Editorial
It Renews Your Faith, Chapter 435
should have known better. She had a dog. It’ s usually the give away. If someone has a dog, they’ re usually a good person. But I was late, possibly a bit stressed, and I forgot that basic rule.
I was going for the train. We were out in the countryside, near Glynde, and My Fine Wife was giving me a lift to the station. But we were late. I was late, and we were going to a train station in the countryside where the roads are all single track and the unwritten rule is that if you’ re in a rush, you’ ll find yourself behind some idiot vehicle, probably a tractor.
These roads are never fun. In the daytime, you have no idea what’ s round the bend. The night time is easier because you can see other car lights, but then there’ s the paranoia about hitting a badger or fox.
The unwritten rule held and we got stuck behind some idiot vehicle, in this case a Ford Ka that was going about 12mph. A Ford Ka. Odds on, there was one of those drivers who, hunched over the wheel, grip white knuckles tight at ten to two.
We pulled into the station car park with a minute spare. Or it would have been spare. There was a coach parked and next to it- and in the way- a woman with a dog. We beeped the horn, and she smiled in a sweet way, a smile I recognised from someone whose trolley is in the way in Waitrose. It was a very Waitrose smile. She wouldn’ t get out of the way. Or rather, she did, but in her time. I dropped my window and said something grumpy. Probably something like“ Thank you” but in a sarcastic tone. MFW drove past her. I jumpred out of the car and ran up the stairs, over the bridge to the platform only to see the only train in the history of Southern Rail a) not be cancelled and b) come on time pull out of the station. I missed it by seconds. Seriously, seconds. It was the woman with the dog.
It’ s OK. Even though it’ s the countryside, there’ ll be another train. In an hour. It wasn’ t raining.
Minutes later, the woman with the dog walked past outside the station and saw me on the platform.
“ Hello”, she waved.“ Oh, you missed your train?”“…..”“ Oh I’ m so sorry. That was probably my fault. Sorry.”“…..” I’ m far too middle class to tell her what
I’ m thinking, but she probably knew.
Glynde Station. There are worse places to be. There are better places, too. Maybe somewhere better would have a cafe and a loo, but there was another train coming. In an hour.
Minutes later, the woman with the dog is back on the bridge.
“ Hello. I’ m so sorry you missed your
train. I’ ve got my car now. Where are you going? Can I give you a lift?” We Waitrose smiled at each other, said“ Sorry” a lot and got on with the day. There are worse places to be and anyway, what’ s an hour between friends?
Polly meanwhile has had her hands full in St Ann’ s Well. Now that the weather has perked up a bit, those pesky good-fornothings have decided to wake up. And, bless her, she runs around and puts them back in the trees where they belong. And that has largely been the last month. I sit outside the cafe and have some falafel with beetroot hummus( better than it sounds) while Polly diligently goes about her business. Summer in the city. Can’ t help but love it.
T
here’ s no Spielgeltent this year
( but there will be a new way to drive round the Old Steine, which is just marvellous). Anyway, in its place will be The Spiegel Gardens on Victoria Gardens( the grass bit opposite Grand Parade) where all manner of Spiegelish stuff will be going on. Check out https:// www. spiegelgardens. co. uk /
There’ s too much happening to list, but undoubtedly the best thing will undoubtedly be“ Dick Waddington” at The WundaBarn on May 29, a“ cheeky pantomime-flavoured choral extravaganza” performed by Brighton’ s finest choir, The Dulcetones. Well, what’ s the point in having a trumpet if you don’ t blow it occasionally. Apparently it’ s sold out- no surprise there- but come anyway. In years to come, you’ ll be able to say“ I was there”.
This looks rather lovely, and it’ s right on the doorstep. There’ s far too much going on to list it all here, but check out https:// springfestival. garden / for details and times