I enjoyed your reflections on the noisome cycle path through the marsh very much. I know it well being a Chester resident. As coincidence would have it, I came across the Wirral reference in Jonathan Bate's biography of Ted Hughes, which I came to via Heather Clark's biography of Sylvia Plath, neither name unknown around your part of the world. Final coincidence: I'll be passing through HB at the beginning of June en route to a literary weekend with friends which will include a visit to Plath's grave at some point; a trip made much easier since the direct Chester to Leeds rail service started up recently. All in all, life's odd intersections! All best, John, Hoole, Chester.