O stands for Over the Water.

People who live in Liverpool refer to The Wirral Peninsular as 'Over the Water', which in fact,  geographically speaking,  it is 'Over the Water'. The 'Water' is indeed the famous River Mersey. 

You will see Liverpool on the map and directly opposite is The Wirral. It was often referred to as The Dormitory of Liverpool as the people who worked in the flourishing Shipping, Banking and  Stockbroking  Companies took up residence there and commuted by the famous Liverpool ferry boats that would carry them to their offices etc. 

In the foreground is a Mersey Ferry and in the background, the famous buildings 'The Three Graces' from left to right The Royal Liver Buildings,(complete with Liverbirds), The Cunnard Shipping Company, The Port of Liverpool Building, (where I worked for a stockbroking company). Too the far right is the Majestic Liverpool Anglican Cathedral, built from red sandstone which was extracted from a Liverpool quarry.

You will see the office buildings, behind the ferry boat, with the weary workers sailing 'Over the Water'  back to their homes, on The Wirral, after a busy day at the office.

India Buildings (Entrance)

Holts Arcade that ran through the centre of the building.

When I first married I lived in a little apartment 'Over the water' I really loved living there and every morning used to walk along the promenade on the edge of the river, then take the ferry 'Over the Water' to Lloyds Bank, in India Buildings Liverpool, where I started my career.

 After a busy day working in a hot office, it was a joy to take the ferry boat home 'Over the water' and blow off the cobwebs, to our little love nest on the edge of the river. I would take a bus home because I would feel too tired to walk along the promenade, after working so hard.

 Whereas the buses in Liverpool were always painted in corporation green, the Wirral buses were painted blue and cream. Whenever I boarded one, a wave of nostalgia enveloped me because as a child we used to take a ferry across the river, then the bus to a seaside town called New Brighton which was a favourite holiday, or day out place for Merseysiders.

The promenade with Liverpool' in the background ' over the water'. We would walk the other way to get to New Brighton..

 Our little flat was just up the road from New Brighton, so each weekend we would spend a lot of time there just meeting friends and going to a lovely 'Olde Worlde Pub' called The Magazines, which many years ago was a popular haunt for smugglers... but there lies another yarn for me to spin! 

New Brighton Lighthouse at the mouth of The River Mersey

'Ahaarr me 'earties' (Pirate talk, meaning 'hello my friends'.) 

The Magazines as it looks today.

Well folks that's me done with  'Over the Water'....

My thanks to the Obliging Denise for devising ABCW also to Roger our Omniscient Overseer for doing what he does with such devotion. Thanks too, to all the helpers who assist Roger by visiting and commenting on assigned sites.

Best wishes,

Di.

ABCW team.