My...

...wanderings.

Sunday 4^th September

Was one to be remembered for a long time. I had a grand re-union with the ex-girlfriend whose heart I broke forty-three years ago. If you’ve read my book I’ll give you a hint: she was the one who was underage! My brother loaned me a crappy digital camera, as mine is still in the shop being repaired. I would have posted some pics but when I loaded them on the laptop they were not up to standard so I’ve left them off. Don’t get me wrong I was grateful for the loan but he could have loaned me his bestest one for the day, one that took decent pics!

Monday 5^th

I dropped my brother and his wife off at Gatwick airport for the start of their holiday in Grand Canneries and headed up to see my son and my Grandson for a few hours. From there I headed for another re-union with an old friend of mine who I last saw over eighteen years ago.

He was a fabulous lead guitarist in the most successful band I was ever in, Equinox (Named after the same named album by the American band Styx) Life has been cruel to him as in his mid-twenties he had a massive brain tumour removed which partly paralysed his left hand, ending his playing career. Then nine years ago he had a massive heart attach and died seven times! He has been fitted with a pace-maker and is virtually confined to his flat. It’s no wonder I don’t believe there is a God!

Tuesday 6^th

In the late afternoon I left my friend with a heavy heart and headed to Coventry to spend a night with my best friend in the world and his gorgeous girlfriend but I got hijacked by his girlfriends mother and no I didn’t give her one!

Wednesday 7^th

I headed to Liverpool to catch the ferry to the Isle of Man, hoping it wouldn’t be cancelled because of bad weather as it was the day before. Some people on the Seacat regretted it was not cancelled as it was rough as a badgers arse. But did it bother me, did it hell: I even ordered a cheese and onion toastie, a packet of crisps; a lovely crispy apple and washed it down with a latte. You should have seen all the green faces and there was lots of rustling of paper bags and pukey pukey. Am I cruel? The ferry arrived two hours late which was a shame as the pubs were shut and I couldn’t get a pint of the black stuff anywhere.

Thursday 8^th

Most of the day was spent catching up with friends. I got a call from a friend who I visited earlier on in the day to say he’d been given VIP tickets to watch the Youth Commonwealth Games (On from the 7^th to 13^th September) boxing competition the following day and did I fancy going. ‘Is the Pope a Catholic I asked?’

Friday 9^th

Believe it or not, it was the first time in my life I have been to a live boxing match. It was a real eye opener for me but opposite for some of the competitors. As the weight of the boxers increased so did the ferocity of the boxing. Just as well in amateur boxing they wear face guards as some of the loser’s faces looked battered as it was! By the time it was over I was exhausted just watching it all!

Saturday 10^th

The day of Emma’s wedding. I’d forgotten to bring a suit (Nothing unusual there then!) with me so I went out and bought a decent pair of trousers! I spent the rest of the day writing this post.

Like most weddings it was of course a grand affair and I only went to the reception. By the time I arrived the party was in second gear. Unusually they had a karaoke and I shifted the party into third by going on first. Before starting I congratulated the bride and groom and apologised for what I was about to sing: when I’m sixty-four by The Beatles: well, you gotta have a laugh. By the time I sang my next song (wild thing) the place was bouncing and fifth gear had long been reached. Unfortunately I only had one glass of the black stuff as I had to drive back to Douglas from the wilds of Glen Helen but the majority of the revellers were ‘pissed as farts.’ And a good time was had by all.