u/Suspicious-Serve8115

I actually think Karl would make a legitimately good secondary school teacher.

I bet the kids would love listening to his fables, he'd bring in monkey analogies all over the place; and I genuinely think he'd be funny and approachable.

Plus he's obviously really intelligent outside of his later XFM persona.

And I bet he'd have an aaabsolute blow up once a term, but it'd be the sort where the kids go

"To be fair, we were pushing for that..."

And he'd be like

"To be fair, I was like that at school too"

And they'd sort of forgive each other (no need to apologise to family!), and move on.

I genuinely think people would look back and say

"Remember Mr Dilkington? He was our most valued teacher"

And it wouldn't be because he had a PhD or because he kept "to the rules"; it'd be because he was basically a chilled out entertainer - but like... I think he'd be one of those 'down to earth', sound teachers that everyone finds funny and sort of loves.

Anyway, play a record.

The worst thing about catching a severely delayed train in London - imo - is that thing that happens where the crowds build, everyone's waiting, lots of people are almost standing like they're set for the 100m... and the anticipation is growing... it's every person for themselves... and suddenly...

BAM!

Train announced, everyone runs, elderly people/people with kids/some people with disabilities no chance; you get on the train and it's 'grab a seat as quickly as possible' - loads of people standing, cramming on.

Shouts of "Can everyone move down please? CAN EVERYONE MOVE DOWN!!"

When honestly, there's already like ten people crammed into a square meter already.

I get swept up in it too - it's almost like... if you want to catch the train you have to try.

But each time it's happened to me, I've felt annoyed about the whole thing -

Like, it feels undignified, and as though civilisation sort of breaks down for a few minutes; and grown adults all start acting proooperly self-centred..

No judgement from me though - I get pulled into it myself.

But man does it annoy me.

It happened to me at Euston today.

The last time it happened at London Bridge, I thought "No - I'm not playing this game", and I had to wait for sooo long.

Man I just can't...

Hi folks :)

I'm doing a little tour of some cities over the next year to have a think about where I might like to move to.

I'm fairly flexible because of the way that my self-employment runs.

I'm going to visit Leeds, and thought I might ask for a locals' perspective too while I'm at it!

I really love Liverpool and Belfast; although I sometimes find Liverpool a little loud about its identity (it's both really cool, and a little... overwhelming? sometimes. And sometimes I feel a bit of a "You're either with us or against us" feeling from there.)

I'm going to visit Manchester but can imagine it might feel a bit big.

I like the idea of being in a modern city, with a lot to do - but which also feels quite restful/calm and homely.

Any perspectives on this would be really helpful, and thanks in advance :)

I realise my post title is probably open to wide interpretation (and that it might even irritate someone); but I'm just using the term 'real scouser' to try to paint a picture.

I'm in Liverpool until August with work, and I'm from outside of the North West.

I've been to the Baltic Triangle, all around the city centre, Sefton Park/Lark Lane, Woolton, Strawberry Fields etc etc.

I just have a feeling that I'm seeing a lot of 'young professionals'-type areas, and student parts etc.

That's not a bad thing - I've loved all of it so far.

But I'd love to learn about the whole breadth/depth of the city (at least - as much as I can while I'm here); and I'd love to visit some real kinda... 'locals only' parts.

I guess I'd love a pub/cafe or two where I'd be welcome as a friendly outsider (but where it really centres around local folks).

And I guess I'd also be interested in passing through a couple of rugged areas where I maybe want to be a little mindful of my surroundings (without going into the wrong places).

I don't want to slip into poverty tourism or whatever; I just feel like there are parts to the city which I know are out there... and I have absolutely no idea about them.

I'd love to see how some of the 'trendy' sort of areas compare with some of the grittier 'lived reality' areas which would make up some people's perspective on the city.

Thanks for any ideas! :)

A few times now, I've heard a scouser say:

"Go on then, f*** off now - see y'later, bye!"

Someone said that to me a few months ago - but he was grinning, and the whole thing was good natured.

Every time I've seen it, it's looked friendly - as if to say:

"Okay, go on then - no need to stick around being polite!"

Is this like... a standard Scouse goodbye in some corners?

Every year I get to January and February and think "Yes... this is the year to leave my five bed flat share, go somewhere and have a calmer routine, have more of my own space, be rooted... etc".

Every year Summer comes around and I *completely* forget what the city can be like in Winter.

And every year I doubt my memory of it anyway - do people *really* hide away more in winter? Do I *really* start hibernating a bit, and then get claustrophobic/irritated by flat mates? Do things *really* seem to lose their sense of potential and become very still, and sort of 'grey-er', and less vibrant?

And then I'll stay - and then come November, December, January... life sort of feels like it hasn't moved on, and I start to think about leaving... and then Summer comes... and repeat.

Does anyone else get that...??

And is it a 'London' thing, or is it a 'me doing winter London badly' thing?

I've been on a placement here every other week for two days.

This is my third time.

I've started staying on two days extra just to look around the place.

Started in Woolton today; then up to the Bombed Out Church; then Bold Street; then The Albert Dock.

Ended up seeing a load of live music, and just back at my Air BnB.

And I'm just thinking to myself:

"Meh, maybe I'll just give into the inevitable and sorta like... stop leaving Liverpool. And just kinda stay."

It gets into your skin a bit, doesn't it...??

I don't believe that Ricky Gervais doesn't pay someone to write his film reviews. I think they're professionally done, and he just reads them. They're too good.

I don't believe that Ricky Gervais doesn't pay someone to write his film reviews. I think they're professionally done, and he just reads them. They're too good.

Feels like every breakfast show now is constant features, fake banter and celebrity clips. Sometimes I just want songs, quick news updates and someone who doesn’t sound like they’ve had six coffees. Anyone else gone off breakfast radio a bit lately?

I was a young carer - I think.

My dad had a degenerative body and mind condition which ate away at his mobility and his ability to understand things.

Eventually, he couldn't sit up, stand, walk, or swallow anything at all; he also couldn't speak.

Our house was turned into a 'care home lite', with a lift from the living room to the bedroom, and multiple hoists around the house. The bathroom was transformed into a wet room and we had carers in four times a day and a nurse too.

No one exactly told me "You are now a young carer"; but I often stayed with my dad so that my mum could go to work/go out for a break.

I'd help with tablets where I could, and help with lifting him/sorting out certain things like peg tubes etc.

I was a teenager when he was at the stage of being confused and shouting at me for things that he'd given me permission to do a few minutes before.

I saw him have a couple of psychotic breaks.

Once, I came home from school and he was hiding from a burglar - the house was dark.

I went around and checked all the rooms to show him it was safe to come out.

I often wouldn't tell my mum things because I felt like I should be able to handle it - and I was worried that she wouldn't go to work - I knew we needed the money since he couldn't work any more.

---

Anyway, he died when I was 28.5; and covid happened about 2.5 years after.

My mum has a kind of brain fog/memory loss which might be associated with the grief, or else the sleeping tablets she's on etc.

I'm now 37, and I'm only just starting to feel a really solid sense of where I am in life, what I'd like to do, and who I'd like to be.

I've had a few adventures over the last few years, done some study, and had one or two awful relationships (but they were learning curves).

I feel like I've been catching up from my teenage/twenties years and that I'm only now just starting to feel roughly my sort of age.

Although I'm still not totally established yet - I'm not married, I don't have my own place just yet, and I'm still finishing off some training to get me into the right job.

Does this sound kinda... normal?

I'm just trying to understand my journey a bit better, and separate out what came from my previous experiences and what came from other things (my own poor decisions or whatever).

Y'know - THAT one?