So I think i’d better report on the Minehead trip. After I missed the coach, I used my highly advanced bus skills to get me a ticket then get on an earlier bus than was on the ticket, and the coach was sweaty and the aircon was broken. I used my highly advanced social skills to chat to said Italian, Simone, who took pity on me and helped me sort out crisis and then took me in for the night. First impression of Bristol was that it’s all concrete boxes. Later that night I met Italian family, Mariana, 16-year-old italian stepdaughter from amazing italian island who dances and is very beautiful etc etc. Also met the man but can’t remember his name (!) only that he cooked me delicious cheesy pasta. Went for a walk with Mariana and splashed around in this fountain in the night (photo stolen from http://www.pbase.com/sheena77/image/46609083)

which was lovely. Am now very fond of the Italians.

….. later, arrive here:

Butlins. see the white moonscope things? there. very scary place. My first thoughts, in this order:

1. how do i get out of here

2. why am i here

3. i need to powder my nose (clever trick learnt from beth to avoid saying i need to wee)

4. how do i get out of here!

5. what the **** is butlins anyway

..so i ring Joy’s relatives, determine to meet Bill halfway. walk up to entrance, it says, DON’T WALK OUT OF HERE THIS WAY or something. very frustrated laura says to nice man, How do i get out of here? he makes a game of it and stops imaginary traffic to usher me through the gate. Ok. Poor man, working at Butlins.

Soon enough get to surprise Joy mid-holday club. She laughed at me for missing the coach and said noone was surprised when I never showed up at the airport. Holiday club was fun, helped children make cookies in the shape of fish, played with parachutes etc. By the end of the three days we made friends with two guys also helping out, later went out for drinks with them, went to english pub, and had a rather hilarious night touring minehead. Fell down a hill and got blackberry prickles in my FACE, legs look like a warzone, and climbed a rather smashing tree. got quite high. was proud of myself. Also had a good chat to Wales, which you can see from Minehead. not the best of conversationalists, Wales, mostly consisited of ”hello, wales, lovely lovely wales, hello!” Looked at a castle, couldn’t see much, was dark, but altogether a fantastic night.

[oh CRAP it's raining, my poor washing]

also in Minehead, we went for walks, had cream tea, went crabbing (joy got one, then the tide went out) , bought 1000’s pairs of stockings for 75p at Boots, made lemon curdy pud (badly), all wrapped up in lots of tea and sleep.

We had a FIRST CLASS ticket on the train to Bristol, then Joy and I parted ways quite stressfully over me almost missing the coach. again. Bristol 2nd impression: lovely! bought some flowers in brown paper and left them on Italians doorstep.

END OF ADVENTURE. Next mission: get to London to get sim card and bank account to contact new London friend and buy stuff on internet. YAY!!