The Leaving of Liverpool

Look at my new penguin chums!

As you can see I’m quite at home in Liverpool, and in the words of the song; it’s wonderful to be here, it’s certainly a thrill.

I was promised a surprise upon my arrival and truthfully I got one. I had no idea that Liverpool was planning a public art display based around the humble penguin. When I heard about the Go Penguins project it made me very proud. I don’t mind telling you it brought a tear to my eye. And I’m not a bird easily moved to emotion.

So, once the tremors had subsided, I couldn’t resist popping along to meet these two chaps – the LFC and EFC penguins. The entire colony of more than 150 (some of whom are in the background here) has offered its support to Smokefree Northwest. I knew it would – we penguins are such reliable creatures. For more information on the Go Penguins winter event, do visit their jolly clever website.

I thoroughly enjoyed my week off - it was spent knee-deep in frozen peas and ice lollies. The store manager was none too chuffed, I can tell you.

As enjoyable as this was, I did miss you all. Sadly, I fear it was but a taste of things to come since this shall be my last blog entry before I head home to the frozen wastes. Speaking of which, I’ve had a postcard from Mummy who tells me to brace for a warm summer. She reports that the Antarctic spring has sprung, the permafrost is isn’t so perma any more, and that the air temperature is -6°C. Disturbingly balmy I’m sure you’ll agree.

Such a pity that I’m leaving the North West just as your weather is picking up. I’ve had a marvellous five weeks touring the region and meeting fabulous people of all ages and backgrounds – many of them determined to bin the cigarettes and wot not.

Liverpool PCT can help you do that you know? Last year an astonishing 4,483 people across the city became smokefree with the help of its stop smoking team. The Smokefree squad are in the Liverpool One shopping centre till Sunday but, if you can’t get along there in person, do call my Penguin Stop Smoking Hotline on 0800 032 7252 for more information.

The more gifted among you may remember that my journey began back in September when I helped to launch the Smokefree Northwest tour in Trafford. Since then I’ve been from Crewe in the south to Carlisle in the north. From Workington in the west to Oldham in the east. But now, my long and winding road has brought me to Liverpool - my final destination.

Don’t you think it apt that I should take my leave of you from a great port city? Particularly at a time when so many others of my kind are arriving here. I wish Go Penguins all the luck in Antarctica, but it’s now time for this penguin to go too.

I won’t dwell long on this – otherwise I shall end up blubbing and pounding my chest. Suffice to say I never dreamed that during my trip I would learn as much as I have from so many tremendous darlings.

In the words of a Beatle and on behalf of me and my fellow penguins: You’re such a lovely audience we’d like to take you home with us.

Stay healthy and smokefree. Toodle pip.

X

Superb Salford

It's been wonderful here in Salford today, despite the rain. I was so looking forward to visiting and it hasn't disappointed - thanks to 11 year-old Demi Higgins for being among those to show their support.

I was aware of the city, of course, through the works of LS Lowry - you know, the chap who painted matchstick men, and matchstick cats and dogs. All very well, but why not penguins? Come on LS - step up!

If you’re keen to stop smoking but you weren't in Salford today please do call my Penguin Stop Smoking Hotline on 0800 032 7252.

A short Saturday blog from me today, in fact that’s it from me for an entire week.

You see the smashers at Smokefree Northwest have been so impressed with my work ethic that they’ve insisted I take some time away. So I’m off to the supermarket, where I suspect I’ll find a nice cool freezer aisle, and I'll make myself at home.

See you for my final appearance in Liverpool on 3 November – I’m told there’s a big surprise in store. How exciting!

Toodle pip!

Overwhelmed in Oldham

I’ve headed north and arrived in glorious Oldham.

Followers of this blog will have gathered long ago that we travel on a pretty tight schedule here at Smokefree Northwest and our regional tour would have limped along without a little technological assistance. So we’d like to say a big thank you to our team of boffins back in Antarctica. They’re the folk who developed our GPS (Global Penguin Support) thingamajig; a paper-based device which looks like a traditional map and can be used in the same way.

As per, I digress. Oldhamers have been uncommonly warm in their welcome today, particularly the student chappies above, and they all seemed awfully keen to stub out the ciggies. After all, last year an astonishing 1,653 people became smokefree with help from Oldham Community Health Services Stop Smoking Service.

If you’re equally keen to stop smoking but you were unable to get to Oldham this aft. please do call my Penguin Stop Smoking Hotline on 0800 032 7252.

I’m being urged to visit Gallery Oldham, the hi-tech art gallery, while I’m here in town. The curator-types have a fair few exhibitions installed at the moment, and it’s a well known fact that flightless birds are high-brow when it comes to this sort of thing. That whisper you may have heard about ‘culture’ and ‘vultures’ is a myth; all carrion birds are terrible bores.

See you tomorrow in Salford!

Stockport Shenanigans

I’m afraid we batted off on a sticky wicket here in Stockport today.

HQ advised that I was to meet up with Stockport County Football Club’s twin mascots Animo and Fide. Apparently (and appropriately) their Latin names translate as Courage and Faith – two qualities which we all needed to display in order to locate each other.

You see, there’d been a clerical error regarding our rendezvous and none of us had mobile phones. What rotten luck! Still, we all got together eventually, and I’m so glad we did since we hit it off splendidly. Old A and F, pictured above, are an absolute riot.

Thanks to them and Stockport County for supporting the Smokefree roadshow. The good people of Stockport are certainly doing their fair share to stamp out smoking; last year 1,823 people became smokefree with help from Stockport NHS Stop Smoking Service.

As you can probably tell, I consider myself a renaissance penguin and as such I include history among my many interests. So, upon my arrival, it struck me straight away that Stockport retains its medieval street patterns.

What a charming town this is, with its traditional market and many churches and there are exquisite examples of Victorian, Regency, Georgian and even Tudor buildings. Are you impressed? Impressed by Stockport or me? Do tell. As for Stockport viaduct it impresses me utterly. I’m informed it is one of the largest remaining brick constructions in Western Europe!

I’m off to the Stockport’s hat museum now; the town was a centre for hat-making for many years y’know? I’m fond of the old bonce-warmers, I wonder if they have a gift shop – I’ll need to take something home for kith and kin.

See you this afternoon in Oldham.

Good Old Trafford

I’m back! You may remember I was at the ChillFactor ski centre, right here in Trafford, at the very beginning of my odyssey around the North West. The chaps and chap-esses in charge thought it was a splendid idea to have me (a penguin) there (in the snow) – and it was!

So I’ve returned, though this time I’m down the road in Stretford.

I’ve met some marvellous people here today; they gave an uncommonly warm welcome to the good folk at Smokefree Northwest. In fact, the Smokefree team, who have been pointing people in the direction of NHS stop smoking services, were so pleased with the reception that they’re staying till Saturday. Last year 1,160 smokers quit with the help of Trafford PCT Stop Smoking Service. Shockingly efficient, what?

Trafford has an awful lot going for it y’know. It’s famously home to Manchester United Football Club and Lancashire County Cricket Club – have you ever played cricket on ice? By Jove, it’s thrilling. I still have last season’s bruises.

But this most engaging district is also home to the Imperial War Museum North and Sale Water Park, where you'll find the Broad Ees Dole nature reserve which provides a sort of B&B for migrating birds. I’ve never really understood why some of my feathered friends migrate – what’s not to like about winter?

If you missed me at Stretford in Trafford earlier today but would like to quit smoking, do call my Penguin Stop Smoking Hotline on 0800 032 7252.

See you tomorrow in Stockport!

A Faux Pas in Runcorn

During my visit to Runcorn’s Halton Lea shopping centre earlier today I bumped into a Viking. You wouldn’t credit it would you? So, being of sound stock, I plucked up the doughty reserve and wandered across.

“Greetings old warrior,” I called, in careful and friendly tones. “I come in peace on behalf of Smokefree Northwest. Are you under the yoke?”, I asked. “Y’know smoke cigarettes and such?”

Dashed foolish penguin am I!

This wasn’t any old Nordic warrior; it was Kemik, mascot to the mighty Widnes Vikings rugby league club. How very embarrassing for me – a sportsman such as he doesn’t smoke!

I apologised and he was most gracious (on this evidence Vikings seem to have an ill-earned reputation). As we chatted it became clear that old ‘K’ had heard I was in town and wanted to lend his support to the whole enterprise.

How flattering! Kemik gave a real boost to our team today. Not that they need it; SUPPORT, the Halton and St Helens PCT Stop Smoking Service, helped 2,858 smokers pack in last year. Utterly sumptuous, what? If you want to find out how NHS stop smoking services can help you quit, do call my Penguin Stop Smoking Hotline on 0800 032 7252.

I asked Kemik where I could go to wind down in Halton after a busy day on the frontline. He urged me to visit Norton Priory - the ruins of a castle lie nearby; then to cross the spectacular Runcorn and Widnes Bridge - the River Mersey separates the towns; then to visit the Catalyst museum to find out about the area’s industrial history; and finally to spend some time in the picturesque village of Hale.

I’ve a day off tomorrow, so I’m delighted there’s plenty to do around these parts. Especially since the weather is becoming much more pleasing. It’s getting lovely and cold – don’t you think? Maybe I shall spend some time paddling along the shoreline before I head inland for my final foray into Greater Manchester.

Cheshire, you’ve been an utter darling! Till Trafford!

Warrington Nonsense!

Wolfie, mascot to the Warrington Wolves rugby league team, assured me he was taking me to a posh lunch. ‘Black tie’ I was told – do I look like I need eveningwear? I’ve been wearing it since I was little older than a chick!

As you can see, the claim was high jinks on Wolfie’s part and not quite the slap-up feast of legend. To misquote Alice, his words became: “Spuriouser and spuriouser.”

Nevertheless, the sculpture of the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party is striking and well worth a visit I’m sure you’ll agree. Daresbury, a delightful village on the outskirts of this Cheshire town, is very nearby and the birthplace of Lewis Carroll – author of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

The keen-eyed regulars amongst you might recognise this as my second blog reference to Lewis Carroll. You see, I’m a fan. And I like to think that if he were alive today, my own adventures around the North West of England might inspire further nonsensical compositions from him. Can you imagine? I wonder what the title would be . . ?

Wolfie made amends for his practical joking with a further surprise. You see, he not only generously donated his time to help promote the Smokefree message today, he and his colleagues at the Wolves Foundation have gone even further: they are offering a free match ticket to Warrington-based smokers who complete the Smokefree programme.

What a result from the Warrington Wolves, esteemed winners of the Carnegie Challenge Cup! To find out more about this exciting offer, contact the Wolves Foundation on 01925 248894. Come on people of Warrington give it a try (gettit?)! Last year 781 people gave up smoking with the help of Warrington PCT. If you want to quit smoking, do call my Penguin Stop Smoking Hotline on 0800 032 7252.

Well, Wolfie and I had a simply marvellous morning in and around Warrington’s Golden Square shopping centre. It’s my penultimate day in Cheshire, tomorrow I’m in Runcorn.

See you there!