life after the archer departure

A fortnight tomorrow I came into work expecting a routine 2-10pm shift. How wrong could I be.
Logging on to my office email, I glanced down the subject list of the string of new arrivals and if my eyes could have shot out on stalks, cartoon like, I suspect they would.
Nestling among the dubious American adverts for viagra, the run-of-the-mill press releases and requests for help were five little words - artistic director leaves culture company.
For a split second I thought it may be a joke.
It wasn't, and from then on Liverpool was launched on a rollercoaster ride of rumour and recrimination.
Almost everything that could be has already been said and written about Robyn Archer's departure.
The only one who hasn't had their four penneth is la Archer herself, telling our journalist colleagues in Australia in no uncertain terms to go away.
The did she jump or was she pushed debate may rumble on behind closed doors for a while yet, but like a bucket of water, take a cup out and the surface just finds a new level.
Liverpool now needs to look forward and get on with Capital of Culture before anything else conspires to get in the way.
The main mountain to climb is still winning the hearts of the people of this city.
Four years ago Liverpool won the right to be Capital of Culture BECAUSE of that support. Judges were impressed by the fact the people openly wanted the accolade.
But that was four years ago.
Liverpudlians are now more likely to say, what has Capital of Culture got to do with us? What is is actually doing FOR us?
They see change in the city centre, some good, some bad (whoever redesigned the roads system needs to be shifted into a job where they can do less damage).
But the gangs still control areas like Dovecot, the streets of Anfield and Everton and Picton and Garston are still full of tinned up houses, and events like the Archer departure still allow outsiders to point at Liverpool and say "what do you expect?"
To make 2008 work, culture bosses need to find a way to win back that goodwill, to make people want to get involved, to re-inject that sense of pride that Jeremy Isaac and co detected and rewarded with this most wondeful of presents.
Last Friday some of the programme for Liverpool's birthday year was unveiled.
Along side it was a film which brought a lump to the throat, a montage of images of Liverpool up to 100 years old, showing the people who helped make it the glorious, impulsive, impossible, addictive city it is.
You have to remain an optimist.
I hope the desire to celebrate Liverpool's great anniversary will overcome the people of this great city, that they will come out on the street to party.
Someone said to me last week, you can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink.
When that water is the Mersey, you can give it a damn good try though.