This is a view from the roof of my house in the north-east corner of the Wirral peninsula. Looking slightly to the left and below the centre of the picture, you'll see a large building with two white structures on either side. That is Fort Perch Rock. It was built during the Napoleonic period to protect the Port of Liverpool. Beyond the Fort lies the mouth of the river Mersey as it meets Liverpool Bay. The bright lights on the other side come from just one part of the Port of Liverpool, the Royal Seaforth Dock (formally opened in 1972 and since 1999 has also been home to a number of wind turbines). On the left-handside of the docks, you can just about make out elements of the European Metals Recycling's scraps processing centre. Once, in India, I was pleasantly surprised by a gentleman whose first comment upon hearing that I live near Liverpool, was to tell me that he imports scrap metal from there! What are the chances...?