a small favour to ask…
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Cheers,

Paul