when i was at university
in london, we lived in a really horrible part of town called bromley-by-bow. scumley-by-bow more like, it is probably the only place in zone 2 that hasn't improved over the last few years!

anyway, one afternoon i was walking down the long road from the tube station back to our house. i had my walkman on, but suddenly i could hear my name being screamed out and desperate dorian-esque footsteps pelting after me as quickly as essex high heels can manage.

i turned around and it was my flatmate lou. she was scarlet in the face and running like a cheetah. i stopped and waited for her. she caught up with me and started trying to get me to run too. this was never going to happen with DD boobs and a big bag of books (the last time i ran outside the gym [hmmm, or in it for that matter] maggie thatcher was in power), so i asked her what the problem was.

turns out she had exited the tube and two guys had caught hold of her, trying to throw her in a van parked outside. lou had twisted free and legged it. lou used to run for essex at school, so they'd clearly given up trying to catch her.

she was understandably very upset and shaken, and when we got home, we calmed her down. my then boyfriend oswald wanted to go out looking for them - yeah, because two would be kidnappers would be terrified by a public schoolboy who looked like a starving baby bird - and there was much talk of panic and the police.

the thing was, i must have walked past these guys myself about 2 mins earlier. and, although it was unworthy and i am being very flippant by posting it, underneath all the shock and sympathy for lou, all i could think was...

why didn't they try to take me? what's wrong with me?!!!
( rachelswipe with a fork, Tue 19 Feb 2008, 13:34, 11 replies)

I stayed there for a while, in some awful run down council flats.
I liked the boozer though, the Queen Victoria, it was the first time I had ever seen a shamrock traced onto Guinness using a beer tap.
Similarly, I was shocked when an old mate came out; and offended when he didn't fancy me!
(Bear Pookie The Frankly Challenged. Halloween is coming to town., Tue 19 Feb 2008, 13:45, closed)

If this is gonna be that kinda party, I'm gonna stick my dick in the mashed potatoes.
.
( The Resident Loon Not a demographic. Do not measure., Tue 19 Feb 2008, 13:58, closed)

@Loon...
Have you had a bit too much Ribena to drink?
( Enzyme is powered by sunlight, Tue 19 Feb 2008, 14:01, closed)

Aw, don't feel downhearted...

For what it's worth, I would've been proud to drag you into my van.
( Pooflake braces for an onslaught..., Tue 19 Feb 2008, 14:07, closed)

like a starving baby bird
Great description.
(frankspencer, Tue 19 Feb 2008, 14:12, closed)

Same here!
That would have gone through my head also but unfortunatly I know why they wouldn't have taken me : (
( girlinthehole, Tue 19 Feb 2008, 14:47, closed)

I know why they wouldn't have taken you
Or BGB - scared of your rapier like wit and also the fact that neither of you are women to be trifled with!


Maybe a bit of blancmange, but no trifle!


;)
( chickenlady b3ta's very own Elizabeth Taylor, Tue 19 Feb 2008, 15:09, closed)

Oh no chickenlady...
.. they wouldn't have taken me because I'm 5'11 and built like a brick shithouse.
( girlinthehole, Tue 19 Feb 2008, 15:40, closed)

Ha!
I know just how you feel - I was the only underage girl the conductor of my youth orchestra never tried it on with. Have a sympathy click!
(grandmasterfluffles Come to my Armageddon party on, Tue 19 Feb 2008, 16:27, closed)

Bromley By Bow
When I was a mere stripling I cleared out ex student flats in a certain estate there, 'something cross' to be imprecise.

Half of them were turned into 'official' squats the day term ended (and put a nice little notice up stating this so I wouldn't kick the door in).

Those that didn't we had to install steel doors and shutters to prevent the local scum doing them over. Being nice, we were even giving away the old furniture to the local population until some of their feral spawn trashed a couple so we were merrily hurling furniture from the third floor. Much fun. Especially the kitchen appliances, those that didn't get sold to a bloke with a van.

I think my death threat/fatwa (for letting Plod into a flat) has probably expired now, but I don't think I'll be going back. Not without a lot of ammunition.
(osok Rebel without a clue, Tue 19 Feb 2008, 17:52, closed)

...Oswald????
I didn't know people were really called that.
( scoshi pretending to diet since, Thu 21 Feb 2008, 12:14, closed)