That first Day - Valerie and Me

So, the weekend comes and is it a great one. Firstly, on Saturday evening, I have a ticket for the Royal Festival Hall where I am going to see Count Basie and his Band - all on my own. This was a fantastic event and one that I still remember clearly.

Now, Sunday I can't remember too clearly - well not the main part of the day anyway. Anthony, whose car it was, had a light blue Austin 1100 so it was cosy in there with three of us. The event took place around Watford but I can't remember where we met, how we got to the area or anything. The car rally was the usual type - you get a clue and off you go. Find the right place, get a clue, and so on. Eventually this ends and we are all going home. I must have asked Valerie if she would like to come home with me, which she did. Now this was quite amazing due to the geography of our two homes. I lived in South London, some 7 miles from the River Thames. Valerie lived in Romford, some 14 miles out to the east on the north side of the river - nothing trivial then. Remember that I was 18 at the time and she was 16.  I, at least knew where Romford was because my previous girl friend lived in Stratford, east London, on the way to Romford by train. I am sure that Valerie didn't have a clue where Streatham was but she came anyway. I was obviously not fazed by introducing her to my parents. Hi Mum, Hi Dad, this is the girl I met today! Can you imaging that happening now?

So we get on the underground and off we go. We get home and introduce her to everyone and then we get to sit in the front room on our own. Some time later (politeness being my second name) we have some tea and decide that she must go home. This involves a bus to Tooting Broadway, a tube to The Bank, and a change to the Central Line for a tube to Liverpool Street Station. There I put here on a train to Romford (Ladies only compartment of course). She then has to get a bus from Romford Station to the top of her road and then a 1/2 mile walk to her house. I repeat, Valerie is 16 at this time! However, things were different then. I, of course, had a season ticket to the Bank as I did this journey every day to work. Thus, I got back on the tube and wended my way home.

What a day!