John

Meet John.

The first time we met (well actually Mrs L met as I was out at the time) John was when this strange man came to our door in 1977 when we were living here (yes I know that means I got the dates wrong it should be 1977-1983). He had in his hand a job application from me for a job in North London. Unbeknown to me the person to whom I was applying lived three doors away from us.

Anyhow, I got the job, but within a year John got the sack. I then moved companies and recommended John for a job there which he got. Subsequently he bought a hotel in Cornwall and we travelled down on many occasions to enjoy some off-season breaks. Unfortunately a combination of high interest rates and a couple of poor summers meant he lost the hotel, but remained in Cornwall. We've kept in touch and as he was back up this way he spent the day with us while "on tour" round old haunts, relatives and old friends.

There's no getting away from it, this blip is going to ramble on a bit, but stick with me, there's a lot of threads to be fitted in and if you hang in to the end there'll even be an "appearance" from Victoria Beckham. So while on a footballing note the main reason for John's visit back to these parts was the official opening of the Old Ignatian FC clubhouse. John had actually played 599 games for Old Ignatians and as there was a Vets match organised for that day it was also "organised" that John would make his 600th appearance by coming on for the last 5 minutes. Just go and read the official account of the match and you'll see why it's rumoured that Spielberg is in negotiations for the film rights.

Anyhow continuing the ramble as John was expected to arrive at us at 12 and there was a Grey Phalarope at Grafham Water I decided on an early start to add this rather pleasant bird to the year list. Realising petrol was low I put the spare can in the boot just in case (even on this ramble I'm not going to explain why I couldn't just fill up). I got to Grafham Water about half nine, but no sign of the Phalarope - a call home and I heard that it had been logged as not there - hey ho, never mind. Heading home and just a mile away I had a clash of wing mirrors, mine shattered, the other one wasn't even scratched - hey ho, never mind. Then half a mile from home I ran out of petrol - hey ho, at least the can was in the boot, let's say I arrived home not exactly chuffed.

John duly arrived and we recounted old times, I think between the two of us we may have got half the facts right and possibly a quarter of the names, but we're getting old, so that's okay, it was fun and enjoyable. After lunch we decided to go for a wee wander, I thought I might as well check what's around and guess what? There was a Grey Phalarope at Grafham Water. So without exactly spelling out to John that it was an hours drive up the A1 Mrs L and I bundled him into the car and we headed off. This time as you can see from RCB's blip we found the Grey Phalarope no problem, so all's well that ends well. Well not exactly, 'cos this isn't the end. When we got home we found out that a Sabine's Gull had been "discovered" at Grafham Water at almost exactly the time we left, hey ho, we've never seen a Sabine's Gull, perhaps it'll be there tomorrow.

Strange day, and therefore strange rambling blip, thanks for sticking with it! Oh, almost forgot the Victoria Beckham connection, seemingly the road that housed John and myself back in 1977 was where Victoria's parents bought a house in 1970, Victoria was born in 1974 but they moved away in 1977, so John definitely has the claim to fame of being a neighbour of Victoria and depending on the exact dates perhaps we can share that reflected glory too. Exciting ain't it?