I posted this over two hours ago..nothing ..try again huh?
Good morning you two…and how is the lil ‘mermaid’ in Candies tummy after her trip? Conceived in the bath huh? Well, her name could be Ariel then after the lil mermaid eh? And miz Penny…any time for relaxation for you yet hmm? It seems soooo loooong since we chatted; we both miss you in that ‘special’ way..hehe come back soon, ok?
Jumped on the train instead of driving to Blackpool, never again. Three or four changes and fives hours of fun…not! On the way up the time past quickly when I rescued a Chinese couple from the chaos of a fully booked and reserved train, and they had a ticket but no reserved seat. I told them to sit with me as the seats, although reserved, were not taken. She sat next to me and was lovely, an English student, over here for a year. We chatted all the way, as her husband had to sit a few seats away. Never did get to speak to him… Sometimes you can meet nice people on the train huh?
The small train into Blackpool for the last 45 mins was awful. Crowded with scruffy trippers who all seemed to have had a style lobotomy. They suited the train, which was falling apart. The weather closed in as I arrived with flash floods (yes, rilly!!!) I dashed to the nearest pub for a needed drink, and as I turned away from the bar was accosted by three large skin head types who wanted to see my watch (Eh? Wot?) Then offered me increasing money for it. I declined politely and moved away. They followed and offered more..I told them it had more sentimental value than anything else. I drank my beer and left, not wishing to be mugged. Great start so far.
I walked thru the town and was dismayed at the dereliction of the place. Cinemas and shops boarded up and graffiti smeared. It was a depressing place for a holiday resort. The last email I got from Jim (who had organised this reunion and lived just up the road from Blackpool) was that most people had begged off coming. I might just be, along with Jim, the only ones coming. As it was still some three hours before the party, I called him to offer him dinner and a chance to catch up. Unfortunately he was already eating. So I then found a small B&B for the night run by a very nice French lady She had married an Englishmen and ended up in this place, with I thought I detected, some regret. She decorated the place with dead French film stars, but they all had lovely long legs, like all French women it seems. The room was tiny and it has to be said, very cheap. It suited the town I think. But at least it was clean. Unlike the town. The population now consists of day-trippers and yoof looking for booze and sex. Sophisticated it isn’t, and that used to be its charm, but sadly, not any more. It is just dreadful.
I wandered down to the pub where the party was held and met up with what seemed to be the whole of the college second year students. It was as if I had never been away. The teachers I had not seen in 25 years recognised me straight away and I them. Older, but still the same. Gordon, the guy who was retiring, was very surprised at the party, as he had been kept well in the dark of the surprise retirement party his students had organised for him. Nothing had changed in 30 years; the same youthful exuberance of the students and the good-natured kidding was still there. Of the ‘Old Boys’ only Jim, myself and a guy called Jeff turned up. Very poor show. One of my own own ex-students (I taught at this college myself for a couple of years) who I didn’t sadly recognise at first, was also there, and has been very successful, having just been commissioned to write an historical drama for Channel 4, with filming beginning next year. Fantastic!
I had brought Jim a gift, (his record album I had borrowed of him 31 years ago.) This brought the house down and has now entered college folk lore Well, I had not seen him since to return it hehe
As the pub closed, they all headed down to the ‘Gallion’ pub, which had a late license. A small room about 12-foot square with everybody crammed into it. With a screeching dj and a bar as well. People were shoulder to shoulder. Unbelievable. And Jim, who has retired, took one look and ran home. Poor man. I called him the next morning as I had four hours to kill before catching the train; he told me he couldn’t stand the noise. I thought perhaps we might meet before I left, but he intimated he was busy, so I left it at that. He had been very friendly and pleased to meet up, but I very much doubt I will ever see him again.
The party continued in great humour but the guest of honour retired early due to the noise as well. Poor old bugger I stuck it out on my own for another hour, due mainly to a pretty 21 year old student who had latched onto me for some reason. She was so happy that people were taking her work seriously she told me. It seems the college still has the power to inspire, and the student scene seemed exactly as it was when I was a mere sprog. Great! I left them all to it at about 2am, feeling my age..but not the student..hehe
The next day was blowing a force 9 gale and I wandered around leaning into the wind blast. What a lovely place!! The good news was that my train did not leave until after the first half of the England footy match, I found a front seat in a pub and joined in the madness…beer, flags, bunting and scantily dressed girls bouncing around. And three goals for England. Bliss. The journey home was dreadful with delays and cancellations and go-slow…my bum was sore with numbness by the time I got home late in the evening. It had taken two days and 500 miles of travelling for a few hours in a pub, but hell, it was worth it!
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