The first time I ever went on holiday on my own was back in the summer of 1978 when I had just turned 18. My friend Trudy and I talked our parents into letting us have a week away in Torquay.
It was a first taste of freedom for us and we had a great time. Of course quite a few boys tried to chat us up and we enjoyed a bit of mild flirting, but we were rather strait-laced and sex wasn't an essential part of the holiday for either of us.
We were both still virgins. The furthest I had ever gone was to let a couple of boys get their hands inside my knickers, but that was only after we had been going out for several weeks - the rest got no further than my boobs!
On the Thursday we went out for an evening walk on the seafront and two lads, who introduced themselves as Tony and Dave, came up and started chatting to us. We weren't going to let ourselves be picked up just like that, so we refused their offer of a drink, and despite their protestations we moved on.
So I was a bit surprised when I walked into the hotel lobby on Friday evening and found Trudy talking to the same two lads. She explained that it turned out that they were staying at the same hotel as us and did we want to join them for a drink in the hotel bar. The way she looked enquiringly at me told me that she was up for it, so I agreed.
After we had been sat down for a couple of minutes I realized why Trudy had been so keen. She had obviously clicked with Tony, who was the better looking of the two. In the past I had always got the better looking boy, so for once the tables were turned.
I rather felt that I'd been dumped with Dave, but actually he wasn't bad looking and was reasonably amusing. He asked me what I thought of the hotel and I pulled a face and said they'd messed us around. In what way he asked. I explained that we'd booked a twin room, but they'd given us two single rooms. Isn't that better he said. Well at least they're connecting I said, but they're poky little rooms stuck right up on the top floor.
We had one drink in the hotel bar and then Tony suggested a walk down the road to another place. Tony and Trudy led the way with their arms round each other, and Dave and I followed. We chatted, but to Dave's disappointment I kept my distance.
After a couple of drinks there it was closing time so we headed back for a nightcap at the hotel bar. By now I'd mellowed a bit (probably because of the drink) and I let Dave put his arm round me.