BLINDED by Brexit ... cried one national newspaper as it urged the nation to see through the current political fog and look around at all that is ‘beautiful, varied and fascinating’ about dear old Blighty.

Happily, one rejuvenated part of Wirral is in their top 50 desirable destinations dossier.

It features alongside such 'must see' locations as Cornwall and Norfolk.

So often, the charming traits of the Borough are over-looked by the London-based literary movers and shakers.

The Guardian's upbeat travel survey now gives New Brighton a rare tourism thumbs up.

It is described as: "A square mile of spunky seaside resort on the Northern tip of the Wirral peninsular.

"Once a seething mass of Scouse summer day trippers and Martin Parr photo opportunities."

This optimistic report goes on to praise the acoustic sessions in the Sea Shanty Cafe, the nostalgic ambience of the 'Remember When' eaterie and 'spruced up' Victoria Quarter.

Last week saw the timely opening of the stylish James Atherton pub - named after the famous philanthropist.

It features local archivist Richard Jackson's stunning pictures of the town displayed on state-of-the-art wall screens.

I hope our renaissance resort can think even bigger armed with this reference.

Over the years we have lost some home-grown attractions that were thriving long before the Borough of Culture (has it started yet?).

There was the Wirral Show which was left to dedicated but under-funded volunteers when clearly the council's help would have made it a permanent fixture.

The Wirral Kite Festival soared off elsewhere after losing the wind in its imaginative sails.

Whatever happened to the parades ... the floats, pageants? They really summed up creative community culture.

Back to trendy New Brighton, the six mermaids on the popular family trail would be ideal to welcome the ever growing appeal of the International Mermaid Festival this year being staged in Egypt.

Wouldn't that be a catch.

Last word goes to the rave review: 'a town with a renewed sense of purpose.'

Now that's something to write home about ... on a seaside postcard.

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I WAS once asked to host a 'power point presentation' (PPP).

The very phrase sent shock waves through my system.

So when I started my talk in a hall to a couple of hundred media students brought up in a high-tech world, I simply pointed at the plug socket on the wall and declared: "There, that's my power point presentation.'

Laughter always breaks the ice.

I recalled advice given to me by a cabinet minister who served in Harold Wilson's government: that the key to public speaking was simply talking to people and not at them.

I am surprised that speakers still use flow chart props which ironically tend to stop the flow of any two-way debate, as illustrated in a recent community engagement session where the bemused group was asked 'if Wirral was an emoji - what would it be?'

Surely that's asking for trouble ...

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IT'S an odds-on certainty that when it comes to Ladies Day at Aintree this Friday some national photographers will try and portray one highlight of Merseyside life in a less-than-favourable light.

Attending one Grand National week, I was asked by a sleazy snapper where was the best place to find girls who were "off their heads" on champers.

I did tell him where to go and what to do with his telescopic lens.

Ladies Day is a time to show off and be seen in the most sparkling of fashions and with the chance of positive, upbeat TV coverage. We rightly salute our very own (Grand) National Treasures ...

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CELEBRITY has long ceased to be a word that means anything other than relating to reality show wannabes.

But there are actors, pop singers and people in the public eye who deserve our respect for using their star status to benefit the wellbeing of others.

They can do more in one TV newspaper interview than any government-speak information leaflet.

I met war correspondent Jeremy Bowen at a BBC bash and was impressed by his economy of words.

I was moved again on Monday by his inspirational interview on BBC Breakfast where he discussed his battle with bowel cancer.

He spoke of how people are often ashamed talking about the disease adding with dignity 'Don't die from embarrassment.'

It has quickly become a powerful slogan in fighting one of the most common types of cancer diagnosed in the UK.

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BROADCASTER Sean Styles has managed the impossible - to get people laughing about Brexit.

Sean created his own version of a hit compilation album with Now That's What I Call .. Brexit on his Radio Merseyside show.

He was inundated with clever suggestions.

The hilarious hit list includes 10cc's Deadlock Holiday and Don't Look Backstop in Anger by Oasis.

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And finally ...

I have cured my insomnia by simply watching the ayes and noes ballots from the House of Commons on I-Player instead of counting sheep.

I hear one man who also sleeps easy is former PM Tony Blair, who declared: "The art of leadership is saying 'no', not saying 'yes.

"It is very easy to say yes" when it comes to Brexit ...

No, it isn't.

Peter Grant