This Trippin' article is a picture-story from Jason Richardson. Jason runs The Wirral Ode Show.

The ode show meets at the Stork Hotel,Price St. Birkenhead on the Third Thursday of the month. 8.30pm start

For more info on Wirral Poets contact Jason jasonrichards69@hotmail.com

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Returning aftershave and other tales

So i decided to take back some aftershave i got for my birthday ,,it was too floral really ..i was full of anticipation as i boarded the 110 for birkenhead...you can see my look of excitement ..its mirrored on my fellow passengers faces too

this colourful old lady sat opposite me...shes putting her pass away ,i can feel that she sympathises with my endeavour..."good luck"she whispers ..though it might ve been something else...

this chap gets off the bus ..i just know his concerns are with me and my aftershave returning adventure yet to come...

finally im in Birkenhead..it feels good ..the town is abuzz with march afternoon excitement ...i spy a cup next to some rubbish ..quick as a flash ive snapped it ...an unlikely spot to take a tea break but anything can happen in that crazy old town

more kookiness as some wag has decided to draw a penis in dust on this door,,i laughed for a good five minutes and then admired the artistry of the talented locals

more kookiness as some wag has decided to draw a penis in dust on this door,,i laughed for a good five minutes and then admired the artistry of the talented locals

a new shop..selling "goth"type paraphenalia...how wonderful but sadly it yields nothing in the wayof raffle prizes for our next poetry night ..in the foreground you can make out the wonderful physique of one of the local gentlemen

these 2 young scalliwags seem lost to the world as they casually make slightly racist remarks to passers by...behind them a blind gentleman makes his way along the pavement ..local colour at its finest...but im nearly at beatties ...

one of several counters selling fine aromas and make up ...cosmetics galore i think and again i pause to laugh,this time for 6 minutes

a lady is attended to by another lady,,,but at a decent distance...theres no hint of lesbianism or anything

my destination....will they accept the opened but unused bottle of aftershave and return money or exchange?

 

the excitement is unbearable

no...they f£$&*&ng wont

i leave disappointed but with a few free samples ..this lady explained that as it was opened albeit unused they cant re-sell....im mortified ...i take a deep breath and think of some poor orphans in a horrible country who would love to smell of paco ribane for just one night

to perk myself up and get over things i visit a guitar shop and consider buying this yellow ukelele for £16 ..im still considering it ..i have a chat with the owner who agrees with me that george harrison played one ..we laugh but not for long

in home and bargain my luck changes as i see a hot water bottle and think it would make an excellent prize..this lady is hogging them all though and as i go nearer she starts barking...i flee the shop as she runs rabidly for an assistant

poundworld is pretty much the same as poundland and not that disimilar from poundstretcher ..this view is taken from one of birkenheads many cheerful charity shops

just when im about to give up hope i find my dream prize ..a hot water bottle in a fleece...oh joy ..my happiness knows no bounds and i buy it at once ...birkenhead truly is the land of oppurtunity

outside im so happy i give this gypsy singer £1.15 in change he gladly poses for a photo..theres a distinctive aroma of urine mixed with cider ..i elect not to hug him but i say goodbye in his native tongue which seems to confuse him

that bus was like the bus of joyousness,,but i still took time to remember the little orphans who live in muddy puddles and drink urine and dont own paco -rabine

home!! back after an hour or 2 to sunny liscard with its shops,bins and signs...and cars

more laughter as i notice that the sign on this estate agent still has squirty comedy string on from halloween!..wonderful stuff

home is the hunter ...

a fine display of the free aftershave samples and untakenback aftershave...what an afternoon ..who knows what tomorrow may bring ....well i hope you enjoyed sharing my afternoon see you soon....wonderful!