10 days of Leigh's birthday fun...

We wanted to do something extra special for Leigh so she would remember her British Birthday. So, we asked ourselves, "What does Leigh like more than most things?" We decided it was music of course! And what place has Leigh really wanted to get back to and see closer and for longer? Liverpool of course! The mission of this trip was to keep Leigh in the dark and keep it a surprise for her. The night before we left I gave her a list of what to pack. Short of blindfolding her on the way to the bus station, we kept it under wraps! We figured the taxi driver wouldn't be to keen on transporting a blindfolded person around...

We got to Bradford Interchange and Leigh got her first clue: A card with a picture of a Liver and a picture of a pool. I didn't get the easiest to identify liver picture to give her a bit of a challenge! (it worked because it took her a few minutes to figure it out) Next gift...a bag of crunchy M&M's! Something that is no longer found in the States.

On the way to the Cavern Club! ***notice the light outside the car at 9 p.m.

When we got to Liverpool, we gave the next clue/gift. It was a bed at the YHA hostel and at that point she knew that we were spending the night. #4- Once at the hostel she got a card with food on it that represented the fact that she was getting food expenses for the weekend! I think that #5 was my favorite card though. Leigh got a card with a picture of a cave (cavern) and there was a man holding a club, but we cut out her face and put it on the man. This represented that we were going to the Cavern Club for the evening. We then filled her in that we were going to see a Beatles Cover Band for Paul McCartney's birthday celebration at the Cavern Club! (where the Beatles first played) I think she really was excited about this because she jumped around a little bit... Gift #6 was a journal where she could write quotes, memories and funny things from the weekend. 

We explored and shopped for the afternoon and then in the evening we got all dressed up and fancy to go to listen to some music. Abby gave Leigh a big button (badge) that we was suppose to wear for the night. Little did she know that the button was actually going to save her...

We spent the first 1 1/2 hours listening to an open mic Beatles karaoke session in the actual Cavern Club before we realized that what we had really bought tickets for (Beatles Tribute Band) was playing in the next room. Who knew? Abby finally figured it out when they were searching for the toilet. When we went into the sauna, I mean other part of the Cavern Club, we soon realized that this would be one hot night. It was absolutely a sauna with a very high uncomfortable temperature and moisture level. Leigh and I were the only ones to make it the entire time. I was completely drenched in my own sweat, plus other's sweat, and other peoples drinks! What's not to love. 

Helen, June, Leigh, Marie, and Abby

The next day we walked around Liverpool some more and ate on Albert Dock. The weather cooperated with us and it turned out to be a really great weekend. Of course, Leigh also got a ticket back home to Bradford and a Starbucks the next day... What more can a girl ask for? Everything done with love for Leigh...