Over In Liverpool

[poliphilo]

Liverpool city centre: I'm on the pavement with Fabi on my hip, directing Ailz into a parking spot by the side of the road. The parking spot is too small and  she has to pull out and back into the stream of traffic which carries her away from me faster than I can keep up on foot. I watch her disappearing round a corner. I don't know my way around Liverpool city centre. I realize I've left my phone in the car with Ailz. It begins to rain.

OK, she circled back and everything was fine again, but for two very long minutes I was close to panic.

Of course when we saw Ailz again and I ran down the pavement to intercept her, Fabi, who was still riding on my hip, thought it was the most wonderful fun.

We were in Liverpool to deliver Odi to a meeting with her solicitor. Ailz went into the interview with her and I remained in the waiting room with Fabi, where he cheered up a number of  anxious people by throwing my hat at them. One of the office staff brought him some chocolate buttons back from her tea break.

This was an important meeting. Odi and Fabi are appealing against the refusal of asylum- and have this one chance to make things right. I was reading the papers in the car as we drove down.The case was badly mishandled earlier. Whoever represented them then (not the woman who is representing them now) allowed all sorts of stuff about witchcraft to go through- and it draws attention away from the catalogue of murderous assaults that Peter and those close to him have suffered.   I don't disbelieve Peter when he says his enemies paid a witchdoctor to go after him, but I'm sure the Home Office official did- and lost patience with him because of it.

The meeting lasted two and a half hours. I think Odi, with Ailz's prompting, gave a good account of herself. The hearing is scheduled for next week..

Comments

[pondhopper.livejournal.com]

I can see how the witchcraft stuff would have put them off. I do hope they have a decent chance at asylum now. How long before they know the decision?

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I don't know. They go before a judge and I understand he takes his time arriving at a conclusion.

[veronica-milvus.livejournal.com]

Fingers crossed for them.

Did you not take the opportunity to have a look round Liverpool? There's a lot to see around Albert Dock - and plenty of good multi-storey parking. Maybe lunch in the pub at the quay if Odi and Peter have something to celebrate later?

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I've been to the Albert Dock a few times, also to the Anglican cathedral, but that's where my knowledge of the city ends. I took my camera with me yesterday, hoping there might be time for sight-seeing, but there wasn't

[endlessrarities.livejournal.com]

Ummm, I thought in these days of multi-culturalism, civil servants were supposed to have a bit more understanding of pther folks' belief systems.

And I'm sure that for that kind of folk, if the witch doctor doesn't work, then they'll opt for other unsavoury methods. So obviously, he's in danger!

We used to run into a lass from Zimbabwe who worked as a waitress in a veggie restaurant in Grasmere. Her tales of the asylum process (relaying with breaks of several months between) were staggering - how can our government justify sending someone back to Zimbabwe???

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Apart from anything else, witch doctors are good with poisons. Peter believes he was poisoned- and that his father was too.

Cameroon is a lawless country. If you want police protection you have to pay for it. The wealthy- and Peter's persecutor is wealthy- you can get away with murder. Literally.

[endlessrarities.livejournal.com]

I can well believe it...

[amritarosa.livejournal.com]

wishing them success

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Thank you

[jackiejj.livejournal.com]

How kind of you and Ailz to help Odi.

Tony, how your photograph has changed in the last weeks since I was here! Oh, my! Have you been ill? :)