March 13 2006

The Walker family and a day at the football.

Fell onto the couch after Lunch on Sunday and woke up at 8pm. Hard week really caught up with me. Good that weather was lousy and Harry's footy called off. No chance of trip to park with Morgan either. Needed to catch up.
The previous Thursday was a night that will live with me for months to come.
The Echo staged the Anthony Walker Young Citizen of the Year Awards as part of the NWDA-backed Winning Women Dinner at the Adlephi.
MY assitant editor Andy Edwards and I hosted a table for the Walker family - Gee was there to present prizes to the winners.
She was a marvel, self-contained, dignfied, elegant. The audience rose as one to applaud her after her brief and moving speech. It was a very special moment.
I sat next to her three daughters. They were sparkling in conversation, all extraordinarily beautiful. Their ability to co-eixt with their devastating memories left me surprised and impressed.
And when their faces lit up I could see Anthony's laughing eyes in their own expressions. It was happy and sad all at once.
We must do it next year and must make it part of Liverpool life. It is the tiniest shred of what this remarkable family deserves.
Friday I went to a leaving do at Simply Heathcoats for my mate Bobby Bennett of Allied Irish Bank - he's only going up the road to Sale and he isn't even leaving AIB - but they're a great bunch and any excuse for a few drinks will do. Great night but had to dash after an hour to get back to office. Organised by some clients and friens - well done Kim - Bob will have loved it. He's a party guy.
Super day Saturday. Went with Deputy Features Editor Dawn Collinson and Sports Editor John Thompson to Goodison for Fulham match, Entertained Atomic Kitten's Liz McLarnon and her brother as well as ex Snooker World Champ John Parrot.
Smashing lunch - Goodison's Vice Presiden't lounge where the Excho has a table id really good now. Parrot was brilliant - laugh a minute and a fund of stories. Great company. So too Liz and her brother. She's a charming girl, gorgeous and full of fun.
Too much wine and a struggle to be a decent dad and husband when I got in. Hopefully made up Sunday by getting up early with Morgan and giving Lynne a lie in.
Cooked some lunch then collapsed.