Jayne from L4
- Liverpoolfestivalen
- 21 hours ago
- 4 min read
We wanted to invite someone who lives in the L4 area of Liverpool, the area where Anfield Stadium is located, and we found Jayne!
Bumped into John Barnes
Jayne Sturgeon was born and raised just a few steps from Anfield stadium itself. An area that has not only been a joy and a delight over the years. The 52-year-old has been there during times when crime was high and the streets were unsafe, but in recent years it has become more and more attractive to live in the area.
She can still dream of when she spent much of her free time in Stanley Park in her younger days, an eldorado for children and young people, with lots of activities and a place where you could meet others from the area. Much of the charm of Stanley Park is gone now, at least for those who grew up with what it was. Liverpool FC has eaten into the park and it is no longer what it used to be.
But Jayne is not bitter and has nothing negative to say about the club that has been in her life for as long as she can remember. Her father was a redneck and she grew up with idols like Ian Rush and Sammy Lee. She also used to bump into John Barnes when he lived in the neighborhood. For those of us who only take a trip over to Liverpool every now and then, this sounds like a dream. For Jayne, it was a great time, but as a single mother with three children in Liverpool, there have also been big challenges.
Friend of Norway!
We met Jayne when she opened her home to two of us from the Liverpool Festival who were over in Liverpool and needed a place to stay. It's one thing to come into an English home and be asked if you wanted a cup of tea at any time, but to come into Jayne's home was to come to a person who was overflowing with care and didn't know how much good she could do for us. And she loves Norway, she really loves Norway. She even has a book lying around, "Get started in Norwegian", which she keeps picking up to learn some Norwegian vocabulary she can use.
Jayne has actually visited Norway twice. First when her son found a girlfriend who lived in Nesodden and later in late autumn last year, Tromsø. A place she had dreamed of visiting, and which she had saved up for a long time to experience.
Bartender at Taggy's
You've probably already figured it out, Jayne is not only a lovely and generous lady, she's also a tough lady who makes it all work by working several jobs. Not so unusual for many of those in the same situation as her in Liverpool. In addition to working as a breakfast attendant, in the canteen and at the after-school care (SFO) at Anfield Road Primary School, she also works as a bartender at Taggy's, a place where many locals can earn some much-needed extra money. She makes it work, and it's important to her, for her pride. Without a mother who also supports her as a babysitter for her 12-year-old daughter, it might not have been possible.
Jayne hasn't been to Anfield too often to watch matches, it's far too expensive. Since she now works at Taggy's on match days, it's also difficult to get a feel for life in the stands. But she definitely gets the life and atmosphere before and after the match, and loves being a part of it. She's especially excited about all the Norwegians she meets as a bartender at Taggy's, they're not only handsome but also very nice, she says.
When we invited her to the festival, she was not only happy, she was completely overwhelmed. Not because she hasn't experienced nice things or traveled around the world, but because she gets to come back to Norway. She simply loves Norway. And if she had the choice, she would love to move to the country, and preferably move in with a nice and nice Norwegian guy. (PS: We will of course provide contact information if you are a nice and nice guy)
Spreading laughter and joy
When we invite one of the local residents in the L4 area, it's not about charity, it's about having people at the festival who can make the festival even better. With Jayne at the festival, we know that many will have a good experience. She will be found behind the bar, but we also give her plenty of free time to spread joy and laughter throughout the festival area. This lady is simply so good and kind that everyone deserves to experience her. And who knows, maybe she will meet love at the festival!
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