Hometown Pride

Liverpool.

The Beatles. Football. Scousers.

She loves you, yeah, yeah, yeah. You'll Never Walk Alone. Calm down, calm down laa. 

Liverpool is my hometown (city, it's definitely a city; it has not one but two cathedrals, on the same street no less).  There's around 2million population, so it's not a huge city, I'll give you that. 

My stereotypical view of Americans is that they are very proud of their hometowns and colleges. Whereas us stereotypical Brits are less likely to be so audibly and showy about our hometown pride, but there is devout hometown pride nonetheless.

Of course, The Beatles, football and a view of Scousers are not all that this city has to offer. As I mentioned, we have two cathedrals on either end of the same street, much more music than just The Beatles, the Cavern and Mathew Street, museums, theatres, venues, bars/pubs/clubs galore, three universities and much more.  There's things to do and see on every night of the week, all within walking distance in heels.

You want more? You're highly likely to bump into a musician on any corner, actors, writers, boxers, footballers and academics too. Possibly for 4/6 of those on Hope Street or Bold Street alone. History is everywhere from the Bombed-Out Church (properly but not officially known as St. Luke's), Chinatown, the docks which encompasses prosperity and slavery and Mathew Street. Go into any drinking establishment and someone will be spin you a yarn, it might even be true. Anfield and Goodison are the churches of the football fans, pick a side and stick to it, but you must unite against Manchester United (apparently, I am not a football fan which I know is a slanderous act) and even non-football fans like me will solemnly unite for Justice for the 96. Go shopping in rollers, pyjamas and fake tanned, fake eyelashed up and you really won't get stared at. Hear loud, fast talking, slang swinging men, women and children just about everywhere - whether they're happy or angry or sad, you'll know about it.

I can fly the flag of what's going on in Liverpool any day of the week. See the Liver Bird and know where you stand.

Yet, I'm not hugely filled with hometown pride. I live outside of the city anyway, it's very close to woolyback land (google will help you out here). Either way it's not close enough to Liverpool city centre and equally not far enough away either.

Perhaps my distain for the city comes from having never lived anywhere else, the shine has faded and I have become cynical and jaded. I can see all the cracks and flaws, the murky areas and unemployment.

It's an insular city. Everyone knows everyone else, somehow. However, if you are in the fold, you will be looked after but trying to break away can rub people up wrongly.

Yes, yes, we're a friendly chatty bunch, we're Northerners but it is grim up here, weather wise mostly but look at someone the wrong way and a torrid fire of 'who you lookin' at? why d'ya think you can look at me like that' will come your way. The answer is 'no-one' or silence.

There is a lot of things to see and do, in walking distance which makes the claustrophobia set in. You will struggle to get lost. The Beatles - great band but there really are hundreds of past and present bands out there doing fine work in the city and I do like The Beatles, but I do prefer other bands and the Cavern isn't a magical place, rather a dark, dingy cellar. Yet, there are tribes of fashionistas, scallies, goths etc and I never seem to feel comfortable in any. I've been to the museums, I try to go to the theatre, I love seeing bands, I like having cups of tea in one of the many independent coffee/tea shops, I enjoy being able to stumble drunkenly from bar to bar without great effort and still at the end of the night have enough change for a chippy.

I'm very white, with dark hair (dyed half blonde courtesy of the finest hairdresser in Liverpool/anywhere, he works at Beauty Bazaar and his name is David if you are interested but I digress....), I have a few not-that-visible-tattoos, stretched ears but not to the extent that anyone notices and I dress mainly in black, but to no extremes. Right there, means that on nights out on more than one occasion I have been told by big haired, spider-leg-lashed, tanned girls in heels that are not far off stilts, that I look 'corpselike', 'ohmygod you're so pale, is that even natural? or 'are you a goth?'. No I'm not a goth, yes it is my natural pallor, thank you for the comparison to a dead body.

I'm sure, absolutely sure that for some people the city has everything and more to offer. It holds the key to their happiness, well being and success. It is actually a fine city, with lovely architecture and is always trying to self improve. Personally though, I am constantly trying to flee (unsuccessfully so, it seems). I've never came back from a visit elsewhere and been glad to be in the city. Home is different, home is where my bed is, my comforts, my cat but it's the whole 'wherever I lay my hat, that's my home' deal. You can become a big fish in the little Liverpool pond, but I still want to leapfrog over to another pond. 

This lack of city, hometown pride does make me feel a bit guilty and sad to tell you the truth. Wouldn't it be nice to proclaim loud and proud, with joy and heart where you stem from? To want to encourage people to visit the area, defiantly defend the place against those who think their hometown is better? Absolutely.

Liverpool will always be my hometown. I can't escape that fact and granted there are worse places to hail from.

Saying all that though, if you're not from Liverpool and you try to say it's rubbish.... wharra y'sayin'? you haven't even been. Who are ya? Aye lad, don't tell me to calm down mate. Errr no! 

It's my hometown. I'm allowed to slate it, but you're not.

Not my view, I'm British as well.