It all started when Her Ladyship got me out early one
morning for a good clean.
“Got to have you spick and span Old Girl. Charity do and all that. You’re going to be carrying someone older
than you, and there aren’t many on this planet that fit that bill are there?” She wandered into the house chuckling to
herself. Cheeky cow!
Moments later, she was back with the Asthmatic Barking Dog
and we were off.
“Pembroke Castle, here we come. A helicopter is bringing this man there and
then we have to take him to meet a few motor cyclists who are taking him for a
bike ride. Not sure how he'll keep his balance though.”
We got to the castle and Her Ladyship manoeuvred me in
through the gates. The place seemed
deserted.
“Strange, there’s no one here Old Girl. We’re on time and on the right date aren’t
we? Ah there’s someone. Helloooo, helloooo? Can you help me?” I do wonder why when she has a query; she
starts to speak to people very slowly and succinctly.
“I am supposed to be meeting a man with a helicopter. He’s landing here and I have to give him a
lift to the Commons Car Park.”
“Well Lady, you are out of luck. No helicopter landing here. The Civil Aviation Authority thought it would
be too dangerous. They are landing on
the football field now. You better
hurry, because they’ll be landing soon.”
Her Ladyship, who has by now emerged from my driving seat, leaped back
in and started me up.
“Bloody ‘elf and safety.
They always succeed in screwing up other people’s fun... the Barstards!”
The helicopter had touched down as we arrived at the
football ground and an elderly gentleman was being helped out. Her Ladyship pulled alongside.
“Oi... Who said that
you could park that old banger on my field?”
I think this voice belonged to the grounds man and I don’t think he was
too pleased at my tyre marks on the pitch.
“Oh, I am sorry. I am
so, so very sorry. But at the castle,
they said I was to come here and I was just obeying orders. Anyway, that helicopter is much heavier than
this car and you don’t seem too unhappy about that.”
“Ah, but I gave permission for it to park there... But not you!
Move it!” By this time an elderly
gentleman had arrived beside me. Her
Ladyship chose to ignore the grounds man, muttering something about a ‘bloody
little Hitler’ and turned to the new arrival.
“Hello, how do you do?
You are the gentleman I am chauffeuring to where the motor cyclists are
waiting for you.”
“Yes I am, How do you do?”
This is Miss Daisy and she is going to take you. Hop in.”
Asking a 94 year to ‘hop in’ was rather too optimistic I thought. But he did manage... eventually, and without any
help from you know who.
We headed back into Pembroke and round the town arriving at
an enormous car park where not a few motorcyclists were waiting, but about 500.
“Ah here you are. And
Mr. Jones, welcome. Can I help you
out? You are now going to be kitted out
to ride on the back of a motor tricycle.
The new arrival was a stout man with a platted beard and dressed from
top to toe in leathers. He helped the
old man out and a colleague helped him away to find his new mode of transport,
but not before he came round to the front of me to thank me for the nice
ride. I think Her Ladyship was a bit put
out that he did not thank her. Anyway, I
did all the work.
“Are you going to join us?”
The man in the leathers had turned to Her Ladyship.
“Well that’s very kind of you, but I know this is a special
motorcycle event and I fear we are hardly a motor bike. Anyway, I am not sure I’d keep up with you.” I think Her Ladyship was keen to get home. Leather man peered at me.
“Nonsense, she’ll be capable of 30 to 40 mph won’t she?” Her Ladyship nods.
“As for qualifying as a motorbike. Well she may have two wheels too many, but
she’s got spoked wheels. Of course she’ll
qualify.”
Personally I do not understand for the life of me why I have
to qualify for anything at my age.
 |
| Here I am! |
