Hopefully, today marks the end of my jaunts here there and everywhere to see to the new students coming to Lancaster. All in all, today I think is the most strenuous, waking up at 4am to catch a train at Preston, which turned out to be a bus – the Railway Replacement Service. Have I told you before how atrocious the public transport system is on a Sunday? It’s utterly atrocious.
Anyway.. got on the coach at 5.45am, with some random people already on it, most of whom were either drunk or erm.. drunk. The person in front of me was trying to chat up a lady across the aisle from him. The lady initially gave me a funny look when I got on the bus – I thought it was just her who had never seen a Muslim before, but as the journey progressed, I deduced that she actually wanted me to sit next to her so that she could ignore the odd bloke.
He went on and on and on.. asking her if she was 21, to which she replied she was 28. He then asked about her brothers and sisters and I think the lady, in desperation, gave her sister’s phone number to the bloke hoping he’d shut up. But no, it was more fodder for conversation.. with him carrying out what could pass as a monologue, saying things like.. (to be read with a Northern, semi-Mancunian accent)
“I’ll call her and take her to McDonald’s and we’ll take it from there, eh?”
“I’ll just say I met yer sister on the coach, eh?”
“She does clubbing and all that doesn’t she? I’ll take her out and ask her if she’d like to see me again.”
And it went on. And on. And on. When we stopped at Bolton – I quickly changed seats.
When the bus arrived at Manchester Picadilly, the guys who were snoring loudly behind me suddenly got up and went ballistic, having a right go at the bus driver.
“This isn’t Preston, is it? How come we’re in Manchester? You said we were to go to Preston, weren’t we?” (went on to wake up everyone else on the bus to confirm what he just said)
“We were at Preston yonks ago,” said the bus driver in his lovely Irish brogue.
“We’re not at Preston now! We’re not at Preston now!” he screamed as he hauled himself and his three mates off the bus. “We’re in bloomin’ Manchester!”
Yes, we indeed were in Manchester. He was having a go at a parking attendant as the bus left Manchester Picadilly.
I can’t say everything else went smoothly after that, but knowing that it already was my last day at this made it bearable. There were episodes of missed busses, phone calls that didn’t happen and all sorts, but I don’t quite care any more. Tomorrow.. tommorow is for me at the office. Me, me and me!
Oh. I forgot. And I also have to chase down the new LUSU Student Development Officer to ask about the arrangements for Fresher’s Fair. Apparently the previous one left, without telling the execs of most of the societies, from the reactions we have gathered between us.
People tell me to delegate. Well, it’d be nice to do so – but I think I’ve asked too much already from my seniors who have no obligation whatsoever towards the society, but have still done so much out of the goodness of their hearts! Saya doakan Allah balas jasa baik dan keikhlasan kakak-kakak dan abang-abang semua. No worries, though – everyone will be back by Tuesday and then I’ll be doing some serious ‘delegating’ for Fresher’s Fair on Friday *very evil smirk*
I shall salvage what is left of my weekend by fulfilling my quest of finding the Season 10 Premier episode of Friends, finishing St. Elmo’s Fire and going to bed early. Cinema Paradiso will have to wait until next week.
———–
In the news today – check this out, sports fans (and non-sports fans alike!) And for once, it has nothing to do with football!