Bumper edition Cavern Gym Joe
The City's 800th birthday next year is obviously something the Echo needs to mark in style. Aug 28 is the day we are all working to as the day of days, but there's an all-year celebration feel to things that we need to communicate.
I had a meeting with some of my senior people yesterday to try and flush out a few ideas. We filled five pages of flipchart in an hour.
If I say we were talking about giving a free pink grapefruit to every reader you'll have some idea of how off-the-wall things were getting.
We brainstormed a string of great reader offers as a sort of 'birthday present' to our readers as well as numerous editorial initiatives - great features, bold campaigns. I still think we are missing the 'killer idea'. If it's out there, and you know it, please drop me a line.
Another great meeting on the 50 years of The Cavern special we are planning for January. One of my favourite team meetings this.
Peter Grant, Kenny Rogers, Stephen Shakeshaft and our chief librarian Colin Hunt. Usually (for once) I'm the youngest member of the team - which I love. Sadly this time the presence of our music correspondent Kate Mansey cost me the privilege by 20 years.
Wonderful to hear Ken, Colin, Steve and Granty rattling away about their Cavern memories. All four are steeped in the city and have huge affection and respect for its past as well as its present. The Special is taking shape and will be a fantastic souvenir for anyone who cares for Liverpool's rich musical heritage.
Joe Riley has had a dig at the Liverpool Irish Festival in his column. As we are a media partner its slightly awkward, but,as always, columnists write what they like in their own columns and their views aren't always in accord with those of the parent paper. Great spread on the Festival elsewhere in the paper. It should be a terrific event and I'm hoping to get along to as much as possible.
Hour in gym after work. Diet still intact. Branflakes for breakfast, chicken sandwich for lunch (brown bread, no butter) and spare pork chop (fat removed) left over from Sunday with pears and parsnip for dinner.
Through to Everyman Theatre 9pm to pick up Harry from his drama group. His grandfather took him there earlier in the evening on the back of his Harley Davidson. The thought scares me witless. No reflection on his grandfather's bike skills, just the thought of what one bad motorist could do. Am I right to be so terrified?
