It all started on when a small but select band of brothers (and sisters) made the annual voyage to Dover for DYRMS's Grand Day. A drive to Woking to pick Stan up, which took me through all my old 'Manors' in Mytchett, past Holly Lodge (my middle school before DYRMS), past Grayswood Drive (my home for many years) and Keogh Barracks and Ash Rangers.
Anyhow enough of that sentimental old clap trap and lets get on to the fun stuff. Met Stan at Woking station looking tanned. It wasn't until closer inspection that I noticed the tell tale brown marks on his elbows and between his fingers and that he smelt of coconut. He'd been tangoed by his missus the night before. Cracked me up, no end.
Had a great drive down, listening to Morrisey (you'll only understand if you're a Dukie).
Why do you come here ?
And why, why do you hang around ?
I'm so sorry, oh ...
I'm so sorry, oh, oh ...
Why do you come here
When you know it makes things hard for me ?
When you know, oh
Why do you come ?
Why do you telephone ? ahur...
And why, why send me silly notes ?
I'm so sorry
I'm so sorry, oh ...
Why do you come here
When you know it makes things hard for me ?
When you know, oh
Why do you come ?
It was because
Everything that I did
I wrote it down
On the wall
You had to sneak into my room
just to read my diary
"oh, it was just to see, just to see"
(all the things you knew I'd written about you...)
And oh so many illustrations
Oh, but
I'm so very sickened
Oh, I am so sickened now
Still, it was a good lay, good lay
It was a good lay, good lay
It was a good lay, good lay
Ah ...
Still, it was a good lay, good lay
It was a good lay, good lay
It was a good lay, good lay
A good lay, ah ...
Oh, it was a good lay
It was a good lay
It was a good lay
Oh, it was a good lay
Good lay, good lay
Oh
Oh, it was a good lay, good lay
Oh, it was a good lay, good lay
It was a good lay, good lay
Good lay, oh
Thankyou.
Managed to make the Swingate for 10.45 AM. Nothing like an early start. Met a few older boys and Stan's boss Steve, Conehead arrived, Bruce and Kevl, Rachel C and Curly Wurly (full explanation can be given if required) were all there to enjoy the pub lunch. A quick change in the toilets and off to the school for the parade. The parade seems to become more and more understated as the years go by and when considering it was the 200th anniversary and new drums and colours were being presented the turnout was less than expected. The band were on top form, but I still can't get over the amount of kids who wipe there faces with white gloves on, the selection of water and minibus that collects them when they faint. We had it much harder in our day, or did we????
It was nice to catch up with Chris Winter, Nick Dillion-White and Gerard Thompson (the only 4 from our year) and I'm glad we all agreed that all we learnt from our 4th form German Exchange was how to say 'Tie me to a bed and whip me' auf deutsch. After the parade we headed for the Champagne Tent, well at only £3.00 a bottle it's rude not to. By this time Hx had turned up and somehow she restrained her urge to hurt me.
We left the school at 5.30 and headed for the hotel to check in and have a quick change having filled the bath with alcohol for the after club room party. The six of us (Bruce, Tango, Hx, Coney, CurlyWurly and Me) were in the 'The Light of India' for 6.30. 5 large Kingfishers, Mate and a Light Ale (for Bruce, well he is old). We were fed and watered in no time and in the Castle (an old haunt) early doors. It was nice to meet up with Pete Sampson and Wife and Terry Porter (2 old teachers, who have been at the school for years) in the pub. They confirmed that the school has changed significantly (well its got girls now), but then again change isn't always a bad thing. After a few jars in the Castle we headed for the Brit, which as ever was absolutley heaving with younger Dukies.
11.00 O'clock and we could hear 'Nuage' calling. In there we hit the dance floor and didn't stop. We were near the Dover gay scene, which consisted of 1 definate lesbian and 3 young girls she was trying to convert. The Conversion tour 2003 began, with Hx at the helm. Marilyn Monroe was also in the club, although on closer inspection of the photos in the morning, I can confirm that it's definately not her.
Left the club at 2 and retired to Tango's room for further drinking until 6 am.
After getting to sleep at 6am the only sensible thing to do was get up at 8.30. You don't have any choice in Dover, with the f***ing seagulls and lorries steaming past the windows. I headed for town and stopped off in the internet cafe for a quick forum update (I had to get the first dig in about Stan being Tangoed). Dover Town Centre doesn't change much, sure there's a few more immigrants, but they've got a great JJB Sports and I picked up some quality fridge magnets for Eastwood (chin up, matey!).
Got back to the hotel feeling strangely fresh and sat in reception with Bruce. I finally woke up Hx, Curly Wurly and Tango at 9.45, just late enough for them to miss their breakfast. They eventually made it downstairs where we paid up and headed for a greasy cafe for a proper breakfast. This was the funniest 2 hours of the weekend as we recalled stories of the past and the previous days exploits. My sides are still hurting. Curly wurly was the first to leave as he made the long trek back to Manchester, rather him than me. The rest of us headed for Coney's house for a wind down cup of coffee, before the journey back.
Eventually arrived home at 5 pm to be told I was being picked up at 6.30 for a jolly in Windsor. I wasn't on a top buzz as i was a little jaded. I still had a nice night in a new town (not sure I'd go back) and didn't get home till 1.30.
To top off a terrific weekend i still had Sunday free.
