Today is Ulverston Pride. It started at 10:00 but I missed that. Had to get up early to retrieve my car from where I had to park it nearly half a mile away last night because the hotel car park was full. Early, 06:30, because the Sun is inside the zone that is closed to traffic for Pride. Then I went back to bed.
Got up in and dressed in a bit of a rush at 09:59!
Managed to get down the stairs in my highest heels and went to my car to get my sunglasses. Of course I forgot to take my car keys so I had to go back upstairs and get them and negotiate the stairs again.
The moment I walked out into the street my hat started to lift off. I grabbed it just as one of the Red Cross volunteers said how much she liked it.
So I wandered into Market Street where most of the stalls are. The stage is at the top of the street. While I was watching a singer I was suddenly approached by a woman in a raincoat. It was Sheila, the organizer from last year. She gave me hug and a beaming smile and said she had been hoping I would be back this year! I hadn't realized I'd made such an impression!
A man who seemed only vaguely connected with her took some pictures of us together and it eventually occurred to me to ask him to take one with my mobile
Sheila is actually a little taller than me but I have my tallest heels on.
Back in my hotel room taking a break from parading around.
Time to visit the loo and get a cup of tea!
When I met Sheila earlier she said that a picture of us together was in the local newspaper last year! She said she found it on Facebook and reposted it on her own page. Apparently a friend she hasn't seen for years saw it and commented "You have changed a bit". Sheila said he replied saying "You do know that I'm the one on the left.". That was so flattering
A little later on I met the mayor again, well she's the ex-mayor now. Apparently she was in the Tesco next to the Sun and saw me outside and said to Sheila "There's your friend outside." Had a brief chat with the mayor and her husband who said I seemed taller this year, I lifted my skirt a little to show this years heels.
Just before I decided that it was time for a break I met Ann as well! I had emailed her yesterday suggesting we get together but hadn't had a reply. It turned out she had sent me a text but I didn't have my little UK Nokia with me this morning. When I got back to my room and checked i found that I also had a message and a missed call from Sindy in Whitehaven who I'm supposed to be meeting on Monday.
This is all a bit overwhelming for a loner like me. How do people who have active real life social lives manage to keep up with all this communication?
I'm in the H&F café again having another cream tea. It's a bit early for such things but I didn't have time to even have a cup of tea before rushing out.
But even though I have been called glamorous (by a random lady passing by as I left the cafe) and told that I am bring beauty to Ulverston with my heels (by Ann) I think I have definitely been outclassed by the beautiful Benjy (Benji?) who is apparently a local busker
