The weekend was over.
After dropping Nicole at the airport Sisley took the M3 towards the North to Macclesfield near Manchester where she would start her new job.
At 11 pm she had finally arrived at her hotel. The first two weeks she would spend in the hotel and then moving into her new apartment rent by the company.
The next morning Sisley woke up early and had a look through the room: a terracotta colored carpet with a flowery pattern on top of the marble floor, a red rose flower wallpaper, curtains in a thick dark green and a small flower mix print from yellow, blue to red.
Yeah, and the reading lamp next to her bed on the side table: flowery, a mixed pattern of a wildflower potpourri. Yes, exactly the traditional British style. Walls decorated with the world famous Sanderson flower wallpapers and not to be missed: shortbread, a tea cooker and a choice of assorted tea were placed on the sideboards.
Sisley pulled back the curtains and against the usual rainy weather in the North of England she found a cloudless blue sky with bright sunshine. She took this as an opportunity for planning a trip to Liverpool and Manchester as she would start her Job on Thursday only….
*
Right after breakfast Sisley jumped into the car making a stop on the next gas station to get a map of the northeast area, filled up her tank and moved on towards Liverpool city. An hour and a half drive and she arrived at the pier.
She parked her car and went over to the peer staring into the water of the River Mersey. The water was more dark and muddy, rather than fresh and clear, but Sisley was fascinated as it was flowing, rough and wild, moving in a fast rhythm. She remembered the song “I’ve got a feeling” from the world famous Beatles who first started playing songs here in this City. Somehow England really had its own Rhythm.
Standing there she looked back to the weekend the times she had spent with her friends how far away this all seemed to be now. Time had passed from old school days to now, everyone was moving in their own stream in different directions.
One was living in London, Mel starting a new career in finances, Nicole was staying in Germany and had her focus more on marrying a well-situated man and keeping her life in comfort without much effort, another close friend would shortly move to LA in the US and Sisley would stay up North for a year to further her career with the company.
Two years she had to wait for that move after her apprenticeship that was the rule by the company and yes, she had made it, she was the one chosen from the many applicants and she was only 23 years old by now.
Not really knowing what to expect but looking again in the waters of this wild flowing river that was moving on fast she knew she wouldn’t stand still, that this was a time of change.
The days in the office of the last two years sometimes had felt heavy and long and she had sometimes felt bored. Breathing this fresh air now felt really good and she was excited for a new experience in a new city, new country.
She had been in England only once before at age sixteen, she had spent a week in London with her mother where they had seen the Musical “Cats” that was so popular at this time and Sisley always had that passion for dancing.
She went to the little shops at the peer, looked at a present exhibition “Dali’s life” was at the Tate Liverpool branch. At the exit she met a guy and they started talking about having lunch at one of the little coffees. They still offered Brunch John suggested one of his favorite drinks a “bloody mary”.
Sisley had had that drink already at the London weekend. The history of the bloody mary was as complex as the drink itself. Reportedly named after Queen Mary I of England, it had become a global phenomenon and graces the tables at the best brunches. Sisley wasn’t sure if she was a fan of this drink but was thinking why not!
John was a drummer from London and he was playing with his band here in Liverpool and Manchester this weekend. Asking Sisley: “Don’t you want to come to our show tonight? I’m sure it’s going to be a blast….
TO BE CONTINUED
Natalie Hush 