Staines Part Graham’s Number (Blog 398)

I really, really, really wanted another milkshake, so I decided to go to Staines again. Of course I could get a CD too, but in this case the shakes were a priority. That’s how good they are. Before that though, I planned to fill my car up with petrol. I had fuel for another week or so, but I wanted to get the filling out of the way, as I hate the process. I’ve had my vehicle for over a year, but I still haven’t fully mastered it. It’s like picking a lock, it really is needlessly complicated. I appreciate how Toyota are looking out for my petrol and are protecting it from thieves, but they’ve gone too far. I haven’t gone to Thorpe Park yet, either. I’m hoping that’s still on, as visiting a theme park at night has been one of my main fantasies since I was 7 and I saw the video of Simply Red’s song ‘Fairground’. The song’s amazing, the visuals are amazing, it simply has to happen in real life. I’m wondering if I’ll go on halloween which is the same day as the LCW meeting. If so, it will be the first time I will be missing the latter. A very powerful message to those running the event, it would seem anyway. No, I’m not rebelling against the organisers, I just won’t be able to make it. On the other hand, I may not go because to Thorpe Park at all because it might be raining. I don’t mind the rain, but others less open minded than me do. And wouldn’t the rain in your face as you ride a rollercoaster be a bit of an intense feeling? I should definitely point that out to persuade everyone to go, although that could backfire.

Anyway, turns out I removed my petrol cap in under two minutes, maybe? Not amazing, but in the past it has been around five. How’s that supposed to look to other people? ‘Oh no, he’s trying to steal someone’s car whilst the poor owner is in the petrol station buying groceries. The thief just doesn’t seem to realise that you steal cars by putting the keys into the ignition.’ As my change has been running very low since I decimated it a while ago by changing it into notes, I only had a £2 coin for the carpark (just the right amount). Usually I’m very charitable to pizza delivery drivers, but yesterday I didn’t give the guy a penny, because I kinda wanted the money for myself.

:( Anyway, would the machine accept such a large coin? Who knows. The machine in Staines famously doesn’t accept wrong amounts of money and it’s known for stealing from others. I would soon find out hefty £2 coins were completely fine. Phew. Time to go CD shopping, then! On my travels, I saw a tramp who was clearly off his face on drugs. (Either that or he has a very spaced out personality which can happen, it can happen to me even, though his case would be very extreme). I find it funny how most people would be terrified about being simply caught with cannabis, whereas he was letting it all for for everyone to see.

In the CD shop, I was hoping to finally complete my Alice in Chains collection, but they didn’t have a single album from the band! Very strange as there was some really weird stuff they were selling, as I’d find out in just a few minutes. So yeah, I took a chance with a band called ‘Turmion Katilot.’ Never heard of them, but the foreign tracklisting sounded very Germanic, sophisticated and efficient so I felt hopeful. They were also on the Nuclear Blast label, who are very well known, so of course the band should be good, right? I would find out when I got home. Next was the milkshake place! I was offered cream on top which of course I agreed to, but this time the chefs put I think caramel orange stuff on top of the cream which only enhanced the flavour, it was unbelievable. THEN I went home. Was the CD any good? Sadly the music is a bit on the weird side. I suppose the cover of two half naked, muscular men wearing leather and studs and standing by a fire I presume they started was a warning. I thought the band were trying to be badass! Now I realise they write pervy music. Only joking, I have no idea what it’s about. On the whole though, not a bad trip! Bye!