October 01st, 2026

WHY I WILL ALWAYS BE A SCOUSER
I have 2 homes in 2 countries but there's something about waking up in Liverpool that just feels cosy. And after spending so much time in Cyprus, returning to the city has reminded me of something: you can build a life anywhere, but your roots never really leave you.
I lead two very different lifestyles and two places that mean a lot to me but I'll always be a Scouser and yes, I was born here but grew up in London where I have no interest in returning to.
Waking up in Liverpool again has been a bit of a revelation. I was genuinely surprised by how much cleaner the city centre feels compared with the last time I visited.
Maybe it's because I've been away for so long or maybe it's because I'm looking at it with fresh eyes. But walking around Liverpool yesterday I found myself thinking that the city’s looking pretty cool. The streets are buzzing, it’s freshers week so there’s an air of excitement and a real energy that carries on well into the night.
It’s got a feel like New York, a city that is alive 24/7. A place where there's always someone heading somewhere, meeting friends, going out or simply enjoying what the city has to offer. And omg, the restaurants and bars!!! What a choice. I am genuinely excited to work my way through these over the coming months.
Liverpool has always had an enviable personality that people enjoy mocking, but being back and experiencing it again has made me appreciate the city in a different way.
I can wake up in Cyprus and enjoy a completely different pace of life, then find myself back in Liverpool, walking through the city centre and soaking up everything around me. The sound of live bands booming out from the bars, the incredible smells drifting from restaurants and street food, the buzz of people coming and going and of course a bit of good old-fashioned people watching. There’s something about simply wandering through Liverpool and taking it all in that feels familiar and exciting at the same time and both experiences are wonderful in completely different ways.
I'm a Scouser, wherever I happen to be living.
Waking up in the city hearing the seagulls who are bigger than my cats, seeing the streets alive and watching a new generation of students bring their own energy to Liverpool, I'm feeling incredibly proud of my city. And then there's the simple things that makes being back in Liverpool feel even more special, like slipping into a brand-new pair of Primark pyjamas at the end of the day, knowing that I'm moving into my own city centre apartment, where everything I could possibly need is right on my doorstep. M and S food court, the theatre, L1 shopping which is far superior than most european cities I have visited, the cinema… the list is endless.
I took my girls to school in a taxi yesterday and the driver was an Afghanistan refugee, who fled the war torn country 20 years ago at just 11 years old. He came to Liverpool alone and has built a life here, he has a family and works hard and while his story is incredibly inspiring (I have invited him to the Liverpool Lifestyle Awards,) it reminded me that Liverpool welcomes everyone.
It isn't just about being born here. It is about belonging here.
Liverpool has always had that ability to embrace different cultures and allow people to make the city their own. Because home isn't about where you started, just like your family may not be blood relatives. Sometimes it is about where you find your people, where you build your life and where you feel that you belong.

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