God, the memories.

When I was about 18 and trying to figure out what to do with my life, I spent some time travelling round Europe staying in Youth Hostels. I was supremely self-confident in some ways - none of my friends could understand how I could go off travelling all on my own with no itinerary, no company, but for me, that was the fun of it. On the other hand, I was a very late starter when it came to the ladies. You might know how it is: you get kind of pigeon-holed at school, either a cool kid or not. I'd become cool, but no-one else had noticed, least not the girls.

So there I was, hanging around the Youth Hostels, quiet and mysterious, sitting on my own, writing my diary or reading a book, occasionally being drawn into conversations. At one point, I was at the hostel at Marina di Massa on the north-western coast of Italy. It was right on the beach and peaceful after the noise and bustle of Rome. Until a school party of Germans arrived, 16-year old Germans, boys and girls. I was trying to concentrate on my book, but you know how it is; there, in my line of sight was a girl, and every time I looked up, she was looking over at me. She was lovely, neat and petite but not skinny, shiny straight shoulder length dark brown hair and sparkling blue/green eyes.

She was laughing with her friends but at least 80% of her energy was focused my way, I could feel my heartbeat quickening as she held my gaze for far longer than was necessary or usual and I could feel stirrings in the old loin department. There was no way though that I was going to speak to her. I'd dropped German after two years when I came bottom of the class and anyway, I'd have to break into her little group, and what could I say? I sighed, lit a cigarette and went back to my book.

It was only later in the evening, just before bedtime, that she came over and spoke to me.

"Hi, my name is Barbara, but my friends call me Babsi."

"Oh, hi. My name's Che."

"We're just staying here tonight. Tomorrow morning we go back on the coach. We're going to Pompeii."

"That will be nice." You can see why I was such a hit with the girls in those days - my sparkling repartee.

"You know, you have very nice eyes." she said, leaning very close to me, gazing into said eyes with her own, very nice eyes.

"Really? No-one's ever said that to me before."

"You know my nick-name: Babsi. It means 'kiss me'."

"Oh. That's a nice nick-name. Che is a Spanish diminutive interjection commonly used in Argentina. It's a form of colloquial slang used in a vocative sense as "friend", and thus loosely corresponds to expressions such as "mate", "pal", "man" or "bro"." [Not actual dialogue, but it gives you an idea of my chatting up style]

"Well, Che, I'll have to go soon. We have to go to bed as we leave early in the morning. You really do have very nice eyes."

"Thanks."

"Well, I suppose I'd better be going."

"Oh. Ok, I'm just going to stay out here a little longer."

"Ok. I might see you in the morning then." At this point, she was standing very close to me, looking up into my lovely eyes, willing me to kiss her. I failed.

The next morning, I said goodbye to her surrounded by her friends and then, when the coach pulled out, I kicked myself black and blue.
(Che Grimsdale Best before:, Thu 18 Feb 2010, 16:01, 6 replies)

you cock!
doh! epic fail!
(mr_spongmonkey, Thu 18 Feb 2010, 16:08, closed)

You are me ten years ago
Not the eyes so much, or the coolness come to that, but the travelling and the awkwardness.

So when I say you were me, I mean you were kind of similar.
( Kroney, Thu 18 Feb 2010, 16:11, closed)

Oh bloody hell, lad!
While I absolutely feel for you (I am by no means Officer & Gentleman material), you really do deserve every single part of that kicking you gave yourself.
( Je suis un vagabond is an unfunny, up your own arse middle class knob, Thu 18 Feb 2010, 16:27, closed)

I met a girl in Germany when I was around 14 whose name was Babsi and appears to fit the same description! I wonder...
I failed as well, completely missed her hints and was promptly laughed at by my German cousins!
(discowho?, Thu 18 Feb 2010, 16:33, closed)

Put it there bro...
...no. Not there.

Oh well. I'm glad you failed with her too, otherwise, I'd be jealous. Wasn't she nice though?
(Che Grimsdale Best before:, Thu 18 Feb 2010, 16:44, closed)

kicked tugged
( Larry Vest One day at a time, sweet Jesus, FFS., Fri 19 Feb 2010, 10:33, closed)