Best Granby 4 Streets Market ever? People in the know seem to think so. And they ought to know.
Anyway, let’s go back to the beginning and get off the bus.
This one deeply matters. It’s the end of an era and the start of a new one, so everyone wants it to be good. Everywhere’s on site or about to be. And that will change things. In a good way, but change nonetheless.
The Street Market that this time is a Street Party. And as I arrive I’m greeted by a reader of this blog who I’ve never met before. She’s Liz who’s walking towards the camera there. She’s commented on a couple of posts and I’ve confused her by thanking her, in reply, for some recent jam she’s never made. This was me mistaking her for an entirely different Liz from Sarah’s allotment site. So, hello Liz from Gambier Terrace, lovely to meet you!
Because today is a very special day in Cairns Street, Liverpool 8. And the street is being dressed up specially for the occasion.
I know they’re not actually embroidered tapestries but that seems a much better word for their beauty and significance than mere hangings or banners.
Maybe when the new people all move in they’ll still want to have ‘The Cairns Street Tapestries’ hanging from their top windows during Street Markets?
Nina’s from the Welsh Streets of course. And Stella and Martin it was, who four years ago now said to me one day in Sefton Park ‘Do you think you could come and help run a discussion with the rest of us in Granby to try and find a way forward for the 4 Streets?’ Well, four years later I’m still here and it has been one of the joys of my life. Thank you both.
Splendid, opinionated, great and historical photographs – and it’s a calendar too! Available widely in Liverpool I have no doubt.
Didn’t sound like failure to me Carla. Magnificent stuff.
But Erika’s just been talking to the lucky new owner who’s in there working on the house and he’s delighted the Street Market’s here. ‘It’s one of the reasons I wanted to move in round here. It’s great!’ Welcome in.
And then I go all quiet. Some music starts that always makes me go all quiet. His own and his brother Michael’s music plus some Nick Drake. Gently quiet but in my view some of the very greatest music that has ever come out of Liverpool. And you know who I’m saying it’s as good as.
If you’ve never heard the music of Shack do yourself and the rest of your life a favour and investigate.
The Street Market will be back. In a new era. With all of us. Plus all the new people? We hope so.
The people and their Street Markets and Guerrilla Gardening, as much as anything else, kept these 4 Streets alive when it seemed like nothing else could. Now the Markets are deep in the weave of the place’s culture, deep in how things are done round here. And this one today was as good as there’s ever been.
Well done Theresa, Joe, Rosa Jimi, Gemma and all the other organisers, stall holders, cooks, planners, plotters, gardeners and musicians. Truly you are the angels in the architecture.
That was just tremendous…a real feeling for what has gone in to this project. Glad you had something to warm you up though…..
Thanks Helen. Me and my battered ribs were well and lovingly looked after x
Give yourself a small pat on the back as well, Ronnie. You helped spread the word and I’m sure there are those who were there who wouldn’t have been if they hadn’t read about it in your blog.
Thank you Robert. Been a group effort this and I’m very proud to be part of the group.
This looks fantastic Ronnie, I’m so sad I missed it! Unfortunately exams had to take priority, there was little else that could have stopped me. I wonder if something similar could help kick start the Welsh Streets again…maybe it’s time for me to switch from questions to actions and see what is possible.
Well the Welsh Streets mainly needs to be put back into the hands of the people of Liverpool, rather than held up by the public enquiry as they have been for so long now. I believe the ‘result’ of the enquiry is expected before too long.