wotchoo doin` ere?
My first job post degree was in BBC world service, mad but fun. trouble was it was job for life, any movement was dead mens shoes. Muggins joined a little firm making test rigs as hardware person assembly programmer. Say goodbye to life, after nearly a year working my nuts off, I resigned,took a much needed break. Hooked up with some old mates ex uni and we went rail backpacking round Europe for a month.

Nearly two weeks in and its a bit: which day is it? where are we? as to save money on accommodation we took overnighters to travel on some legs, crashed on seats, and you don`t sleep very well.

The strange bit was timing, we`d been gassing about school hols and everytime I went to Southend I`d bump into mates from school. Jonesy said the same when he used to go to Whitby or Scarborough. " Oh well at least there is no chance of bumping into anyone on this", we should have realised that making that declaration changed the fabric of the universe.

Scenario, above conversation, on express going through Germany to change onto express going to Milan. several beers, fitful kip.
Arrival Cologne 630am, four red eyed intrepids dwarfed by back packs stop in the underplatform corridor to have a look at the train display.

The sound of Estuary suddenly erupting behind me says "watchoo bleedin` doin` `ere, checking up on me?" to which my mates fold up and go "wrong!" " wosso funny? wot you bin sayin abaht me?" Its Alec Thomas, BBC world service Network Ops Manager, my old managers boss. Nice guy nicknamed smart alec, spiv in a suit, etc.

Told him the story, He was in Cologne for an international wavelength allocation conference. Sadly we had under half an hour before the Italy train, not staying in Cologne so no time for a gargle later.
(tootired Is searching for a funny sig, nothing good so far, Tue 13 Feb 2007, 12:13, Reply)