#6 - Thursday night 5/7 & Friday 6/7 train trip to Truro, Cornwall.

A big night out at Reading was awesome. Even though a beer was nicked, got told off for having feet on the seats and the morning after was like having your head in a vice... Bryan and I met at this awesome little big bar opposite Oxford University Press building. I was a church decommissioned and the approval was given to be knocked down, but has now been transformed into a venue holding several different events and doubling as a groovy bar. We waltzed back to pick up my bags and then catch the train back to reading. I felt very 'Tony-ish' from Men Behaving Badly as I knocked back a Stella in a can - that's right in a can! We headed in to Reading, passed some beggars who were in need of begging (work that one out) and went in to get some dirty Reading cuisine... Chips with shaved chicken and mayo... In his own words, Bryan describes it as Dirty Reading. I agree. Upon the tour of his 'in the progress of being' renovated premises, we checked out and scooted to the local bar. Less than 15mins in and the first spat at the pool table was seen. Thank God for beer gardens! We zoomed around the locals and had a great nite. The morning after, once I got organized - we stepped outside the door to get the bus to the city, and three steps down the driveway the bus drove passed. Excellent. The taxi took 20mins and left me with 1.5mins afterthedash to the ticket machine, across the platforms and waiting for the train. That was close. *** STOP PRESS*** As I write this on Saturday, I have just been visited by Ray Jennings who has passed on a Truro City team shirt! After speaking with him at the stadium today (and being given a tour and walk on the turf, he spoke with the chairman and got me a shirt! What a legend! See the next post for more info - what a champ! ***** The train trip was some of the mot scenic countryside I have ever seen. Houses built on the side of hills, train tracks traveling through hillside tunnels and waterways with overgrown trees,shrubs and grassland. Amazing! Unfortunately I forgot the minor detail of booking a hire car for the time, and Hertz were all out, and the taxi took me up to Avis, which were also booked out. Luckily, Enterprise car hire had a Hyundai i10 for me to have until next Wednesday and I'll be dropping it off at Plymouth. My case only just fits in the boot (the word 'boot' is literally related to the size of the footwear 'boot' in my opinion), and I think when iwas growing up in the 80s, Dad had a lawn mower with more grunt than this car... I journeyed, albeit tentatively up the hill in the general direction of the Victoria Inn, Threemilestone where my room was booked, and took alert of the A390 and took the Hyundai down the smallest 2 lane street I have ever seen. Worried about my deposit, and knowing it was not the right road to be traveling down, I chucked a 7 point turn (yes, that describes the size of the road compared to my hire car!) and returned to the motorway. I located it fairly easily after that and was shown around by the bar maid. Nice accommodation and a nice, traditional bar - looked good! I was feeling a bit down after the train ride and having a such a good time last night, but thought I'd go for a pint and meet the locals. Not sure that I was seen as the outsider, but apparently it's OK to cut in the line (ie walk in front of someone at the bar) and order a beer. Good one idiot. Let me know when you're in Australia next and we can discuss etiquette at the Bentley... I was left by myself so thought I'd grab a bite at the attached restaurant and was met with similar hospitality. Felt on edge after this and it didn't help my 'downness'. My resilience kicked in as I returned to my room and watched UK Big Brother... And slept. I needed it!