Two Liver Birds, an ice cream…and Mango!

Sandra looked out over the beach at the waves and the horizon.

Beryl licked her ice cream cone and sat down on a bench.

“It’s hardly Torremolinos, is it?” Beryl complained.

“Oh, Beryl, there’s a whole world out there that isn’t Torremolinos…”

Beryl snorted: “Nice, Cannes, Rio de Janeiro…Rhyl…”

She waved her hands around: “The last time we were here Edward Heath was Prime Minister. They got a new Sun Centre but the rain hasn’t changed much.”

Sandra adjusted her rain hat: “It’s stopped now! So let’s enjoy it. You wanted to go to our old haunts. Anyway, the Sun Centre was demolished…”

Beryl sniggered.

“…and they’ve got the new aquatic centre now,” Sandra went on, huffily.

Beryl sighed: “Not much use to two old widows. We used to be Liver Birds, but today I feel like an old crow…”

Sandra grabbed her arm: “Rubbish! That bloke from Wallasey in the pensioners’ complex is just itching to take you out.”

Beryl glared at her: “The one with the stuffed fox in his room? No way!”

Beryl shuddered.

Sandra smiled: “Besides, we’re really here to see my daughter, aren’t we? She’s general manager of the aquatic centre now. Did I tell you?”

Beryl rolled her eyes: “Once or twice.”

Sandra went on: “It’s a lot of responsibility, you know. She has to ensure the centre complies with all sorts of regulations and rules.

“They have to ensure the public are safe at all times, that staff are trained properly, that the building is secure and safe from fires, and they’re getting ready for the implementation of the new Martyn’s Law.”

Beryl shrugged: “What’s that when it’s at home?”

Sandra sighed: “It’s a new law giving venues duties to protect the public from terrorism. It’s named after Martyn Hett, one of the victims of the Manchester Arena bombing in 2017.“

Beryl crossed herself.

Sandra went on: “The venues have to get detailed risk assessments, proper staff training, and ensure effective communication if something does happen.”

Beryl nodded: “Lots of extra paperwork, I expect.”

Sandra shook her head: “No, our Molly has Mango…”

Beryl shrugged: “So she’s getting her vitamin C?”

Sandra laughed: “No, it’s computer software called Mango that manages everything in the cloud, all the documents. No piles of paperwork.”

Beryl looked up. Sandra sighed: “Anyway, let’s go and take our Molly to tea somewhere nice. She’ll be finishing for the day soon.”

Beryl threw the end of her ice cream cone in a bin.

“Somewhere we don’t have to fight off the seagulls,” she added.

“Remember that trip to Southport?”

Sandra laughed: “I’ve never seen a seagull make off with half a chicken before!”

Beryl added: “And me hat!”

• Find out how Mango’s online compliance software could help your tourist business. Book a free demonstration which will be delivered via Zoom. We can help you with a Martyn’s Law assessment, too. Call Penarth Management on 029 2070 3328 or email info@penarth.co.uk

  
  

• Need information on Martyn’s Law? Take a look at the programme of free seminars from our sister company The Protect Alliance: Events | The Protect Alliance (UK)