Shopping Day

Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return.

So where is this? Well, this is in my hometown of Southport...birthplace of British Aviation. And this is a sculpture on a roundabout. So, a brief history, taken from 'Sun, Sand and Silver Wings' by John Mulliner:-
'In August 1910 pioneer aviator Claude Grahame-White arrived unexpectedly at Southport, landing his biplane on the beach near the pier where a large crowed quickly gathered. In the same year Southport Corporation built a hanger at the north end of the town and this, and the adjacent beach, was rented to a John Gaunt, who designed, built and successfully flew his own aircraft from this site the following year
In 1911, a second airfield was situated at the back of the town, and it was here that the first air displays were held over the summer and attracted many of the early pioneers. In 1919 the Avro Aviation Company operated pleasure flights, as well as scheduled flights to Blackpool, Manchester, Waterloo Sands and Fleetwood.
The following year, 1920, two French Canadians and ex Royal Flying Corps pilots, Norman and Percy Giroux, set up a company to operate pleasure and charter flights from a new airstrip, Birkdale Sands, near Pleasureland. Over the years the Giro Aviation Company operated many types of aircraft including two of the famous De Havilland Fox Moth five seater biplanes. In the thirties the company ran a flying school and offered air services to Blackpool, the Isle of Man and Ireland as well as, of course, their pleasure flights. After the war the Giro Aviation Company renewed its' pleasure flights before Norman Giroux, now a Squadron Leader, retired in the early sixties at the age of 68. At the time he was the world's oldest commercial pilot and had logged 30,000 flying hours.
The 1930's also saw the visit of Alan Cobhams Famous Flying Circus whilst in May 1937 Americans Dick Merrill and Jack Lambie, took off from Ainsdale beach on their return record breaking flight to America in their twin engined Lockheed Electra.'

So spent the day today with mum in Liverpool...shopping! Yes, what us girls do best. Managed to not spend too much money, although had to buy some new stuff for the job coming up in the summer...bikinis, shorts and the like (I know, such a hard life!). Glad to spend time with mum, as we do get along so well...we never stop talking I don't think! Poor dad, can't get a word in edgeways. Great day out, great day shopping, great lunch...in fact, I don't think things could have gone better.

Went out in the evening with Dad to take these photographs...I don't think he wanted me to be alone in the dark in case any "youths" came along, and of course is was more than lovely to have the company. Time seems to be passing so quickly again.