Chapter Twenty-Nine Cruising
Patty has taken up residence in the store today and we’re in danger of her frightening off any customers with her scowl. She’s also still wearing an item of red clothing each day, although thankfully it’s a little more subtle now.
‘I thought something might have happened by now,’ she laments.
‘I buy red Thai curry instead of green in case someone locks eyes with me at the supermarket and says, “Oh, my favourite too”.I’ve switched to Bloody Marys because red wine looks too purple and I never leave the house without a strawberry condom. I just don’t know what more I can do.’
It’s not the most obvious list that springs to mind.
‘Be patient, Patience,’ I tell her. ‘Good things come... etc.’
‘Yeah, right. Anyway, that’s not why I’m here.’ She goes into business mode. ‘It’s about the Granny-Okies.’
‘Pats, I can’t . . .’
‘Don’t worry, we don’t need you singing but I wondered if you could do something else for me.’
Whatever it is, I know that I’ll have to find a way of doing it, but in the end, it isn’t too bad.
‘Frankie might be able to get us on the line-up of an eighties cruise if you put it in the travel club,’ she says.
‘We already sell this,’ says Charlie when I show him the itinerary.
‘But if there’s a Mercury Travel Club offer, it might sell-out quicker,’ I say.
‘I wouldn’t sweat that,’ pipes up Josie, ‘people are mad for this retro stuff.’
I know she’s right. This is a simple seven-day tour of the Mediterranean. It has the tribute bands but also eighties movies and quizzes each night. I’m not sure what extra we can add for the Mercury members, it’s pretty good now.
‘What did you guys eat back then?’ asks Josie.
I can’t remember what my parents served at dinner parties, and when I started to go out for dinner with friends, it was mainly to Italian restaurants — I think lasagne was exotic then.
‘Mateus Rosé,’ exclaims Charlie, ‘that was all the rage and everyone had a candle in the empty bottle.’
‘Wasn’t it totally, like, decadent with Thatcher and the City?’ asks Josie. ‘Lots of champagne everywhere?’
‘Steak,’ I remember, ‘lots of steak in peppercorn sauces and nouvelle cuisine. We had Delia Smith, beef wellingtons and fondues.’
‘And cocktails with Pernod or Malibu in. We thought we were being so sophisticated,’ adds Charlie.
We grimace with such feeling it’s obvious we both made that mistake in our youth.
Charlie is convinced that he can turn this into something special so I leave him to it.
I’m back on the road tonight with Ed’s biker gang. It sounds far more exciting when I call my speeches at the WI and Harley chapter my tour dates.
‘Bo Peep on Tour’ — maybe I should have a T-shirt printed? Although as I do sound more like a burlesque dancer than a travel agent, people might be disappointed when I arrive. I guess I could wear tassels.
Meetings are held upstairs at The Olde Oake and most of the group have walked here. I’m glad I’ve already met a few of the crowd as it means I can mingle politely rather than sit on the edge getting nervous. Ed is the president of this chapter and he stands up to introduce me. I extol the virtues of the travel club, outline the calendar and offer to customize additional trips if there is enough interest.
‘Perhaps a trip to Chicago where the first Harley showroom opened,’ I say. (I throw this in to seem knowledgeable but as I only found it on the internet yesterday it’s a good job no one pushes me further on it.)
Ed leads everyone in a round of applause at the end.
‘That was great, Angie. You’ve restored my reputation in choosing speakers,’ he says.
‘It wouldn’t be hard to beat the flora and fauna of the Wetlands,’ comes a voice from the back and everyone laughs.
Ed blushes and takes the ribbing with good humour.
I’ve heard it said that when some people smile, their faces change completely and so it is with Ed. Instead of craggy action man there stood a well-liked guy, comfortable in his own skin and happy to laugh at himself.
‘Happy to help,’ I say, joining in the bonhomie, and move a step closer to Ed.
I feel a twinge of something as he thanks me and pecks me on the cheek.