Goodbye Lincoln we must leave you. Again. This time the delights of Caernarfon and Peel beckon. A two centre break designed to blow away the cobwebs and freshen up the soul. Can you freshen up a soul? They can be saved, I know that. Maybe a spot of spring cleaning. An airing. Anyway, suitable attention will be devoted to the soul even if it is simply done by taking in the airs of my spiritual homeland and frequenting establishments known to offer refreshment designed to individual tastes.
I say two centre but we have found it convenient to break our journey to the Island with a stop in Liverpool where a reservation has been made at the Hilton opposite the Albert Dock. Family visits beckon plus perhaps a suitable detour to the Bridewell, now a tavern but formerly a police lockup. Funnily enough we met a chap in Gibraltar named Brian Wilson who had once, in the folly of his youth, been thrown in the cells there after a very boozy night out on the town that ended up in a brawl.
Sunday night will see my last stay in the Hilton as a Diamond member of their loyalty scheme. As of the 1st of April I am being downgraded to Gold. A further decline in status. A status that really doesn’t matter anymore. It is almost a release. A release from the shackles of the corporate system where status was more relevant. The reality is that if you spend half your time jetting around the globe then having the ability to jump queues, relax in the comfortable surroundings of airport and hotel lounges and generally make life easier does matter. Now I just pay for these conveniences anyway and am able to take a more leisurely approach to it all.
Anyway I leave you with a little AI generated ditty. It’s not bad fair play and took nanoseconds to generate. It’s still pretty cardboardy but if all you want is something that rhymes then it is fine. The danger is of course that a lazy society will change to reflect the capabilities of AI rather than the other way around.
(Verse 1)
Goodbye Lincoln, we must leave you,
The cathedral fades into the grey.
Though the cobblestones might grieve you,
The road is calling us away.
(Chorus)
Oh, the hill is steep and the wind is cold,
With stories new and stories old.
We’re trading the towers for the open sky,
With a heavy heart and a last goodbye.
(Verse 2)
We walked the path of the Roman wall,
And lingered where the shadows sleep.
We saw the Imp within the hall,
And parchment secrets we will keep.
(Verse 3)
So keep your lanterns burning bright,
Above the Brayford and the Bail.
We’ll carry memories through the night,
Until we reach the end of the trail.
(Chorus)
Oh, the hill is steep and the wind is cold,
With stories new and stories old.
We’re trading the towers for the open sky,
With a heavy heart and a last goodbye.
(Verse 4)
But the Stonebow stands and waits for us,
To welcome back the wandering feet.
Through the winter rain and summer dust,
Again one day we’ll walk your street.
(Chorus)
Oh, the hill is steep and the wind is cold,
With stories new and stories old.
We’re trading the towers for the open sky,
With a heavy heart and a last goodbye.
Use these chords. I leave the actual tune to you though I could help if you really wanted.
Verse:
G – D – Em – C
Chorus:
Em – C – G – D
Em – C – G – D
Not a patch on
Goodbye-ee! Goodbye-ee!
Wipe the tear, baby dear, from your eye-ee
Though it’s hard to part I know, (I know)
I’ll be tickled to death to go!
Don’t cry-ee, don’t sigh-ee
There’s a silver lining in the sky-ee!
Bonsoir old thing, cheerio, chin-chin
Nah-poo, toodle-oo, goodbye-ee!
Written when AI wan’t even a figment of the imagination. Shows you the difference doesn’t it?