I arrived back at John's about midnight, to find Gig and Mike watching American Pie 2. Gig hadn't been able to join Locky and John in the club they went to, as he was wearing his trademark C Squadron polo shirt.
The train on our return was direct from Euston to Penrith. We met kristy and Ally for lunch in Wetherspoons (London has a Wetherspoons too!) then made our way to Euston. Gig
had disappeared back to Torquay earlier in the day. After an emotional farewell to John and the aussies at Euston, we were back on our way North.
This time we managed to get a table seat straight away. We settled back to continue our Jab-Jab tournament. Locky won the game we had left over from the southward trip. I went on to rack up a
further five victories, Locky one more, and Mike zero. naturally I only won so much by continuing playing somehow less manly and exciting tactics than Locky.
Tired of losing a game he had himself proclaimed such a great contest of skill, Locky suggested we turn to Arsehole for our next game, then movie hangman. Mike enjoyed the only victory of the evening with
"Hook". Locky tried a few curve balls with the likes of Krull and Ladyhawk, but couldn't get them past Mike. After leaving Oxenholme Mike and Locky were stumped with my _N_ _M_ (we were playing with no vowels allowed in guessing).
Mike excused himself and went to the toilet. Locky puzzled over my hangman for a while when the announcer declared us to be shortly arriving in Penrith. Still no sign of Mike.
We slowed down and stopped at Penrith.
"We'd better take his bags."
It was nighttime as we stepped onto the platform at Penrith. I boarded the train again and went to the nearest toilet. "Vacant" declared the little sign on the lock. I knocked on the next one.
"Mike?"
"Yeah?"
"Um. We're here."
"Right. Hang on a minute."
As I stepped off the train the conductor bloke was trying to close the door behind me.
"My mates just gonna be a minute," I protested.
"He'll have to be quick," replied the door-closer, clearly unimpressed with Mike's bowels delaying his arrival in Glasgow.
No bounce no play, Mike.
We were spared Mike having to be rescued from the next stop by him appearing at that moment and leaping off the train.
