The Wanderer returns
This continues the narrative between Granddad and Anja while on a Swinger's holiday in the South of France. Previous episode, Granddad -- Seducing Mrs. D (Pt 2)
*
"Granddad, am I being too nosey, y'know always asking about your past loves and the like?"
"Nope, not at all. It's nice laying here in the warmth of the sun, beside a beautiful, naked, woman and letting my mind go back to my youth. A happy daze."
"A happy days? You're not happy now?"
"No, a happy daze, D.A.Z.E. Fond memories."
"You've got a very good memory, Granddad. Well for the sexy bits anyway."
"True, not as good as yours and nothing like as good as my Mother's but better than most. I tend to keep the good bits to the front and hope they'll dilute the less good bits. My Mum used to make me read the papers and tell her the bits she should be interested in. So she didn't fill her head with all the pointless drivel. Only ever saw her read two things cover to cover. The Financial Times and Investors Chronicle. That was her business, Accounts and Investments. Never read me bedtime stories either, just recited them. So, what shall I tell you about today?"
"You were rushing all over the place sticking bits of pipe together and occasionally getting your end away. What was going on at that time that needed all that pipe?"
"You want an industrial history lesson?"
"Any sex involved?"
"Probably not."
"Okay, I'll try to stay awake," Anja chuckled.
"Cheeky Mare!"
I stretched and put my hands behind my head. Anja snuggled up close, her hand across my hips but behaving. I felt good, relaxed. I let my mind go back. My private deLoren clicked into gear.
### ### ###
1965, Natural Gas had been discovered in the North Sea, just off the coast at Grimsby. Elderly plans are hastily dragged out and updated. Britain shall go to the ball, with Natural Gas, Cinders. A new, National Grid is to be built, tout de suite. Over 3000 miles of it with feeders from where the gas comes ashore, to the processing plants then onwards, into the grid. A distribution network of thousands more miles is required to take the Gas from the Grid to the regions and thence to the houses and businesses of the land. By 1978 all gas supplied will be Natural Gas. The biggest civil project undertaken in peacetime. And me and Chalkie were part of it!"
"Wow! Granddad, I wasn't aware of any of that. That's incredible."
"Don't get yourself upset Sweetheart, even at the time very few people had any idea of what was happening. They just complained if a road was closed for a few hours. The guys from William Press that went into the homes just converted all the appliances to natural gas. I'm sure the householders and the like just imagined that that was all that was required."
"But you and Chalkie were part of it! My fella is part of our Industrial history! How cool is that? Can't wait to tell Mum... 1978? So how come you were in Alaska in '74?"
"The work was easing back. The main networks were in place, all the feeders and most of the distribution. The writing was on the wall, the bubble would soon be bursting. Now, remember I said that the RE on my first job set me up for my second. Well, if you were any good, that was quite normal. On that first job I was the only welder, so no problem but on the second there was about ten of us so all of us turning up at the next available job was going to be tricky.
My Mum took over my, our, management. She talked with Charlie and Angie, picked their brains and found out how the system worked. Then she made friends with the various companies involved. It was really her job as an Investment specialist that helped. So, little by little she learned what was going on when and where. She knew who to talk to.
So, when Chalkie and I came to the end of a job Mum was able to steer us to the best jobs around rather than the RE's offers. So let's say at the end of the Southampton job ten welders headed off to Sevenoaks. Chalkie and I would be on our way to Immingham or Cheshire, wherever. Mum heard Alaska was in the pipeline, made some calls and all I had to do was turn up and pass the welding test. It was an expensive gamble if I didn't pass but nothing ventured nothing gained. Had a great time, mostly."
"Making my Man not only part of UK industrial history but global pipeline history as well! My Hero! Tonight, my Hero I'll take your knickers and your tights off so you can lie back and I'll make you cum like a Superhero."
"Pardon? Knickers and tights?" I grinned delightedly.
"Granddad, everybody but everybody knows that Superhero's wear their knickers over their tights. So, Alaska, no women? Where to next?"
"No women, too cold, too knackered, too busy, too far away. Anyway I didn't need a woman, I had very good memories and a perfectly good right hand." I laughed.
"You telling me you wanked your way around the pipelines of the world?"
"Pretty much. Quite good at it too. I had some really lovely women to imagine, even the one I shouldn't have had."
"Your girlfriend? The married one you refuse to name?"
"Nope, not always, as time passed very seldom, truth be told. I never had any replies to my postcards and letters whereas I always had replies from Gladys, Charlie and Angie and Alf and Jilly."
"Your third love?" she announced delightedly, "who?"
"Nearly there."
"I'm listening, all ears."
### ### ###
"It had been a long journey. Close on seventy two hours non stop travelling. At Manchester airport I couldn't face the thought of lugging three, heavy, over stuffed suitcases to the railway station then the train over the Pennies. To hell with it! I took a taxi. I could afford it. For five years I'd been chasing the petro-dollar across the globe. I was home, for a while, to take a break, hopefully to catch up with friends, and regroup.
The first cabbie I approached took one look at my three battered, expanding, shellac and cardboard suitcases and told me he only did local runs! This before I had even mentioned my longed for destination. The second was the same but at least he had the decency to ask where I was going first. The third was out of his seat and opening the back of his Volvo Estate even as I approached.
"Where am I taking you, my friend?" he asked as he heaved the first case off my trolley and into the back of his Volvo estate taxi.
I gave him the address.
"Yep, I can do that for you. My Mum's a red rose and my Dad's a white rose so, if I ask nice, they let me cross the border. You'll have to help out with the local knowledge once we're in the area. You look knackered, how long you been travelin'."
I told him five years then corrected myself.
"Seventy two hours, give or take."
"Five years, eh? Let's hope the place hasn't changed too much then. You want to sit in the back and doze until we get close or partake of my inane conversation up front?"
I opted for the front and within a few miles Jim and I were like old mates. When we got close I asked if we could make a small detour.
