We would congregate in several established wine bars around The City, or The West End, and a good time was had by all, especially as an awful lot of networking was going on at the time, mostly in building, design, engineering, fitting-out and general construction circles.
Your amiable Scrobs actually started a networking club in the nineties, which has since flourished as the biggest in London, and goes from strength to strength, even these dire days, but that may be a post for a time whenever you find out who Scrobs actually is, but if I mention the word 'Axolotl', there may be a glimmer of recognition..;0)
So, we'd meet in Balls Brothers' wine bars, or Davey's, and all was good with the world, for the price of a few large reds, a sandwich and a jolly chat!
Of course, such overpowering imbibication meant that driving home was just not on, so the train from London Bridge to Staplehurst was the norm. I'd walk to a local bus stop, from where our beloved Kent County Council would provide a 'Hopper' bus service for commuters. It was a superb service, very well attended on the few stops it encountered, as it was always full, and Keith, the driver, is certainly one of the best gentlemen I've ever met!
In the very early morning, we'd all congregate at these various limited stops on the route (there was one where he didn't stop, because he always felt that, this particular passenger always smelt of Brussels sprouts, so he ignored him and flew past), and the banter up to Staplehurst was always jolly for the time of day! We'd even wave at one of the customers' children as we sped past his house!
After all the shenanigans of the networking, the various large reds, several other tinctures and a rare sandwich, we'd all disperse for the journey home. Keith would always be at the station, parked up - he even kept his mobile on in case he might miss someone - and on arriving at the station, and for Scrobs, rolling off his seat, having gone to sleep around Hither Green, the sight of his white bus was a glittering scene from some biblical extravaganza.
We'd all assemble at his door, pay the fee, and stumble on. Keith nearly always took one look at me and would exclaim 'I'll take you home'! He knew where we live as he'd once done the trip before, but on Axolotl days, he was ready and waiting! Always a few extra quid changed hands, because he always went well out of his way on his route, which was supposed to be cast in stone for KCC staff!
I'll never, ever forget that fabulous guy, he used to live in Lamberhurst, so if you're listening Keith, I'm still here for you, and you're on the list for one of the biggest 'thank-yous' a super friend should get!
8 comments:
You are a man of mystery....and you have a pic of a white van, what more can you possibly do?
It's meant to be a mini-bus, Thud...
There were only a few seats on Keith's bus - once, a chap called Peter was sitting enjoying the view, and all the bolts came free from the floor on a big bend, and he finished up in the aisle, looking rather puzzled...
Ah - 'Axolotl'. No glimmer of recognition here but these days I don't get many glimmers of recognition so I have to eke them out.
"Always (e)xcluded or last on the list', Mr H...
Several chums back then responded to a desire for some of us outcasts to get to parties, receptions etc., while we were probably not the top drawer, although we all knew we were actually better than most...
It became a personal networking syndrome, and whenever some git turned down an invitation, we used to invite a chum to make up the difference!
When I have more time, I'll try and find the rules of the Axolotl organisation, as even up to a few years ago, a fabulous chum regularly invited me to some piss-up, because another bloke-ess had dropped out!
It worked incredibly well, especially if you, or your Axolotlee had pre-paid for a table of ten at The Cafe Royal, and three tossers just didn't bother to turn up! My record was being Axolotled two hours before a lunch, and I was on my way to Birmingham for a feeble meeting. The car-phone rang (remember those), and I was back in London in plenty of time!
I turned round immediately and joined a fabulous bunch of super people! Got loads of work from that particular escapade!
It's square and its white...it'll do in a pinch.
It usually was, Thud!
Great too, when Miss Rita Chevrolet got on, especially in the winter, when we all huddled together for warmth..;0)
An Axolotl is something I remember as being known as a South American Mexican walking fish related to the salamander family and Popocatepetl is an active volcano in the same region. Even though I'm in lockdown and just had several vinos, I can't see the connection between that and a white van man giving cuddles to someone called Rita. Fish and chips anybody?
It was all to do with a regular Thursday net-working day I organised, Goosey.
We'd all be summoned by email (from my office) to a wine bar near Bond Street, (then later on another near Liverpool Street), and from thereon, begin a mammoth session of various tinctures until going-home time!
It was honest work, as the whole idea was to introduce clients to builders, etc., so business could be done!
Rita would possibly be the attractive lady on the bus, or perhaps at the venue, who knows...
The bus was only a minibus, hence the pic of a white van - not the same as others here have tirelessly pointed out, but I'm buqqered if I'm going to change it now!
Post a Comment