Happy birthday to us!

Less than three hours to go now until Liverpool's 800th anniversary. Eight centuries since Bad King John did a Good Thing and signed the first charter to turn Liverpool from a fishing village into a charter town, albeit with a modest seven streets. And it's at the bottom of one of those original streets, where the Mersey used to lap at the wall of the chapel, that we will be launching Mersey Minis 3 tomorrow afternoon. Huzzah thrice! Happy jollies to us!

Yum – so delicious you could lick them

All the Mersey Minis are back from the printers: utterly scrumptious. Green one to launch next Tuesday, pink one end of September, and purple one in early November. And then they'll be tinned for Christmas. yum yum.

Little coincidences

I love falling across little coincidences. Have just discovered one about William Huskisson, who was MP for Liverpool and president of the Board of Trade, and champion in Parliament for the Liverpool-Manchester Railway. Famously, also, the first man to be killed by a train – at the Rainhill Trials, when he was run over by Rocket.
The coincidence? His first seat in Parliament was as MP for Chichester in 1812 – which is the constituency in which I was born and bred (West Sussex).
Meaningless, but pleasing.

Birthday drumbeat

On 28th August 2008, Liverpool is 800 Years Old. Do YOU want to be a part of History?
Mutual Arising is looking for 800 drummers to perform at St Georges Plateau, Liverpool City Centre, on the night of this Historic Date. Anyone can take part as the rhythm we have created for the event is very simple to learn but is very powerful to hear! The event is open to everbody and of all ages.
They would like YOU to Play YOUR Part by coming along to the event and joining in! If you are not one of the final 800 you can be part of the groove by following their ONLINE TUTORIAL (Learn At Home) available now. If you have any type of drum at home, fancy making a simple one or just want to clap, then make sure you are part of this Historic Event by and for the people of Liverpool.
Help them create the biggest beat in history. The nights activities are also being filmed and will appear in the Mutual Arising ‘Spirit of Liverpool’ movie, due for release in 2008.
There are daily workshops (not Mondays) in St George's Hall between now and the 28th – for details go to the Drum 800 website at http://www.mutualarising.com/drum800/eventnews.htm or email Drum800Workshops@mutualarising.com

I'll be there, with my drum. Hope to see you there too.

Ed Reardon's blissful week

If you haven't discovered Ed Reardon yet, discover him. He's on Radio 4 and BBC 7, in different series. He's my hero of the moment. There's no-one who can rant, rage and rampage like the gloriously irascible Ed, at least not since John Cleese in his prime. Described by the BBC as 'author, pipesmoker, consummate fare-dodger and master of the abusive email', he describes the media as 'run by idiots, lying charlatans and moronic twelve year-olds who should've been drowned at birth in a bucket of raw sewage'

Written (with Andrew Nickolds) and performed by Christopher Douglas, it has a blue chip cast and there are 18 episodes to writhe through. Voted Best Radio Programme by the Broadcasting Press Guild.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/comedy/edreardon.shtml

http://www.bbc.co.uk/cgi-perl/whatson/prog_parse.cgi?FILENAME=20070819/20070819_2230_18112_53076_30&tmp=bbc7/whatson/programme.tmpl

Aghast, avast, and flabber me swashes

I don't normally indulge in Culture-baiting, but the news that the Mathew Street Festival has been cancelled leaves me reeling. But now for the entrepreneurial spirit of the city to rise like a phoenix – who is going to come up with the Button St/Rainford Square fest (not the Pier Head, surprise cause of all the trouble)?
I usually avoid the MSF with such scary enormous crowds, but if there's an impromptu happening I'll go, just to cheer.