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Blackpool

I got my bags packed, and had my last breakfast… I have to own up to something. I usually only eat meat if it's free range/organic, but I couldn't resist when I saw they had a regional delicacy, which was one of my favourites as a kid: black pudding! By then I was sharing the table with a group of lads who'd also been at the convention. So I had 2 portions, as one of them couldn't face it when he heard what it is. It's got an amazing rich, smoky flavour, and the main ingredient is pig's blood! Then I headed down to the lobby...My big bag was once again in the hallway, but the hotel very kindly put my autographs in the safe! I didn't even bother taking a jacket as I set off to walk south, down to the Tower.

Now, the Tower is not just a tower! I think it would be fair to call it the first ever amusement park, even though it's all in one building. £10 got me in, and after that it was mostly free... On the ground floor there's an arcade and a fortune teller (who I didn't visit) and also the aquarium. I had qualms about the size of the tanks, which seemed small for some of the larger fish and the turtles. Also about them allowing flash photography. But the inhabitants really didn't seem bothered by flashes (though I never used one, and still got good pictures...) Many of them seemed just as interested in watching the visitors as the visitors were in them, and it does have a very peaceful atmosphere.


The Tower Aquarium

Next I headed for the Tower itself. They packed visitors in the lifts like sardines. Not recommended if you are claustrophobic... Once out there was a level with a gift shop, and the 'Walk of Faith'. I looked over the side, down onto the beach, and saw some green bottle lying on the sand... then realised they were actually donkeys with green blankets on. Time to face my fear of falling. I say falling, because I really think it is that and not heights. I've been lifted several hundred feet up on a small crane platform and felt perfectly safe because I was tethered, and other times felt scared going down steep stairs. Might have something to do with my history of falls resulting in concussion...

Anyway, 'The Walk of Faith' is a sheet of glass over a drop of, I think, 380 feet. It took me a few deep breaths, but I managed to go across the corner, putting just one foot on for a moment, without looking. That accomplished, I waited for a clear path to walk across... then some pratt pushed me! I didn't go on, but I did totally lose it, called him every name under the sun, including coward when I tried to push him onto it and it turned out he was terrified too! He walked off and I burst into tears. I think it was part comedown from the weekend.

The Walk of Faith. (Yes, that is a con T-shirt!)

After that though somehow the walk didn't seem such an issue any more. I walked calmly across. Then went and stood on it and took the picture looking straight down. As I stood there I noticed the same guy came and walked across. But he only did it quickly and without looking. Hah!

I took the stairs higher, took a few photos, then came back down and bought some postcards at the gift shop. You can get them sent from there, with their own Blackpool Tower postmark, but I couldn't think where to send them to! Then it was time to face that overcrowded lift again...


Looking North	And South

I went to one of the cafés and got myself a coke, then went around that floor: more arcades, and a hall of mirrors... I also found myself walking around the balcony above the ballroom, where people were waltzing, even at that time of the day (it is certainly a place of contrasts...) Then I headed for the circus.

I had a choice to make. I'd originally intended to go to the giant roller coaster down south at the Pleasure Beach. But I decided there was plenty to do at the Tower... The circus is a two-hour show, inclusive in the price of entry. To be honest I'm not sure many kids would want to sit all the way through. Though I wasn't actually sitting near any kids, so I didn't have the chance to observe their reactions. If I was bringing kids I'd think about going in half way through, though that wouldn't be possible if it is full... Anyway, I'd come in a bit late, but I decided to stay to the end. I took quite a few pictures before they told me it wasn't allowed. I guess they can't have prats with flashes letting them off at some point when concentration is needed. I was, of course, not using a flash...

There was a variety of acrobatic acts, interspersed with sets by a clown. I stayed for the famous 'Water Finale', where the stage drops down and the ring fills with water. The show had a Venetian theme with Gondalas and gold-painted human statues. It was very pretty, but perhaps went on a bit... It is incredible to think though, that they've been doing a water finale of some description there for a hundred years. I noticed nobody touched the water, and they were totally paranoid about keeping the audience away as it drained after the show. A hundred year old set-up mixing electric lights and water... Scary!

After that there was just time to go on the dinosaur ride. It was rather tacky, but interesting to see the size of things. It may have been better if the speaker in my car had been working so I could hear the narration... but I didn't have time to go round again.

So, I never went south of the Tower, which is at the north end of Blackpool... I walked back to the hotel, then got a taxi from there to the station, having learnt my lesson on Friday... Once again, I took a shuttle train between there and Preston. Starting with the obnoxious guy in the Tower there was a kind of 'back to reality' feeling, and I wasn't the only one feeling it. There was a gang of Trekies stuck on the platform at Preston. Their train had been cancelled. Mine was also delayed and it was an hour or so before we got on. I turfed someone out of my reserved seat, then came to regret it as I got trapped between the large man with tickly sleeves (not pleasant on sunburned bare arms) and the woman opposite who wanted to spread her business stuff all over the table and kept subtly nudging my bag of autographs out of the way, and had her feet so placed that I couldn't get my sore blistered feet comfortable. Small annoyances... but I was glad when I later found two seats together, even without a table! I was quite happy to abandon my previous seat.

At London I said goodbye to the other Returners, and felt the air hit my face like a warm damp towel. It sees I had de-acclimatised in Blackpool, and it felt like it immediately sucked the energy out of me. Or maybe I was just tired and ill. It took me most of a month before I stopped coughing... But of course it was worth it!

Now... I decided the whole not putting my picture up thing was getting to be ridiculous! However, I'm still shy, so please don't tell! This is only for people who have made the effort to read this far...

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