Takes a while to attune to a new residential arrangement and back to college. No early domestic disputes yet – well not with me – and much more comfortable room and environment than my old bed-sit.
Although college was same old – it’s closer now and if we don’t know our way around by now – we never will. Only difference is that we will have final exams next summer, which have to be passed to complete the qualification.
So, the academic elements had to be focused on – not that we hadn’t always done that!
Which meant that attendance at lectures showed a marked improvement and, as the exams were internally set by the subject tutor – they got marginally more attention.
Steve. The DJ, was back and still working – I had lost contact over the summer – so I was a roadie again’
Signed up for the badminton club again and me. Les and Dud are 60% of a five-a-side team in what was always a very competitive, cross-college, league.
Champions last year – ‘Mech Eng 4’ – which translates as “Mechanical Engineering Year four – and they were all big buggers!
The only domestic issue was the running sore between les and Dud of:
the cwt bag of lentils in the corner of the kitchen – apparently purchased without prior consultation.
Other than that – we did actually get on with some studying – except for:
The Preston Rag
For any not familiar with the concept – it is a period of three to four days, usually leading up to the summer break and after any exams – when students run around doing daft things – like pub crawls dressed as babies in prams – group walks dressed as characters from fairy stories – running a marathon backwards rtc.– street selling the ‘Rag Mag’ – humorous, with lots of cartoons – all in the name of charity.
Culminating in the Rag Parade of funny and clever floats on lorries with a cash prize for the best one.
We three teamed up with a three of the In -Crowd, including my ‘sort of’ (let’s call her Babs) to build a float.
A Range of materials donated by local builder’s merchants in a variety of locations – we got a scout hut – at least it was covered.
Plenty of wood slats and panels and nails, paint and brushes and a few tools.
We had about three days.
First idea – we build something like a castle tower (not very high) Babs gets inside on a box and we cut a window for her to wave out of and drop a load of what appears to be her hair down to the brave knight to rescue her – remember Rapunzel?
The joke – at some point – preferably right in front of the judges (who were the Mayor and his wife) she dops all her hair – and on the side of the lorry we uncover a banner –
‘HAIR TODAY AND GONE TOMORROW.
OK.’ not hilarious but we didn’t have much time.
The hair was a problem – but we were clever students, remember.
Flash of inspiration – Preston still had quite a few traditional workshops – related to the Preston Guild celebrations every 20 years.
Preston Guild
Following a Charter from King Henry II in 1179, the trader’s guild formed itself and the first major event was an exhibition, of all things Preston, in1542. Run every twenty years since, except for the war years.
Bit of research – there was a rope maker not far away – we pretended we planned it.
Got there and, all for charity, got a load of long straggly unwound rope, just stored for disposal – help yourself.
Bit of plaiting, knotting and stringing and we have about ten foot of something like hair that Babs could hold the end of on her head – not very heavy with some resting on and out of the window we think – and could drop when appropriate.
Right just need the tower now.
One of the hippies says he does a bit of woodwork and sure enough, with us labouring, we have a five-sided tower. About ten-foot high with no roof – we can live with that
Couple of others saw a low entrance at the back for Babs to get in and out and a window about six-foot-high at the front and me , the self-selected artist , following them with the blue paint making brickwork on the panels – looked like cladding but that’s OK – it’s a fairy tale.
Day of the parade – trial run – found out that the tower was too wide to go through the door!
Don’t panic. Don’t panic!
Woodworker – comes the rescue – he hadn’t reinforced the base or top edge because there was very little weight on them.
one end to the open door, nails around the base pulled out – panels squeezed towards each other – narrow enough to get one end through the door.
I said, hang on a minute – that looks like a flowerpot now – maybe we can do a Bill & Ben thing? (to say the least – there was little enthusiasm for that. Back to the door – nails back in the end outside and same again at the other end. Flowerpot men in the early 60s) To
We are outside and ready five minutes before the lorry arrives.
Stuff Loaded on the flat trailer – driver very helpful- even secured the tower base with strapping – I suppose he wouldn’t want it falling off with Babs in it – and he helped with the banner.
We decide someone needs to go inside with Babs, to make sure she doesn’t fall off the box she will stand on.
Obviously, my job – sort of!
I’m still not sure that the Health & Safety executive would have approved.
We eventually got back in one piece – the lorries go very slowly – and didn’t win a prize!
Don’t think I will bother with the Rag next year – mainly because I won’t be here.