So much is happening at the moment. AshCon went well, I thought (thanks to Guy and Dave and their team of helpers). The Real Deal Tour is rocking. It’s nice to have the Hamsters on the bill. I’ve been eager to see them, since they are probably the only band in Britain doing more dates than us each year (and that is by a long shot) so they must be doing something right!
The picture, by the way, is of a young lady who scolded me for not fulfilling my promise on a prior tour, to include her picture on our website. I’m sorry I did not catch your name…but here it is. There’s some ugly old dude in it with you, sorry ‘bout that.
Anywho…I’m currently taking my 2 days off before the next onslaught of dates, in the wonderful city of Salisbury. I’m have a great time, eating, drinking and surfing the net plus sightseeing (some all at the same time). No, I did not venture to Stonehenge, as I’m sure some of our American fans are asking. It’s just a bunch of large stones in a very large field they call a plain. Watch Spinal Tap!
Seriously, cities like Salisbury, are very people-oriented. They keep the cars out of the picture as much as possible and there is a lot to look at; historical buildings, an amazing cathedral with the largest spire in England and some nice river walks, with some good pubs along the way.
On my way here from Wimborne, another nice town (or should I say, minster) I drove in the Morgan Plus Eight, via the New Forest. I like driving this car with the hood down – it’s the only way. There was only light rain, so, at the speed I drive, I was too quick for the raindrops ;-) Being Sunday and being in the mood for some good old (but hopefully fresh) British roast beef, I saw a sign for a country carvery and pulled into a lane. The thing about the New Forest is that there are all these animals about, like wild ponies and sheep, just grazing on the grass verges. My car is very low. I turned a corner and suddenly there was predicament. Four very frisky young bullocks (I said bullocks), of a breed I’d never seen before, were ambling around in the road, confused and right in front of me. Due to the intense rain the night before, a raging ford appeared (much higher than normal) right before me, barring my way across the road. I screeched to a halt. There was no way this car would make it through, without water flooding inside, and these beasts were getting mighty ornery! What to do?
Well I managed some deft reversing dodging their horns and legs and spun round in the opposite direction driving post haste, past a donkey and it’s offspring – she also wanted to get a closer look at me, since I’d stopped to photo the baby. Next thing I come across another ford in the road! This is getting to be like some crazy movie. Beside this ford, are a couple of llamas and some ponies. I kid you not. I’m pretty vulnerable and so I decide this time, to drive into the water. It’s up to the door sill…. It starting to rain. I’m thinking, if I get stuck in the middle of this flood, with rain and wild animals all at the same time, it’s gonna be, not only totally embarrassing, but dangerous.
As luck would have it the Mog did not stall and I made it through and never did find that particular carvery. I got back on the main road and my GPS unit suddenly decided not to work, so I headed for Salisbury using road signs. What a concept. I did find another carvery pub en route, and had my roast beef and Yorkshire pudding, while sitting next to some affable bumkins who told me that their friend had been hospitalised the previous night due to a ‘spot of bovver’. Then, they all proceeded to call him while in his hospital bed and berated the poor soul, calling him a ‘pillock’ and other yokelish epithets I won’t repeat in this hallowed space of blogdom. Then they start to talk about fishing and pulling birds with about equal emphasis on each – perhaps more so towards the fishing. The main dude says very loudly “I luv moi fish, I do”. I bid them farewell and take my leave.
Well, the car goes back into storage in a couple of days and then it’s back on the bus – don’t make a fuss. I’m going to Wagama tonight for some hot noodles. Are you wondering ? More later. I wish I’d got a picture of these rivers going across the road. Definitely a ‘road to nowhere’. Most strange.
~ A.P.
