Football v Religion

'There are two great Merseyside teams:
Liverpool and .. Liverpool Reserves'
Bill Shankly

A day of two halves today. We started with culture; visiting the Docks and the Tate, where this photo was taken overlooking a very choppy Mersey. Then we split up; boys v girls, as Jamie was lucky enough to score a couple of tickets for Liverpool v Arsenal at Anfield for Tom's Christmas present. It was Jamie's first time at Anfield, despite being a fan for nearly 50 years, so a very special treat for both of my boys today.

While they were paying their respects at the hallowed turf, I took the girls to Paddy's Wigwam, aka the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King, for the Family Carol Service. It was wonderful. The choir filled the enormous space with the sound of angels; it was traditional, pure, high church, apart from the bit where the winners of the raffle were announced in a thick Scouse accent. The winner (of a crate of spirits) was too shy to come forward, but I'm rather hoping it was the little old lady in front of us. What a cracker of a Christmas that would be.

We all met afterwards, at Jamie's Italian, to compare stories, songs and singing.

It was a draw.