1983 - London England - Pub Crawl

During the first week of being in England, we went on a pub crawl.  We all dressed in our finest 1980 punk style clothing (I wore a black mini dress - rocked it!!)  We rode to several pubs in South London.  I can't for the life of me remember the names of these pubs; however, I'm certain we drove to Suffolk England as I remember seeing a sign or two.  I was laughing and wish I'd gotten a picture made with one of the signs as I grew up in Suffolk, Virginia.  I'll remedy that the next time I go. :)

I do remember one pub in particular.  We had ordered food and drinks and were sitting on the outside pub patio.  There were lots of tables out there.  I wanted so badly to go over and talk to these guys, not hit on them, but didn't want to be un-cool.  I finally got up the courage to go speak to them.  I said something like "I hope you guys don't get the wrong idea - I'm an American visiting here for the first time and on a pub crawl.  We will be leaving soon but I wanted to come over and introduce myself and talk with you guys.  Is that cool or am I interrupting?  They laughed.  Evidently they had seen me struggling with going over to talk to them.  So, they invited me to sit down.  Don't remember anything about the conversations we had.  We were just getting to know each other when it was time to leave. I stayed a few minutes longer, then said I hate to leave but must go....

I ran over to where the bus was parked, down the street.  I was walking in and out of traffic and made my way to the bus.  Duane Goodwin, my professor, watched me and as I entered the bus he stated.... "You look like you've lived here your entire life, dressed as you are, navigating in and out of traffic like a resident".  "But one thing.... You got to get rid of the panty hose".    I was thrilled with the compliment and told him - "but I'm so white!"  He said "People here are pasty white and they own it."

That made me very happy.  I know that most of my family is from London and surrounding England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland towns.  I felt it the whole time I was there.  It felt more like home than North Carolina.  There I said it.....

The rest of the pub crawl was fun.  I don't remember it all (alcohol involved).  I didn't drink too much while I was there.  I was high on life and didn't need alcohol.

I LOVE LONDON!