So far this hunt for Aylesburys has been quite lonely adventure. I have not thought of this hunt as a social thing except among my fellow Aylesburians. However, this foray was different, it started as a social trip to Sheffield to see my old friends from University, however became an Aylesbury trip all the same. Which is why you are reading this. Diaries, why do people think they have such lives that they need to write all events down? Surely a diary, such as this collects memories from exceptional (those that are not normal rather than those which are excellent) actions rather than the mundanities of everyday life.
As per usual my journey began at Aylesbury station, well technically it started from home, however nothing notable happened on that leg of it, you see my point. The barriers were playing up and Albert the kind station cleaner and general helpful chap said hello to me as the barriers closed on my bag, trapping me in them until I was freed again by Phil. What a welcome!
On the train from Birmingham to Sheffield I was sitting in the quiet coach of the many branded coaches of Virgin trains, (the non reserved coach, the business coach, the football coach) A man was sitting opposite me on the other side of the aisle and he kept getting text messages every 2-3 minutes in the annoying way that people, including myself, sometimes do when a phone call would have been more appropriate. The announcement which precipitated each text was very high pitched, very loud and in a most distasteful tune. Not wishing to be the almost silent majority on this issue, this also annoys me is that others obviously tut and hiss, ruffle their newspapers but do nothing, I asked politely whether he wouldn't mind turning his phone to silent, only to be ignored. I asked again, in a slightly more agitated manner. I was then that this man's wife/girlfriend and daughter came back and I then understood the reason for this man's lack of regard to his fellow passengers, he was deaf.
I wished I could have had the ground swallow me up. I wish I had been understanding and should have apologised and made peace, however my cowardice over took me and I copied those ostriches around me and buried my head in my newspaper. So may I take this opportunity to apologise now and I now entirely understand why you were not making a phone call also. Whoops!
This incident also reminds me of another time when travelling on a plane back from Fuertaventura when a buffet trolley veered into the arm of a seat infront of me. I made a joke about being able to sue the company for injury. The lady infront turned round and I saw to my horror, a sling on her left arm. Too late, I found that individual ejector seats are not fitted in passenger aircraft. Luckily she was very pleasant and I think I managed to apologise and show concern for her distress, as she was on pain killers and didn't really know whether she should be flying at all.
On arrival in Sheffield I made my way to Meadowhell, a gargantuan shopping centre on the outskirts of Sheffield, whose prescence has sapped some of the vitality of the town centre from its former self, leaving it filled with pubs and charity shops. Between this and the gas plant are two very important places, Aylesbury Court and Aylesbury Crescent. Aylesbury Court is a number of flats, predominantly for older people and has a stunning view into Sheffield and the peaks beyond.
As per usual my journey began at Aylesbury station, well technically it started from home, however nothing notable happened on that leg of it, you see my point. The barriers were playing up and Albert the kind station cleaner and general helpful chap said hello to me as the barriers closed on my bag, trapping me in them until I was freed again by Phil. What a welcome!
On the train from Birmingham to Sheffield I was sitting in the quiet coach of the many branded coaches of Virgin trains, (the non reserved coach, the business coach, the football coach) A man was sitting opposite me on the other side of the aisle and he kept getting text messages every 2-3 minutes in the annoying way that people, including myself, sometimes do when a phone call would have been more appropriate. The announcement which precipitated each text was very high pitched, very loud and in a most distasteful tune. Not wishing to be the almost silent majority on this issue, this also annoys me is that others obviously tut and hiss, ruffle their newspapers but do nothing, I asked politely whether he wouldn't mind turning his phone to silent, only to be ignored. I asked again, in a slightly more agitated manner. I was then that this man's wife/girlfriend and daughter came back and I then understood the reason for this man's lack of regard to his fellow passengers, he was deaf.
I wished I could have had the ground swallow me up. I wish I had been understanding and should have apologised and made peace, however my cowardice over took me and I copied those ostriches around me and buried my head in my newspaper. So may I take this opportunity to apologise now and I now entirely understand why you were not making a phone call also. Whoops!
This incident also reminds me of another time when travelling on a plane back from Fuertaventura when a buffet trolley veered into the arm of a seat infront of me. I made a joke about being able to sue the company for injury. The lady infront turned round and I saw to my horror, a sling on her left arm. Too late, I found that individual ejector seats are not fitted in passenger aircraft. Luckily she was very pleasant and I think I managed to apologise and show concern for her distress, as she was on pain killers and didn't really know whether she should be flying at all.
On arrival in Sheffield I made my way to Meadowhell, a gargantuan shopping centre on the outskirts of Sheffield, whose prescence has sapped some of the vitality of the town centre from its former self, leaving it filled with pubs and charity shops. Between this and the gas plant are two very important places, Aylesbury Court and Aylesbury Crescent. Aylesbury Court is a number of flats, predominantly for older people and has a stunning view into Sheffield and the peaks beyond.
Aylesbury Crescent has great views of Aylesbury Court but gets the rooftop version of the former's views as well and had the largest number of people washing their cars I have ever seen outside of a carwash, 5.
Incidentally both look on two large cooling towers, which the council has been working out what to do with. My suggestion is below.
The rest of the week passed most enjoyably, meeting lots of old friends and haunting old haunts and seeing what had changed and what had not. Eating lots of delicious bakery products from a new cult which seems to have formed in Fir Street and also top-notch French pate on toast at 0400 was a good laugh.
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